New to board... wanting to go pro...

[JoesLdy]

Hello!

For some reason I just got serious dejavu.... weird. Maybe I HAVE been here before ;)

Anyway I am just getting started with serious photography. I don't own a Canon digital yet but I plan on buying one soon. For now I am shooting film on a Rebel T2 (I so wish I had gotten a digital- though I love print and always will I am finding learning a bit expensive now).

A few questions for anyone who cares to answer...

1- There are no significant photography programs in colleges in my area. Just one or two classes which probably cover about what I took in highschool... no good. So I have decided (unless I hear something bad in the next couple of days about them) to sign up for a correspondance course with New York Institute of Photography (www.nyip.com (http://www.nyip.com) for anyone who would like to see exactly what it includes). Basically its 1000.00 and covers everything from basics to running a business. Would you consider it worth a shot?

2- Once I have completed this course I am going to make a serious go at opening a small studio and trying to make this my source of income permanently. I hate the ho hum 9-5! I haven't decided if I want to do wedding photography yet (because we all know how that can get) but I might. I love b&w and photojournalism, and out of the ordinary portraits. Im not a traditional portrait kind of person. Any tips on getting started now, for this business venture later?

3- When I DO buy a digital I was thinking of a 20D (to start with anyway) I cant afford the 1DS (maybe some fine day when pigs fly out of my behind!). Think thats a good choice? I dont want to get a Rebel then want more later after Ive spent near what the 20D is anyhow.


OK I think thats all of my book. Are print photos welcome here for critique or are we only posting digitals?

Ive looked around and Ive seen amazing work- look forward to comments!


Andrea

[PhotosGuy]

Maybe you're the type of person who would benefit from a structured class. Personally, I learned the best on my own 'till I had all the basics down, then worked as an assistant & learned the most valuable part of the process.
I'd suggest, whether you take the course or not, that you work your way through the "Stickys" at the top of Talk About Photography & Small Flash and Studio Lighting so that you're comfortable with a variety of issues. Then decide what to do. (Or just put the money into good glass!) ;-)

[Sathi]

If you bought a 20d it wouldn't cost you anything to shoot and you could probably learn allot more through experimentation than a class. I'm biased against formal education though after college :)

Is there really much work out there for most photographers besides weddings?

[JoesLdy]

I was looking at DSLRs today and I couldn't find much reason to buy a 20D over the Rebel XT.... neither could the counter boy (boy being key word)

Any thoughts?

[davepgh1]

If you have a DSLR and want to practice, there probably is not much difference, but if you want to turn PRO, and as you said needed to buy one, I'd spend the bucks on the 20D. Faster focus, shots per second, MP, display on the top (which comes in handy working with a tripod if your as tall as I), check out the feel and the location of the controls. On the other hand the XT will make a good backup when you do upgrade; and after you get into this field you may want return to the secure 9-5.

On the other hand, starting out on a budget (?), think price and the need to buy several lenses.

[ksmattfish]

Once I have completed this course I am going to make a serious go at opening a small studio and trying to make this my source of income permanently. I hate the ho hum 9-5! I haven't decided if I want to do wedding photography yet (because we all know how that can get) but I might. I love b&w and photojournalism, and out of the ordinary portraits. Im not a traditional portrait kind of person. Any tips on getting started now, for this business venture later?

Don't quit your day job. Depending on where you live, and how many pros are already working the area it could take quite a while to develop a client base that will support you full time. Even a full time wedding photography business can take years to establish, and that's a situation where most people are willing to spend money on photography. Only a small amount of the folks who hire a wedding photographer will ever pay to have their portrait taken again, and most of those people will go to the local Walmart (or whatever) and get the $25 package. A good thing about wedding photography is that it usually happens on Saturday, so it fits with a M-F other job schedule.

While I would prefer to make my living shooting BW portraits, most of my income comes from color photography: weddings, and commercial jobs. Personal portrait photography is a luxury, and I'm not sure we're in luxurious times right now. ;) A good thing about wedding photography is that it usually happens on Saturday, so it fits with a M-F other job schedule.

[PhotosGuy]

Don't quit your day job.:D It WAS my 1st 'DAY job", so I didn't have a conflict. Good advice, though, which is why it's such a cliche. ;)
I love b&w and photojournalism, When you reach the point where you want to test the market with your skills, buy a current copy of 200X Photographers Market and see if the 'market' is ready for you!
Depending on where you live, and how many pros are already working the area ... Free lance PJ would allow you a lot of freedom & shouldn't conflict with whatever other types of photography you decide to pursue. (maybe some fine day when pigs fly out of my behind!). There's probably a market for that pic, too. Would that be a 'Nature' shot? ;)

[ksmattfish]

Free lance PJ would allow you a lot of freedom & shouldn't conflict with whatever other types of photography you decide to pursue.

Unfortunately the newspapers where I live are letting all the staff photographers go, and cutting their lists of freelancers down to almost nothing. Apparently they feel that it's good enough for the reporter to use their cell phone cam. Pathetic really. The quality of images in the papers has deteriorated quite a bit in my opinion, but apparently I'm the only one to notice...

[PhotosGuy]

Newspapers? I didn't suggest any of those. PJ includes media photography, of which newspapers are a small part, dollarwise. Look at Photographers Market & you'll see what I was talking about.

[ksmattfish]

Newspapers? I didn't suggest any of those. PJ includes media photography, of which newspapers are a small part, dollarwise. Look at Photographers Market & you'll see what I was talking about.

Oh, I've just considered magazines, ads, TV commercials, etc as commercial photography jobs. When I saw "freelance photojournalism" I was thinking of the newspaper photogs. I tend to describe myself as "self employed" rather than "freelance". :) You are right. Working for magazines, ad agencies, etc... has been some of the easiest money I've ever made.

[starzphalling]

ok so i'm gonna add questions here, i'm in the same place as andrea here, i almost enrolled in the rocky mountain school of photo for the summer, but i just wasn't 100% and hadn't heard enough about it....so anyone that knows anything about it please share! but i digress (and i can't spell!!), i want to get more into the magazines, especially music mags, but also maybe newspaper...sadly enough my current photography dream is to work for rolling stone....again i'm going off here....i'm currently FREElanceing (not paid, just trade for ad space, they're just starting) for a magazine, we're in our third issue now, beyond waiting for that to pick up how do i go about getting jobs with magazines and such??? i just don't know how to get "in" to any of it and it has gotten quite frustrating. the web is such a huge place, with so many scams, and dead ends that i have given up looking for help there. and what is this marketplace mag? where do i find it, i've never seen it at B&N or Borders (biggest magazine selections near me) is there somewhere i can order it online from, or maybe a certain store you know that carries it?? well i hope this was more coherent than i feel it was....well thanx in advance!

[PhotosGuy]

and what is this marketplace mag? It's not a mag. It's a 600+ page book. If your library doesn't have it, you can order it or get it on the i-net. List price is about $25US, & well worth it.
ISDN #: 0147-247X

[JoesLdy]

Im def. not quitting my day job for a while. The END result will be that, but I am realistic. I work part time anyway.... and right now I am doing well only taking in about 1000.00 a month. I know it cant be too hard to make that kind of money taking pictures.

You know, I was looking at the DSLRs and then started looking at my wedding photos.... my wedding pics were taken with a DSLR with I BELIEVE an 8mp resolution and they arent as clear as I would like to have mine come out....which concerns me. I simply cant afford anything like the Canon 1Ds with the 16mp resolution but it almost seems like if the pics wont come out clear as I would like it would be a waste to buy anything else. Ugh.

Thanks for the tip on that book- going to see if the library has it. I couldnt find much on the actual BUSINESS of photography... maybe I was looking in the wrong place

[Longwatcher]

Just for trivia, seriously consider pet photography if you like animals, you can make a good amount of money and there are three basic categories.
Studio
Shoot in pet store, print off-site
Shoot in pet store, print on-site

a 20D, one really good lens and a portable studio (lighting/backdrop/printer/computer and supplies) should be good for this.

Need an area with several pet stores that don't already have visiting photographers (as in available once per quarter) and then just hop from store to store every weekend until have hit all in area and then start over on a 3 or 6 month schedule.

Photography is not a high-profit profession for the most part, but you can make a living at it.

[JoesLdy]

I thought about doing pet photography, but then I remembered what it was like when I used to groom dogs. They just dont listen most of the time LOL! I think Columbus is pretty saturated with that too, Ive never seen more doggie sessions at pet stores than I have here :( BUT I do intend to move to a more rural area (this is where I think I will have a bit more advantage- maybe I will be the only good photographer for hours!) and that is a real thought for when I do!

[PhotosGuy]

my wedding pics were taken with a DSLR with I BELIEVE an 8mp resolution and they arent as clear as I would like to have mine come out....which concerns me. Don't blame the cam, blame the photographer. Some like to print weddings soft. Properly handled, a 6MP 300D will take pics as sharp as you could want.

[JoesLdy]

well, I got all of the original files. She did not alter them, just put them on disc and sent them over. I noticed that the film prints were much better. A lot of the digitals taken at dusk didnt look too great even though the exposure looks OK on the pics when you look at them full size (I would post but they are huge of course) the skin tones look like rainbows!

Im thinking of finding a rental place around and just trying out different cameras til I find one I like. Wish I had one now, I want to play but cant afford to develop all that film!

[starzphalling]

sorry joesldy hope you don't mind that i'm kinda sharing your thread now :o but, i went out and bought the 2005 photographers market book....AWSOME i've been amazed with it for about 22 hours now. Now the only question i have left is, like for a few of the mags in there they want musicians or celebrieties....i.e. concerts...now how do i go about getting into those shows with my camera. any band big enough to take a picture of that is wanted by a magazine, won't let cameras in..i'm mean i've done the whole sneak a camera in...actually it was genius, i sewed an extra piece of cloth into my big army purse, and put 2 disposables in it. anyway....i'm getting off track, who do i have to contact or what do i have to do to get press passes and such, so i can be up front and take my pictures at big shows??? i'm sure someone here has done this, if not all hope is lost :( :lol: thanx!

[JoesLdy]

I got the 2004 edition from the library yesterday, flipped through a bit.
I wont be going after money until I get more practice under my belt.

Im supposed to get a press pass when I sign up for that course.... I suppose that kind of thing will help you get in to places. Cameras in concerts, Ive always wondered how to pull that one off too. Ive snuck cameras in to every show Ive gone to, but I cant sneak my SLR in no way.....

[EricKonieczny]

as far as press passes look here:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=82149

[starzphalling]

thanx eric...sorry i forgot to check archived stuff before i asked my question....i'll get better i promise, i'm still new here please don't hurt me :)