The issue with newbies...

[Amanda0102]

Is those who think that Photography is all about the camera, right?

I'm a newbie. I suck, I really do. I can appreciate great photography and I want to do it desperately, but have a LOT to learn in terms of skill and execution and make no pretense otherwise.

Friends know that I'm pursuing my photography education vigorously (and that I have a dSLR), so they ask me to shoot their kids. I do this for the experience and for the portfolio (though at this point I suck so much that I think I have 2 shots I'd actually show anybody ). No one's offered to pay me (thank God) and I haven't wanted money from anyone.

I did post an ad on Craig's List asking for model volunteers, though. I put myself out there as a student with no promises of professionalism and got 1 response so far. She's excited to model for me (pregnant mama; I'll shoot her in a few months when she's bigger and when I've gotten more learning in!) and I'm excited and terrified to shoot her.

I feel like I'm doing everything the right way, but have been reading a lot of the frustrated threads about idiots with dSLRs and am looking for people to tell me that I'm not of that ilk!

Seriously, those who are professional, is there anything wrong with soliciting modeling in the name of experience? FYI the copy from my CL ad is below to illustrate:

Photography student needs subjects - maternity/newborn
I'm a mom of 2 little ones and wanting to document their lives has me studying photography.

I'd like to develop this into more and want to build my portfolio for maternity/newborn while I'm still learning (ie need practice!).

I'm hoping to connect with pregnant or new moms who are interested in playing model for me in return for photography.

I'm happy to send you sample photos on a one-on-one basis; I'm not comfortable posting babies' pictures online.

Please email me if you're at all interested!

Thanks for indulging my paranoia...

[private]

There is NOTHING wrong with what you are doing - I get irked (very hard to do BTW) When people who JUST got a camera starts charging, but you still have a lot to learn from them - if they are getting business and people are paying for it - their marketing is stellar. With this business the person who "wins" is the person who can market themselves in a cut throat environment and THAT takes confidence. You will know when you are ready to start charging.

and like I have always said, next year I better be appalled with the pics I sold the year b4 - that just means you are growing as an artist and EVERYONE has different styles.

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by private

There is NOTHING wrong with what you are doing - I get irked (very hard to do BTW) When people who JUST got a camera starts charging, but you still have a lot to learn from them - if they are getting business and people are paying for it - their marketing is stellar. With this business the person who "wins" is the person who can market themselves in a cut throat environment and THAT takes confidence. You will know when you are ready to start charging.

and like I have always said, next year I better be appalled with the pics I sold the year b4 - that just means you are growing as an artist and EVERYONE has different styles.

***nodding enthusiastically***

Well said, Pat.

[knixpix]

I agree! Practise practise practise, nothing wrong with that at all!!

[Amanda0102]

Originally Posted by private

next year I better be appalled with the pics I sold the year b4 - that just means you are growing as an artist

LOVE this!

Thanks for the affirmation, everyone!

ETA: I think part of what I'm embarrassed about is planning for future marketing. I went to PDN last week and wound up with a code for 50 free Moo cards, so am going to have those printed just because they're free and it'd be nice to have something to hand to someone if they ask me for contact info (ie friends of friends/whatnot). I also registered a URL (myfullnamephotography.com) and blog this week just to secure the URLs for if/when I'm ready. Full disclosure!!

[Photologyst]

It's a great idea.

You might want to document all nine months?

Just be careful about whom and where you meet someone who responds to the ad. Take a friend along.