Don't even know where to begin

[lusodoll]

Hello,

So I have loved photography for a years and have taken pictures for fun. I took some photo classes while in college because I was a film student. So I have not technically "formal" photo education, but understand some of the basic mechanics from cinematography. Ok, just a little back story.

This past summer a shot a couple of weddings as a second shooter for a friend and loved it!!! I want to do more, shoot more and maybe start using photography to supplement my income. I can't afford to take any classes or anything, I'm already in grad school for something entirely different, but I just had such a blast this summer I want to keep doing it.

So I joined this site in hopes of learning more and sent out a request to friends and family offering to shoot for them at no charge just to practice. But I have so many more questions beyond that and hope you guys could help:

Do I have to provide them a release, even though it's free? (I think I saw that someone else asked this question but didn't see an answer)
Is it ok to create an album on Facebook as a portfolio?
Should I be printing the photos for them?
Do you think its even possible for me to pursue this with out a formal education? I feel like I'm limiting myself but I'd also hate to think I'm holding myself back from a potential career because I can't afford to go to school.


I could probably go on but I'll stop there. I just would really love to make this happen so any advice you could share would be great. Eventually, I'd love to find a mentor in the field as well, so any tips to make that happen would be great as well.

Thanks so much!

[Niresangwa]

I'd honestly suggest you spend some time reading this subforum, as many of your questions have been asked and answered many times over.

That said, here's a short set of answers to your questions...

1) Yes, get releases, paid or unpaid. Find a resource here or elsewhere that you can adapt to your needs.

2) You can place images on FB, but bear in mind, if you use FB, Flickr etc as your main portfolio online, people are going to think it's hokey. That's not the image you want to put out there.

3) I think you'll find many more people in this career without formal photographic training than with.

Again, read the exhaustive threads around here on starting a business, and ask specific questions, and you'll get answers.

Be warned though, you'll need thick skin.

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by lusodoll

Hello,

So I have loved photography for a years and have taken pictures for fun. I took some photo classes while in college because I was a film student. So I have not technically "formal" photo education, but understand some of the basic mechanics from cinematography. Ok, just a little back story.

This past summer a shot a couple of weddings as a second shooter for a friend and loved it!!! I want to do more, shoot more and maybe start using photography to supplement my income. I can't afford to take any classes or anything, I'm already in grad school for something entirely different, but I just had such a blast this summer I want to keep doing it.

So I joined this site in hopes of learning more and sent out a request to friends and family offering to shoot for them at no charge just to practice. But I have so many more questions beyond that and hope you guys could help:

Do I have to provide them a release, even though it's free? (I think I saw that someone else asked this question but didn't see an answer) If you plan on using the images for self promotion you will want to get releases.
Is it ok to create an album on Facebook as a portfolio? Yes, but only with releases for permission...you would have to assume this is self promotion
Should I be printing the photos for them? Your call, ask them, but don't eat the costs
Do you think its even possible for me to pursue this with out a formal education? I'm sure there are many who have. Just as long as you are prepared to start slowly, and learn as you go before attempting to go in with both feet. I feel like I'm limiting myself but I'd also hate to think I'm holding myself back from a potential career because I can't afford to go to school.


I could probably go on but I'll stop there. I just would really love to make this happen so any advice you could share would be great. Eventually, I'd love to find a mentor in the field as well, so any tips to make that happen would be great as well.

Thanks so much!

....and Welcome to DPS

[lusodoll]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

I'd honestly suggest you spend some time reading this subforum, as many of your questions have been asked and answered many times over.

That said, here's a short set of answers to your questions...

1) Yes, get releases, paid or unpaid. Find a resource here or elsewhere that you can adapt to your needs.

2) You can place images on FB, but bear in mind, if you use FB, Flickr etc as your main portfolio online, people are going to think it's hokey. That's not the image you want to put out there.

3) I think you'll find many more people in this career without formal photographic training than with.

Again, read the exhaustive threads around here on starting a business, and ask specific questions, and you'll get answers.

Be warned though, you'll need thick skin.

Thanks for the tips! I'll def continue to read through the forums.

Thick skin, eh? Like in this forum or in the industry? I worked it Hollyweird and that def toughened up my skin a bit...bring it on!

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by lusodoll

Thanks for the tips! I'll def continue to read through the forums.

Thick skin, eh? Like in this forum or in the industry? I worked it Hollyweird and that def toughened up my skin a bit...bring it on!

Well, if you do have thick skin, it's definitely going to be a plus, at least in terms of getting help from your peers, and especially in an online forum such as this one; people here are very helpful, but they're not always going to tell you what you want to hear. It's pretty much always what you need to hear though.

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

Well, if you do have thick skin, it's definitely going to be a plus, at least in terms of getting help from your peers, and especially in an online forum such as this one; people here are very helpful, but they're not always going to tell you what you want to hear. It's pretty much always what you need to hear though.

Yup...how true!

[lusodoll]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

Well, if you do have thick skin, it's definitely going to be a plus, at least in terms of getting help from your peers, and especially in an online forum such as this one; people here are very helpful, but they're not always going to tell you what you want to hear. It's pretty much always what you need to hear though.

I think this is exactly what I need! The only way to get better is to know what your doing wrong, right?

[burntpixel]

When you finish grad school and you start your career, how are you going to fill when competitor Joe Blow undermines your business with "FREE" goods? Your probably going to be a little upset, knowing there is no way he could possibly be making a profit.

No different here! There are plenty of educated and non-educated photographers trying to put food on the table with their chosen trade. So, when "these" types of threads are posted, they almost always read the same. I would like to point out some of these "catch phrases/key words" that you have used.

1. "I have loved photography for a years and have taken pictures for fun."

2. "maybe start using photography to supplement my income"

3. "sent out a request to friends and family offering to shoot for them at no charge just to practice"

1. Load up all your gear and travel 45 miles away, set it up, tear it down, and go back home with zero pics because the toddler had a complete melt down. Pack it up and do it again with the same results. Still "having fun"

2. Can't very well "suplement" with key words like "no charge" Rember too Joe Blow can't supplement, he's starving wanting someone or something to shoot.

3. Do yourself, everyone around you and your family a favor, get a mannequin

It is my hope you can kind of see the point I'm trying to make here. If you start by underselling yourself, your talent, your business, that is where you'll stay! Don't give your stuff away for free, your better than that!


"Do I have to provide them a release, even though it's free?"
Yes! Probably more so for friends and family!
PDF Contract/Release Forms

"Is it ok to create an album on Facebook as a portfolio?"
Set up a Facebook (business page) and a Twitter for marketing. Flickr is a free photo hosting site till you get on your feet with some extra $ A nice "free" way to setup shop would be to set up a Wordpress or Blogger to showcase and give info about you and your services. Please note that the Wordpress I listed is .com not .org. With .org you will need to provide your own hosting.

"Should I be printing the photos for them?"
YES! and please, please, please don't say I'll give ya a disk with all the images Printing is where you will set and gain your profit margin.
W.H.C.C

Bay Photo

MPix

"Do you think its even possible for me to pursue this with out a formal education?"
YEPPER! Find your niche and get brilliantly better than those in your town. Set yourself apart with "your look". The camera and clicking the shutter is about %10 of being a photog. The other %90 is where you'll either make it or fail in business, sales, scheduling, etc...
( i'm self taught by using google, forums, a few books and a really good accountant. i started back in 05 with a canon rebel, fisheye and a rotator head doing virtual tours )

Go get 'em, just don't do it for free!

[vinith98]

Try doing it for free initially, if it works well you will definitely get a lot of publicity. Also as for the Facebook part be careful when you upload there, it may get stolen, see to it that the pictures are watermarked and are of low resolution.

[lusodoll]

Gracias, and thanks for the tips!