Easter Photography Props

at what point, can you start charging for photography?

I was just wondering wether or not i should put an ad in the local classifieds. I am pretty new at photography- but i think ive got the talent and passion to back it up. I recently bought myself a Dslr, and ive got two professional editing programs. Im thinking about doing some baby photography. Could i charge, even a small fee? I have been practicing on family and friends, as well as my own 5 month old. I have a Bunch of great easter props.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35998081@N08/

Heres some of my pics. I dont have any more space this month to put any more of my baby ones on here.

One point would be to post photos on a site and ask for opinions. Are you not capable of showing some of your work? Are you afraid that others may feel it is NOT good enough? In either case, these factors mean you are not ready to be charging money.

You said you “have the talent and passion to back it up”. You have it backwards. You need passion, THEN talent to back it up. People will not pay you for passion or props.

You “recently bought a DSLR and two professional editing programs”. Having equipment does not make you expert at USING it. What kind of lighting do you have? That is the single most critical part of good protraiture. Do you have proper studio lights? Are you just using a horrid on camera flash? Or cheap work lights or household lights? There is so much more to it than just a camera and some computer software. A good photographer gets results in the camera with little to no reliance on computer help afterwards.

Get some photos posted and you will get some honest critique. If all you want is praise then you DEFINITELY are not ready to be charging money. You will be eaten alive if you charge people for poor work… we might can save you that heartache if we can see your work.

steve

EDIT: Ok… thanks for putting up some photos. I will say you are doing well, but there is still much to improve on before you consider asking people money for your work. The main thing you have to do is be able to take photos that the average person CANNOT. Frankly, your photos, while ok, are not significantly better than any other amateur photos.

Your lighting on the baby photos is very flat. There is no definition or texture to the shots. There are also exposure issues on some of the portraits. Soooo Cool is WAY overexposed, and Face Down is also blown out on the face.

The black and white conversions are dull and lifeless. A good b/w conversion from a color digital photo requires more than simply going to greyscale or desaturating. Again, the photos look no better than what anyone else can do.

You need to learn better composition. Many of your photos have the subject dead center. Nothing screams amateur and poor composition more than subjects in the middle of the frame. Changed My Mind and My Fab Kitchen are examples of this. Learn the “rule of thirds” to give your photos much better composition. You must learn to see what is in your entire frame and MAKE your photos, not just TAKE your photos.

Many people get a first decent camera and get some results that are so much better than what they have been used to having, but that is a long way from being proficient enough to harbor the idea that you can begin charging people for photos and / or starting a business.

Your photos are NOT bad, … just a little too average. There is nothing wrong with that. You just need to step back, spend time looking at the work of REAL pros, and compare with what you are doing. When you have full understanding of light and exposure and composition and can put out work beyond the typical DSLR owner, then you can think about charging people.

I sincerely hope that is helpful to you. Sometimes the truth can hurt a little, but honestly, if you presented people with portraits such as these and expected money for them, well, you would be treated in a MUCH worse way than some helpful critique here.

Keep at it, keep learning and practicing!

steve

ASU SLOW STICK VADO CAM

Egg and Nest Set $169.90 The Egg and Nest set can be used all year long. Babies and children up to 4 years old can be photographed sitting inside the egg. The Egg is 12″ tall and 18″ wide. It is made with a durable plastic to last through many years of use. Add one to your studio today….

Little Lamb Overalls and Hat Set Knitting Pattern – 4 Sizes Included Sizes you will receive directions for:Newborn0-3 Months3-6 Months6-12 MonthsThis is a beginner level pattern, and the hat is partially knit in the round. There is also some stranded colorwork involved for the ears, but it is explained in the pattern. As always, I am just an e-mail away to answer any questions you might have.You have permission to sell the finished product – please leave a link to …

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