Getting started

bulb66 · 10 May 2011 at 13:51

Hi all,

So haven't seen this question in a thread of it's own so though i'd ask.

How do i get started in Photography?

I mean as a paid job, how did the pro's on here get started. I was thinking about talking to the guy who did my mates wedding a year or so ago and seeing if he wanted an unpaid (for now) assistant, what you think?

Or maybe doing a few stock photo and seeing anyone's interested?

Here some of my "better" shots, i know i have a lot to learn still.

Object - Week 14 by j.fordham, on Flickr

DPP_0251 by j.fordham, on Flickr

Power - Week 18 by j.fordham, on Flickr

bulb66 · 10 May 2011 at 18:14

After having a very blunt reply on the TP forums i understand that my idea for making something of myself was stupid and my pictures are ****, lol.

Feel free to reply, but please be nice

J

SDK^ · 10 May 2011 at 18:34

If you're interested in wedding photography then seek out some Pro's who you can shadow to get experience and build up an individual portfolio.
If your images are good, you get on well with your customers and are motivated then you'll build up contacts, start getting noticed and hired for more work.

There is nothing wrong with your vehicle shots above but they are not amazing either. For sure, get the obvious shots in the bag but also think about capturing the more interesting aspects, angles and perspectives of your subject. Stuff that the other 95% of people also photographing it won't be taking as well.

Your photos need to stand out !!

D.P. · 10 May 2011 at 18:37

You can always have a go in stock photography, but don't expect to make any real money anytime soon, and also expect to have a lot of rejected photos. But no harm done, and you will learn what technically perfect means and also what is commercially viable. The 3 images you posted wont be good for stock IMO (and in microstock the first 2 will be rejected).

For weddings you need to build up a portfolio. Try just photographing family and friends for portraits, and parties/dinners/social events of your friends. Hopefully you also get to go to a few friends weddings. You need to get very confident in getting good photos on the spot, this can take a lot of training before it comes natural. Once you have a portfolio then you can maybe approach a wedding photographer to assist, but this isn't easy for several reasons (they often like to work alone, don't want interference, don';t want to be responsible for you being a fool/accidents).

I've assisted in 2-3 weddings for family and friends now in a fairly active role (e.g., sole photographer of a civil wedding last week, sole photographer for everything outside the church service). I found them enjoyable but stressful, and will certainly want a few more practice weddings/parties.
I have also found that I am pushed to my limits equipment wise, even when renting/borrowing lenses since I am mostly wildlife and landscape based. I've predominantly used various primes and a 70-200 2.8 for reportage, but I think I definitely need a 24-70 2.8 to give flexibility in my compositions. A camera with a FX sensor also seems very appealing when you start shooting weddings, not that it is at all the be all and end all.

ElDude · 10 May 2011 at 18:58

If helping your mate for free is something you want to do, I say go for it. As long as he's not relying on you for your photos to sell, and would just use them if they turn out well, then where's the harm?

Personally I'd jump at the chance, if only to gain experience in a field I normally wouldn't venture into. Nothing ventured, nothing gained

Oh and I've seen your photos on TP in the photo 52 (I think) and the ones you've posted here seem fine. I haven't stumbled across the TP thread you're talking about as I've been a bit busy running in front of a mirror for the last 2 weeks

adamau5 · 10 May 2011 at 20:29

I think i am in a position to help, 'getting started' is just happening to me right now (i think...)

I got started by taking good (imo) photos and posting on my facebook, my flickr, forums, by showing people at work etc etc.

Its not how good you are, its how many people know how good you are.

Essentially you need to network. Do work for free now, and make a promise to yourself to take you camera everywhere and learn how to take good photos in varying situations.Then once work starts coming in naturally you can be reasonably confident you have something to sell and eventually make money from. At that point advertising will (if your product is desirable) bring in busines

Now on to the geeky bit... you need a certain level of kit, its not all about the tog, you cant get away with really basic kit. You need flashes, some quick lenses, and now i have tried it... i think a full frame body or a mid range crop body (60d or d7000 +) are a massive help. If there is no light then having that iso range just makes things easier and ultimately better. This isnt to say you need a full range of L lenses (the tamron 28-75 is a superb lens, the sigma wides on a crop are very good value for money) but coping with a kit lens and a nifty fifty is not ideal.

bigredshark · 10 May 2011 at 21:22

adamau5 said:
I got started by taking good (imo) photos and posting on my facebook, my flickr, forums, by showing people at work etc etc.

Its not how good you are, its how many people know how good you are.

That's exactly the thing about getting started...getting your work out there and just waiting for somebody ask you for a favour is how I got started, then a bit of commercial stuff for a friends business led to some more and I got a (small) reputation now as being someone to speak to about commercial work in a few fairly niche areas. Just word of mouth really, I never put much effort into advertising.

Once that's done you have an issue, running a successful photography business isn't about being a good photographer, it's about being a good businessman.

My personal position is I don't want to be a full time pro right now, I'm happy doing a few hand picked projects a year with companies I like working with, it's fun and it makes me a decent amount of money but importantly I don't need to worry about the business side.

adamau5 · 10 May 2011 at 21:27

This weekend i signed up two weddings and a commercial event that is just a phenominal opportunity....

All through friends, colleagues and acquaintances! and if i do a good job... the network will grow. I reckon its the most risk free way to start, do free jobs for people you know, do them well enough anf things start to happen

Raymond Lin · 10 May 2011 at 21:32

adamau5 said:
This weekend i signed up two weddings and a commercial event that is just a phenominal opportunity....

All through friends, colleagues and acquaintances! and if i do a good job... the network will grow. I reckon its the most risk free way to start, do free jobs for people you know, do them well enough anf things start to happen

Word of Mouth is the best and cheapest form of advertising.

The majority of my work comes from word of mouth, a few from people seeing my work online.

Recently I got this email, which I had to turn down, I had a prior engagement & it was too late notice to even move my other meeting!!!! Plus i don't have a car atm to carry all the gear that i need.

I was kicking myself.

Hi Raymond
I used to work with [Name of a Groom] hence coming accross your amazing photos!
I have a very last minute commerical job tomorrow night in Milton Keynes and wondered if you would be available?
We need a couple of PR shots of Danielle Lineker and Joe McGann donating suits to the ‘Suit Amnesty’ charity campaign.

They need to be really good quality, smiley animated shots for use in the nationals.
Timewise; 10-10:30pm at X Milton Keynes
(they are appearing in the Calendar Girls beforehand).

I can send you some example shots.
Hope to hear from you!
XYZ

adamau5 · 10 May 2011 at 21:44

wounder!

bulb66 - as far as i can see, you have made a positive start, keep taking pics! I would suggest you start taking pics of people, the vast majority of people like looking at photos of themselves, give them that opportunity!

33L · 11 May 2011 at 10:21

I have just started my wedding photography business and we are well into the first year. WE havent actively advisertised by have got loads of referrals from networking. Our first year so far is a success.

now onto getting started. You need to be confident in yourself, you need to be able to handle the bad times with the good, i.e. getting rejected for another photographer. Get your finances in place. get an accountant to guide you through the tax side of things and make sure you are legal. get a business model sorted, stick to it, if it needs tweaking, tweak it. Take into account your overheads, album costs, insurance, transport, time editing, doing the filing etc... give yourself a minimum operating cost and then add your mark up.

bulb66 · 11 May 2011 at 13:52

Thanks all, these are the kind of replies i wanted.

I can see it's all about practice, practice, practice & just getting yourself out there.

I just wanted to get an idea of how to do the paid for work thing, and i can see it's a hard and long road, but i have to start somewhere so, just having my camera with me and practicing is what i'll do and see where it takes me.

Thanks again.

James

D.P. · 11 May 2011 at 14:10

Also, buy and study lots of books, and not just technique but also portfolios. Learn to appreciate the qualities of great photos and some of their magic will hopefully trickle into your own work.

adamau5 · 11 May 2011 at 15:54

Oh, and some advice that should be made a sticky...

Never ever, never ever ever, ask on a dedicated photography forum about starting wedding photography.

The wedding wolves have massive strength in numbers and are becoming fearless in modern times. They will rip you apart and make you question your own existance.

You have been warned. Only the wolves are allowed to take photos at weddings. Learn it.

bulb66 · 11 May 2011 at 16:34

adamau5 said:
Oh, and some advice that should be made a sticky...

Never ever, never ever ever, ask on a dedicated photography forum about starting wedding photography.

The wedding wolves have massive strength in numbers and are becoming fearless in modern times. They will rip you apart and make you question your own existance.

You have been warned. Only the wolves are allowed to take photos at weddings. Learn it.

ha ha, why do you think i posted this, lol

bulb66 said:
After having a very blunt reply on the TP forums i understand that my idea for making something of myself was stupid and my pictures are ****, lol.

Feel free to reply, but please be nice

J