Comments on: 5 Tips for Building Your Photography Portfolio http://digital-photography-school.com/5-tips-for-building-your-photography-portfolio Discover how to use your digital camera with our Digital Photography Tips. We are a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in our understanding of photography. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:33:36 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Jenna Julianne http://digital-photography-school.com/5-tips-for-building-your-photography-portfolio/comment-page-2#comment-60744 Jenna Julianne Sat, 08 Aug 2009 22:40:47 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/5-tips-for-building-your-photography-portfolio/#comment-60744 Natalie Norton Rocks and is right when she says start off for free. FREE yes! Then charge little amounts....raise your prices every few months depending how busy you are. If you are a wedding photographer, think about raising them twice a year. The more you shoot the better you will become, so SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT! :) And one day you will be famous and everyone will know your name. The End. Natalie Norton Rocks and is right when she says start off for free. FREE yes! Then charge little amounts….raise your prices every few months depending how busy you are. If you are a wedding photographer, think about raising them twice a year. The more you shoot the better you will become, so SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT! :) And one day you will be famous and everyone will know your name. The End.

]]> By: Kelly http://digital-photography-school.com/5-tips-for-building-your-photography-portfolio/comment-page-2#comment-58657 Kelly Fri, 31 Jul 2009 02:28:47 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/5-tips-for-building-your-photography-portfolio/#comment-58657 I too chuckled when I read this becuase I went through all these steps on my on intuition. I started about a year ago, first, shooting for free for a friend, then I ran a classified ad for free photography for models. I started with almost NO knowledge about photography what-so-ever and never felt like shooting for free was a bad idea. If I had charged most of my first clients, I would have felt awful and refunded their money after seeing my final product... I've come a long way since then, but still have a LONG way to go. A few months ago I stumbled into wedding photography and with all the work that goes into weddings, I had no choice but to charge. I don't charge much, around $500 right now. Thats still a fraction of the $1000's the pro's around here charge. I make it VERY clear that my prices are only low becuase I am inexperienced and haven't had any problems as being labeled as the "cheap" or "free" photographer. So my clients get a great deal, while I get invaluble experience. I ALWAYS hard edit. I way over shoot, cause I still am not confident in my skills and rightfully so. I just about ruined half of someone's wedding pictures just a few weeks ago! What an awful experience... but I definitely learned a valuble lesson... and thank god I didn't charge too much! I have reached out to many local pro's for help, but apparently I havn't found the right one yet... If they even respond at all it's a very generic "good luck" and that's the last I hear from them. I placed an ad a while back for an assistant and got over 250 responses in a week... so I can only imagine the hoards of amatures that bombard the local pro's on a regular basis... Ultimately I was left feeling like I am pretty much on my own... but with my determination and the support of places like Digital-Photography-School, I seem to be on the right track and headed towards my goal of creating a well established photography business! I too chuckled when I read this becuase I went through all these steps on my on intuition. I started about a year ago, first, shooting for free for a friend, then I ran a classified ad for free photography for models. I started with almost NO knowledge about photography what-so-ever and never felt like shooting for free was a bad idea. If I had charged most of my first clients, I would have felt awful and refunded their money after seeing my final product… I’ve come a long way since then, but still have a LONG way to go.

A few months ago I stumbled into wedding photography and with all the work that goes into weddings, I had no choice but to charge. I don’t charge much, around $500 right now. Thats still a fraction of the $1000’s the pro’s around here charge. I make it VERY clear that my prices are only low becuase I am inexperienced and haven’t had any problems as being labeled as the “cheap” or “free” photographer. So my clients get a great deal, while I get invaluble experience.

I ALWAYS hard edit. I way over shoot, cause I still am not confident in my skills and rightfully so. I just about ruined half of someone’s wedding pictures just a few weeks ago! What an awful experience… but I definitely learned a valuble lesson… and thank god I didn’t charge too much!

I have reached out to many local pro’s for help, but apparently I havn’t found the right one yet… If they even respond at all it’s a very generic “good luck” and that’s the last I hear from them. I placed an ad a while back for an assistant and got over 250 responses in a week… so I can only imagine the hoards of amatures that bombard the local pro’s on a regular basis…

Ultimately I was left feeling like I am pretty much on my own… but with my determination and the support of places like Digital-Photography-School, I seem to be on the right track and headed towards my goal of creating a well established photography business!

]]> By: Jeremy Bennetts http://digital-photography-school.com/5-tips-for-building-your-photography-portfolio/comment-page-2#comment-55062 Jeremy Bennetts Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:38:58 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/5-tips-for-building-your-photography-portfolio/#comment-55062 Funny thing is is that I have done all five steps before I read this. I'm laughing because I've done the free work, I feel bad for charging mainly because my confidence is down but I get good feed back. I've shot thousands of photos and gave them all to the clients. Now I'm in touch with a phototographer who I let pic my work apart and the theing he told me is "if there is a reason why you shot this photo then my opinion doesnt matter". Thanks Jeremy Funny thing is is that I have done all five steps before I read this. I’m laughing because I’ve done the free work, I feel bad for charging mainly because my confidence is down but I get good feed back. I’ve shot thousands of photos and gave them all to the clients. Now I’m in touch with a phototographer who I let pic my work apart and the theing he told me is “if there is a reason why you shot this photo then my opinion doesnt matter”.
Thanks
Jeremy

]]> By: robert gray http://digital-photography-school.com/5-tips-for-building-your-photography-portfolio/comment-page-1#comment-47919 robert gray Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:42:58 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/5-tips-for-building-your-photography-portfolio/#comment-47919 Hi, in answear to <a href="http://foodientravelbug.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"><em>MeiTeng</em></a> the word amature abd proffesional has a verry smal differnce if you read there meanings in the dictionary. Proffesional is a person who gets paid for performing a job ++ I like you found "asking for money" hard, but i then created a price list wich i gave to people before they fainally booked me, people woulg ring me up or contakt me through my web page asking about pictures.... I then offer to send by post or email the different types of photography i offer ie portraight,wedding commersial.... along side each of the different catogories is the hour price (in my case very reasonable) and normal price for the prints ond other pruducts.... Now when i have a photoshoot it's nearly always the customer who askes when do we pay or can i pay with visa.... I tend to send my clients a bill at the end when the have finished picking out the prints the want   In short creat a pricelist and they will ask about payment :-) I live in Norway so you will not understand most of the writting but you can see my example her of a very easy set up <a href="http://www.graycaption.com/user/image/graycaption_2009.pdf" rel="nofollow">you can view it in PDF format here</a> Please all feel free to use the design but please don't use my pictures, respecting our © as fotografers, and i do belive most of us do really hope this helps you out <a href="http://graycaption.smugmug.com/" rel="nofollow">my website showing a selection of my work can also be see her</a> Good luck Robert Gray Hi, in answear to MeiTeng the word amature abd proffesional has a verry smal differnce if you read there meanings in the dictionary.
Proffesional is a person who gets paid for performing a job ++
I like you found “asking for money” hard, but i then created a price list wich i gave to people before they fainally booked me, people woulg ring me up or contakt me through my web page asking about pictures…. I then offer to send by post or email the different types of photography i offer ie portraight,wedding commersial…. along side each of the different catogories is the hour price (in my case very reasonable) and normal price for the prints ond other pruducts…. Now when i have a photoshoot it’s nearly always the customer who askes when do we pay or can i pay with visa…. I tend to send my clients a bill at the end when the have finished picking out the prints the want
 
In short creat a pricelist and they will ask about payment :-)
I live in Norway so you will not understand most of the writting but you can see my example her of a very easy set up
you can view it in PDF format here
Please all feel free to use the design but please don’t use my pictures, respecting our © as fotografers, and i do belive most of us do
really hope this helps you out
my website showing a selection of my work can also be see her
Good luck
Robert Gray

]]> By: MeiTeng http://digital-photography-school.com/5-tips-for-building-your-photography-portfolio/comment-page-1#comment-47887 MeiTeng Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:31:52 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/5-tips-for-building-your-photography-portfolio/#comment-47887 Great article and thank you for the tips. I have shooting for free for a family who wanted someone to help out with food photography for the business as well as family portraits. So, I have some basics in terms of building up my portfolio from working with this family. Plus, they loved my work so much so that their home is literally filled with my work. I take that as an encouragement to keep on shooting and learning as much as I can. So far, I have been quite reluctant to charge people as I feel kind of shy....as I am an amateur. Well...I guess there will come a time when I may need to consider charging a fee. Great article and thank you for the tips. I have shooting for free for a family who wanted someone to help out with food photography for the business as well as family portraits. So, I have some basics in terms of building up my portfolio from working with this family. Plus, they loved my work so much so that their home is literally filled with my work. I take that as an encouragement to keep on shooting and learning as much as I can. So far, I have been quite reluctant to charge people as I feel kind of shy….as I am an amateur. Well…I guess there will come a time when I may need to consider charging a fee.

]]> By: Joe Howard http://digital-photography-school.com/5-tips-for-building-your-photography-portfolio/comment-page-1#comment-46892 Joe Howard Mon, 06 Apr 2009 13:06:08 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/5-tips-for-building-your-photography-portfolio/#comment-46892 These are very straight forward thing that we all can do to better our service to the public. I am so glad i came across this site because i havent got a file system yet and im going to build one as soon as i get out of here, so in saying that ill say thank you for your information, hope you can fine the time to visit my site and have a look at my work. I am starting out in Portraitures and this will be so much help. Thank you again. These are very straight forward thing that we all can do to better our service to the public. I am so glad i came across this site because i havent got a file system yet and im going to build one as soon as i get out of here, so in saying that ill say thank you for your information, hope you can fine the time to visit my site and have a look at my work. I am starting out in Portraitures and this will be so much help. Thank you again.

]]> By: Peter http://digital-photography-school.com/5-tips-for-building-your-photography-portfolio/comment-page-1#comment-46533 Peter Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:07:28 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/5-tips-for-building-your-photography-portfolio/#comment-46533 Natalie, I am only starting out and your advice is great. Rgds Peter Hawes Australia Natalie,
I am only starting out and your advice is great.

Rgds

Peter Hawes
Australia

]]> By: Robert Gray (graycaption foto) http://digital-photography-school.com/5-tips-for-building-your-photography-portfolio/comment-page-1#comment-43246 Robert Gray (graycaption foto) Mon, 16 Feb 2009 23:18:47 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/5-tips-for-building-your-photography-portfolio/#comment-43246 Hi, I started my own freelance photography business as a hobby, and got a website with in 6 months of buying my first camera. The reason i got a website was to show off my photos to friends, colleagues and family. I later changed it to offer my services as a photografer and sell nature photos, to my supprise and enjoyment the two first bookings i got where for a confirmation and the secound a wedding. Now the wedding photography job got me really nervous, hench how i came across this wounderfull site (21 tips for wedding photografers). So here is my chance to give something back, I spent about a year going back and forth changing my website so i got it just as i wanted..... in later time i came across a wonderful place for proffesional and amature photografers alike, where you can EASELY create and build your own website with so many different looks as you like, you have also the security that is nice to have, beeing able to stop people coping/downloading your photos,i would go on but there is just too much to say, so go and read and see for your self They are called <a href="http://www.smugmug.com" rel="nofollow">smugmug</a> and i can recomend it, i use them for all my proffesional prints and use them for showing my customers there pictures, here i can set my own pricing and even give the customer the option of purchasing a download of the picture.... <a href="http://www.graycaption.smugmug.com" rel="nofollow">my smugmug account/website is her</a> <a href="http://www.graycaption.com" rel="nofollow">The webpage i built is her</a> Love to here what you think Happy shooting and good luck to you allRobert GrayGraycaption foto <a href="http://www.smugmug.com/?referrer=peGKMMq4skAuw" rel="nofollow">If you do want to join smugmug, then by using this link you will save 5 dollars, and me 10 dollars (off my renewal fee)</a> Hi, I started my own freelance photography business as a hobby, and got a website with in 6 months of buying my first camera.
The reason i got a website was to show off my photos to friends, colleagues and family. I later changed it to offer my services as a photografer and sell nature photos, to my supprise and enjoyment the two first bookings i got where for a confirmation and the secound a wedding. Now the wedding photography job got me really nervous, hench how i came across this wounderfull site (21 tips for wedding photografers).
So here is my chance to give something back, I spent about a year going back and forth changing my website so i got it just as i wanted….. in later time i came across a wonderful place for proffesional and amature photografers alike, where you can EASELY create and build your own website with so many different looks as you like, you have also the security that is nice to have, beeing able to stop people coping/downloading your photos,i would go on but there is just too much to say, so go and read and see for your self
They are called smugmug and i can recomend it, i use them for all my proffesional prints and use them for showing my customers there pictures, here i can set my own pricing and even give the customer the option of purchasing a download of the picture….
my smugmug account/website is her
The webpage i built is her
Love to here what you think
Happy shooting and good luck to you allRobert GrayGraycaption foto
If you do want to join smugmug, then by using this link you will save 5 dollars, and me 10 dollars (off my renewal fee)

]]> By: Margie http://digital-photography-school.com/5-tips-for-building-your-photography-portfolio/comment-page-1#comment-42309 Margie Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:22:57 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/5-tips-for-building-your-photography-portfolio/#comment-42309 I have taken some photos for friends and made the same mistake of "shooting like a bat" then after making adjustments, I posted them on Shutterfly and let them choose their own pictures and take charge of the storage issue. A small $30 sitting fee was all I had the courage to ask a friend for. That's really, really hard to ask someone you know for money. I live in a small town and submit photos to the local newspaper (gratis) and this gives me some exposure. My neighbors enjoy seeing my work in print. To the public that I photograph, I usually give a free print via e-mail in hopes that they will call me in the future. Yes, I'm still waiting for the phone calls :) Putting yourself out there requires a lot of confidence, it's something I'm working on. Please feel free to visit my site, thank you. I have taken some photos for friends and made the same mistake of “shooting like a bat” then after making adjustments, I posted them on Shutterfly and let them choose their own pictures and take charge of the storage issue. A small $30 sitting fee was all I had the courage to ask a friend for.
That’s really, really hard to ask someone you know for money.
I live in a small town and submit photos to the local newspaper (gratis) and this gives me some exposure.
My neighbors enjoy seeing my work in print. To the public that I photograph, I usually give a free print via e-mail in hopes that they will call me in the future. Yes, I’m still waiting for the phone calls :)
Putting yourself out there requires a lot of confidence, it’s something I’m working on.
Please feel free to visit my site, thank you.

]]> By: chrissy http://digital-photography-school.com/5-tips-for-building-your-photography-portfolio/comment-page-1#comment-42089 chrissy Wed, 04 Feb 2009 22:25:15 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/5-tips-for-building-your-photography-portfolio/#comment-42089 What recommend on top of the obvious, which is a website is to create a digital portfolio. The digital portfolio should be burned to a cd. If you have a lot of clients id say use a <a href="http://www.sfvideo.com" rel="nofollow">cd duplication</a> company to mass produce the cd and distribute it with your business cards. this will leave a good impression with a client and give the client work to look at later on. What recommend on top of the obvious, which is a website is to create a digital portfolio. The digital portfolio should be burned to a cd. If you have a lot of clients id say use a cd duplication company to mass produce the cd and distribute it with your business cards. this will leave a good impression with a client and give the client work to look at later on.

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