|
| Author | Thread |
|
|
05/03/2007 11:21:01 PM · #1 |
Hopefully someone can help me out here,
My equipment consists of
Olympus Evolt 500
14-45mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko Digital ED
40-150mm f/3.5-4.5 Zuiko Digital
PROMASTER 5750DX Flash
24in Silver Reflector (Homemade) //murdockphotography.sytes.net/images/silver.jpg
24in Gold Reflector (Homemade) //murdockphotography.sytes.net/images/gold.jpg
Made with Reflective Silver and Gold Cloth, 24inch Wood Embroidery Hoop images ^above^
Using the equipment that i have, how can i use it to produce the best images i can using this equipment?
Please comment on my reflectors good idea, bad idea?
As well as my webpage and galleries at //www.murdockphotography.net
~ Shane |
|
|
|
05/03/2007 11:36:09 PM · #2 |
not sure if you've been here yet but I found some of the stuff very useful. Most talk about using strobes which you didn't mention but they also talk about reflectors so you might be able to get good info from there anyway.
good luck.
(p.s. I've got to check out those homemade reflectors) |
|
|
|
05/03/2007 11:46:27 PM · #3 |
if you want to get to know your camera well this is a great place
//www.wrotniak.net/photo/oly-e/index.html |
|
|
|
05/04/2007 12:24:14 AM · #4 |
| I know my camera pretty well its nice to see 2 olympus E-500 owners reply lol ill check those out hopefully more people reply with more help i really appreciate it |
|
|
|
05/04/2007 09:17:18 AM · #5 |
I don't understand the question...
there is the technical side - get things in focus, properly lit, pose people properly (to flatter them among other things), proper use of the BG and DOF, etc. There are entire college curriculums devoted to these things, so I don't think a simple forum post will do you much good.
You've posted this in the 'business' section - so if you're going to charge, then you need backup gear. Everything breaks, and never sitting on teh shelf at 2 AM, but in the middle of a shoot. Nothing will kill a business quicker than 'gees, my camera broke. let me fix it and we'll get together again in 2 weeks'.
The reason one hires a pro, and pays good money for photography, is cause they want something they can't do themselves - posing, lighting, etc.
What are you planning to shoot? Portraiture (what kind? family, corporate, glamour, HS seniors, babies and kids, pet, on location, your location, inside or outside, studio lights, natural light, a mix of the two?)
The #1 lens for portraiture is the 70-200 2.8, and some favor an 85 1.8 or 1.2, or the 135 F2. Notice something common there? All are telephotos and all are fast lenses - fast for shallow DOF. Any lens can take a picture, but when you start wanting to make money at it, and compete with accomplished pros, you need (at some point) to be able to make 'standard' images, and shallow DOF is one of those things you need to be able to do - I don't think you've got a lens capable of it.
In this image the guitar in the BG is OOF as is the neck in the forground. To a degree you can mimic this in PS, but time is money and the more you get right in the camera the less time later, the more money you make.
|
|
|
|
05/04/2007 11:47:16 PM · #6 |
Yes i do understand that most professionals have back up equipment but how many professional start with back up equipment im just starting out yes i know i need to purchase new glass currently there are only 15 lens made by zuiko and 8 made by sigma and they are very expensive. As for a camera back up im waiting for the code named (P-1) the successor to E-1 Then i will have back up equimpent im doing little jobs and saving up the money to purchase the back up equipment as soon as i can.
as for the question it was about which i just realized i didnt say LOL
Enviromental Photos like, senior pictures, weddings, families.
I do have Studio Flood Lighting enough to do a group of 3 or 4 nothing much. Studio work isnt a problem ins and outs of studios i learned while i was a manager for Olan Mills.
I appreciate your comment pro_fate your pretty straight forward, hopefully i can purchase new glass which i just found an
Olympus 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 (equivilant of a 35mm 28-108) Zuiko for $406 on amazon.
I look forward to more comments from you and everyone else as well thank you. |
|
|
|
05/07/2007 01:09:00 PM · #7 |
Purchase lenses that are 2.8 throughout all focal lengths. What good is a 2.8-3.5 unless your only using it when 2.8 is available. Also, the lenses that are not top of the line such as Sigmas and tamrons etc... need to be stopped down to get quality results. That means your lens is really a 4.-5.xxx. thats not very fast. Buy top of teh line and you will only buy stuff once. Buy sub par gear and you will replace it soon and it has no resell value.
If the brand you use doesn't offer quality stuff with good resale value and lenses that are readily available it may be time to switch systems. Buy a Canon or Nikon. they are most popular so equipment is easy to find and if you sell it their are many buyers. Do it soon before you get so invested you can't leave.
|
|
|
|
05/07/2007 04:21:10 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by Jmnuggy:
Purchase lenses that are 2.8 throughout all focal lengths. What good is a 2.8-3.5 unless your only using it when 2.8 is available. Also, the lenses that are not top of the line such as Sigmas and tamrons etc... need to be stopped down to get quality results. That means your lens is really a 4.-5.xxx. thats not very fast. Buy top of teh line and you will only buy stuff once. Buy sub par gear and you will replace it soon and it has no resell value.
If the brand you use doesn't offer quality stuff with good resale value and lenses that are readily available it may be time to switch systems. Buy a Canon or Nikon. they are most popular so equipment is easy to find and if you sell it their are many buyers. Do it soon before you get so invested you can't leave. |
I agree - if you know you want to go pro, then look at what the pros in the field you want to work in are using. They use Canon and Nikon for a reason - ask what that is. You can certainly buck the system, be an individual and swim upstream if you wish, but starting and running a successful photography business is tough enough without doing everything the hard way.
And it is a business you're starting. Do you have a plan? Goals - be that X customers by Y date, or Z dollars in sales, or an average sale per customer, etc? You worked at Olan Mills so you should have some idea of what kind of sales/client and markup or profit/client is needed to keep the doors open and everyone paid.
Your plan should include a list of ALL the equipment you need to do what you want - strobes, softboxes, pocket wizards, bodies, lenses, meters, etc, etc. A list of advertising and what it will cost, etc.
Add this up and you'll know how much money you need to have to start your business.
If you want paid, add that in there too. It takes 3 years on average, for any business to make enough money to begin to pay you a salary. this is why most people start part time on the side - not because they don't have the gear or money for the gear.
A great motivator for success is debt!
As to your hotlights...get some strobes. Clients may not know one from the other, but hot lights are well, hot. They know pros use strobes. Use the right gear and you can charge more money, and pay for the gear that much faster.
|
|
|
|
Current Server Time: 04/24/2024 07:15:32 PM  |
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Prints! -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/24/2024 07:15:32 PM EDT.
|
