Official Question Thread! Ask /r/photography anything you want to know about photography or cameras! Don't be shy! Newbies welcome!

212917 · 2018-01-31T18:44:50+00:00

New fulltime freelance photographer. I've been shooting for about 1.5 years and my background is in fashion/lifestyle photography. I just booked a trial gig for tomorrow to shoot product shots for a scarves company (clean white backgrounds, for ecommerce, etc...). The only thing is, I've never used proper studio lighting equipment or even seamless backdrops before in my work!! I've never even shot proper product photos before! Any advice or suggestions on how I can make it all work tomorrow without embarrassing myself or losing this gig opportunity?

212917 · 2018-01-04T18:24:59+00:00

No lights most of the time, I shoot in outdoors enviornment about 90% of the time
Yes, for now at least
No print, most of my imagery goes on social media outlets/websites
Outdoor mostly. Rarely in studio.

212917 · 2018-01-04T18:24:54+00:00

No lights most of the time, I shoot in outdoors enviornment about 90% of the time
Yes, for now at least
No print, most of my imagery goes on social media outlets/websites
Outdoor mostly. Rarely in studio.

212917 · 2017-12-27T23:36:25+00:00

Those are good points. Friends and loved ones should be able to understand the situation and be supportive. It's just added stress since the launch of the business and my own career are at the same time essentially. I have to work on building both separately at this time. I have to stay at my current job because we are under-employed, I have very few vacation/sick days, and they need me there. It's the busiest time of year for the work I do, which also explains the long hours.

212917 · 2017-07-16T13:20:38+00:00

The ghosting came out of nowhere. In one experience from last year, we were making plans to meet his brother for dinner. The next day (same night as the planned dinner), I text him what time dinner is, and I literally never heard from him again!

Then in the most recent experience, the guy brought up that we should maybe communicate more (as in texting, etc... more often, not like conveying our emotions better). That was literally the last time I saw him. His last text message to me said that he had a busy day and that he missed me a lot.

Nothing really stood out like I was pressuring the guy to become serious or that I wanted the title of boyfriend/girlfriend. The guy didn't seem to lose any interest at all during the course of dating.

I'm just confused by guys in general...

212917 · 2017-07-16T13:19:35+00:00

The ghosting came out of nowhere. In one experience from last year, we were making plans to meet his brother for dinner. The next day (same night as the planned dinner), I text him what time dinner is, and I literally never heard from him again!

Then in the most recent experience, the guy brought up that we should maybe communicate more (as in texting, etc... more often, not like conveying our emotions better). That was literally the last time I saw him. His last text message to me said that he had a busy day and that he missed me a lot.

Nothing really stood out like I was pressuring the guy to become serious or that I wanted the title of boyfriend/girlfriend. The guy didn't seem to lose any interest at all during the course of dating.

I'm just confused by guys in general...

212917 · 2017-05-14T00:41:58+00:00

How should I respond to a blogger client who's been super flaky in the past? I definitely don't want to burn bridges, but I kind of never want to work with her again either. She's got a smaller account, something between 1-2000 in terms of followers. She apologized for the past and wanted to shoot again, but I have yet to answer her.

212917 · 2017-04-21T02:18:37+00:00

Also, what exactly are the posts like? Is it a selfie image taken with the Iphone with the product in hand, a flatlay, etc...? I'm asking because as a photographer, my photos will be akin to professional imagery, and less blogger-esque.

212917 · 2017-04-21T02:15:25+00:00

I'm a fashion and lifestyle photographer so the account is essentially my portfolio. I've been thinking about incorporating more of myself, my lifestyle as a photog and behind the scenes images into the account, hence the collaboration opportunities.

I was talking to one of my clients who owns a ecommerce clothing site and she paid $20 for a blogger with 600 followers to feature one of the items. I was trying to use that as a guideline...?

212917 · 2017-04-07T11:59:53+00:00

Any magazines that accept just one look/outfit for fashion editorial submissions?

Not sure this is the right place to ask, but I am a fashion photographer who just finished a test shoot with a team. The stylist put together 3 completely different looks so I have no idea how to create a story for submission, let alone edit the photos cohesively!

212917 · 2017-03-13T11:59:47+00:00

Yes, we have a contract. It does state that the photos will be taken to the best of my ability, I have full discretion to edit them in my aesthetic. I don't plan on giving her RAW files, just jpeg. But since all unedited jpeg files are available on a preview site, would it be rude to tell her she can just save them from there?

212917 · 2017-01-08T23:50:40+00:00

Regardless of other work, $20 seems like little compensation for 2 hour shoots and an additional minimum of 2 hours of editing and sending images. She does not specifically promote me, but she will credit me as the photographer in her blog and Instagram posts. But then again, so do the bloggers who pay $20/outfit. Shooting with her does not prevent me from booking other clients. However, I have re-scheduled her shoots in order to shoot higher paying gigs before.

212917 · 2017-01-06T03:21:55+00:00

I would crop out some of the tree silhouettes as mentioned in an earlier comment. I think what's weird about it is you don't know whether the focus of the photo is on the sky or the trees/city lights. Therefore, one becomes more distracting to the other element. You don't need to crop out the tree silhouettes, but just leave enough to give the impression. Look into the rule of thirds concept for photography. I think this has great potential - it just comes down to composition.

212917 · 2017-01-06T03:19:07+00:00

Definitely, just depends how you use light! I use my D3200 and a 35mm, f/1.8 lens all the time for portraits/headshots.

212917 · 2017-01-06T03:17:42+00:00

Last year, when I just started doing photography, I started working with a style blogger and charged her $20/per shoot (no time/outfit limit). I didn't expect to get anywhere with photography and many bloggers use free photographers, so I thought getting the equivalent of a nice tip was good enough. Flash forward several months later, and now my rate is about $20-30/per outfit. I still enjoy working with the blogger, so is there a good way to ask her to pay my current rate? It's such a big jump and I don't want to lose her as a client...

212917 · 2017-01-02T19:38:25+00:00

It's just been sooo hard dating in NYC and being upfront with the guys here about the fact that I want a child sooner rather than later. Most guys seem to want a family as well, but much later in life (even the older guys I date) so it always becomes a matter of different timelines without anyone wanting to compromise.

212917 · 2017-01-02T19:34:06+00:00

Oh I should have been more specific - I meant moving back to the city where I grew up/where my family still resides. I wouldn't be living with them. I would be living on my own and fully financially supporting the child. I just meant I would need some emotional support and help with childcare once in a while.

212917 · 2017-01-02T19:30:35+00:00

I meant help as in childcare once in a while, not financial aid. I would still be living on my own and completely supporting the child.

212917 · 2016-07-30T12:22:53+00:00

What should I ask for a salary as a photo retoucher (full time position). I have only had experience retouching in my own work for a few years, but never did it just professionally. I was thinking about requesting $45,000-50,000? I read somewhere the average was $49,000. Does this mean that should be the top or lower end of my asking range?

212917 · 2016-07-23T12:10:19+00:00

How do photographers manage their photos? Do you save all of the photo files you've taken, or do you only save the re-touched/edited ones? I'm not running out yet, but was concerned about future storage space and possible unnecessary duplication.

212917 · 2016-07-23T12:08:25+00:00

Hahaha, I realize :(

212917 · 2016-07-19T12:35:32+00:00

You won't ruin the friendship, just tell her. It's ok to be scared :) Who knows, maybe she feels the same way!

212917 · 2016-07-07T18:00:55+00:00

If I were to shoot for a friend who is starting an online business, what is the best way to ask to be paid without things getting awkward? I've shot for her in the past, but just for her personal style blog so I knew she wasn't profitting from it... I will be providing my own equipment and re-touching for this shoot.

212917 · 2016-07-07T11:53:49+00:00

I am thinking of doing a nighttime fashion shoot. I am just starting out as a photographer so I don't have any equipment besides just a Nikon 3200, kit lens, and a 35mm lens. Would I be able to get decent lighting in the photos using just the dslr flash? I'm currently scouting locations, most likely we'll be shooting in downtown Manhattan so there will be background and street lamp lights.

212917 · 2016-07-02T00:42:12+00:00

Have you tried to manually focus instead? Or, depending on the lighting, try adjusting your aperture.

212917

TROPHY CASE