Honest feedback please

So...I've been doing photography for another company since 2009 and now want to go out on my own...

but...part of me says i'm just not technically where i want to be yet and could use some better equipment

then...i remind myself that i'm using the same equipment and shooting the same quality of work as i have been with the other company and the clients have always been happy

but...is that good enough? i know where i want to be and i'm just not there yet...i shoot pretty but boring images...imo

i'm using an external flash when shooting outdoors for extra light and i hate how it washes out the skin...i want to see skin texture...

and my group shots are pretty horrible imo as far as sharpness etc...i know this...the customers don't seem to and love them anyway...but i know this...and its not good enough

so...do i get better equipment and get better technically first...or just go for it anyway and just try to improve along the way

and...can someone tell me how much can i expect from an xsi anyway? i mean how much of it is me and how much is just the cameras shortcomings?

does all that make sense?

photobucket isn't working for me at the moment to upload any pics but heres a link to a facebook photo from a session last night if anyone will be so kind to take a look and tell me how i can best improve etc
facebook link

Honest its you.....you are over powering your subject with light....my brother shoots pictures in Hawaii with an xsi....beats it senseless and takes excellent pictures.... with that said... tons of info on this site regarding exposure, using a flash as well as the internet....I like the video put out by adorama tv on using your flash.....do your home work.....

stanclark wrote in post #15569425
Honest its you.....you are over powering your subject with light....my brother shoots pictures in Hawaii with an xsi....beats it senseless and takes excellent pictures.... with that said... tons of info on this site regarding exposure, using a flash as well as the internet....I like the video put out by adorama tv on using your flash.....do your home work.....

so you think i'd have the same issue with a nicer camera?

should i just not use flash at all? i just need to concentrate on finding better light?

i have taken some that i thought had perfectly beautiful exposure with this camera and they were without the flash...but i feel like i just got lucky with great light those days or something..

i don't guess i know how to always find it...

Your using your flash on full power will blow the natural light out, washout skin tones.....I said learn to use your flash and learn exposure. You need to understand light and what it's doing to take a good picture...

that's what i'm trying to do....

the bulk of my experience has been in studio and i'm very new to shooting outdoors and have a ton to learn

and i'm just using ttl on my flash...i don't think it's necessarily on high power...doesn't that mean it adjusts to what your settings are at and the available light etc?

and i agree with you that i need to...and i know it when i see it...but i think i just go with it when with a client rather than fumble around and change the settings constantly until it's perfect

ughh...maybe i should just stick with studio work for now then...

If you let the camera have control you will never get better.... I shoot manual mode on my camera and flash....ttl doesn't always get it right....

i always shoot manual mode on my camera but you're absolutely right i don't understand my flash at all just thought i controlled it by my camera settings if i used ttl!

awesome...haha so...this is encouraging tho because i'd much rather learn how to improve with the equipment i have until i start making enough to justify the upgrade.

it's hard getting enough people to sit like mannequins for me tho in all the various light conditions...maybe i should get a mannequin head for real

erinavery wrote in post #15569628
i always shoot manual mode on my camera but you're absolutely right i don't understand my flash at all just thought i controlled it by my camera settings if i used ttl!

awesome...haha so...this is encouraging tho because i'd much rather learn how to improve with the equipment i have until i start making enough to justify the upgrade.

it's hard getting enough people to sit like mannequins for me tho in all the various light conditions...maybe i should get a mannequin head for real

I sent you mail....check it....

erinavery wrote in post #15569628
i always shoot manual mode on my camera but you're absolutely right i don't understand my flash at all just thought i controlled it by my camera settings if i used ttl!

awesome...haha so...this is encouraging tho because i'd much rather learn how to improve with the equipment i have until i start making enough to justify the upgrade.

it's hard getting enough people to sit like mannequins for me tho in all the various light conditions...maybe i should get a mannequin head for real

you think a person is hard, shooting plastic dummies is harder....light reflections... and I don't care how much makeup you dump on it.....

^^ Zak Arias uses a mannequin to pratice. Not such a bad idea I think.

Have you gone through David Hobby's website, thestrobist? Great section titled Lighting 101

stanclark wrote in post #15569648
I sent you mail....check it....

thanks for the email...

definitely going to check out all of those videos...the first one was cool so far

saturnine_zero wrote in post #15569669
^^ Zak Arias uses a mannequin to pratice. Not such a bad idea I think.

Have you gone through David Hobby's website, thestrobist? Great section titled Lighting 101

you know...i think i will look into off camera flash more too

and...i actually have a vegabond mini that i purchased thinking i'd use it with my big softbox...but thats ridiculous...i mean...it just blows over and spins around and it makes you have to stay in one place and it's just not the way i want to shoot location shots.

you have to use weights... I use ankle weights to hold my stands at all time.....

Yeah was thinking about getting some sandbags for them or asking someone to go along with me to help hold it haha but it's not ideal... I mean I prefer to walk around the park or downtown spot using different areas for backdrops and don't want to tote all that around.

So ocf may work but learning how to use my camera with or without the flash in different lighting scenarios would be better for the way I want to shoot

It's difficult going from studio to on location... It's just a completely different deal.

erinavery wrote in post #15569734
Yeah was thinking about getting some sandbags for them or asking someone to go along with me to help hold it haha but it's not ideal... I mean I prefer to walk around the park or downtown spot using different areas for backdrops and don't want to tote all that around.

So ocf may work but learning how to use my camera with or without the flash in different lighting scenarios would be better for the way I want to shoot

It's difficult going from studio to on location... It's just a completely different deal.

shoot everything in every type of light shoot everyday then critique your own photos....