Setting up a portrait business - Really??!

[jamesev]

I was at a semiar not so long ago from a guy who was talking about setting up a photog company simly and easily. They had the usual this is how to market etc...

But one of his initial "tip" to all intents and purposes was have some expensive kit, his reasoning was that if you turn up with a camera that others at a wedding or engagement shoot etc have bought they there will look at you and think, well I could do what this guy does cuz I have the same equiptment.

I guess he was suggesting that image is quite a key point...I got the impression he meant that you should have a FF and all f2.8s (although the lens to a lesser extent as I suppose none photogs wouldn't really appreciate the difference between say the an 18-55 kit lense and a 24-70 2.8)....

Thoughts on this statement in light of them stating this in a seminar ? - (I did have a bit of a scowl at the comment as I think its prob 10-20% kit 80-90% understanding / technique)

[BigFuzzy]

Originally Posted by jamesev

Thoughts on this statement in light of them stating this in a seminar ? - (I did have a bit of a scowl at the comment as I think its prob 10-20% kit 80-90% understanding / technique)

Name of the photographer/seminar please!

Also, image is very important, but your kit isn't the only thing of that image. So on one hand I agree, on the other, he's full of crap (if you're not keeping relevant contextual info from us).
PS who cares what others at the ceremony think of you as long as you produce for the client!?

[Jim Poor]

It's pretty much impossible to pass an opinion on these "statements" completely out of context.

What seminar, where, and by whom?

[Tzetsin]

I can understand exactly what he's talking about. But really, is this guy a photographer or just a dude putting on a business seminar? If he's just a dude doing a seminar, then you have to wonder what he thinks as "expensive".

My camera body is 1100 bucks CAD, a 60D, everyone I know thinks I'm absolutely cracked to spend that much on a camera. Most professional photographers will have a MINIMUM of a 60D equivelent, therefore you could assume you fall under that guy's definition of "expensive kit."

Lets say everyone in the room had a 60D with the kit 18-200mm lens on, as soon as you add a flash bracket, flash, battery grip, your camera is transformed to the point that it looks absolutely NOTHING like the other 60Ds in the room and raises the visual value of the camera by a huge amount.

So what he's prolly saying is "dont buy a Rebel T2i and use the pop up flash" Know what I'm sayin?

-Jason

Originally Posted by jamesev

I was at a semiar not so long ago from a guy who was talking about setting up a photog company simly and easily. They had the usual this is how to market etc...

But one of his initial "tip" to all intents and purposes was have some expensive kit, his reasoning was that if you turn up with a camera that others at a wedding or engagement shoot etc have bought they there will look at you and think, well I could do what this guy does cuz I have the same equiptment.

I guess he was suggesting that image is quite a key point...I got the impression he meant that you should have a FF and all f2.8s (although the lens to a lesser extent as I suppose none photogs wouldn't really appreciate the difference between say the an 18-55 kit lense and a 24-70 2.8)....

Thoughts on this statement in light of them stating this in a seminar ? - (I did have a bit of a scowl at the comment as I think its prob 10-20% kit 80-90% understanding / technique)

I do like how you want us to jump on the "YEA! This guy is a jackass!" bandwagon with you and commiserate on how horrible this other professional is, yet at the same time have the spelling of an illiterate ape.

So, with that, I will not join you in bashing this guy without the bare minimum context of the situation.

~Eric

[jamesev]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

I do like how you want us to jump on the "YEA! This guy is a jackass!" bandwagon with you and commiserate on how horrible this other professional is, yet at the same time have the spelling of an illiterate ape.

So, with that, I will not join you in bashing this guy without the bare minimum context of the situation.

~Eric

Thanks for pointing out my spelling mistakes, extremely germane to the topic.

It was thoughts on the opinion that whether professionals should advocate that image (in this case cost of kit) is more important that end product and marketing that I was wanting to explore.

Yes, I agree that by the term "scowl" was tant amount to bashing, but no the guy wasn't a jackass, the seminar was very informative, it was just that one statement I picked up on. The guy is successful, has created a great brand, so his credibility to be a keynote speaker as a Nikon evangelist can't be questioned. It was just saying that if other people at a shoot see you with the same kit as them that would damage your credibilty as a pro photog.

[candleman]

a Nikon evangelist saying you should only have the best so you don't look like a n00b.... interesting



see more Gifs

[jamesev]

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

Name of the photographer/seminar please!

Focus on Imaging - Uzair Kharawala

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

Also, image is very important, but your kit isn't the only thing of that image. So on one hand I agree, on the other, he's full of crap (if you're not keeping relevant contextual info from us).
PS who cares what others at the ceremony think of you as long as you produce for the client!?

[jojonac]

I for one do not disagree with this guys statement. You can call it what you want, but if I were to hire a Professional Photographer to shoot an event for me and he/she showed up with a Nikon D5000, or Cannon Rebel I would be suspect. Granted I would not hire a person on the basis of what kind of camera they have. They better have a portfolio that is outstanding and has more than one couple or wedding in it.

I'm sure that there are tons of people out there, including people in this forum who have bought a new entry level camera, started taking better pictures then the crappy point and shoot they had and then declared themselves pro. Next thing you know they are shooting their cousins wedding and one of the guests who just bought a D5000 see them and starts thinking hey if they can do it so can I, my friends are always telling me how great my pics are and that I should be a professional.

I digress...anyway perception is everything in this world. Even though we where told in grade school not to judge a book by its cover, we still do. The bigger the camera you have, the bigger the lens you walk around with the more likely hood that Joe schmo is going to assume you are a Pro.

[jojonac]

Oh yeah...I forgot to add that in the end its all about satisfying the customer, so if you can make it work with just your iPhone then roll with it.