nikkimoore

<p>I haven't been shooting long enough to have any serious problems requiring backups. I'm sure I'll get there though! (Not that I don't HAVE backups...I just haven't NEEDED them yet.)<br>

Recently I decided I wanted to use two cameras at once, mostly during ceremonies. I purchased another 7D, just like the one I had. The first time I used them together at a wedding, I realized one of the dates/times settings was very slightly 'off,' so it was really a pain to correctly order the photos later on! That's definitely something to check when using multiple cameras.<br>

It is nice, though, for me, to have identical cameras. Even slightly different models can have really different controls, and I don't want to be fiddling around any more than I have to.</p>

<p>I schedule all my portrait shoots (not just engagements) about 1-1.5 hours before sunset, to culminate with the setting sun. The golden hour. Sometimes of course Mother Nature will foil our best laid plans, but that's what I always aim for. I've only done one early morning shoot, but it was gorgeous too. It was in summer, and I think the additional humidity and dew gave a lovely glow to the photos.<br>

<br />I've also done several shoots during grey, overcast weather. Not ideal, but definitely fewer shadows and light spots to worry about. I think if it's overcast, the time of day isn't as critical. If you're shooting during what would be the golden hour, though, you always have the chance of a ray of sun peeking through and giving you some nice light.</p>

<p>My engagement shoots usually yield 100+ photos from a 1.5-2-hour shoot. That includes a couple of locations, and changing outfits, if they so desire. The images might go into a wedding guest sign-in book, or their save-the-date cards, or be otherwise incorporated into their wedding. The couples love the variety and choices they have (within reason of course). And the experience is so essential for us to become familiar with each other, before the wedding. I think it is potentially a more complex experience, at least when it's done well, than could, or should, be captured in one image. So I'm not sure why I would only offer one image.<br>

I suppose some couples might have in their mind that they need 'a photo for the newspaper announcement' and in that case they might only want one image. Those photos are usually pretty standard and kind of boring, though.</p>

<p>Great idea, Rob! Is there a projector you recommend? I'm also a little overwhelmed at getting the right software to size the images right, display them correctly, etc. Maybe it's easier than I'm imagining... </p>

<p>Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts. Some changes are in order -- now to find the time to implement them! </p>

<p>I don't like it at all. I hit the 'mute' button on my keyboard immediately. It doesn't make me leave the site, though, because it doesn't change the photos I was there to see anyways.</p>

<p>It seems like you could theoretically create a blog/website that uses no flash (my web designer used html5 to build my slideshows), then you'd cater to all your viewers. But that is potentially more expensive and a longer term perspective. <br>

<br />I've also read somewhere that ProPhoto's theme (and maybe some blog widgets/extensions can do this too) can detect whether the site is being viewed on a flash-compatible device, and if not, display something that the device CAN view. That way you'd get the slick graphics that Flash can bring, as well as not alienate that small segment of your viewers. I have no idea whether Flash is actually outdated or not, but that's just what comes to mind when I'm trying to view someone's site and I see a bunch of little question marks instead of photos. Not saying I don't appreciate the good looks of a shiny flash site when I'm on a regular computer. It's just one thing to think about.</p>

<p>I know of a number of wedding and portrait photographers who offer film sessions, I believe at a premium. People will choose it especially when it's offered as a more arty option. But I think they have to have it offered to them before they realize they want it. So it does seem like there's at least a potential market for it. It probably comes down to photographers offering it in the right way.</p>

<p>I'm currently building a new blog too -- just transferred everything over from Blogger (yes, I know...) to Wordpress. I bought the ProPhoto theme from Netrivet. They have a few premade templates that you can change around all you want. It's pricier than most templates out there, but I wanted to be able to make a lot of changes down the road, without buying a new template all the time. I'd suggest getting a prefab template at least...something with a bit more style in it. Your photos are nice but they just aren't being 'showed off.' Personally I also think black as a blog/website main color is way heavy/formal, and I tend not to spend time on those websites. But that's just me. Find a color palette that works for you and your images. I spend time working with a professional designer (yes, I had to save up for that, but it was well worth it) and they can give you all kinds of advice about color. A logo is also important.</p>

<p>Lots of blogs use Flash (I think that lightbox feature on Bryan Allen's site is in Flash, and I'm quite sure that's a ProPhoto blog actually), which I can't view on my iPhone. So I find that annoying and kind of outdated. It looks fancy on a regular computer, but not everyone can see it. So keep that in mind as you look for a template or design your blog yourself. And keep it simple! Me, I find that there's a thin line between simple and boring. So I'm still working on my new blog and trying to keep a balance.</p>

<p>My (still under-construction) site, if you want to take a look, is: http://nikkimoorephotography.com/blog/<br>

good luck!</p>

<p>Thanks for the ideas/suggestions. I imagine in-home viewings would work better than in a conference room or something, if only because they could see the images in the proper surroundings, and choose sizes appropriately. Plus I bet they'd feel a lot more comfortable (and buy more?) if they were at home.</p>

<p>Here's something I don't understand at all: how do you go about choosing frames and such? It makes more sense to me, to have the client do their own framing. Seems like it'd be SO much back-and-forth (I used to work in a frame shop and it can be a tedious process if there's only ONE person involved). I just don't know if I want to get into all that! Canvas wraps, etc., seem to be simpler because there are fewer options...but to have to help them pick out mats, frame, glass...without having a truckload of samples and frame corners...how does anyone do that?</p>

<p>I can see canvas wraps, those metal hanging things, large prints (for them to frame on their own time)...but doing all the framing too, it's hard for me to imagine how that works.</p>

<p>I run my wedding and portrait photography business out of my apartment. I have been using Zenfolio to display images for my clients, in password-protected galleries for each shoot. I am planning to make some sweeping changes to encourage additional orders, as well as increasing the price for the full-resolution images (so far almost every client just buys the image files - so obviously they're less likely to order big items anyways). But all the reading I've done, here and in magazines, suggests that in-person selling (with a projector, usually) is the most effective way to sell prints/canvas wraps and such, as well as a great way to foster anticipation and emotional connections with the client and their photos.</p>

<p>Is there any way I could go about doing this? Do many photographers typically visit clients' homes for a presentation? Coffee shops, while great for my initial meetings, aren't useful in this situation. I'm trying to think outside the box here. I really want to get out of the "shoot and burn" mentality (even though that's not quite what I do) to a more personal, hands-on, customized (and increasingly high-end) experience for my clients. Even if I do significantly raise the cost of the full-res files, that still leaves me with no good way to display/sell larger products like wall art.</p>

<p>I'd love to hear any ideas, suggestions or ways others have built their business with this limitation.</p>

<p>Just going to throw in my vote for Zenfolio (I am using the third of four tiers of capabilities). I'm not the most experienced user because I've been using it less than a year, and I've never used any other major similar sites. But it does all those things, and is very easy to use. You can watermark, password protect all galleries, and easily customize your page to look like you want. I'm not sure if slideshows can be exported to Facebook but you could always just link to the gallery. You pay a yearly fee, which I think is very reasonable. Uploading is super easy -- I just drag and drop from Aperture. It resizes the images, which is also really easy with Aperture, but it's just one less thing to do.</p>

<p>I have a section in my photography info packet encouraging clients that 'portraits' (using the term loosely here -- I mean more environmental, natural images) taken in their home can be really wonderful, especially for children who will feel more natural and comfortable there. I always schedule the home shoots during the right times of day, and discuss lighting, windows, wall colors etc. with the clients before the shoot. I have never liked or used backdrops and I am always reluctant to use too much flash in small areas, especially with kids. Use wide apertures to blur out any clutter or distractions.<br>

Here's a blog about <a href="http://nikkimoorephotography.blogspot.com/2010/12/introducing-kennedy-family-photography.html">one of my recent home shoots</a>.<br>

I've also done a couple of newborn shoots in the parents' homes...I'm not an expert on infant photography by any means (these were my first), but you can see them <a href="http://nikkimoorephotography.blogspot.com/2011/01/grant-christopher-baby-photography-in.html">here </a>and <a href="http://nikkimoorephotography.blogspot.com/2011/01/introducing-adorable-miss-paisley-baby.html">here</a>.</p>

<p>I never let anything that's not totally finished be seen by any of my clients! I use Aperture 3 and it's easy to apply edits to lots of photos at once. Each one will need tweaking, of course. But I'd never let a client see the 'original' unless I was charging for extra time editing and wanted to push that. I've factored my editing time into my final hourly price, so they're paying for all finished images (plus, as I become more efficient, I end up with more profit). I'm not ashamed of my originals, but I don't feel it's a professional presentation for me (personally).</p>

<p>Zenfolio will do something of the sort. I use it and love it. I don't do any sort of 'proofs' per se (I never let unedited photos out of my hands) but it should work just fine for your needs. </p>

<p>If you just need the mat, check out a frame shop. I used to work for one and we cut custom mats all the time, even if you didn't need a frame. You could get a whole stack for not a lot of money - and depending on the shop you can get excellent quality as well.</p>

<p>I cull all the poor ones - eyes closed, weird expressions, movement blur - but apart from that, I give them all the photos that are worth giving. Like others have said, a certain expression or look is usually worth a lot to a client. </p>

<p>I've found that an hour is more than enough time. I'm currently building some other packages though, and I'll be offering extra time on the higher ones. But yes, an hour has given me plenty of time and plenty of images.</p>

<p>I also have way more traffic to my blog than my main site - which is certainly at least partly due to the fact that my blog was around for at least a year before my official .com happened. Still, though, once I've got the traffic, I can't let down!</p>

<p>Take a moment to breathe it all in...<img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Tv1dYGIo8UY/TGC1kd3YXwI/AAAAAAAAB7U/19jRIa_1AG4/s640/aaweddings+%281%29.jpg" alt="" width="427" height="640" /></p>

<p>I'd never want anyone else working on my photos! To me, the post production is a huge part of the creative process -- something that's, to a certain extent, truly a matter of taste. I don't allow my clients to edit their images (not even cropping), and I sure wouldn't pay anyone to. It would seem even a little wrong to show off a photo that I took, but someone else edited.<br /> If I had the money to farm something out, it'd be administrative/taxes/accounting work, but definitely nothing creative.</p>

<p>My first go (on a critique thread)...<br>

Somehow it seems a bit blurry! The original jpg on the web looks fine (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Tv1dYGIo8UY/TKJj020tUwI/AAAAAAAACK0/oymxdCsmK4E/s1600/Nikki+Moore+Photography+-+Capitol+Wedding.jpg)<br>

<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Tv1dYGIo8UY/TKJj020tUwI/AAAAAAAACK0/oymxdCsmK4E/s1600/Nikki+Moore+Photography+-+Capitol+Wedding.jpg" alt="" width="718" height="1080" /></p>

<p>My business is still in the startup phase, but I receive the majority of my website traffic from Facebook! It's a huge way to spread links, and when I tag someone in a photo, all their friends see it. It's a great way to get my name out there. I post whenever I write a new blog, have an announcement, or just fun stuff about shoots. it's easy to set one up and all my images are watermarked. It's a risk I'm more than willing to take, because of the great return. I've already gotten clients, and a ton of new interest. http://www.facebook.com/nikkimoorephotography<br>

I have links on my website to Facebook and Twitter and my stats show low exit rates for those (not many people clicking and leaving). But if they leave one of my pages to visit another, that's totally fine, especially if they end up following me on Twitter or becoming a fan on Facebook.</p>

<p>Maile - wow. Seductive is the right word. Absolutely beautiful! <br>

Hope this photo is an okay size...it's the first time I've tried to use a photo.<br>

I love shooting the shoes -- guess it's my inner accessory queen coming out! This bride wanted LOTS of shots of her shoes, jewelry, hairpiece...and this was one of many I ended up with. I liked how it was a little less detail oriented than the others (which I also had plenty of).</p>

<p><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Tv1dYGIo8UY/TJPlgVfFnAI/AAAAAAAACIc/vPE8GeiH8lk/s1600/Mike+and+Jill+Wedding+Shoes+Photography+Lincoln+Nebraska.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>I think it's a great photograph, with or without the sun. I do like the flare, although I think the overall photo is more focused without it. I'm sure images were taken with and without it.<br>

One thing I'd have done is get at a straight angle with the cabin. The way it's slightly tilted (depthwise) really bothers me. I'd have tried to look at it as straight-on as possible. Looks like a tree is in the way, otherwise I would also have centered the cabin in the frame - which might've prevented the kind of distracting visual 'stop' on the right hand side. Otherwise, moving that rightmost groomsman to further inside the cabin wall would let the wall frame instead of create that tension or 'pull.' <br>

Sorry, I don't know the right terms for these particular visual concepts, but hopefully I'm understood. I am no expert!</p>