What’s Your Preference?

Reed · #1 (**permalink**) 02-22-2011, 06:19 AM

It's time to get serious. I got my first DSLR (Nikon D5000) about six months ago. My friends and family keep telling me that I take very good pics. I just ordered a D7000 so of course my pictures will now be much better. So, it's time to go professional. I plan on making 100k in a couple years.

OK, so here is the background and real story. I started with a Pentax K1000 in the early 70s. I still think that anyone who is serious about photography should be required to start with this camera. I then moved to a Pentax ME Super. Next was a Canon A1, a great camera. During that time I soaked op everything I could about taking pictures and developed a pretty good eye. When the Canon petered out, I bought a Nikon N80. I hated to give up on film but finally, kicking and screaming, I went digital.

I dabbled with selling photos in the eighties but it didn't go far because of life and the price of film. Now wih free film I'm going into selling photos part time, mostly fine art and commercial and maybe portrait .

Even though the film is free I still can't wrap my mind around shooting 150 photos of a rock. I'm still in the "make every shot count" mindset.

I am working on a Smugmug website and started a Facebook and Twitter page. They are still in the "under construction" phase. I have to get started on a blog.

Anyway, just a little rambling. I now have a full time job so I can afford to work on this without a lot of pressure.

tarakc · #2 (**permalink**) 02-22-2011, 08:58 AM

"It's time to get serious. I got my first DSLR (Nikon D5000) about six months ago. My friends and family keep telling me that I take very good pics. I just ordered a D7000 so of course my pictures will now be much better. So, it's time to go professional. I plan on making 100k in a couple years."
(yep, I have no clue how to make a quote box)

I respect someone with a plan, I really do, but why do you assume that a D7000 equals better pictures??
I have 4 cameras that I work with, but 90% of the time I use the Nikon D40x that I started out with, and change lenses.
I think it's fantastic that you want to go pro, and that you're retaining full-time work so you don't end up broke, but the industry is an incredibly tough one to break into. Taking pretty pictures is actually an incredibly small part of it, These days, everyone with a camera and a knack for taking nice shots is trying to get in, and a lot of them fall flat in client satisfaction. You need to really love what you do to be able to put aside the art of it and get that one nice shot of the toddler smiling (between screaming blue murder and throwing up in your camera bag!)
Despite sounding like a total downer, I truly hope it works out well for you, just a little food for thought from someone who's is still breaking into the industry!

BigFuzzy · #3 (**permalink**) 02-22-2011, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tarakc

"It's time to get serious. I got my first DSLR (Nikon D5000) about six months ago. My friends and family keep telling me that I take very good pics. I just ordered a D7000 so of course my pictures will now be much better. So, it's time to go professional. I plan on making 100k in a couple years."
(yep, I have no clue how to make a quote box)

I respect someone with a plan, I really do, but why do you assume that a D7000 equals better pictures??

His first paragraph was a joke. Poking fun at all the 'instant pros'...he didn't mean a word of it (I hope).
Still not sure what the point of the thread is, but you misread his attempt at poking fun at people.

I will add one thing to the OP. Not everyone needs to go through what you did to feel/be ready to consider going pro. Something that works for you doesn't mean will work for everyone.

tarakc · #4 (**permalink**) 02-22-2011, 10:20 AM

Ooops my apologies in that case!!!
LOL sleep deprivation+tara+forum = baaaaaad :P

Jim Poor · #5 (**permalink**) 02-22-2011, 12:04 PM

Well, the one thing you have misunderstood is that "film" is hardly fee now.

The costs of digital photography can and do easily eclipse the costs of film developing.

You're right to try to make every shot count if only for the simple reason that you have to view & process or delete every photo. Time is money.

Reed · #6 (**permalink**) 02-23-2011, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tarakc

"throwing up in your camera bag!!

Oh Oh, maybe I need to rethink this!

Yea, the first paragraph was a joke.

Jim, I do understand what you mean about time being money but I read in forums about someone taking 5000 pics at a wedding or going out for a day and coming home with 300 - 400 shots. "Not that there's anything wrong with that." I just don't understand how someone can deal with all these pictures. I have a hell of a time sorting through Lightroom with what I have.

Anyway, like I said, this is just a ramble. Not everyone with new DSLR that wants to sell photos is new to photography.

Oh yea, the D7000 is supposed to be here tomorrow so my pics will be much better!!!! The best part is that when I told my wife I was swapping cameras, she never asked how much the difference would be.

phaither · #7 (**permalink**) 02-23-2011, 07:04 PM

perhaps you should have led with the "sarcastic eye roll"

Jim Poor · #8 (**permalink**) 02-23-2011, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reed

Oh Oh, maybe I need to rethink this!

Yea, the first paragraph was a joke.

Jim, I do understand what you mean about time being money but I read in forums about someone taking 5000 pics at a wedding or going out for a day and coming home with 300 - 400 shots. "Not that there's anything wrong with that." I just don't understand how someone can deal with all these pictures. I have a hell of a time sorting through Lightroom with what I have.

Anyway, like I said, this is just a ramble. Not everyone with new DSLR that wants to sell photos is new to photography.

Oh yea, the D7000 is supposed to be here tomorrow so my pics will be much better!!!! The best part is that when I told my wife I was swapping cameras, she never asked how much the difference would be.

I hear ya. For my dog sport events, it hasn't been uncommon for me to shoot 10K images in a day. I am cutting back quite a bit, but I'm still coming in with 5k or so per day.

kirbinster · #9 (**permalink**) 02-23-2011, 07:22 PM

Why do you think your pictures with the D7000 will be "SO MUCH" better than with the D5000? I have a D700, D300 and D5000 and the pictures I take with my D5000 are quite similar to those that I take with the other two bodies. The other bodies have nicer features that make it easier and quicker to do things, but you should be able to get a very similar image from any of these bodies.