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02/07/2006 12:59:26 PM · #1 |
I need some suggestions from some of you more experienced photographers out there. I have $600 to spend on some new equipment, and I would like to get some suggestions about things that I can buy to help my photography progress to the next level and start making a little money on the side.
I currently have a Nikon D70s, the 18-70mm kit lens, a 50mm 1.8, and a 105mm 2.8 macro lens. I have one strobe, a portable background support system, a 5' wide roll of white paper and a 5' wide black felt sheet.
I don't know if I should buy another strobe, different bakcdrops, books to read up on lighting, take a class somewhere, buy props, or what. Any comments and ideas would be most helpful.
Thanks in advance.
Scott |
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02/07/2006 01:20:17 PM · #2 |
More strobes, if you are serious about portraiture. Ofcourse, you'll want to start with a good book about lighting, so you'll know what equipment you'll want.
A nice beginner strobe kit.
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02/07/2006 01:40:54 PM · #3 |
| What are some good books that people could recommend regarding lighting? |
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02/07/2006 04:38:01 PM · #4 |
| Any ideas from the afternoon crowd? |
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02/07/2006 04:57:02 PM · #5 |
you mentioned money, listed some gear and a load of things you could spend money on but you didn't actually mention what you want to improve upon. 'Photography' isn't a good enough answer for that question. Once you can say what you want to improve, the answer should be reasonably obvious what you should do to improve it.
Message edited by author 2006-02-07 16:57:40. |
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02/07/2006 05:13:30 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by Gordon:
you mentioned money, listed some gear and a load of things you could spend money on but you didn't actually mention what you want to improve upon. 'Photography' isn't a good enough answer for that question. Once you can say what you want to improve, the answer should be reasonably obvious what you should do to improve it. |
Sorry. Right now I consider myself a fairly decent landscape photographer, on a very amatuer level. But there is almost no money out there for an amatuer landscape photographer. I have taken a few portraits of my own family, and would like to get in to that more. I have quite a few people that I work with that would like me to start taking their portraits, but before I do, I would like it to be a little more professional looking. I am a big perfectionist, and so I don't want to take mediocre photos for colleagues and friends. I want them to have a very professional feel to them.
So I guess what I am asking for is some advice on different equipment/reading materials that can be purchased so that I can take some really, really professional looking portraits, and be able to charge people for that. |
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02/07/2006 07:19:38 PM · #7 |
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02/07/2006 10:41:34 PM · #8 |
| Bump for the night crowd. |
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02/07/2006 11:23:44 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by traquino98:
What are some good books that people could recommend regarding lighting? |
I read and partially re-read "Light Science & Magic" by Fil Hunter and Paul Fuqua.
I recommend it highly if your looking to better understand lighting under different conditions as opposed to a lighting cookbook.
bazz. |
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02/08/2006 05:50:15 AM · #10 |
If you think there is something missing from your photogaphy, it's probably not equipment. Equipment might make things easier, but it is rarely (if ever?) what separates a good photographer from an excellent photographer.
Rather than buying more stuff, I'd suggest spending the money in other ways. For example:
- Doing a course that is specifcally about portraiture. Particularly if it provides studio time and models to work with - because you can then use these as part of your portfolio.
- Hiring some models to work and practice with, if you can't get "free" ones (i.e. time for prints type arrangements).
- Buying books or magazines and/or spending time in museums and galleries. Consider looking at artists in other media, not just photography - the ones who use paints, ink, charcoal, pastels and so on.
- You might even want to think about doing a course in drawing, as a refresher course in learning to see and/or unlock some different creative paths in your brain.
Edit: added in the missing second half of the second sentence, hope it makes more sense now. :)
Message edited by author 2006-02-08 09:55:32. |
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02/08/2006 06:19:21 AM · #11 |
My first thought when I read your post was the same as Gordon's... what areas of photography are you interested in and what aspects are you hoping to improve. Too broad a question otherwise.
I see you have since elaborated that you're keen to improve in the arena of portrait photography.
My suggestion would be for you to think about what currently do you see as the main difference between your portraiture results and what you would consider to be professional results? Where are your weaknesses? Is your lighting uneven? Is your exposure off? Are the poses too stilted? Backdrops not looking good enough? If you can identify where you notice your results not matching up to what you are aiming for it will make it easier to work out what you could best do to resolve that!
Message edited by author 2006-02-08 06:19:56.
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02/08/2006 09:24:06 AM · #12 |
I'm tempted to suggest not spending the money but shooting a lot more and getting expert with the single light and gear that you have.
If you don't really know what you are doing with a single light and a reflector, more strobes strikes me as about the worst possible thing you could buy.
More practice is probably the best thing you could invest in your photography right now. When you've done that, what you need to buy to go further should become pretty obvious.
Find willing friends/ family or even unwilling friends/ family. Practice a lot. Learn how to use natural light and a reflector to make great portraits. Learn how to interact well with a subject. Learn your camera well enough that it becomes second nature, so that you are never worried about camera settings but are worried about interacting with your subject.
Practice and maybe you'll find you don't need to buy anything.
You've got a decent camera and a couple of primes that are perfect for portraiture. You've got a light and some reflectors - you really don't need anything else to start with. Several well known photographers make all their living with less gear than that.
Message edited by author 2006-02-08 09:25:08. |
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02/08/2006 09:54:55 AM · #13 |
| classes and books too maybe. |
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02/08/2006 10:23:21 AM · #14 |
Originally posted by traquino98:
What are some good books that people could recommend regarding lighting? |
Portrait Photography: Secrets of Posing & Lighting by Mark Cleghorn
The Portrait Photogerpahers: Guide to Posing by Bill Hurter (doesn't give as much about lighting as the other book does)! |
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