Is This a Good Business Move?

[Tumeg]

Alright, first off... I am not a pro, nor am I really old enough to be one :rolleyes:
I am 15, but I have been told I do amazing work :oops:

Anyway, I was just wondering...
Would it be worth it for me to rent a nice wide'er angle lens (I don't have a GOOD group shot lens), and do a few family portraits for free. Then use them in my portfolio for when Christmas card season comes around, and then start advertising to do Christmas card pics for people? (Christmas card pics = not free)

Basically I am asking... Should I take a $30 loss now, to get portfolio shots for Christmas card season where I will get paid.

Not sure if this makes sense. >.<
Thanks anyway,
~Brad C.

[Skrim17]

yes.

[cdifoto]

You can do groups with the 28-80. f/8-11 should look ok in print.

[Vascilli]

Do it. :D

Worst thing that could happen is you get to rent a lens and have some fun.

[Tigershark]

Yes do it

[Tumeg]

You can do groups with the 28-80. f/8-11 should look ok in print.


True... I never thought about that. I mean, I knew I would have to stop the lens down but didn't think about that affecting the IQ...
I will be giving the families (my test subjects) all, edited digital files, no prints. So, do you think the 28-80 stopped down would be fine?

[HaroldC3]

Stopping it down should be fine. I might even think about getting the 18-55mm kit lens and stopping it down if you think 28mm isn't wide enough.

[cdifoto]

True... I never thought about that. I mean, I knew I would have to stop the lens down but didn't think about that affecting the IQ...
I will be giving the families (my test subjects) all, edited digital files, no prints. So, do you think the 28-80 stopped down would be fine?
I think it'll be fine for now. Let the jobs pay for new kit whenever possible. Group shots/family portraits aren't really a challenge to equipment. The problem with renting equipment that you can't afford is that it puts a bug in the back of your mind that you've GOT to have it, even if it's not really necessary for the tasks at hand.

[tim]

Your photos look pretty good for 15.

You don't shoot group pictures with wide lenses without good reason, you use a long lens and stand back. Wide lenses distort people on the edges. I use wideish lenses for wedding group shots, but they're 100-400 people. As people have said just use a longer lens and stand back, 50mm is a good length, but remember depth of field decreases with lens length. Check out www.dofmaster.com for a dof calculator, or just use F8 which is generally pretty safe @ <= 50mm.