Website Critique and contacting Ad Agencies

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/06/2013 09:46:27 AM · #1

Good afternoon guys I am new to DPChallange... I joined this site mainly to get feedback on my work. At the moment I am at a cross-road with my photography. I have had multiple items published (only editorials no ads) and I feel I am ready to reach out to advertising agencies, I am slightly intimidated though because when I have visited their sites the level of work I see is way above what I have I feel... Does anyone have any advice?

Also, can I get some feedback regarding my website? I just want to know which images you feel are the weakest and the reasons why from each of these sections... It would help me alot in the curation of my work!

h t t p : // w w w . scott-leonard . net

And you can check out the other sections and also tell me if you see anything you feel should be removed, thank you.

Message edited by author 2013-07-06 09:49:36.

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

07/06/2013 10:28:07 AM · #2

for real?

i don't see how you can say, "I am at a cross-road with my photography" and "I am slightly intimidated" when you have the portfolio you have, the credits you have, and the references you have. it's almost like you're already there, but don't know it ;-)

as for the site, just a handful of observations:
1) the signature fonts on the polaroids look cheesy
2) you might want to run your textual content through a spell/grammar checker just to be sure about some of your phraseology
3) on your retouching page, i think calling that your "passion" would make people question your commitment to your photography. maybe find a different word to express how much you enjoy it.
4) you mention in your blog "character building". just as you cleared out brand-inconsistent images from your portfolio, you might want to revisit your blog and sanitize that as well. think in terms of what type of impressions could anyone reading your blog have of you. if you're ok with everything, then you're good to go. it's perfectly fine to have opinions, even ones that give people pause, but sometimes it's best to let those live somewhere not linked to your business persona.

other than that, just start knocking on doors. use your referrals and references. and maybe get an agent.

good luck!

Message edited by author 2013-07-06 10:29:14.

07/06/2013 10:38:17 AM · #3

IMO, your work is very, very good. The website could use a bit of polish, i agree with Skip's comments.

don't be intimated, just act like you belong (you clearly do).

07/06/2013 10:48:54 AM · #4

Are you guys serious because i look at my work and i feel like it sucks! Idk it looks kind of cartoonish to me, but i look at the photographers I admire and their work looks way better than mine :s

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/06/2013 10:51:55 AM · #5

Originally posted by Mike:

IMO, your work is very, very good. The website could use a bit of polish, i agree with Skip's comments.

don't be intimated, just act like you belong (you clearly do).

MIKE I checked out your 500px great work, here is the link to mine - h t t p : // 500px. com/higgsboson-boy

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

07/06/2013 11:01:39 AM · #6

Originally posted by scott_leonard:

Are you guys serious because i look at my work and i feel like it sucks! Idk it looks kind of cartoonish to me, but i look at the photographers I admire and their work looks way better than mine :s

ultimately it comes down to being able to consistently and reliably produce what clients are willing to pay for. if you think they are paying for cartoons and garbage, sooner or later it's going to stop working for you. if you're getting published and getting accolades and getting references, then go with it. of course you want to keep pushing yourself and holding yourself to a higher standard, but you shouldn't let that get in the way of just getting things done.

ON THE OTHER HAND

if you don't yet feel you have the confidence to play with the big boys, go to school or find an established pro who could use an assistant.

Message edited by author 2013-07-06 11:03:58.

07/06/2013 01:01:45 PM · #7

parsed link for others:

www.scott-leonard.net

07/06/2013 01:07:42 PM · #8

Originally posted by scott_leonard:

Are you guys serious because i look at my work and i feel like it sucks! Idk it looks kind of cartoonish to me, but i look at the photographers I admire and their work looks way better than mine :s

i have the same reaction as Skip, you are kidding right?

great lighting, great poses, diverse set of models, interesting backstops, perfect processing. what else do you think you need?

your artificial lighting skills blow the doors off many here.

any prospective clients know exactly what they are going to get from you, you have a very definitive clean style.

you may be lacking in confidence but you aren't lacking in skill.

07/06/2013 01:13:26 PM · #9

Originally posted by Mike:

Originally posted by scott_leonard:
Are you guys serious because i look at my work and i feel like it sucks! Idk it looks kind of cartoonish to me, but i look at the photographers I admire and their work looks way better than mine :s

i have the same reaction as Skip, you are kidding right?

great lighting, great poses, diverse set of models, interesting backstops, perfect processing. what else do you think you need?

your artificial lighting skills blow the doors off many here.

any prospective clients know exactly what they are going to get from you, you have a very definitive clean style.

you may be lacking in confidence but you aren't lacking in skill.

Thank you for sharing my link. Also I am one of those who is too judgmental of my own work i think... I have some really famous friends on Facebook... Frank Doorhof, Arthur st. john, RC , I try asking them for tips or have them tell me what they do not like. I am yet to get any ad campaigns, but to be honest ive been a little scared. I joined this forum for tips, new friends, and maybe to get a little more confidence because I have always been to self conscious ... photography is the tip of the iceberg. Thanks for all the comments guys and as far as the advice on what to fix on the site i will try to fix as much as possible tomorrow.... today is e-mail day.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

07/06/2013 01:49:38 PM · #10

being a good photographer has nothing to do with being able running a successful business. its why many pros hate "fauxtogs" as they call them. they cant believe that someone with little photography skill can get any work.

running a successful photography business, or any business in general, has more to with marketing and networking than being good at it. you don't need to be good enough to impress other photographers, you need to be able to get clients and make them happy.

if you cant run this part yourself, go work for someone who can until you can learn to build up a client base on your own.

Message edited by author 2013-07-06 14:18:15.

tanguera

Nikon D750

07/06/2013 02:09:29 PM · #11

Hi Scott,
I echo everyone's sentiments regarding your work, but as a portrait photog, I have a couple of observations:

In book1, the first 8 portraits are not as polished as the rest in the gallery. On their own, they're fine, but not in the same league when compared to the others. I think the color flower headdress one can be cropped really tight to make it work, as can the one with the blush brush.

I'm not sure of the purpose of the polaroid/unretouched gallery. If you're trying to show your editing skills, I'd prefer to see before/after images next to each other, especially since you are using the same images several times elsewhere.

But in truth, the biggest obstacle you have is your self-doubt. Something which plagues me as well :-)

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

07/06/2013 03:48:06 PM · #12

Originally posted by tanguera:

Thanks, btw i check out your website, you have amazing work, I love the one with the turtle (tortoise) made me laugh... I have seen your work somewhere before but i cant put my finger on it. Regarding the book1 some images were a little older than others, I have only been doing this a year, so my editing style has changed drastically from 1 month to the next. I did the polaroid section because i noticed all the fashion photographers I admire have polaroid sections the only thing they use real polaroid cameras, I am yet to buy one but I hope i can get one soon so i can remove those fake ones and start a section with scans.

tanguera

Nikon D750

07/06/2013 04:20:21 PM · #13

Thank you, Scott! But back to you, I try to look at people I admire for inspiration, not necessarily to imitate them. What works for one person doesn't always work for another. I still think your "polaroid" gallery be more of a before/after one. I'm not sure you have to have a polaroid gallery, especially if it's pretend. Also, I feel it is better to have a handful of jewels, than put in stuff to "fill" the site. Less is more. Eliminate the earlier stuff because it doesn't show progress, it shoes inconsistency. I would say you are definitely on the right track and have a lot of talent because the later images look like you've been at it much longer than a year.