Light Painting Photography: Not just For Specialists Any longer

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<p>Starting out like a pro photographer is very fascinating. It's interesting to recognize that the photography hobby could also be a fantastic method to bring in a little extra money on the side. Unfortunately, I've seen dozens and dozens of photographers begin with all the delight on the planet, but eventually fail like a photographer. Oh, and I'd barely exclude myself from this group. The main reason I'm creating these fables is because I've produced almost every mistake on this particular page.

It is my hope this list isn't going to discourage anyone from being a professional photographer, but I really do hope that it's going to make you aware of the amazingly common misconceptions that many photographers have about making cash with photography.

Before I start the list, I have to point out that OBVIOUSLY these "myths" will not be untrue in every circumstance. Without any doubt, there are people who are able to accomplish almost anything, however, I feel most qualified pros would agree with 99% of what's to the list. (Updated: Evidently many people skipped over this paragraph and determined to come out swinging in the opinions. Rest, people. I prefer to keep things friendly around the website. In case you disagree, do so politely).

Myth #1: Being a pro photographer will permit me to perform my own hours.

Yikes. No way. No opportunity. Unless "your own hours" means that you would like to work practically every weekend and night, then you definitely're setting yourself up for failure.

Once you realize that a lot of wedding and portrait photography customers will need to do shoots on weekends and evenings, you may determine this type of photography isn't for you.

Treatment for trouble # 1: Many photographers recognize that children photography and shooting baby is a great strategy to work better hrs. It is generally easier for children and infant photographers to schedule shoots during regular business hours since many parents are at home taking care of the kids throughout the day.

Myth # 2: If I charge $75 for a 1-hour shoot, I'll be making $75 per hour!!!

You would do WELL if you had enough clients to spend half of your work week really shooting 1-hour sessions. But wait! You have to post-process your photographs, which takes about half an hour for each 1-hour of shooting. Now you're producing $30 per hour. Now you're producing just $25 per hour. Oh, and you will need to put up the shoot together with the customer, send proofs, and focus on prints. It takes time, also. You get the theory.

Quite honestly, it's the uncommon photographer that can charge $75 for a 1-hour shoot and also make it work financially, until you're getting the client to pay for individual prints or some other premium. Inside my experience, photographers who merely get $ 75 for an one hour shoot isn't going to end up living unless they have low-overhead and are exceptionally effective in completing other crucial tasks.

It is impossible to answer generally.

Fantasy # 3: Getting tons of compliments about your own photography means you're prepared to shoot professionally.

Whenever your family, pals, co-workers, and neighbors see your photos, they will almost always give good comments. Why? Because they are amazed that your pictures seem so far better than their snapshots. Additionally, they like you and hence like exactly what you generate.

Photographer gives hints to your model within a studio shoot with lighting mods.

Working with clients--my least favorite section of photography

Unfortunately, customers don't compare your photos to their own shots. Customers examine work from what they see in magazines as well as on tv. The know what professionalquality photographs look like, and they know in the event you're not as good as the magazine photographers.

Treatment for trouble #3: Understand that you aren't prepared to go professional until people start offering to purchase your work. If people such as your things so much that they want to buy it, then you're likely ready good enough to make the leap.

Myth # 4: Clients will love your photos in the event that you take pictures.

Nope. Sorry. Allow me to exemplify using a personal experience. I got home from the shoot one day and I was thrilled. The shoot was phenomenal and I had captured some of the finest portraits of my entire life.

Shocker. What did the customer think about the photographs? WHAT?!?!? I couldn't think it. To me, it re-enforced something I've noticed by many clients-they care what they look as a whole lot more than they care what the photo looks like.

Don't get me wrong. The photograph better be innovative. It better look "in type" and trendy. Get accustomed to it. That's why you allow the client choose her own shots, instead of you picking for her.

Answer to trouble #4: (1) Permit the client to pick which pictures she wants to purchase, (2) ask the client to send you four to five examples of the type of photo they are searching for before the shoot, (3) ask the customer if they want any portion of those Photoshopped, and (4) look at the customer and decide what elements of her body she would want highlighted, and what she might be embarrassed about and want concealed from the photo.

Myth # 5: Second shooters are discretionary for weddings-even high budget weddings.

Imagine if you become sick and can't shoot the event? What if your memory card fails? So many things can fail, and also the unexpected mishaps could mean becoming sued through an upset Bridezilla.

Solution to problem # 5: Either describe the dangers of only having one shooter for the client and bill a lesser rate, or quit being economical and pay for a second shooter. Personally, I have no difficulty using a photographer billing a reduced rate to only get one shooter; nevertheless, in the event that you're going to be the sole shooter in a wedding, you need to make it completely clear to the customer that there is risk in equipment failure, affliction, and "missing the shot." If they are ready to take those risks to be able to save a buck, then you certainly're establish. Otherwise, pay to do-it right.

Myth # 6: Paying for a fine will bring in customers.

For a former web designer, I can unequivocally promise this is actually a myth. In fact, in case you put up a great gallery of pictures on a website and do nothing more, it really is unlikely that even one individual will locate your site when hunting for a photographer. Why? Since you haven't optimized your website for search engines.

What I see again and again with non-tech-savvy photographers is the fact that they have a website full of images with just a little bit of text. Surprise, Google won't have the ability to tell that you just're a photographer in Boise Idaho in the truth that you just have images on your site.

Solution to trouble #8: If you are not tech savvy, it really is worth the money to hire someone to teach you the best way to optimize your website for search engines. In the event that you're a doit-yourself sort, then I highly recommend the SEO 101 podcast, which teaches how to enhance your seo. I have learned quite A BIT from playing it in the last few months.

Myth # 7: You can bring in as much by selling a CD of the pictures as you can by selling individual prints.

Actually see the costs of the studio session at Wal-Mart or J.C. Penney? The sitting fee is often less than $ 10. So how can these shops make a profit? They sell the prints for an insane amount of money, and most clients don't realize that they can likely end up spending $100 or more to receive all the prints they want.

I'm not saying that it's bad business practice to give the CD. All I am saying is that there are lots of customers who don't realize that a $150 session using a CD is a lot cheaper than a $75 session free of CD. Clearly, there are some customers that comprehend this already, but it appears that they're more of the exception than the rule.

Answer to issue #7: You only need to spell things out for that client. Describe on your pricing page how precious the CD is in case you're going to give it out. If Not, the clients don't understand why your cost has to be greater than the "other man." Again, I don't have any problem with photographers offering digital copies of the pictures to clients, but you have to recognize that clients may well not understand how valuable the CD is unless you describe it to them certainly.

I thought backup equipment was unnecessary until my 70 200mm lens suddenly began giving my camera error messages right in the center of shooting a fancy blacktie event to get a bunch of millionaires in a country-club (not kidding). As soon as I looked down and observed ERR-99, blood poured out of every orifice on my own body.

Solution to issue # 8: at least get some great photograph pals that may rush you some additional equipment within a crisis, If you totally cannot afford a backup body and lens.

Myth #9: Working on a handshake is great for business.

Since I'm going to graduate law school soon, I'm keenly aware of when it comes to the legal aspects of professional photography how uninformed some folks are. I will not take photos of anyone for profit without obtaining a deal signed first. All it takes is one lawsuit as well as your portrait photography business is sunk. Whether you win the litigation or not, the legal expenses will be quite so expensive your business will be gonzo.

Solution to issue #9: Resolve today to never again shoot a photo of anyone for profit without obtaining a contract signed previously. You only can't make exceptions.

Myth #10: You're absolutely capable of composing your personal contract.

A while back, I saw a photo site (which I shall leave unnamed to save the writer the embarrassment), where the writer contained a link to his "sample images deal." My jaw dropped when I read it. I am able to see how he thought he'd covered each of the bases against the agreement, but it was so full of holes that it more closely resembled swiss cheese than a legally binding instrument.

Solution to issue #10: If you need legal help to create a contract, consult a lawyer (barrister for you folks in the UK) who is certified to practice in your jurisdiction. Can't afford a lawyer? Standard forms are provided by most trade associations to members for no additional cost. Which is an amazing source!

Myth #11: You can avoid learning lighting and purchasing flash tools by calling yourself a "natural light photographer."

It always makes me smile and shake my head once I visit a photographer's portfolio and they proudly market being a "natural light photographer." Whenever I read this phrase, it promptly gets processed in my mind to mean, "I'm either too cheap to purchase lighting supplies, or I haven't yet figured out the way to do offcamera flash.

Let me be clear, there are some absolutely incredible natural light photographers on the planet. But actually, that type of photographer is one in a million. I enjoy capturing natural light portraits, but there is no way that I'd go to a portrait photography session without some sort of flash equipment. Natural light photography may be amazing, but don't let this be an excuse for lacking the instruments to find the shot.

Treatment for trouble #11: Begin learning! Make the jump!

Ugh! I studied advertising in faculty, so poor advertising makes me cringe. I've probably seen a dozen or more give-aways on Facebook pages for beginning master photographers. Not constantly, but the majority of the time, it ends up that your neighbor Susan, your Uncle Mortimer, and 10 of your friends are the sole individuals who enter the contest. Following That, you're caught doing portraits for your own pals and you never attract any new customers.

Giveaways and social media might be great resources, but don't feel you'll get people thumping down your door only by tossing out a freebie. Advertising photography takes skill, tenacity, and imagination.

Solution to problem #12: Use your brain! Be creative and consider ways to get people referring to your business. Then you ABSOLUTELY SHOULD keep reading this book on affordable and creative marketing methods, if you want some inspiration.

Fantasy #13: You can become a destination wedding photographer by writing, "Available for traveling" on your biography page.

The simple truth is that many customers select a photographer at the place rather than paying for one to fly across the nation or throughout the world to shoot their wedding. Getting jobs like this does not come by only seeking it.

Answer to problem #13: All of the destination wedding photographers I understand (I am NOT one of these...) get the job if they have been in existence for a while. Once you have shot the customer's family photo, senior pictures, and engagement photos, you're in the running for finding a destination gig if you do really fantastic work.

Another way to acquire the destination wedding gigs is to appeal to higher end customers. Ritzy clients are usually willing to pay the premium for a photographer they understand and trust to travel to the location.

So, both work your way to the high end market, or take some time to cultivate relationships with families so that they wouldn't dare let other people shoot their wedding.

Fantasy #14: Networking is discretionary.

Besides the value of networking to have picture buddies that will help you in a pinch, networking with several other individuals in the sector is crucial to get jobs.

Making friends with these people by giving them specialist photographs of the work could make them like you. They'll often send your way to referrals, when a bride goes to the florist or the cake decorator or the reception hall.

Myth #15: No one will discover that the portfolio includes the same 5 people in each shot.

Yes, they will. They definitely see, and they'll definitely not choose to cover the "new guy" just like the photographer across town who has 20 years worth of photos in his portfolio.

Solution to trouble #15: Get out there and shoot!

Myth #16: Your portfolio will look fantastic even when the models look common.

Let's face the reality. Clients want to appear good within their pictures and they merely can't see past your "average looking" designs to inform the pictures are great. Having pictures of wonderful models inside your portfolio can create a tremendous difference in how customers see you as a photographer.

Usually, you will receive a fantastic local model to perform a shoot for free in the event you offer them copies of the graphics. Do a small number of those shoots and your portfolio will appear ten times better.

False. Ugh. If all your blog posts could be retitled to say, "Here are 10 images from my newest shoot" then you seriously need some blogging help. Only your mother wants to see your images of the customers you shoot. Nobody else cares. Are you blogging to your mother, or to your clients? Your clients have found your portfolio, and this sort of post is worthless for them.

Solution to trouble #17: What about posts that are really useful to your own clients? For example, "What not to use to a portrait photography shoot", or "How to acquire a completely mundane senior portrait" or "The best spots in Salt Lake City, Utah to hold a wedding party." This type of post is considerably more likely to garner a readership, and certainly will make you look as if you know everything you're doing. Oh, and it's amazing for search engine optimization, also!

Fantasy #18: If you love photography, you'll love being a master photographer.

Photography is unbelievably fun whenever you are in control of everything creative and you will shoot what you want when you aspire to shoot it. Unfortunately, all of that changes if you're shooting for another person. Suddenly, you aren't trying to create what you like, you're trying to please the mum-of-the-bride. Also, you'll have to deal with business products, marketing your photos to clients, and paperwork.

Treatment for problem #18: Before turning into a professional photographer, make certain to understand how it'll change your hobby and confirm it's in fact everything you want. A terrific strategy to really get your feet wet is always to offer to become a second shooter for a local pro. Doing a job shadow within the studio and doing a few times to this might enable you to determine whether you adore photography, or if you adore professional photography.

Myth #19: Images is just a growing business.

Yep, you're right. Images is certainly growing, but not in demand. It's the reserve of photographers that is growing. Everyone with a camera (like ) thinks about you earning money with photography.

Treatment for problem #19: You must identify yourself from the pack. If you can't definitely answer what makes you better than every other photographer around, then you haven't yet established a brand. Why don't you build a "Top 10 Reasons to Choose Jim Harmer" page on your own photography web site?

Fantasy #20: You don't want to share this post on FB/Twitter/Google.

I hope you gained value from reading this post. Thanks, and appreciate the daily photography tips at Enhance Photography. Oh, and that I'd love to hear your ideas in a comment below, but we have a 100% positive and uplifiting policy around here, so in case you decide to differ, please do so politely.

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