Soooo... would you hire me?

[benee]

Hi Folks, I'm looking to get more into wedding photography as a second shooter and have prepared a brief portfolio/sideshow to show to pros looking for a second shooter. Any thoughts/comments/critiques are appreciated!

The slideshow is at
http://www.benjamineley.com/photo

[AndreaBFS]

I'm not qualified to give you feedback, but I wanted to let you know that I am not able to load your site.

[LemonFreshDesigns]

I think your work is great! Good luck with your endeavors :)

[Rafal_BC]

The pictures are much too small for proper viewing. Try making a gallery with bigger images - you'll probably get more responses.

[benee]

I'm not qualified to give you feedback, but I wanted to let you know that I am not able to load your site.


Hmmmm... I haven't had a problem with it on several different computers. Its in Flash, so maybe your computer doesn't have Flasd loaded?? Thanks for the feedback though - if this happens again, I'll know something might be wrong!

[moeronn]

I think you've got a pretty good eye and some really good timing. There are some great captures there. Several images seem underexposed, but this is a great start. Good luck.

[benee]

The pictures are much too small for proper viewing. Try making a gallery with bigger images - you'll probably get more responses.

You can click the little box at the bottom for a more full screen experience - it was a toss up between forcing people to have to sit through each image, or being able to browse through thumbnails at the bottom. Thanks for the feedback!

[DocFrankenstein]

If they're all from the same wedding, that's pretty good.

The pictures won't make you famous, but it's worthy work.

[Maxxum5]

Hey, they are far superior to my 1st go at it! The first COUPLE look snice, but it appears that you changed your style in the later series.

The images where the groom is face the Brides back? Not so "Keepsake" to me. I would have had the Brde facing camera while groom facing away, or both facing camera with shallow depth of field. One in background out of focus.

I like your style. The hands/ring shot is awesome. The "MOONWLAK" photo is priceless.

Hey, if I lived in NJ, I'd would volunteer to be your lens caddy!

Are these image swith the Canon Rebel XT? Wa sit on board flash, external TTL, or did you have them cool light boxes?

Keep up the good work.

[AndreaBFS]

It just loaded after letting it sit for about 5-8 minutes. Do you have a preloader? Something is definitely weird there.

[benee]

It just loaded after letting it sit for about 5-8 minutes. Do you have a preloader? Something is definitely weird there.


hmmm... to be honest I'm not sure - it's just a slideshow I created in lightroom. Are you using dialup? Maybe that's the issue..,.

[benee]

Hey, they are far superior to my 1st go at it! The first COUPLE look snice, but it appears that you changed your style in the later series.

The images where the groom is face the Brides back? Not so "Keepsake" to me. I would have had the Brde facing camera while groom facing away, or both facing camera with shallow depth of field. One in background out of focus.

I like your style. The hands/ring shot is awesome. The "MOONWLAK" photo is priceless.

Hey, if I lived in NJ, I'd would volunteer to be your lens caddy!

Are these image swith the Canon Rebel XT? Wa sit on board flash, external TTL, or did you have them cool light boxes?

Keep up the good work.

Thanks for your comments! You're right, the first two are definitely a different style. To be honest, I'm still getting a feel for what my style might end up being... The first two were natural window light, and I did a little bit of soft focus effect in LR. Pretty much all of the first 7 or 8 were natural window light

All of the other indoor shots were bounced flash off the ceiling, Rebel XT Ettl.

[AndreaBFS]

:::sigh::: no, I'm not on dial-up.

[LW Dail]

Great start!

My only comment would be to check the whole frame when composing. Some of the backgrounds are distracting.

Good luck!

[benee]

:::sigh::: no, I'm not on dial-up.


goes to show you how much I know... thanks for checking it out anyway.

Edit - I feel like more of an idiot after seeing your knockout website... :)

[Bob_A]

To answer the question in the title of your post ... No, not yet. But I do feel you show a lot of potential.

Some of the images in your portfolio are very good. For others there are a variety of issues such as white balance, exposure, cropping. You seem to have a pretty good eye though, and I like the way you captured expressions of the guests. I also think that a few of the images are pretty creative.

Good luck, and I hope that you find a very good photographer to be a second shooter for to help you hone your skills.

[benny g]

hey there bud...

mate you have all the qualities of an upincoming photographer!!!

ide just watch your crops on certain pics.. you seem to be cutting a few in half for a closer focus...

other than that the colours are great and your style will evole, im sure,into something quite awesome...

yes... ide hire you...

benny

[michillebaker]

I think you did a great job and to answer you question for a low end price then yes i would hire you.

[cchooks]

Hi Folks, I'm looking to get more into wedding photography as a second shooter and have prepared a brief portfolio/sideshow to show to pros looking for a second shooter. Any thoughts/comments/critiques are appreciated!

The slideshow is at
http://www.benjamineley.com/photo


Well the pictures are good, but you are having troubles with your site. It is very slow, and the scroll is very tenative. I expanded to full screen and most of the image was cut out of the site.

[SDavis Photo]

Your Site worked very fast for me, I have DSL that may be why.
Your work is very good overal with some not as good but as you shoot more you can change them out in your portfolio.
I think you will find many who will hire you and as you shoot more weddings you can easly raise your rates.
I think you will make it just fine

[cdifoto]

Couples have paid for significantly worse. Just be more selective in what you show.

[ErikM]

Couples have paid for significantly worse. Just be more selective in what you show.

Yep... show less if you must but only show your best :)

Keep at it...

[benee]

Thanks everyone for the comments and suggestions. I will probably get rid of a few of the images and adjust crops in a couple as well.

I'm not sure why a couple of people had problems viewing the site... we'll see.

I guess at this point, I feel more confident in showing this to pro photographers so I can get my foot in the door. Thanks All!

[mikeassk]

Site worked fine for me.
Images look great.
Good luck, If i was getting married i would hire you.

[Domino81]

Neat stuff! :)

[tiredoffilm]

Site works great for me, very impressed.
I would hire you too!
Only thing I would say is that I noticed some of the pictures are a little crooked (horizon).
It was the first thing I noticed, that's why I thought it was worth mentioning.

[QueenslandChopper]

I think you've done a great job!

Probably agree with the others though... watch your crops...

Much better than I could do though! Well done!


BTW The site took a fair while to load for me also and I have ADSL.

[irishman]

I think they are awesome!

[Brian1cj]

Yes, I'd hire you.

But for a fair price. Not a cheap price, fair.

[Bobster]

were you shadowing the main tog? couple of those shots they don't seem to be looking in your direction when you hit the shutter..

[Ziffle]

Benee,
I think you are on the right track.
The hands shot is cool. what about in B&W? The city shot - for me blur the back ground to help establish a focal point - the couple. It is creative and i like the concept.
You captured some emotion which can be tough.

I look forward to the next wedding.....

[benee]

were you shadowing the main tog? couple of those shots they don't seem to be looking in your direction when you hit the shutter..


I was the second shooter - so some of the shots were candid, and the subjects weren't aware of me.

[collierportraits]

Candidly, as some of the other pros have said, no, not yet.

However, your work does show promise. Look a bit more closely at your backgrounds. I know right now you are focused on 'getting the shot', but you're leaving quite a lot of your backgrounds busy and distracting. For instance on the shot of the back of the BM's, you could have simply crouched down and the background would have suddenly been without any distraction. Keep up the good work, keep shoooting! ;)

[Bobster]

I was the second shooter - so some of the shots were candid, and the subjects weren't aware of me.
ah yes, i read that now, must stop browsing @ stupid o'clock in the morning..

[Fingertip]

I doubt you will get any work as a 2nd. Not many pros will want to hire someone who makes thier work look bad;)

If YOU need a second though, I will gladly do it because my work is quite unimpressive!

[shannyD]

i think your photos are beautiful. im kinda starting to get into it too.. but need loads of experience still, and more people to work with.

awesome work, and i hope you find someone who will work with you.. i think you could really go far doing this.

shannon

[benee]

Candidly, as some of the other pros have said, no, not yet.

However, your work does show promise. Look a bit more closely at your backgrounds. I know right now you are focused on 'getting the shot', but you're leaving quite a lot of your backgrounds busy and distracting. For instance on the shot of the back of the BM's, you could have simply crouched down and the background would have suddenly been without any distraction. Keep up the good work, keep shoooting! ;)

Thank you - that's about as constructive a piece of criticism as I could ask for! And you're right, in addition to capturing the moment, those backgrounds could use work... I appreciate your help.

[AngelaDuncanPhotography]

I think you are on the right track - I just feel like there are a few images that might not be portfolio images that seem kinda cluttered and hard to tell that they are from a wedding - other than that - I LOVE the shot of the B & G walking down the road...beautiful BW!

[potn_momma2]

love love the ones of them in the street b&w, I would definitely hire you!

[benee]

I think you are on the right track - I just feel like there are a few images that might not be portfolio images that seem kinda cluttered and hard to tell that they are from a wedding - other than that - I LOVE the shot of the B & G walking down the road...beautiful BW!


Thanks Angela - I think you're right, I could afford to pull a few of these shots and have a tighter portfolio. Thanks again!

[James P]

I didn't have any trouble viewing your gallery. They loaded right away. Nice series of shots.

[acchildress]

Pretty nice stuff there.

[rachelle14]

Really good work - i would hire you

[Lunajen]

Honestly, you could easily get workin Nashville....but there are plenty of photogs in Nashville...

Yeah some of the backgrounds are a bit cluttered...but over all solid work.

P.s. Site worked great for me...very fast and I could click right through if I wanted...
easy enough.

[picturecrazy]

what you posted looks fine. Yeah, there are some technical details to look out for like exposure, white balance and such, but they're reasonably decent. It's only the number of shots that give me doubts.

The composition is my biggest complaint. Most of them are not ideally placed, and have too much dead space present. Space is fine as long as it's used well. Just looking at these photos, I'll bet you shoot using centre point focus almost exclusively. Were you using your rebel to shoot these? Doesn't seem like it, though I could be wrong.

And 30 pictures over one wedding also isn't enough for me to evaluate one's skill. I'd want to see at least a few weddings and see ALL your final selections for each one. I don't mean to sound like a jerk but almost anyone can get 30 good pictures over two days of shooting. If you can get 500 good pictures over two days, then you'll have me convinced and I'd happily hire you.

[c2thew]

most of your photos should be the size of #23 on your slideshow.

picture #4 is very powerful
#5 is a great b/w
#6 needs to be cropped.
#7 imo doesn't really say too much. she should be at least looking back at the camera. this is her wedding.
#12 doesn't quite fit.
#13-#21 are good shots
#27 is a keeper.

your to do list: design a new font.
just because you are a second shooter doesn't mean you can't command and take control of shots. photographers should always be creating and setting up their next shots. i apologize if i'm a little critical, but i'm a firm believer that a professional photographer/wedding shooter must always capture the best moments and highlights of a wedding. You are out to capture that once in a lifetime shot that they can always treasure.

[benee]

what you posted looks fine. Yeah, there are some technical details to look out for like exposure, white balance and such, but they're reasonably decent. It's only the number of shots that give me doubts.

The composition is my biggest complaint. Most of them are not ideally placed, and have too much dead space present. Space is fine as long as it's used well. Just looking at these photos, I'll bet you shoot using centre point focus almost exclusively. Were you using your rebel to shoot these? Doesn't seem like it, though I could be wrong.

And 30 pictures over one wedding also isn't enough for me to evaluate one's skill. I'd want to see at least a few weddings and see ALL your final selections for each one. I don't mean to sound like a jerk but almost anyone can get 30 good pictures over two days of shooting. If you can get 500 good pictures over two days, then you'll have me convinced and I'd happily hire you.

Thanks for the input! I agree, there needs to be more - I'd like to build a bigger portfolio, but I haven't had the opportunities to do so... yet.

I was using my rebel XT for all the photos,and yes, I did use center point focus. I will work on switching that up a bit.

Any ideas on how to get my foot in the door for more shooting oportunities?