Do you think I'm ready?

[itsTylerRandall]

I would like to start charging a fee to do photo shoots with some people. I plan on making business cards, but I was wondering if I'm good enough to start charging. I'm not saying a huge amount, but maybe around 25-50 dollars for the first hour and then 15 for every hour after.

Just go over to my flickr (in signature) page and look at my most recent shots and just let me know if you think I'm ready. Of course I have tons to learn, but I am in some need of money as I am an 18 year old with a girlfriend

Thank you

[bhursey]

Well you are getting there. I see some hot spots on the client from direct sun.. You do any off camera flash work because I like your ones in the shadows better. The bench one looks under exposed.

What I did was do the first sessions free and the client just ordered prints.. I always say be careful charging a sitting fee when learning.. If the client is unhappy then you get into fights. For a couple years I just charged for prints.

Also do you have a good solid contract with a model release, city or county business license, tax id? You have to be fully legal to start charging people, and remember you have to claim it on your taxes as extra income..

[Jim Bryant]

You're killing me. You need to factor in time spent in traveling to and from, setting up and shooting, then editing and post processing the images and then delivering the prints or Cd to client. IF you do with your present prices, me as a professional in your area would hunt you down and stick your lens up you butt for being so cheap!

[bhursey]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

You're killing me. You need to factor in time spent in traveling to and from, setting up and shooting, then editing and post processing the images and then delivering the prints or Cd to client. IF you do with your present prices, me as a professional in your area would hunt you down and stick your lens up you butt for being so cheap!

itsTylerRandall or me?!?!

[Jim Poor]

Nope, not ready.

Here's why.

1. Your "portfolio" consists of ONE "model" for the most part.
2. You have no concept of your costs and are preparing to start a business by planning to take a loss right off the bat.
3. WTH does planning to make business cards have to do with the price of tea in China?
4. You're too lazy / inconsiderate to put up a few photos instead of making us go to your flickr.
5. You're 18 with a girlfriend. You don't NEED money. What you NEED is a reality check, but oh BTW, you won't be making any at the rates you mentioned anyway.

Originally Posted by itsTylerRandall

I would like to start charging a fee to do photo shoots with some people. I plan on making business cards, but I was wondering if I'm good enough to start charging. I'm not saying a huge amount, but maybe around 25-50 dollars for the first hour and then 15 for every hour after.

Just go over to my flickr (in signature) page and look at my most recent shots and just let me know if you think I'm ready. Of course I have tons to learn, but I am in some need of money as I am an 18 year old with a girlfriend

Thank you

^^ What Jim said plus, that one models photos aren't really all that great frankly.

Besides, with your screen name, all I could think of was "SAY MY NAME!!"... "TYLER DURDEN!! HAPPY NOW?!"

[itsTylerRandall]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

Nope, not ready.

Here's why.

1. Your "portfolio" consists of ONE "model" for the most part.
2. You have no concept of your costs and are preparing to start a business by planning to take a loss right off the bat.
3. WTH does planning to make business cards have to do with the price of tea in China?
4. You're too lazy / inconsiderate to put up a few photos instead of making us go to your flickr.
5. You're 18 with a girlfriend. You don't NEED money. What you NEED is a reality check, but oh BTW, you won't be making any at the rates you mentioned anyway.

Way to be ignorant to who I am. I doubt I need a reality check. I'm graduating 4th in my class this year being accepted to schools such as UCLA, UCF, UF, UM, UCSD, and FAU. I NEED money because I would like to help my parents pay for my education so I can learn and open my eyes making myself less nieve to the fact that you can't judge anything by it's cover. Grow up and stop trying to critize a teen trying to make a little for a hobby.

Originally Posted by itsTylerRandall

Way to be ignorant to who I am. I doubt I need a reality check. I'm graduating 4th in my class this year being accepted to schools such as UCLA, UCF, UF, UM, UCSD, and FAU. I NEED money because I would like to help my parents pay for my education so I can learn and open my eyes making myself less nieve to the fact that you can't judge anything by it's cover. Grow up and stop trying to critize a teen trying to make a little for a hobby.

LOL.... man, I really needed that morning laugh.


Good luck with that.


~Eric











LOL, I laughed again thinking back to this post.... the post that keeps on giving!

[BigFuzzy]

Originally Posted by itsTylerRandall

Way to be ignorant to who I am. I doubt I need a reality check. I'm graduating 4th in my class this year being accepted to schools such as UCLA, UCF, UF, UM, UCSD, and FAU. I NEED money because I would like to help my parents pay for my education so I can learn and open my eyes making myself less nieve to the fact that you can't judge anything by it's cover. Grow up and stop trying to critize a teen trying to make a little for a hobby.

Sorry to say, but Jim did not judge you by your cover. He judged you by your work and your words, exactly what you asked us to do.

Who cares what you graduated from in HS, you're asking us if you're ready to charge for your work. You said you needed money because oyu have a GF, nothing about your parents, now that you got called out for it you change your story. Very mature mate.

He's NOT criticising you for trying to make a little, he's answering your question based on what he see and what you've provided us in your post and flickr account. What else are we supposed to base our comments from?

Not that you care, but the answer is no for all the reasons above AND because clearly you don't have thick enough skin.

[BuddhaPi]

Originally Posted by itsTylerRandall

....a teen trying to make a little for a hobby.

Says it in a nutshell, and i'm not criticizing you at all. There is a huge difference between a "hobbyist" and "professional" I've had people ask to buy some of my images, my response is no I'm a hobbyist..and I NEED money too!

The 2 Jims above may seem a bit straight forward and crusty, but they know of what they speak..reminds of when I was trying to get clean and sober, I kept hanging around with folks that had 3-4 years clean, and couldn't get clean myself.. when I started to hang with the crusty old men that had 20 years or more, they told me like it was and were real A$$holes most of the time, but they literally saved my life!, I finally succeded..same concept , different situation