I am a professional photographer... ask me anything - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Neeper · 10-08-2012, 09:10 PM

I am bored and missing hockey. I have actually wanted to start this thread for a while now anyway.

Photography is all the rage now a days. With hipster apps like instagram, which makes the iPhone photos look all nostalgic. DSLRs are getting cheaper and more advanced, I am sure there are many of you here who are into photography.

I have been shooting weddings full time, almost exclusively, for 6 years now. I have over 100 weddings under my belt. By shooting weddings, it had made me become a better shooter in all aspects of photography. Disciplines like PJ, portrait, fashion, landscape and product are all part of the hectic day that I have to capture, under immense pressure and time constraints. It's the one discipline where you have to be good in all areas of photography.

Now, keep in mind I am a Nikon shooter, so some Canon technical questions might be hard for me to answer. Fire away!

DownhillGoat · 10-08-2012, 09:16 PM

For a second there I assumed moneyguy started this thread.

Yeah_Baby · 10-08-2012, 09:30 PM

As a professional, are you annoyed with popularity of photography now? The hobbyists are starting to think of themselves as semi professional or even professional. Does this irk you? It seems like everyone I know has at least 3 friends that have photo blogs or facebook 'company' pages and that sort of thing.

T@T · 10-08-2012, 09:32 PM

Just got to play around with a professional model nikon, It was fun to play with the different exposures..etc,awesome rig, not sure the model but the body cost somewhere around 10k alone.

My question is. how on earth can you make a good living nowdays? There was a day when my family did some sort of portraits at least once a year with a pro but nowdays it's just too easy to use your phone. hell my S3 phone takes better pics than my Sony SLR.

DownhillGoat · 10-08-2012, 09:53 PM

Is there actually a point to putting a huge copyright/watermark at the bottom of the pic if it's posted online.

I get the professional watermarks (massive ones in the middle of proofs), but not the copyrights notice for people that don't actually have a business.

Mike F · 10-08-2012, 10:09 PM

What exactly do you have to say to a model to get her to come to your place, take her clothes off, and let you take pictures even if you look like this?

Knut · 10-08-2012, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T@T

Just got to play around with a professional model nikon, It was fun to play with the different exposures..etc,awesome rig, not sure the model but the body cost somewhere around 10k alone.

My question is. how on earth can you make a good living nowdays? There was a day when my family did some sort of portraits at least once a year with a pro but nowdays it's just too easy to use your phone. hell my S3 phone takes better pics than my Sony SLR.

He makes a good living because his wedding pictures are unique, eye-catching and his enthusiasm towards the practice builds a tonne of confidence with his clients.

HELPNEEDED · 10-08-2012, 10:44 PM

Is it true that a picture is worth a thousand words?

steveo · 10-09-2012, 12:03 AM

When I get married, will you be my photographer?

Neeper · 10-09-2012, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

As a professional, are you annoyed with popularity of photography now? The hobbyists are starting to think of themselves as semi professional or even professional. Does this irk you? It seems like everyone I know has at least 3 friends that have photo blogs or facebook 'company' pages and that sort of thing.

To be honest, not really. I was like that once too. I also started out as a hobbyist. I caught the bug and I was really passionate about the business of wedding photography. Obviously I know that it takes a lot more than just a camera and blog to make it in this marketplace. That said, I also think there's a market for everything, including people who don't want to pay professional prices for professional photography, and that's fine. I guess you can say my clients know the difference. And of course many other people who hire real professionals.

saskflames69 · 10-09-2012, 12:24 AM

Are you confident enough in your work to recommend yourself for your own wedding?

(My uncle asked this when some bozo with a DSLR offered to shoot his wedding)

Neeper · 10-09-2012, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T@T

Just got to play around with a professional model nikon, It was fun to play with the different exposures..etc,awesome rig, not sure the model but the body cost somewhere around 10k alone.

My question is. how on earth can you make a good living nowdays? There was a day when my family did some sort of portraits at least once a year with a pro but nowdays it's just too easy to use your phone. hell my S3 phone takes better pics than my Sony SLR.

I make a good living by treating this as a business and not a hobby. Like any business, you need to always work on it. I try and stay unique with my work and treat every client I have like how I expect to be treated.

Sure you can take a family photo with your S3 if that's what you want, and it's good enough for you. People who are looking for a real family portrait will always hire a professional.

Neeper · 10-09-2012, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Is there actually a point to putting a huge copyright/watermark at the bottom of the pic if it's posted online.

I get the professional watermarks (massive ones in the middle of proofs), but not the copyrights notice for people that don't actually have a business.

Hmmm.. for some I guess they just want to make sure someone else doesn't claim it as their own. And maybe for self gratification?? A magazine or website could also steal their photo and use it without their consent. Business or not, they still own the copyright to the image they made.

Neeper · 10-09-2012, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike F

What exactly do you have to say to a model to get her to come to your place, take her clothes off, and let you take pictures even if you look like this?

You tell them you're me.

Neeper · 10-09-2012, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HELPNEEDED

Is it true that a picture is worth a thousand words?

A thousand is a lot. But every image has a story to tell.

Neeper · 10-09-2012, 12:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveo

When I get married, will you be my photographer?

Of course dude!

EYE_Overstand · 10-09-2012, 01:10 AM

1. Is there desktop editing tools that function as easy as instagram? Why I ask is because I'd like to start using my wife's canon to shoot BUT I don't have the time to learn photoshop.

2. I'm on instagram.i really think its a great way for people who take photography as a hobby to instantly capture/edit/upload photos etc etc.

@asim_overstands

Allos · 10-09-2012, 03:39 AM

Does camera matter? I own an aging Nikon D50. If I upgrade to, say, the D800, if I press the shutter at the same location at the same moment, will the D800 picture look significantly better then the D50's?

Regulator75 · 10-09-2012, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allos

Does camera matter? I own an aging Nikon D50. If I upgrade to, say, the D800, if I press the shutter at the same location at the same moment, will the D800 picture look significantly better then the D50's?

As someone who went from a D90 to D800, my answer is 100% yes.
(Specs here)

Boblobla · 10-09-2012, 07:08 AM

Ah, regulator is here, let the Canon bashing begin :P

Neeper shot my wedding and he was ####ing awesome.

Do you take your camera with you everywhere, or did you when you were starting out? I find my biggest struggle is taking enough pictures to be able to improve significantly.

At what ISO do you find you get too much noise in the image when shooting in low light situations, such as indoor or overcast/dusk? I understand this really does depend on the camera as well, but is there a number you stay the eff away from?