karenco

Walk away now. That's my best advice to you.

Try this website instead: http://www.planetneil.com

 

Lots of information on using your on camera flash to it's fullest, w/out relying on the modifiers that claim to do everything. :)

 

Karen

"This is internally inconsistent because the actual opposite of digital is analog. "

 

Only if you're talking about electronic broadcasts and emissions. When speaking of photography, there's no "opposite" in actual point of fact. There's digital and film. To refer to film as "analog" is factually incorrect.

 

K

First of all, there's no such thing as "analog" photography. The opposite of digital is film.

 

Second of all, letting a client dictate how you shoot would be like going to a restaurant and dictating to the chef what brand of pots and pans he has to use. The only thing that should matter are the images.

 

If she has qualms about the safety of the files, reassure her by letting her know that you take plenty of precautions to make sure that backups are made (assuming you do, of course).

 

K

Check out this site: http://www.planetneil.com

 

Lots of good information on using flash on camera - indoors and out. Neil also puts on seminars and workshops and you can request locations if you're intereseted.

 

k.

I need a wide lens ... and quite frankly 2.8 is often too slow for me. I feel restricted and out of sorts when I have to use a slower lens.

 

But it's all a matter of how you shoot and what you want your images to look like in the final presentation. Whether YOU will need something that fast isn't something I can answer.

 

Karen

It's really very frustrating for someone to ask for feedback and then respond with "I did it the way I wanted to, but thanks anyway." Obviously nothing anyone says on this thread or elsewhere is going to make a difference. At this point the only thing anyone can say is "good luck" and move on.

 

karen

Hi CE. First of all let me say that I do believe it's possible to sell a primarily PJ or documentary style of shooting and be very successful at it. You can also possibly find a photographer who is more classically or traditionally based and work together to present two styles. However, as Anne pointed out, you do need to be VERY strong both technically and in your storytelling abilities in order ot make it work - especially to make it work at a level where you can earn a living.

 

As of right now, based on what I see on your site, your work is not quite at that level. Don't get me wrong - I do think you've got some good potential and there are a handful of really solid images there, but for the most part it seems to me that you've *just* missed the moment in these candids - either a split second too early or a split second too late. Many of the images just seem like random captures, and don't seem to have a reason or a focal point or to contribute to the story of the day.

 

Also, you need to work on your technical a bit. Your flash work is very harsh and flat - not flattering light for brides or weddings. I'm seeing a lot of blown out highlights and very tweaked contrasty images as well.

 

It's a great market to be in, truly. I love my clients who want more hands off stuff and only a small handful of family photos. But they still expect GOOD, solid, artistic work ... even if it's PJ.

 

Karen

You cannot distribute bundled software. The Photoshop Elements agreement is here http://www.adobe.com/products/eulas/pdfs/Gen_WWCombined_PSE_5_012507.pdf

 

Read sections 4.3 and 4.4 which says specifically that you cannot unbundle, transfer without the associated hardware, or distribute "not for resale" copies (OEM).

Photoshop is the professional standard and you should make sure to get a legal copy, rather than a pirated one.

 

karen

The other thing to be aware of when giving/selling copyright is that once you've released it you no longer have any rights to the image. Do not sell your copyright unless you know for 100% surety that you will never want to use those images again for anything.

 

Sell usage or license rights to people ... but do not sell your copyright.

 

Karen

I don't allow people to just "cross out" lines in my contract. If they have a problem with something, they need to email me or call me and ask about it. When people just start altering my contract w/out even asking, I take that as a trouble sign.

 

I'd contact him and say that you recevied the contract, but you cannot accept it with the changes he's made. Then ask why he made those changes and if you could discuss his concerns.

 

Karen

In response to a few people above:

 

Saying that the church "most certainly did not hire him" is silly, since we here have no idea what was said or done by the church or Earl. Earl said he decided to charge for costs, so it's apparent that there is an element of "hiring" going on, whether it's for costs or for more. It's most likely that there was no solid understanding on either side, which is where the whole problem is. It all goes back to making sure AHEAD OF TIME that you have a clear understanding with some form of written documentation - doesn't have to be a formal, signed contract. Just an agreement of terms.

 

"Every other job in the church except the minister" is NOT a volunteer job. I ask you again, do you think the church secretary is unpaid? Do you think the janitor is unpaid? Do you thnk the youth minister is unpaid? What about the accountant who works on the church books? The church is a BUSINESS as well as a spiritual center. And IMO, the church has just as much of an obligation to not take advantage of their members ... by paying a fair wage for work done when it goes beyond the occassional volunteer job.

 

As to the "paid employee" - Earl is not a paid employee of the church unless they hire him and start paying his taxes and benefits, so that argument is irrelevant. Earl has the right to charge the church a fair business rate for his time and work. He may choose to donate some or all of the time and costs or he may not. That is between him and the church. Calling into question his Christianity because he is endeavoring to run his business like a business is .. IMO ... not very Christian.

 

Karen

Why is there something wrong with being both an employee and a member of the church. Do you think the minister doesn't get paid? The church secretary? The church janitor? Please.

 

My cousin is a minister. My aunt is a missionary. My other cousin is a music teacher at a religious seminary. I GUARANTEE you that every one of them gets paid for the jobs they do. And I guarantee you that they understand the difference between service and employment. When my cousin asked me to set up a portrait area for their Valentine's Day dinner for the couples of his church, he expected to pay me the fair going rate. This concept that one should give away their services for free just becausae it's a church is ridiculous.

 

Earl - to answer your question, NEVER give or sell your copyright. Ever. What the church is asking for is usage rights or licensing. I'm a little confused by your post and the numbers you gave. I'm not sure what the 50 is of, the 2 rolls of film, or the 3 hour event - it seems very confusing to me. What I would say is since you're donating your TIME for free, write up a proposal for the church. I understand you trying to be flexible and not lock them down to a contract but you MUST have your agreement with them in writing to protect both sides. Even if it's just an email that says "these are the terms". It also helps them to understand the value they're getting. (Additional to that any time value you donate to the church is a tax writeoff, so you want to be sure to document the value of the time you're donating so that you can claim it on your taxes.)

 

I hope that makes sense to you.

 

Karen

What the first shooter is making has zero (less) to do with what you should charge. Either you know what you're worth or you don't. Quote him a rate for your services that makes it worth while for you to do the job and makes you happy. The rest of it is totally irrelevant.

 

Karen

The glass is the most important thing you can buy. Good glass will make or break an image. You can work with a basic camera body if you need to, but glass is crucial.

 

Karen

Mary - you said you don't have a flash, you only have 2 lenses, you've booked 7 weddings, but you are looking for advice on how to shoot them. You're actively booking paying clients while asking beginner questions on the Internet.

 

I think it's very frustrating for established pros to read on the forums over and over again (paraphrased): "Hi I just decided to become a wedding photographer and I don't really have any pro equipment and I don't understand lighting or composition, but a bunch of people tell me I take good pictures and so I think I'm going to be a pro." It doesn't happen to any other profession really.

 

I understand totally that not everyone has the opportunity to work with other photographers, but I think that anyone who is interested in becoming a professional should at the very least take the time to learn the basics of photography - and that includes lighting and flash - before calling themselves a pro and charging clients for their services.

 

I would suggest that you spend lots and lots of time on the sites suggested. I would also recommend http://www.planetneil.com for some great information about on-camera flash specifically for weddings.

 

Karen

Before anything else, you must have backup equipment. That means at least 1 additional camera, lens, and flash, plus extra batteries for everything.

 

Other than that, what's "essential" is more a matter of personal taste. What camera you use, what lenses you use, all of that jazz ... none of it is "essential" across the board.

 

What I use and wouldn't go to a wedding w/out are:

20D camera (+ backup camera)

50mm 1.4 (+50mm 1.8 backup)

20mm 2.8

100mm 2.8 macro

580ex flash (+ backup)

 

There are additional lenses and items I carry, but they are not my "essential" items. They are additional items that allow me more creativity.

I don't think Susan is a member here, but just FYI, she doesn't shoot any film. She's 100% digital.

 

There are a lot of photographers who inspire me who I don't necessarily strive to shoot like - but whose work I love for stimulating my creativity.

 

Susan Stripling for her use of color and light

Huy Nguyen of F8 Studios in Dallas (http://www.f8studios.com)

Dave & Quin Cheung (http://www.dqstudios.com)

Doug & Chenin Boutwell (http://www.boutwellstudio.com)

Wow. Just wow. Ditto everyone else. If you're too lazy to do basic research to improve your skills and learn how to fix a problem, then you have no business charging people for your services.

Wow. A buncha people spouting hate here w/out knowing what they're talking about.

 

Quote: [iMHO,digital is for "computer geek's" that have days on end to play with their images. Because if you lack the post production, "tweaking" skills, your work becomes mediocre with a capital "M".]

Most of the pros I know using digital are not taking "days" to "tweak" and "play". They shoot, they post process, they're done. I wasn't aware that the medium one used was the sole arbiter of the quality of ones work. I always thought that one's technical skill, artistic eye, and ability to capture the shot was what determined the quality.

 

Quote: [The pros that I know that went digital from the gitgo (c1990's), are now on their 3rd or 4th generation cameras! How much have they saved by going digital?]

Yep. And still the savings is there. The cost of the bodies is minimal compared to the cost savings on film and processing.

 

Quote: [Most walk around kicking themselves in their ass-sets. And quite a few have un-mothballed their medium format cameras. ]

Not the photographers I know. I do not know or know of a single photographer who is shooting medium format or is shooting all film (until this thread). I know of a small handful who are shooting film and digital. Everyone I know has said that they wouldn't go back to film if they had to. And several of the very successful photographers I know have never shot film. Ever. And don't plan to.

 

Sounds like sour grapes to me. Someone does't get digital, doesn't know how to shoot digital, and so instead of accepting it as an alternative for others, has to badmouth it and put it down. I guess a lot of people are more comfortable putting down what they fear.

"Where do you go "register" on their sites?"

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With total respect and not meaning to be harsh - expecting people here to handhold you at that level is unrealistic. It's not that hard to figure out yourself if you go to those sites. If you want to run a business, you need to show some initiative. Most of these places have their advertising rates on their site and those that don't have contact information for contacting an advertising rep to get more information. Just go look.

You sort them by creation date and then you rename them in order using any of several dozen photo management applications. A few that come to mind are iView (what I use), Breezebrowzer, ACDSee, ThumbsPlus, and so forth.

You can't even buy a computer with a CD drive any more from the major manufacturers. I would venture to guess that the number of clients who have a computer who don't have a DVD drive are very very very very few.

Just because I release files doesn't mean I don't get after wedding sales. Over 50% of my clients order albums or prints from me, despite hving the disc of images in their possession.