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 10/29/2005 11:18:10 PM · #51
Very true!

I decided on the 70-200 2.8 IS because our worst area for weddings was closeups of the parents and family in the church. We also shoot from a lot of balconies and backs of churches. This lens also helped at receptions and getting candids very quietly.

I looked at the non-IS and decided to spend the extra $600. You can turn the IS off to see how it looks both ways and I'm SO glad I spent the extra now.

On the other hand, if I already had the 70-200 2.8, I may not splurge for the IS now, cuz that's a want.

Good point. :)
 10/29/2005 11:32:49 PM · #52
The 70- 200 2.8 IS is one of the lenses I would like to get. Would that be a good lens for the equestrian photography or would there be another I might want to look at as well? Note my main goal is the equestrian photography but I do like to do some landscape/ nature photography as well.
 10/29/2005 11:39:33 PM · #53
How close can you get to the action right now?

And how close could you get if you were doing it professionally?

Also, what's the lighting like at most events? Outdoor stuff you could do without the IS and save a lot of $. Indoors, you'd be glad to have it for sure.

IS won't stop movement, which I'm sure equestrian is mostly. The 20D can easily go up to 800 ISO and 1600 when necessary (I stay away from 3200 unless I have to). For nature stuff, the IS won't help you at all.
 10/29/2005 11:46:20 PM · #54
I can get right up to the side of the area in most events. All so far have been outside. They don't do much under covered arenas here in AZ. And all events seem to be during the daytime. As I am still in the learning mode with my camera. I have been using is some to take pictures of my friends riding and my horses in my back yard so I can get as close as I want. (As long as it is not too dusty. Here in Arizona it doesn't rain much)
 10/30/2005 01:12:41 AM · #55
Yeah I was planning for the 70-200 2.8 IS as well - for gig photography. The Sony is currently 2.8 at 200mm and even though the iso is much better i don't want to lose the advantage of that by having an f4 lens. Hand-holding them would be a bigger bonus - should be able to get hand-holdable speeds out of iso 1600 f2.8 and IS.
 10/30/2005 01:00:57 AM · #56
Originally posted by LKMote:
The 70- 200 2.8 IS is one of the lenses I would like to get. Would that be a good lens for the equestrian photography or would there be another I might want to look at as well? Note my main goal is the equestrian photography but I do like to do some landscape/ nature photography as well.


Yes, the lens would be great for horses.
 10/30/2005 08:46:06 AM · #57
Here is my getto site until I buy my domain and get a real one up and running.

Since we are discussing portfolio presentation. I have a few questions that are along these lines. I was given a very nice leather photo album (from my maternity shoot) it's a typical scrap book album, nice bound leather, inner plastic leaves (with liners in them) could I use that? If not I'm more than happy to get one of the albums that were recommended but I agree, I'd rather have one I can take things in and out of as my capabilities grow.

Also, since we are on portfolios, what about smugmug/pbase/et al vs. building your own site/domain? Someone I know had a smugmug and just bought a "real" domain and is having issues between the two. What is the best way to create your site without having to do a total rework a few months down the road.

Iâm holding off on all the âbig ticket itemsâ domain/cards/etc until Iâve got my info set in stone. I donât want to print beautiful cards, and have all the info change in 3 months.

Which leads us to cards, what is the best type of image to put on your cards? Should you have a few styles of cards, ie, one with babies/maternity, one with family portraits/seniors etc?

Ok sorry to take us off in another direction :-)
10/30/2005 08:50:52 AM · #58
Originally posted by pgatt:
Yeah I was planning for the 70-200 2.8 IS as well - for gig photography. The Sony is currently 2.8 at 200mm and even though the iso is much better i don't want to lose the advantage of that by having an f4 lens. Hand-holding them would be a bigger bonus - should be able to get hand-holdable speeds out of iso 1600 f2.8 and IS.


The ISO of which is better? The 828 or the 20D?
 10/30/2005 08:58:32 AM · #59
Originally posted by Beach_mel:
Here is my getto site until I buy my domain and get a real one up and running.

It's good that you can paste it as a url in email or on forums, but it's not exactly memorable hm? :) Do you sell through there? Otherwise, what would keep you from putting all of your photos up on Photoreflect. You could be //beach_mel.photoreflect.com and your site would look very nice, have a slideshow and you could sell photos from there as well. The only reason PB is better is hotlinking pictures, but you could keep your PB for that reason. The Photoreflect is free (doesn't work internationally, sorry pgatt).

Originally posted by Beach_mel:
I was given a very nice leather photo album (from my maternity shoot) it's a typical scrap book album, nice bound leather, inner plastic leaves (with liners in them) could I use that?

You can use that - and you'll know when to swap it for something like that Adorama or an Illuma Book. Once you start to feel you NEED something better because of the way you look at the album or the way your clients do, it's time to upgrade.

Originally posted by Beach_mel:
Also, since we are on portfolios, what about smugmug/pbase/et al vs. building your own site/domain? Someone I know had a smugmug and just bought a "real" domain and is having issues between the two. What is the best way to create your site without having to do a total rework a few months down the road.

Well, if you use a Photoreflect site, you can build that for now in about, oh, 10 minutes. Later on, when you buy a domain and make a real website, you can add your Photoreflect as a way for clients to proof their photos.

Originally posted by Beach_mel:
Iâm holding off on all the âbig ticket itemsâ domain/cards/etc until Iâve got my info set in stone. I donât want to print beautiful cards, and have all the info change in 3 months.

A domain will cost you about $8. You should buy it when you can think of the name you want for your business. You don't want it taken up later on. Business cards - well we've changed ours 3 times in 2 years and seem to throw the last 1/3 of each box away as we do. It sucks that we keep changing them, but you do the best you can do now - then you do the best you can do later. The only way to get started in this business is to get started. Hell, I used the free (pay only shipping) Vista Prints cards at first. It worked well! Use those - //www.vistaprint.com You pay like $7 or $8 for 250 cards. Once they run out, you should have a better idea what you want.

Originally posted by Beach_mel:
Which leads us to cards, what is the best type of image to put on your cards? Should you have a few styles of cards, ie, one with babies/maternity, one with family portraits/seniors etc?


We do primarily weddings so we have wedding images on our cards. However, it's a fairly generic wedding photo (a flower on a tux) and it says "photographer" *weddings, families, maternity, seniors on it.

I'm going to start up a "fake" business in a second - and see how we can get it off the ground I think. :)

M


10/30/2005 09:11:37 AM · #60
OK I guess we need to also touch on selling online vs through yourself? I have a local professional lab that charges seperate rates for professional photographers vs the public. I guess I need to do some price shopping.

Can (when appropriate) we discuss the pros and cons of selling from the web vs local. I've not sold anything so am an absolutly blank sheet in this area.
 10/30/2005 09:16:05 AM · #61
Ok, I'm going to start a new company up, Syracuse Weddings. We will see how we do with a VERY minimal budget. However, I'm going to assume that I have all the gear I already have since I can't think in two realities at once!
--------------------
First, we need a website.

I signed up for a Photoreflect account - syracuseweddings.photoreflect.com It will be active in 24-48 hours.

Next, I uploaded 5 images to the gallery. This will cycle through as a slideshow when visitors come to the site.

Next, I create an art gallery for my local prints to sell. I can't publish it yet because I need to setup my store.

Sooo I setup my store - choosing All American Photo as my labricity lab.
Add a 4x6, set price to $3, and add a lab item - All American Photo 4x6 photo Endura Luster. It's $0.54 for each one. I charged $3.00 so that with the Photoreflect fees (about 18%), we still make decent money per 4x6.

Now we setup a shipping group. I priced basically what the labs charge - normal 2.99, priority 5.99, overnight 9.99

Back to My Photos and publish the catalog.

10 minutes and zero dollars later, we have a storefront.

Message edited by author 2005-10-30 09:17:30.
 10/30/2005 09:19:26 AM · #62
ok, I have the catalog ordreed, a web site //di53.smugmug.com , a domain ( not set up fully yet) and a portfolio book that i am adding photos to...and a photoreflect account

Message edited by author 2005-10-30 09:46:18.
 10/30/2005 09:33:40 AM · #63
Second, I'm going to want a real website. For $8.95, I buy SyracuseWeddingPhotographers.com from //www.godaddy.com

//www.freesitetemplates.com/ has free website templates in case you don't know much about web design. I choose Speed Demons under free templates so that my site runs fast.

Most of the templates are terrible, but I find one I like -
Template #298

I register for free and download that and open the index.html file in Microsoft Word and edit it a little bit. I upload all of that to my free //www.netfirms.com account and voila -

//www.syracuseweddingphotographers.com

Total price for site, photoreflect storefront and hosting - $8.95

To change links in MS Word just right click the link and choose "edit hyperlink" Change the address to //www.dpchallenge.com and the display text to DPC - that's all I did for the first link. It takes about 10 seconds in MS Word. :)

We can add pictures and such later, but the domain is up. Note the second link is our new storefront.

Message edited by author 2005-10-30 10:34:26.
 10/30/2005 09:34:36 AM · #64
I have to go for now - but review that much and see if you can have at least a functional website and storefront by this evening. :)

PS - my Photoreflect store is now active.

M

Message edited by author 2005-10-30 10:31:15.
 10/30/2005 09:37:47 AM · #65
I like the whole starting the business and going from there. But my main problem is the photos to add. If I want to target a wedding then I need wedding portraits. I have the website and the url so I am ready to go from there.
abrittonphotography.com

domain name bought by godaddy.com and some storage space.
smugmug.com is holding my portratits and setting my prices.
business cards home printed and I have my logo.
 10/30/2005 10:33:03 AM · #66
One thing I should mention now that my site and storefront are open - try and pick colors you think work for your business and stick with them. I have chosen blue and white so my website is blue and white and the Photoreflect customized theme I chose is blue and white. When I design business cards for this business, they will also be - yes, blue and white. :)

Please make sure you've reviewed all of the posts in this thread before we move on, btw. Order your Perfection Distributing Catalog if you haven't, etc. :)

Thanks for listening.
M

Message edited by author 2005-10-30 10:37:30.
 10/30/2005 10:52:19 AM · #67
Originally posted by mavrik:
Originally posted by pgatt:
Yeah I was planning for the 70-200 2.8 IS as well - for gig photography. The Sony is currently 2.8 at 200mm and even though the iso is much better i don't want to lose the advantage of that by having an f4 lens. Hand-holding them would be a bigger bonus - should be able to get hand-holdable speeds out of iso 1600 f2.8 and IS.


The ISO of which is better? The 828 or the 20D?


Sorry, fell behind a bit - time difference and all - the 20D does by far - as far as I've been told 1600 is quite brilliant and 3200 is useable, on the 828 I'm nervous using any more than 200.
 10/30/2005 11:18:44 AM · #68
I'm seeing people in this thread express a desire to do "landscape" work, others to do "portrait" work, etc. We need to be aware that there are may different types of photography businesses and they will all follow different business models or plans. Some broad categories:

Portrait/People Photography: studio work, location work, combination. Formal/candid/edgy-arty. Clients are typically individuals.

Commercial Photography: Product work and set-up work with people and/or products. Tends to be studio-oriented, may be on location. Clients tend to be designers, art directors, agencies.

Architectural Photography: 95% location work, some photography of architectural models. Clients may be magazines, architects/interior designers, manufacturers of products used (glass, structural steel, carpets, furniture, etc)

Landscape/Scenic Photography: 100% location work. Most sales tend to be from stock.

Wedding Photography: A world of its own. Clients are individuals.

"Art" Photography: Selling of prints in galleries, as art for walls. No "client" involced as a rule. You're on your own. Representation is key here; finding someone to hang your work and sell it for you. You can open your own gallery. Very risky business in general.

There are other categories/specialties. These came to mind off the top of my head. Each requires a different business plan, a different approach to promotion/marketing. It's difficult to imagine dealing with all categories at once or generically, in this thread. There needs to be a focus, IMO.

Robt.

Added: apparently there IS a focus for now, in the sense that we're going through the motions of setting up a sample business with online presence. So it's all good for now :-) Nice work, Mavrik.

Message edited by author 2005-10-30 11:30:12.
 10/30/2005 11:40:06 AM · #69
Yes, I plan to focus on setting up "something" and then branching out into what you're selling thru that site later, etc. I will need help in the commercial, architecture and landscape areas, less in the port/wedding areas.

I think everything we've done so far contributes to everyone's business - whether you sell art through Photoreflect, or wedding proofs, it's a good option. Not so much on the calendar and stock yet. That will come. :)

M
 10/30/2005 02:33:13 PM · #70
I have several landscape/flower shots that may be saleable. I would like to approach a local gallery to see if they are interested. My question is what do I show them? A album? Looks nice for portriats just not sure if you can make it for landsape/flowers etc. I was thinking perhaps larger prints? Just don't want to look totally unprofessional in my approach. I know they must see tons of work daily and I am sure presentation and first impression is very important. Just wondered if anyone had any advice or ideas. Thank you soo much. Renee :)
 10/30/2005 05:45:12 PM · #71
I will be doing these things a later tonight or during the day tomorrow. I have a pretty full schedule today and this evening. I really like the practical advice being given!

Those of you who have or are putting together a portfolio, perhaps you could take photos of it and share?
 10/30/2005 05:53:49 PM · #72
Excellent - let us know when your site and storefront are up. I'll try and put my folio pictures online later too. We use 3 albums at our wedding client meetings - an Illuma, Adorama 8x10 and Renaissance album.

Also, I'm going to find more for the new biz in a little while. I hope everyone is fairly caught up to this point. :)

M
 10/30/2005 05:54:47 PM · #73
Originally posted by Kekiinani:
I have several landscape/flower shots that may be saleable. I would like to approach a local gallery to see if they are interested. My question is what do I show them? A album? Looks nice for portriats just not sure if you can make it for landsape/flowers etc. I was thinking perhaps larger prints? Just don't want to look totally unprofessional in my approach. I know they must see tons of work daily and I am sure presentation and first impression is very important. Just wondered if anyone had any advice or ideas. Thank you soo much. Renee :)


I "float" my images approx 11x14 in 13x19 paper, sleeve them inddividualy in acetate, and carry them around in a large flat file with ties aroudn the edges, you know the kind... That seems to work for me.

Robt.
 10/30/2005 06:25:09 PM · #74
I am attemping to design a web site. I have never done this before so I hope it works. I might have something up by tomorrow.
 10/30/2005 06:59:12 PM · #75
Excellent! Remember that MS Word edits fairly easily. Also, if you want to create more than one page with a template like mine, just save it with a new name (like about.html) and then create the content for the about.html

M
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