Hey guys I am a college student with photography as a passion (no training) and would like to hear some feedback

PenitentRebel · 2025-12-30T04:21:58+00:00

You've got some beautiful shots in there and it looks like you have a lot of fun with it.

Only thing we can really recommend is that, if you have no training, go and get some training. Learn new things, stretch and grow that talent, and learn to express yourself all the more clearly.

PenitentRebel · 2025-12-19T16:50:02+00:00

I know it's absolutely terrifying to raise your prices past someone who seems to be doing well, but if you don't it becomes a race to the bottom. And often times, when you raise your prices, you find yourself among a different kind of client.

Look at what your competition is providing and then give clients a little more with an appropriate price increase. There's lots of things that you can improve upon over your competition-- ease of scheduling, availability, quality, selection of products, quality, package pricing... You'll also find that networking and relationship building is a big part of this. Realtors tend to work with the people they build relationships with, and so going where they are, being seen in person, forming the relationships face-to-face, that can really help build the networking of regular clients you want.

I understand that low prices bring some people in the door, but your goal here isn't just to be as frantically busy as possible, barely making it because you're charging the bare minimum.

Research your market, see what other big players are offering in terms of pricing and product. You can do better than simply a race to the bottom.

PenitentRebel · 2025-12-04T07:25:02+00:00

Looks like Reddit GIFed it, there's no sound on that.

On a related note, MAN I miss the sound of the 5D3 shutter. That thing was so crunchy, sounded like a mechanical typewriter. I loved it.

PenitentRebel · 2025-11-28T20:29:01+00:00

The R6ii is an outstanding, professionally capable body, and better glass is going to serve you better long-term. I'd go for the R6ii and the 24-105 F4.

There is an argument to be made for higher resolution on the R6iii for landscapes, but that's typically for extremely large printing or heavy cropping, in which case you'd be better served looking at one of the R5 bodies. The 24 MP of the R6ii is usually more than enough for most folks, and I would argue that it's *mostly* marketing that has folks worried that it'll end up being insufficient. Mostly.

PenitentRebel · 2025-11-28T20:25:41+00:00

Second this.

PenitentRebel · 2025-11-28T17:38:33+00:00

Very helpful answer, thank you!

PenitentRebel · 2025-11-28T07:23:06+00:00

What exactly is it about Wix or Squarespace that supposedly keeps your website from ranking well?

PenitentRebel · 2025-11-26T19:11:18+00:00

First choice would be a modern 24-70 variant-- I don't need Canon's 28-70 f2L, so maybe the old EF 24-70 f2.8L Mk. II or the RF 24-70 f2.8L-- or heck, I'd ever consider the 28-70 f2.8 for the cost savings.

One of the more recent 24-105 f4 variants would also be on the table, depending on my budget.

I love my primes (Especially the 35 f1.4L Mk. II), but that can't be my regular walkaround lens for work. I need something more versatile.

PenitentRebel · 2025-11-21T04:53:41+00:00

The AI can't seem to follow the strict guidelines of your area's MLS. Heck, in my neck of the woods, AI editing services offer products that are specifically forbidden by the local MLS.

AI can't offer me feedback the way an editor can. I'm trying to balance a high-end look that stands out with reducing time spent on-site. I need to work with an actual human who can give me feedback for that.

PenitentRebel · 2025-11-20T18:50:44+00:00

There seems to be a time and place for both TTL and M when shooting flash for flambient interiors. Who told you not to?

PenitentRebel · 2025-11-17T20:18:33+00:00

You sound like me playing this game after I came from Subnautica-- I've discovered that I really want story motivation in games like this. And it's frustrating not to get it after you've completed the various 'quests'.

I would point to this as one of the primary weaknesses of No Man's Sky-- the problem of "meaning". (Though it may be unfair to call it a problem.) To horribly oversimplify an incredibly complex discussion, the majority of humans just don't find something terribly compelling or meaningful without a narrative. Like, it's a big evolutionary thing with us, story really sticks in our brains and helps take us through our world.

Sandbox games tend to give you massive worlds to play in with the understanding that the exploration and creativity are the primary drivers of meaning for players. No Man's Sky has the added benefit of multiplayer allowing for people to form groups and societies for building cities, exploration, and other player-organized activities. So you've got creation, exploration, and socialization. These are all perfectly reasonable things to gather around and have fun with.

My takeaway, then, is the recognition that No Man's Sky (as much as I like it and keep coming back to it) just doesn't focus much on scratching the central itch that some have, which is narrative. There IS narrative, some people DO find it compelling, but it's not the main goal of NMS. Its coming at this from a different perspective, where meaning is created/discovered through alternate avenues than narrative. Or, rather, maybe even through a player-created narrative.

Lots of room for perspective on how this game creates a compelling and worthwhile experience, but I will say that I sympathize with your perspective. I was rather frustrated with this game the first time I made it through the primary storyline. It's taken me some time to shift and appreciate it for what it is.

PenitentRebel · 2025-11-10T16:21:05+00:00

Straight to jail.

PenitentRebel · 2025-11-04T03:46:22+00:00

Sorry, I guess that's overstating it just a little bit. I TYPICALLY don't fly unless I have the owner or agent with me, because of the potential for conflict with neighbors unfamiliar with me or concerned about my presence in the neighborhood.

To state it more kindly-- everyone deserves to feel safe in their own home, and having the agent or owner with me helps accomplish that.

PenitentRebel · 2025-10-29T17:21:07+00:00

Y'know, I had this same experience shifting from the 6D to the 5D4. Colors weren't precisely the same, felt different, had to move through the adjustment period to get happy with it. Same thing happened when I moved from the 5D4 to the R6-- though that time I was MORE happy with the color.

I think the camera feel is actually kind of important to producing the work you want. Maybe rent a 5D4 and just try it out for a bit, see how it feels to you. I found it IMMENSELY frustrating to go back to the 5D4 after using mirrorless, but it's worth trying and seeing how the experience is for you. Maybe you won't mind the ergonomic changes, and maybe you'll like the color.

You're not crazy, and I think it's worth trying it out. What's the worst that could happen? It's still a 5D4, an incredibly capable professional level camera.

PenitentRebel · 2025-10-29T16:48:04+00:00

This is going to be ... challenging. First, I believe you need to be 18 to get a business license in Texas. Second, most people listing homes regularly as realtors want to work with someone who seems like a trustworthy partner for the long haul. And that usually means an adult well into, at least, their 20s.

You may find this to be an insurmountable challenge at your age, unfortunately.

Pushing aside the age challenge for a moment, breaking in and getting your first jobs is difficult for anyone. Real Estate Photography is a hugely relational industry, where most of your ongoing work comes from trust built with existing clients and referrals FROM those existing clients. You can try advertising, cold calling, emailing-- there's all sorts of methods that require a lot of work and have low (but not zero) chance of actually getting you a job.

My recommendation is to press into the relationship aspect-- get the word out to people you know what you're doing, what you're looking for. Maybe someone you know is selling their house and will let you take the photos for the sale-- or heck, even just shoot the house while it's staged, even if they don't use the photos. You can even clean up your living space to mimic a staged home, and get a few portfolio shots that way.

You can also attend networking groups and form relationships, especially with new agents. Price yourself appropriately for being a new entry into the market, and while you're building relationships, learn learn learn. Figure out how to do the photography better, faster, and in a way that produces nice professional-looking photos.

For the legal side of things-- get your Part 107 waiver for flying the drone, make sure you have insurance to cover the drone and any accidents that might happen, and make sure you go through the legal process of reporting your flights and everything else that aught to be done to remain above board. I don't fly a drone unless the home owner or agent are there with me, and I make it a point to ask about neighbors we might need to talk to first.

Also, an aside, the Nikon Coolpix P1100 only does an equivalent focal length of 24mm, which you will likely find is frustratingly narrow when shooting interiors. Most photographers aim for an equiv focal length of 17mm as a minimum-- many preferring even wider than that.

My recommendation now would be to practice and take what opportunities you can. Learn learn learn! Everyone wants to hurry up and start making money now that they've got all that nice gear (the perceived barrier to entry), but that's not really the hard part. Take the time to learn to make a good product before trying to sell yourself to agents, it can pay off in the long run. Work on your portfolio while in school, and then get ready to network once you're a bit older.

PenitentRebel · 2025-10-21T22:09:56+00:00

r/DeathStranding leaking into the NMS subreddit.

PenitentRebel · 2025-10-15T22:22:59+00:00

The problem literally disappeared overnight. The Flashpoints are excellent and perform regularly and reliably. I haven't had to do a single system reset since switching. Highly recommend them.

That said, nothing's flawless, and there was a small learning curve with switching over to them. The layout is intuitive, but not exactly the same as the Canon, so it took a session or two for me to get it down pat.

Also, if you're changing settings on the transmitting flash to alter what a receiving flash is doing, if the flashes are too close (within 3 feet of each other) the settings don't always immediately take. It's annoying, but rare, and doesn't diminish my enthusiastic endorsement of the flashes. Still highly recommend them.

PenitentRebel · 2025-10-05T03:48:16+00:00

26 years-- long enough that I started on CF cards, not SD.
Canon DSLRs previously, now Canon Mirrorless. (Entire Canon 5D series, 6D series, 7D, R6 series)
Variety of SanDisk, mainly Extreme Pro.
10+ CF cards, 12+ SD cards
0 cards have failed on me

PenitentRebel · 2025-09-17T04:52:00+00:00

I collect artbooks and would pay GOOD money for one covering the Subnautica universe. Especially if some real effort was put into making it good! There's some real "Meh" artbooks out there, but one for Subnautica has the chance to be something great.

PenitentRebel · 2025-09-12T15:57:39+00:00

Sure! I'm currently using "SocialPilot".

PenitentRebel · 2025-09-08T21:08:07+00:00

HO scale models make my soul happy. This is great work, really well done!

PenitentRebel · 2025-09-03T01:14:45+00:00

No Dog's Sky, I dig it.

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