daniel_mcgarrity1

<p>Tiffany, this is coming in late, but I'm going to say D7000 due mainly to the quality of the body.<br />However you mentioned a couple of things that might also be address.<br>

Camera size, I'm a person who does like the weight of the camera in my hand and the body to extend down a bit. If it feels a bit small or light I would think of adding the additional battery pack that slings underneath that takes it's own, thank you nikon for having to buy a NEW battery style, battery (I guess to many people had the EL-4 for the D2,D3,D700)</p>

<p>Now as for "never needing video" I'm sort of in the same boat in mind and deed, however I do weddings and portraits, while I could argue a pretty salient point against having to use video INSTEAD of stills during something in my field, you're PJ through and through. When it comes to needing a quick interview or some B footage, all you need is a good Lite Panel small light (less than 300) a good microphone.. and you have your own little interview station, get a gorilla pod to set up the camera and a good 35mm lens (one of the new ones if you can afford it) and you are really ready to rock, and do your own production. I'm sure everyone can tell you how to do your job, but the D7000 in your line of work is a real boon with the new processing power and capabilities of the d300s. Just remember if it's that hand feel for the larger body, remember the battery pack that Nikon sells for the camera..it attaches to the base and provides vertical buttons for when you shoot portrait.<br>

Good Luck.</p>

<p>Ummm, why don't you just do USB flash drives 8gb=$18, 16gb=$25, 32gb=$44<br>

Granted that's considerably more than the .50 per DVD, but we're talking about creating a professional presentation, which, one could argue, doesn't mean handing over the equivalent of 10 minutes of 30fps, but if you have a lot of images you are probably going to exceed 4.7 gb, so why not hand up to 7gb on a flash drive, you can get a beautiful box, much more of a keepsake than a DVD envelope, and the flash drive will last waaaay longer. Brand the box, or go to a company like pexagon to get branded flash drives and/or boxes. We have clients spending thousands of dollars, or hundreds of pounds (taking in the conversion!) Why skimp on this?</p>

<p>OR, offer them the choice<br>

All images on DVD, no matter how many, though you still want good labels, or for another $100-$200 choose the option that will last decades as opposed to years.<br>

As for downsampling the images, well, IMO, that's not really providing the images in a meaningful way.</p>

<p>Okay, free.<br>

Will you get a referral? Nope, probably never.<br>

What you will get, if you also take WW's plan to heart is a contact.<br>

A person with whom a friendly relationship is built, AND more importantly a location in which to display your absolute best work, the MUA shop is a place where women (I suppose men as well) will come prior to engagements, lay out some really nice brochures all themed around your very best prints, and relevant to the area. Boston-big Catholic community, any Big Catholic churches in your Portfolio by chance???</p>

<p>I don't even wait for vendors to ask for pics, they get the best that I have within that first week, well before they ask. True, I'm not setting up meetings instantly afterward, but I do think I should as a follow up. I'll never charge a vendor for my pictures, there's just no real return on it. I would however, limit certain vendors to a certain number of pics.<br>

In the DC Metro region, possibly more than most others, but I would wager a guess that any high turn over area for jobs would share in common a very high working hour to free time ratio, add to that mix that these clients are planning a wedding in a city where friends and family aren't there to help plan things out.<br>

So the first place the client goes is<br>

1. Wedding/Event planner-first place to start making coffee talk meetings.<br>

2. Church/Sanctuary (though this is most often a #1 in many places)<br>

3. Reception Venue<br>

4. Media (photo/video)<br>

5. Entertainment<br>

After this all the rest falls into line, whatever that line holds. These 5 things are all completely date specific, everything else from flowers to dresses, to limos are certainly date specific, but the vendor isn't at the event for an appreciable time.<br>

So the 4 out of 5 on this list are the first tier of referrals you want to be associated with. Building up the recognition? find 3 planners every month and take them out to coffee. Do this every month with 3 new planners/Venue planners/DJ's/Videographers/Priests/Ministers, always stay in contact with the others, and boom! Your network is beginning. I would however try to be discerning in who you put in the mix, it's as easy to say you're a wedding planner as it is to say your a wedding photographer. I find out the best planners by going to the best venues and see who they work with the most.<br>

Lots and lots of legwork here, though it is very exciting!</p>

<p>I use my iPad, upload the images I want either via the camera card daisy chained through to the iPad directly ****be careful not to delete the images from the card...yes, that's a choice*** and if I have the time, or assistants to do it, I apply some simple contrast and sharpening in Camera Bag or a similar app, then I have 100 or so images on slideshow placed someplace prominently.<br>

It's lighter than a laptop, roughly the same screen size, ridonkulously longer battery life, so I don't have to hunt for an outlet and stretch a cord. Totally portable, and I can fill the folio case it's in with my business cards describing how to get the pictures.</p>

<p>Oh, Animoto has an iPad app as well, so you might as well give it a shot.<br>

Listen, I am NOT an apple person, but the iPad is not a gimmick, it's a very serious, and incredibly useful tool that you all can use instantly in every single event you shoot.<br>

It's pricey if you already have a laptop and now have to buy an iPad, but it's much more suited to the task of showing the images, and moving around with the crowd. If it's a laptop you're looking for, an iPad, even with the new software upgrade, isn't for you. It will never do lightroom/Photoshop or the other stuff, but it will absolutely be the best slideshow presenter you will get.<br>

good luck</p>

<p>So, I'm at a loss to understand where "due deference" ends and "I need to get this shot for my portfolio" begins.<br>

Being perfectly honest here, I think you will get in the way of the other photographer if you weren't hired by them, to be in contact with the clients of the main photographer independently of that photographers business is to invite a lot of unpleasant situations whether YOU think it will or not.</p>

<p>If you are a guest with a camera, or a friend with a passion, keep it at that, indulge yourself, but if you want to be considered a professional, then behave as one, and that means keep your hands/pictures/marketing/ and contacts out of this wedding and the other photographers pocket.<br>

I will provide one significant caveat. Many of the island resorts and destination places require their guests using the venue to use their photographers, these photographers skills and ability varies wildly. Should this be the case, you are most certainly in a different situation with the client. You will still be in the way of the main photographer, but I can certainly understand why the client would want you there.<br>

Beyond that, if you want any of your peers to value you, do not shoot another photographers wedding and sell those images. Stay home and offer to work for another photographer to pad your portfolio, but again you can't sell those images to that photographers clients.</p>

<p>Rikki Hi, I'm a HUGE believer in the trade shows, though I've a number of caveats that seem to weed things out.<br>

1. If you expect anyone to remember your images from the show, no way...people remember impressions, if they like you, they will remember you, not your albums.<br>

2. You cannot talk to everyone there, don't try, the person who comes up to you is investing time in you, don't rush them off after 3 minutes because there's another person behind them, you certainly wouldn't treat them that way at their wedding would you?<br>

3. Remember you are the only you at this show, showcase in personality and some products what separates you from others. Here's a tip, if you do really great black and whites, show ONLY black and whites<br>

4. do NOT have anything hand written (new phone number over old, new address) or computer generated labels on items, it looks tacky and low rent.<br>

5. Talk to them about them, ask them to ask questions of you, make that connection.<br>

6. do NOT trash talk other vendors whether they are at the show or not. It looks very small and petty, remember those other people are your peers, whether they support themselves exclusively from their photography business, or if they are married and fortunate enough that their spouses work allows them to pursue their passion without fear of financial worries. They are there because they love what they do.<br>

7. In terms of display, less is more, I personally find the displays where 30-40-50 images all swim in front of me, the colors, the various moments, it's like a comic book, design your display like you would an album page, or if you were doing a gallery show, Invest in 1 or 2 really big canvas prints, as in 30x40, make these your most "Wow" kind of images, match your brochures and business cards to those images, make certain those images are on your website.<br>

8. Get there early and start making networking connections with everyone you can, these connections MUST be followed up on within 48 hours of the show, otherwise you might as well throw away their cards. Once the connection is made, follow up with a coffee date or meeting to become familiar with that person, it's just as hard for you to remember them as it is for them.<br>

9. Do have at least 1 really great album filled with your favorite pictures.<br>

10. Price lists are a personal option, remember you are not a commodity, to merely compare numbers is to not respect you as an artist, and you might really rather work with someone who wants Rikki, not Rikki's low, low, price.</p>

<p>That's my top 10,<br>

Good luck</p>

<p>Okay, in my market area (DC Metro/Baltimore Metro) and even up to Philly, and I would wager beyond all that, good marketing is more about consistency, and communication to create good word of mouth.<br>

1. Every wedding you've done this year, pick out digital images for every vendor relevant to that image..florists get pics of bouquets/arrangements, flowers in shots, Bakers get cake shots, not just the glamour shot of the cake uncut, but the cake cutting itself, Bridal shops, yes including Davids, get the getting ready shots...and you send them without watermark or anything...seriously.<br>

2. Every planner and every venue from each wedding this year gets a CD or Flash Drive or a You Send it email with your 100 favorite images. Again...without watermarks..<br>

3. You send out these images, then over the coming 3-4 weeks you try to set up meetings with each of those venue planners, and event planners, bring food, bring coffee, bring something fun to show the pictures you shot, and bring a bunch of venue related brochures...i.e. if you are trying to get Marriott to put your brochure or literature out, don't hand them stuff with a reception at the Hilton...and yes, they can tell the difference.<br>

What you are doing is getting on the radar screen of these places. Venues, and churches, and in my region, Event planners, are the first 3 that brides here contract, if not one, then the other.<br>

Each one of these places will have planners and salespeople who each need to know you by face, name and your work. You cannot simply expect to drop off a business card or brochure and expect the sales person being paid a pittance to give a single care for your business...which is where the next point comes in.<br>

You must regularly visit these people always with something for them, not just things for them to do for you. You must try to send your clients to them, try to pick up pamphlets and brochures from them, be conversant with their Fri/Sat/Sun costs for venues. In short you will make these people part of your family. Because every 2-3 months there is another Mandy and her partner there at the front desk, pretending to be eager and interested and ready to drop off some literature for the store to make room for. You will be at the bottom of the pile very quickly if you don't stay on their mind as someone who brings them business or at the very least coffee and pastry on a weekday.<br>

Now as for the no watermark, and I'm expecting a little blowback here, I don't think having a watermark or title sells many contracts until you reach a true saturation level in the market. Particularly if the venues I'm describing as the recipients of your images use those images. More to the point, can you think of any wedding themed image that is used for advertising a wedding themed product that has the photographers watermark on it? Of course not, however the image that is successful for another company plying their trades, can be just as useful for you IF, you "theme" some marketing materials based on that image that stay with that vendor. I'm sure this is a little circular here, but here's what I do...<br>

1. I have a fantastic image from a wedding, what Neil Ambrose would call **I hope** a(an?) heroic image. This image is printed in large format, maybe a gallery wrap, certainly framed. and dropped off at the venue where the image was captured.<br>

2. Along with the digital images for them to use in their marketing. Next I tailor 50-200 business cards and brochures, as well as a good album that highlights that event at that location.<br>

3. I now have this venue featuring (and paying for) my work on their website and in their marketing. By dropping off large format prints (and visiting every 2-3 months for coffee, I can see it being displayed) I also have a faux gallery at their location with my prints, and I have an audience who will see my masterpieces from that wedding at this venue.<br>

Yes, this is time consuming and a bit costly initially, but this is most definitely not a get rich quick business, and as a full time photographer, my days are spent balancing between this kind of marketing, getting the processing done, or working with my assistants to do so, meeting with new and prospective clients, and most importantly, taking the images.<br>

All of this moves a bit astray of your question, but in terms of the most reliable advertising, letting someone else pay for it, and rave about you, seems like a very cost effective means in the long run.<br>

One final thing, This scenario I've described is to work with the higher end venues and locations, it is an investment of time and money, the ROI must be considerable, and doing this at a venue specializing in small budget events mostly likely won't be nearly as cost effective.<br>

Good luck</p>

<p>Good Morning, I've used the D70s for years and years, never had a problem with it, until an iso above 640.<br>

The D200, is a really great daylight camera, as long as you have ample light it's fantastic, though the D200 files above iso 500 are filled with noise, so they are practically useless in a church where flash isn't allowed.<br>

Rather then the d90/d300 way to go, the new d7000, whenever it's delivered and in stock, is really a huge upgrade to both the 90/300, and it's about $400 cheaper than the 300, and I'm going to assume it will be what they use to phase out the d90</p>

<p>D200, let's just say I was so disappointed with this camera's low light performance that I was getting ready to jump ship and go Canon for the low iso and that perfect 50 1.2mm lens, however Nikon pulled me back with the D3/300/700 lowlight series and full frame sensors 3/700.</p>

<p>So, I echo Nadine, it it isn't "b-okeh-n" (sorry) don't fix it. Save your money, raise your rates, and get that next level camera.<br>

Oh, just so nobody think you can't blow up a 6.1 mp RAW image for really large size and prints, I would point out that I personally show a 30x40 of a D70 portrait and it's flawless, down to the individual eyelashes, and the National Gallery of Art previously has had displays from early digital days where the prints would be blown up over 8feet. Sizing of a print is based a great deal on the distance of the viewer.</p>

<p>Graphi Studio's software is rather old by most standards because Graphi shows the images in a low resolution mode to allow for the software to render and place your image in the correct area. The problem with designing in a low res environment is fairly obvious if you are trying to tweak an image. So I've found it best to do the layout in either inDesign or Photoshop, or any other similar program, save to a max jpeg (12 on photoshop) at least 300 dpi and then insert the images into the design software of Graphi (Leonardi isn't it?)<br>

While I am most definitively NOT a graphi studio business fan, their products are good enough to make your clients very happy. You must, or should, use a maximum dpi when saving your jpegs to the file. This will give you a very nice high resolution product.<br>

Your question about fit to page, again, design the image for the page, Graphi has the templates and information so you don't have to guess, but if you design a 10cm x 10cm image and stretch it to 4 times the size you will probably not like the results. Graphi makes albums, not imaging software.</p>

<p>Richard, I will say that there is a consistent demographic that goes to some Bridal shows over others. What that demographic is is dependent upon well all sorts of things.</p>

<p>For instance, if there is no admission fee. Anyone can walk in looking for the best deal, their commitment level is lower because they haven't had to invest anything, however small.</p>

<p>Another is that for those who find it a waste of money, I can't speak for them, but every pro I know here who does well at the shows, does well because of that personal connection. Those who just stand..well, they tend to sit on a lot of Saturdays.</p>

<p>Certainly there is price, I don't print out price lists, I just know my starting collection number. If they ask, I tell them, and they will beat a hasty retreat if it's beyond them, nothing against budget conscious shoppers, but professional level work at anything must be a premium so that profession can flourish and prosper, but I don't think that's any news to you.<br>

Also, I just attended a seminar with Jasmine Star, who completely bootstrapped herself from absolutely nothing to being one of the 10 most sought after wedding photographers in 4 YEARS!<br>

Is she a flash in the pan? Not really as she tries to connect to her clients, does she think she's the best photographer who charges more than $10K a wedding, nope and she says it often. What she does is connect with the clients. She's young, pretty, and newly married and shops where they shop, and listens to what they listen to, and understands them. The connection is almost instantaneous. I'm sure neither you or I could become 26, female and 5'1", no matter how hard we tried, but we can connect in other ways.</p>

<p>Where is your market?<br>

D</p>

<p>Okay Richard, I'm a full time photographer, I also get a large percentage of my current clients from these shows. If your asking about "little more than potential" isn't that the crux of all marketing and advertising? There is no guarantee, no sure fire thing to make it work.</p>

<p>What a Bridal show doesn't do is show your work as the best in the world, because there are tons of other photographers there who do work equally as nice as yours, some with booths (I was at one this past weekend) that make you green with envy, and others who really don't seem to know what they want to present.</p>

<p>First rule of thumb, go to one, see what you like, what you don't, it's as much sensory overload for the vendors as well as the attending, so you will get to see what they see in much the same way. Then plan how you want to come across to the "potential" client. Remember they are as overwhelmed and need something to remember you by. False cheer and interest is spotted a mile away. Detached and uninvolved handing over of a price list and business cards whilst standing in front of a few albums isn't very moving either.</p>

<p>You have to SELL RICHARD SNOW...I would put it in bigger caps if I could. This is a service industry, show them some service, you can't possibly book everyone, so if you find yourself talking for a long period of time (more than 5 minutes) to a person, remember they are interested in what you have to say, don't rush them along, allow others to hear you.. and be caffeinated!!</p>

<p>Seriously, of the 50+ weddings I'm doing this year (2010) all north of the median wedding photographer cost in my area, I would promise you roughly 75% come from the bridal shows.<br>

They meet me, and they remember me, not a piece, though I try not to always have the conventional bridal portrait in place because that really gets lost in the crowd no matter how good. I go for a really funny or moving picture or portrait that will stop people in their tracks.<br>

I say go for it, the right way.<br>

Good luck</p>

<p>Sorry for the late answers to questions<br>

1. I'm not printing these images, I'm creating a digital file, and LR is a lot faster, or I'm hoping than InDesign or Bridge to create the Contact sheet file<br>

2. PC or Mac..I'm on a PC, but again, I am not printing the images myself, I'm sending them out to be printed and bound.<br>

3. Set up the print dialogue, excellent angle that I hadn't thought of yet. Though a question is do I need to reboot for the new printing option (on an HP printer) to be read by LR?<br>

Thanks all<br>

d</p>

<p>Hello there all. I'm hoping you might be able to help.<br>

I'm trying to create a custom contact sheet in Lightroom and can't quite get how it's done.<br>

The sheet is to be on a 12"x12" sheet with 12 images on it.<br>

I can only locate 8x10, and haven't been able to figure out how to custom set the sheet size.</p>

<p>Any ideas?<br>

Remember it is a 12x12, must be, can't be rectangular, needs to be large<br>

Thanks<br>

D</p>

<p>Hey Alex, I don't think you sound as if you are making light.<br>

Things to know<br>

1. The elaborate paintings on the hands of the bride and female guests is the Menhdi, usually performed a couple days before ****the bride has within her elaborate menhdi patterns, the name of the groom, usually in English on one hand, and in Hindi on the other.</p>

<p>2. This wedding you will be expected, and often asked, to take a lot of snapshot formals..this isn't exactly the balliwick of a minimalist PJ photographer, but can result in a lot of print sales from the relatives, bring extra business cards with information on how to see the images.</p>

<p>3. When moving through the crowd be assertive but not rude, always a smile, you are to many the "ferengee" or foreigner in their midst.. Always ask, this is a culture that loves to be hospitable, and every mature woman is "Auntie" and every mature man is "Uncle" Placing hands together and greeting them will NOT be taken as making fun of them, but as an immense sign of respect. Remember this is a culture of a BILLION+ people, they are used to crowds, but despise bad manners.</p>

<p>4. You already know you are going to have fun, get used to having your world rocked by probably one of the most cheerful weddings you will ever do. Not to be in any way dismissive of other weddings, but a Hindi Wedding, especially a big one, absolutely one of my favorite things to photograph EVER!</p>

<p>You, know, I really like the shot and all it's variations. Would I submit more than 1, maybe 2 at the most? Nope, but in terms of keeping this an environmental portrait full of personal connection and context, I really think this is the kind of shot that we could all have in our "bags"</p>

<p>Think of the ways it could become artistic or different? I keep thinking of Ben Chrismans amazing photograph of a bride and groom through a glass of wine. The image in the wine glass is sharp and the B/G are out of the DOF. It's a really interesting shot and shows a lot of his craft.</p>

<p>I'm curious, and lazy enough not to want to start a new thread....what kind of "new" images do you all find yourself looking for now that everyone has a camera who has a phone.<br>

and on a different note, and yet another thread, and forum area...do you think the point and shoots are in their final genesis now that every PDA, iPhone, Droid and so for has about the same resolution, the ability to upload images to Facebook instantly and usually a bigger screen to view....and of course it's always with them!</p>