I get a lot of emails and questions from photographers, or those wishing to start a business, so I’ve compiled a list of frequently asked questions for those who have just picked up a camera, or those that have been a photographer for years!
For a list of what gear I have and use (as well as computers, software, etc.) see the “What’s in my bag?” page under the photographers link.
Q: What is your best piece of advice for beginners?
A: Shoot. Shoot. Shoot. I’m not kidding. Shoot photos of trees, animals, your dog, your friends, your family. Get familiar with your camera. You need to have the skills in place to be able to charge for your work. So, start shooting! Also – learn to shoot in manual. You aren’t a professional photographer if you have a DSLR and shoot in auto or program mode.
Next – I would say do things RIGHT. Get a DBA, a tax ID, for heaven’s sakes get business insurance, and set up a pricing strategy to MAKE money. The last part of that might be a no-brainer, but most new photographers actually loose money on shoots and weddings. For a great pricing guide, check out www.stacyreeves.com , and click on her pricing guide.
Lastly, find some photographers that you admire and go to their workshops. If they don’t offer workshops, see if they will offer you a one-on-one session for a day to pick their brains. Don’t be surprised if a one day session is $750, $1500, or more… these photographers have spent years and years and thousands of dollars to figure things out, you are paying for their time and expertise. (And hopefully, the knowledge to not repeat their mistakes)
Q: Do you offer workshops or one-on-one sessions?
A: Currently, I don’t have any workshops lined up, but I do offer one-on-one sessions. Click the workshops tab under ‘photographers’ above to see details.
Q: I am a new photographer, so what sort of gear should I be looking into getting?
A: If you want to be charging for photos, you need AT LEAST two camera bodies, two lenses that can achieve 2.8 aperture or better, and a flash. If I were starting my business all over again, I would purchase:
1 Canon 7D
1 Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 24-70 2.8
Canon 70-200 2.8 IS
Canon 50 1.8
Canon 580 II flash
That kit alone will run about $7700 plus tax new from B and H Photo. (I highly recommend them for photography purchases). Without at least two camera bodies, an external flash, and two lenses, please do not take a wedding on. If you don’t have the money to buy all of these things, I whole heartedly recommend renting from www.lensrentals.com . There are cheaper options out there, but I’ll be honest, you will sell those cheaper options in 6 months to buy what is listed above, so just do yourselves a favor, and buy what is above, or better. There is a crop sensor, a full frame, a wide lens, long lens, and the 24-70 has macro capabilities if needed. The 50 is just a backup lens, but it is extremely cost effective, and a decent lens.
Words of wisdom – invest in great lenses. It is far better to get a mediocre camera body and a great lens, than a great camera body and a mediocre lens. Trust me. Only buy lenses that are 2.8 and better, and try your hardest to get name brand – Canon or Nikkor, and not Sigma, Tamron, or the like. There are a couple of lenses that the off brands make well, but overall, the quality is lacking. You get what you pay for, right?!
Not to beat a dead horse, but MAKE SURE you have backup equipment. People only get married once, whether your camera is working or not. If your primary camera breaks, you are not going to want to bust out your cell phone camera and say ‘smile!’
Also – I personally can’t stand Canon Digital Rebels. Not for professional use, anyways. They are meant for hobby-ists and not for professional use. If you’d like to charge for your work, spend a little more money than that.
Q: Is it hard to set up shop?
A: VERY. Very very hard. Worth it? Yes, but it is hard. I remember going to a workshop where the photographer was talking about how most photography businesses take about $30,000 of start up capital (money) to really and truly be equipped. At the time, I was shocked, but after research, that number is absolutely correct. And, it is very easy to spend even more than that. The basic camera kit I listed above is $7700+ on its own. Then, you will need a nice computer, software like photoshop, a website, blog, business cards, and the list goes on and on.
It is also very taxing on relationships to start a business. You have to work from the ground up. Yes, it is great being your own boss, but at the same time, you have to put in the hours to make things happen. Don’t be surprised if your first few years you work more than you might have at a more traditional job. Make sure to keep family priorities. You only have one spouse, and your kids (if you have them or want them) are only little for so long.
Q: Do you shoot RAW or JPG?
A: RAW. Always RAW for professional work, and even most of the time for personal stuff. Back in the film days, each negative had about 5 or so stops to correct for if you accidentally missed the exposure. Digital – you have about 1.5 before the file starts to look terrible. It doesn’t happen often, but on the off chance you need it, you have the ability to edit a RAW file where exposure has been missed back to looking as if you had nailed it. I also like RAW for the highlights and lowlights much better.
Q: Have you had any formal training?
A: Depends on your definition of formal. When I was in college, I actually took classes in business more than photography (I highly recommend taking business classes. You can be the best photographer the world has ever seen, but you won’t make a dime if you don’t know how to run a business.) Most all of what I know I have learned from books, websites, blogs, working with photographers whose style I liked, and attending workshops – both through PPA and photographers I liked.
Q: Do you need any assistants, interns, or second shooters?
A: At the moment, I am open to looking at portfolios for second shooting jobs in the future. I have limited need for second shooters until summer 2011.
I hope this question and answer page helped give you some ideas of what it takes to be a photographer! If you have any other questions, or if you have found this information useful, leave a comment!
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