Urgh!!!

samran · June 26, 2009

Ok, so I am completely frustrated. I have been doing everything I know to get my name out there as a photographer. I feel that it is to no avail. Any ideas on how to promote your name as a wedding photographer? Also, I am wondering what the best lens is to use for weddings. I have a Nikon D300.

If anyone feels like criticizing (and yes I mean criticizing my work:) please check out my galleries. I need all the help I can get.

Thanks,
Samantha

MA-FOTO · June 26, 2009

not sure where you are located .... but i would check in to the nearest photo club .... particularly next to a good size city.
Networking .....

I would also find local pro(s) to work with. shoot for experience as your pay to start out w/.
Ask to do a tag-a-long. Then move up to 2nd shooter. This is a payed position.

Some pros may not be to receptive as they will be training there competition - especially in a small town.

If you have to ask what is the best lens for wedding photography ...
IMHO, then you are not ready for wedding photography.

I'll say the vast majority of wedding photogs shoot w/ fast glass.
They will also have a back up body and/ or shoot w/ 2 bodies and have a 3rd as back up.

Hope this helps ..... and keep going.

Later,
_Mark

Qarik · June 26, 2009

samran wrote:

Ok, so I am completely frustrated. I have been doing everything I know to get my name out there as a photographer. I feel that it is to no avail. Any ideas on how to promote your name as a wedding photographer? Also, I am wondering what the best lens is to use for weddings. I have a Nikon D300.

If anyone feels like criticizing (and yes I mean criticizing my work:) please check out my galleries. I need all the help I can get.

Thanks,
Samantha

I took a look through your galleries..not bad! I think the best way is word of mouth. I took pictures at my compnay holiday party..which spawned 2 birthday parties ..which spawned a potential wedding and a family shoot. I 2nd shot wedding which spawned a wedding as well. It's all about invested eyes on your shots..not just portfolio shots.. friends and family looking at the entire sets on line imo.

While I'm Waiting · June 26, 2009

Hi Samantha, I was just looking at your site and maybe I overlooked it but I didn't see any reference to where your business is located. I know I saw a phone number but no location.

kds1 · June 26, 2009

samran wrote:

Ok, so I am completely frustrated. I have been doing everything I know to get my name out there as a photographer. I feel that it is to no avail. Any ideas on how to promote your name as a wedding photographer? Also, I am wondering what the best lens is to use for weddings. I have a Nikon D300.

If anyone feels like criticizing (and yes I mean criticizing my work:) please check out my galleries. I need all the help I can get.

Thanks,
Samantha

Samantha, I have no criticisms (since I'm a newbie and not sure what my opinion is worth in that case, dontcha know!), but I just wanted to say that you have wonderful infant and flower shots.

Kara

urbanaries · June 26, 2009

The competition around here is at a fever pitch...don't know much about your area. But brides are becoming very savvy...they pick up on the perception that if you're shooting 12 types of photography, you probably aren't a wedding specialist.

Your wedding photos need some variety, suggesting you may need to build your portfolio. Looks like snapshots from two weddings, possibly 3. Only a few of them it's really obvious they're from weddings, and in one the bride's dress is cropped strangely (she was sitting). The flash in your outdoor photos is also too hot.

It's difficult but the best thing you can do right now is to try to learn and build your portfolio, not make money. I realize it's hard to invest in the proper equipment if you're not making money, but one has to come before the other. You can practice at more than just "weddings" per se, but try what you can (assistant, shooting for free, etc). Any low light indoor photography practice (think birthday parties, family gatherings, etc) will give you the practice you need. Plus there's no pressure.

Hope this helps. Your site overall looks really good, but I wanted to respond to your request for advice on weddings specifically.

mmmatt · June 26, 2009

urbanaries wrote:

The competition around here is at a fever pitch...don't know much about your area. But brides are becoming very savvy...they pick up on the perception that if you're shooting 12 types of photography, you probably aren't a wedding specialist.

Your wedding photos need some variety, suggesting you may need to build your portfolio. Looks like snapshots from two weddings, possibly 3. Only a few of them it's really obvious they're from weddings, and in one the bride's dress is cropped strangely (she was sitting). The flash in your outdoor photos is also too hot.

It's difficult but the best thing you can do right now is to try to learn and build your portfolio, not make money. I realize it's hard to invest in the proper equipment if you're not making money, but one has to come before the other. You can practice at more than just "weddings" per se, but try what you can (assistant, shooting for free, etc). Any low light indoor photography practice (think birthday parties, family gatherings, etc) will give you the practice you need. Plus there's no pressure.

Hope this helps. Your site overall looks really good, but I wanted to respond to your request for advice on weddings specifically.

Good advice from a REALLY good wedding photographer. You have some interesting stuff and some good shots on your site but not much that is great in your wedding section. You need to spend some time looking at other peoples work and compare what you have to what they are doing.

you have some good couples stuff and some good senior stuff. you need to find a way to shoot with other local photogs and build up your wedding portfolio. Google wedding photographers in your area and start emailing, you can also post here and maybe some dgrinners will hook you up.

as far as gear goes... you need to invest some dough, and then invest again for backups. Quality gear costs money. You don't have to have the best of everything starting out but really good gear makes a bigger difference for a newbie than it does for a seasoned pro... funny how that works huh? Ideally you should have focal ranges covered from 24-200 with most if not all of it being f2.8 or faster, and backups in the form of other zooms or a series of primes. Then 2 bodies as well, even if the backup is a film body (assuming your lenses are all film-compatable!). You may never have a problem, but when people trust the memories of their most special day to you, you better be able to make it happen. Only one chance in this game.

Matt

samran · June 27, 2009

Thanks to all
I wanted to say thank you to all of you that responded. I really appreciate your criticisms. Unfortunately, I have these gorgeous wedding photos, but I am not able to put them on my site. I worked with a venue where I got married. They gave me the opportunity to photograph for their publicity purposes. I asked the gal that runs the venue to forward an email to the bride and groom to see if they would allow me to post the photos to my website or reproduce for marketing and advertising. However, I have not heard back from the venue. I am afraid I may have burned that bridge. I can admit that I am not down with the lingo you all use in this forum. I do know that I need a 2.8 wide angle lens. Is that what you guys were recommending? How do you all get along with the legalities of working under another photographer? Is there a way to arrange to post the photos on your website to encourage a wider portfolio?
Thanks,
Samanth

Art Scott · June 27, 2009

samran wrote:

, I have these gorgeous wedding photos, but I am not able to put them on my site. I worked with a venue where I got married. They gave me the opportunity to photograph for their publicity purposes.
did you give away your original files to the venue that you shot the publicity for??
Always make it clear, in a contract, that you as the photographer have the right to use any and all photography you do in any way you want for publicity or marketing your own business (need lawyer to properly writ it up in legal speak).......

I asked the gal that runs the venue to forward an email to the bride and groom to see if they would allow me to post the photos to my website or reproduce for marketing and advertising. However, I have not heard back from the venue. I am afraid I may have burned that bridge. I can admit that I am not down with the lingo you all use in this forum. I do know that I need a 2.8 wide angle lens. Is that what you guys were recommending? How do you all get along with the legalities of working under another photographer? Is there a way to arrange to post the photos on your website to encourage a wider portfolio?
Thanks,
Samanth

I used 2 lenses in the past for my work...weddings, portraits, whatever......a 70-210(new versions are 70-200) and a 24-70 both f2.8.....but I have found that with a crop body the 24 is too long so I am replacing with a 17-70....this will give me the width I need for the majority of groups of 90% of all weddings......you also need a min of 2 bodies......must always have a back up ...........

There are a couple of ways to work with another photographer.....one is you shoot do the post processing and turn over the finish product for him/her to sell to b/g and you retain the copyright and the right to use for your own marketing (portfolio...website..etc....etc) also working for another photog is just another job and they are just another boss.......in reality.

wadesworld · June 28, 2009

Samanth,

You should read this thread Lisa pointed out:

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/728814/0

It will answer a lot of your questions.

JDub · June 29, 2009

I assisted for 5 years before doing my first wedding in 1995. A year after charging almost nothing for weddings I opened my studio in 1996 doing weddings. I got a lot of business via word of mouth in those days, as well as print media and cold calling. I did it the long way. Nowadays I use the internet, and various photo organizations to promote myself. You can also use pay-per-lead sites, such as www.decidio.com and others. Hope this helps.

joshhuntnm · June 29, 2009

I have done pretty well with google local. I paid for some adds at first with wedj.com and similar sites. Do a search for yourtown wedding photographer and see what comes up. It is pretty easy to register to be included in google local. I am currently #3 under las cruces wedding photographer. this is my second year and I did 8 weddings in June. Only one was a personal contact. The rest were from the web, or referalls from weddings earlier this year. I only know of one in that catagory, but you are never sure who talks to who.

My strategy has been to keep my prices low at first, while I am learning, then move up as I fill my calendar.

the more outbound links to your site the better. Forums count, but they need to be related to photography. I do a search from time to time for photography forums, go lurk around and post appropriate relevent comments with my URL in the sig. I think having some reviews help as well, though I am not sure of that. Ask your clients to give you a positive review; most will.

Dooginfif20 · June 29, 2009

I myself am not a professional photographer, but I am in the same position as you. The route I chose to take was exactly what has been mentioned on here. I got on Google and looked for local photogs. I met the guy that I am now interning for and it has been great! I can tell you from the experiences I have had so far is that lenses are not the only thing you need to think about when it comes to gear. The guy I intern for has 2 D300s and 1 D200 as a backup. On his D300s he has a 17-55 2.8 and a 70-200 2.8 and both are on him at all times. When it comes down to little shots before or between things he may switch it up to a 50 1.4 or 85 1.8. Also depending on the venue he may choose to use 1 or 2 alien bees or their might be enough ambient light to where a 2.8 and an SB-600 or 800 is plenty to have even lighting. Also one thing I have noticed that is when you are doing formals outdoors its a good idea to purchase a large (52" or bigger) reflector and diffuser. I like using ambient light in my shots so for me a reflector works well. Now as for getting your name out there there are tons of ways to do it. You can get a website set up through a host such as bludomain.com. They are $100-400 for the templet and $100 a year to host your site. Then just register it with Google and you are there. I've seen people in front of stores just offering free sessions and what not and going from there. The more people you can get in contact with the more word of mouth. Like I said I am not a professional photographer, but since doing this internship it has opened up a lot of opportunities that I wouldn't have been able to do. At this point I am watching and observing how things happen and how the photographer adapts to them and in the process I get to increase my portfolio. As for credit for the pictures the way that it works for me is I take all the pictures I want and when I want at the wedding or whatever it happens to be and then he takes them and uploads them into his macbook and they become possession of his studio. He will go through and we will edit them and then the keepers will he can use for sale or advertisement, but I get them on a disc for my use with the intentions that I not use them for profit. I hope this helped you at all!

Urgh!!!

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