http://boards.weddingbee.com/ Weddingbee Boards Topic: Telling my family I want to be a photographer after ten years of journalism en Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:06:23 +0000 http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/telling-my-family-i-want-to-be-a-photographer-after-ten-years-of-journalism#post-451836 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:35:11 +0000 PizzutiStudios 451836@http://boards.weddingbee.com/ <p>Hi, and welcome to the wonderful world of wedding photography.&nbsp; I've been a wedding photographer for quite some time and everyone starts somewhere.&nbsp; I will try to make this quick and easy and please feel free to PM me with any questions.&nbsp; Here is my advice:</p> <ol> <li>Learn to first except and listen to constructive criticism, you were an editor so I'm sure you were on the other side of this many times.&nbsp; I didn't see anything but good advice from any of the other posters.&nbsp; </li> <li>Shoot EVERYTHING.&nbsp; Take you camera with you everywhere, think about what you are shooting and learn to edit down your work.&nbsp; Figure out what is working and what isn't and why.&nbsp; If this means shooting for free at first then that is what you have to do.&nbsp; </li> <li>Always shoot on manual and learn your camera so well you could shoot blindfolded (yes i know that defeats the purpose) but knowing your gear inside and out will make you a more confident photographer.</li> <li>SECOND SHOOT!!&nbsp; You are not in a position to be picky about who you second with, you should be choosing people with different styles so you can be exposed to them and how they work.&nbsp; I have been a pro wedding photographer for 12 years shooting on my own for 8.&nbsp; I belong to an amazing network of photographers and we all second for each other some times 3rd when we want to try something new with out the pressure.&nbsp; You can also assist photographers on portrait assignments as well.&nbsp; I would start by making a list of all the photographers in your area and contact them and let them know if they need any help or if they just want to meet for coffee.&nbsp; The worst they can say is no. </li> <li>Network - most people think why would you want to be friends with your competition.&nbsp; Most of my very good friends are my direct competition but we don't see it as that.&nbsp; We get together go over our photos and help each other become better photographers and business people.&nbsp; There are so many online fourms dedicated to wedding photographers that will help you succeed.&nbsp; You can PM for a list if you like.</li> <li>Invest in good gear, backup gear and insurance.&nbsp; </li> <li>And last, which is as important as your portfolio, make a business plan.&nbsp; Set goals and every month try and reach them.&nbsp; Do this for both the art and business side. </li> </ol> <p>Again good luck with everything.&nbsp;</p> <p>Ash</p> http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/telling-my-family-i-want-to-be-a-photographer-after-ten-years-of-journalism#post-449598 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:39:35 +0000 TedNghiem 449598@http://boards.weddingbee.com/ <p>Best of luck on this endeavor!&nbsp; Wedding photography is really awesome!&nbsp; If you are passionate about it, I think your parents' opinions will become moot.&nbsp; =p&nbsp; haha!&nbsp; It will definitely be a tough road starting, but once you find your vibe ~ smooth sailing, for the most part.</p> <p>I enjoy seeing more people getting into this, even though that just makes more wedding photographers to work with. Find the photog who inspires you and learn learn learn!&nbsp; Reverse engineer their photos and try to find your niche!&nbsp; :)</p> <p>Although my inspiration wedding photog lives out in Cali (if you seen our initial work, both mine and the photog who inspires me good lord! haha!), I second shoot often for a really awesome guy!&nbsp; So I guess another pointer is to get <strong>inspired</strong> and keep that fire going!&nbsp; Keep shooting everything.&nbsp; Even if it isn't wedding related, I find that if I am stuck shooting the same concept over and over again I feel.. a little stale and jaded.&nbsp; So I switch it up with my travels, weddings, lifestyle, and food photography!&nbsp; This way whenever I do shoot a wedding or 2nd shoot, it is always fresh and invigorating!&nbsp; Well at least that is me.</p> <p>I don't wanna drone you out, but keep looking for photogs to 2nd shoot for, it might take some time to get to be somoeone's 2nd, but don't give up, and post on classifieds for lifestyle sessions.&nbsp; I have done that and I have figured out some things that I am good at shooting and what I shouldn't do.&nbsp; While not for free, but request some compensation (especially for gas! ha!).&nbsp; Lets you network, which is definitely a great way to start.&nbsp; Try out poses, different techniques, post processing techniques, and make friends, definite bonuses of shooting weddings and lifestyles!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>As for myself, I started by following my nephew from the day he was born till now photographing and documenting his development.&nbsp; My professional training was research on developmental and personality psychology.&nbsp; I was also a photography minor and spent lmajority of my time in the dark room or graphic design labs as much as I was in the rat labs or therapy labs.&nbsp; Five years of undergrad and three extra for research, getting into U of Chicago for a ph.d to shooting weddings.&nbsp; You could imagine my Asian parents going balistic! haha!&nbsp; I started with craigslist *shudder* to weddingbee classifieds to 2nd shooting for photographers, well mostly a friend of mine to where I am at today.&nbsp; I have a long road ahead of me, but it's something that I love so I will take all pros and cons of this pursuit.&nbsp; :)</p> <p>Anyway, tough it out and you will reap the rewards.&nbsp; Feel free to msg me if you want to!&nbsp;</p> http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/telling-my-family-i-want-to-be-a-photographer-after-ten-years-of-journalism#post-449557 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:30:18 +0000 slicey19 449557@http://boards.weddingbee.com/ <p>ETP, I'm not trying to get in the middle of this and I don't have any photography experience but I do have free lance consulting experience and an MBA. I just wanted to point out that, while&nbsp;the method could be improved, there is a lot of great advice in this thread for anyone who wants to start their own business. Liscences and insurance are so important, especially in a field where clients are emotionally involved and the end product is often deemed priceless. Also, think about health insurance and retirement savings, I'm not sure if this is an issue for you but it is often more expensive as a self employed person and you certainly will have to start your own retirement plan. Please don't discount good advice becasue of the platform, I'm sure no one was trying to be "sassy" or offensive but internet forums remove tone of voice and things often come across as not intended. As a third party, I didn't find any of the advice given in response to this post offensive. Yes, it was not what you had expected but it seems honest and spoken from experience. This is just my 2 cents, I wish you the best of luck in your career change, you should do what makes you happy and worry about explaining yourself to your family later.</p> http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/telling-my-family-i-want-to-be-a-photographer-after-ten-years-of-journalism#post-449543 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:30:20 +0000 cheerful 449543@http://boards.weddingbee.com/ <p>I think your family will be more receptive to your change in career if you present a well-thought out plan of how you wish to develop your career, gain experience and training, and build your business. It sounds like something you're really excited about. All the best -</p> http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/telling-my-family-i-want-to-be-a-photographer-after-ten-years-of-journalism#post-449462 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:14:17 +0000 shangchenphoto 449462@http://boards.weddingbee.com/ <p>What I just sent to EngagedPanda.. I think everyone should know this about me:</p> <p>What I did not say is that I was a primary shooter for all weddings I've done except one or two. Other than that one friend's wedding, and one where I was a guest, I successfully shot all my weddings in 2009 as the primary only, though this is my first year in wedding photography, and it was only recently when some of my photog friends i made along the way had me as a second shooter for fun but I no longer needed the experience.</p> <p>&lt;div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;"&gt;As for my artistic background, I was yearbook editor-in-chief in high school and I took 2 film photography classes in college. I'm an economics major. As for business, I'm doing well, but not well enough yet to be full-time, I make a lot more money still being a management consultant so photography is still a part-time thing, but it does make money. I was a Craigslist photog, but did not want to be associated as a Craigslist photog for long - and you will be able to stop being a CL photog quickly as well when you succeed. I probably had the same career path as the option you are thinking about right now - I wasn't a second shooter, I shot for dirt-cheap, I advertised on Craigslist.<br />&lt;div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;"&gt;Though though I have booked 12 weddings for 2010, looking back, I still wished I started out as a second shooter because there were simply non-technical things I had to deal with that gave me weeks of headache that I could have learned how to work around sooner had I been a second shooter. If I had to do this all over again, I'd try my hardest to get a second shooter position even if it took longer, and just do more engagements on the side, and that was the gist of the advice I was trying to give, nothing more. I know it's tough, I had trouble getting a position, and I wish you the best of luck in getting them, hopefully you can be more successful than me!<br />&lt;div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;"&gt;Please understand that I fully support your desire to be a wedding photog, in no way did I ever mean to cut you down, and I apologize if I came across mean in any way.<br />&lt;div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;"&gt;I cannot make a good judgment on your potential in wedding photography based on pictures of animals alone. When I asked professional photogs what they wanted to see, they all said, pictures of people, so by all means, use your engagement photos to submit in your application to be a second shooter.<br />&lt;div id="_mcePaste" style="position: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 0px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;"&gt;Good luck, and please know that I meant no harm. Sending lots of late-night hugs and thumbs up your way.</p> http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/telling-my-family-i-want-to-be-a-photographer-after-ten-years-of-journalism#post-449441 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:49:21 +0000 EngagedToPanda 449441@http://boards.weddingbee.com/ <p>P.S. Thanks Mr. Bee. I do appreciate the support, and it's very encouraging to hear that&nbsp;SOME photographers did start that way and it&nbsp;is possible, if I can't get&nbsp;or choose not to get that ever so highly recommended second shooter job to start.</p> <p>Also, I tried to take down my photos, as all these lovely other photographers made such helpful comments on them (e.g. none at all), I wish I hadn't been brave enough to share. I don't know if you can take them down, but I'd appreciate it. Thanks a lot again!</p> http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/telling-my-family-i-want-to-be-a-photographer-after-ten-years-of-journalism#post-449433 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:43:29 +0000 ianvillaceran 449433@http://boards.weddingbee.com/ <p>Ladies, time to sleep alright! Goodnight, world! -Ian</p> http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/telling-my-family-i-want-to-be-a-photographer-after-ten-years-of-journalism#post-449430 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:41:09 +0000 EngagedToPanda 449430@http://boards.weddingbee.com/ <p>KLP, I'm not responding to you anymore because you are draining me in an attempt to expose what I&nbsp;DON'T know about photography ... paragraph after paragraph after paragraph, and you wonder why I feel attacked.&nbsp;I think I made it very clear that I am "just starting out."</p> <p>P.S.&nbsp;The word "lens" was a typo, but thanks for catching it. And you didn't say it was a cathedral that didn't allow flash. I&nbsp;obviously wouldnt be&nbsp;dumb enough to take one of those assignments until I figured that&nbsp;out. Why don't you&nbsp;hit me over the head with some more mission impossibly situations I won't be prepared for? How about&nbsp;the Morman Temples I wont even&nbsp;be allowed into?&nbsp;Whatever, get off your high horse now&nbsp;please.&nbsp;</p> http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/telling-my-family-i-want-to-be-a-photographer-after-ten-years-of-journalism#post-449429 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:41:00 +0000 mrbee 449429@http://boards.weddingbee.com/ <p>KLP2010 - I know she asked for advice... but I think she's also looking for support. :-)</p> http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/telling-my-family-i-want-to-be-a-photographer-after-ten-years-of-journalism#post-449421 Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:30:10 +0000 KLP2010 449421@http://boards.weddingbee.com/ <p>Sigh... I added the disclaimer that I was being frank, but my post wasn't "sassy." I also said that I almost didn't even post because you obviously only wanted to hear one thing, and if you feel your being "attacked" and are sorry you posted this then I was right. &nbsp;So please accept my apology for trying to answer your question, since I didn't give you the answer you wanted to hear.</p> <p>I didn't miss that your comfortable with your "art." &nbsp;If you said you had a business administration or Marketing degree I would apologize. &nbsp;Multiple people, not just me, have said that you need to be looking at your BUSINESS... not your art. &nbsp;Instead of photography classes take some marketing and business admin courses. &nbsp;Those will honestly help you more.</p> <p>As for the cathedral - it's not about being un-prepared with a giant light - 90%+ of churches... big and small no longer allow flash PERIOD. They also dont allow you to come past the back row in many of them. Things you'll get more comfortable in dealing with after some experience 2nd shooting.</p> <p>Your lenses don't take "shots per second." &nbsp;That's your camera. &nbsp;If your glass (lenses) aren't at a wide aperture like F/2.8 or f/1.4 you'll be very hindered in low light conditions. &nbsp;Not to mention that those lenses are made of metal and are much more rugged. &nbsp;If you have lenses with plastic mounts your inevitably going to break one changing lenses under pressure and time constraints... and then you'll be down a lens and out $$.</p> <p>When did I say I hated you?</p> <p>I've only been doing photography period for 8 years... not more than 10. &nbsp;And I'm the same age as you if not younger as I'm still 25. &nbsp;Again, it's about business not art. &nbsp;But again, what do I know. &nbsp;I only started my own business as 23 and successfully entered my market as a full on competitor to "the big wigs" of my city. &nbsp;I pay my rent and have no debt. &nbsp;THAT is why I love my job. &nbsp;I get to be the artist but my business allows that. &nbsp;Without the business I don't have the art. &nbsp;</p> <p>I'm not being mean, and I'm not being sassy. &nbsp;I'm just telling you the truth. &nbsp;The truth you asked for. &nbsp;</p> <p>"So what do I do? Do I bite the bullet and offer myself a second shooter even though I would feel like the photos weren't mine? Or do I keep hoping/praying for someone&nbsp;looking to save major&nbsp;money to&nbsp;take a chance on me?"</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>