Trying to evaluate quality of work

[jkentphoto11]

Hello everyone, I have been working on my portfolio and website and now I am at the dreaded part of setting prices. Which made me consider, what truly is the quality of my work? Amateur? Pro? Of course, I can't answer that question, so that's why I am writing a post in the DPS forum. I am proud of my work and I know I have a lot of work and growth to do in the future, but I am just wondering where am I at right now. So I wanted to ask you all to give me your honest opinion about the quality of my work thus far. This post may belong in the Critique section but I wasn't sure if it fit there either. Here are a few pictures from recent sessions:









And here is the link to my facebook page for more of my work: Jessica Kent Photography| Facebook. Thanks ahead of time for your advice and opinions!

[NicolaB]

Hi Jessica

There is constant debate on this site on when to start charging for your work.

Looking at your work, I would suggest you are semi pro stage. Others would sit either side of me on the fence - am or Pro.

What this means to me is that your work is lovely and people will be prepared to pay for it. Professional photographers will be able to look at it and see things such as colour inconsistency, blown spots etc but these are areas that when you are aware of them, it will not take you much time to perfect.

I am nearing the stage when I would consider myself to be semi pro and will charge perhaps 50% of my intended prices. My logic - I am still learning. If the clients get a perfect image all well and good and that will be my aim. If there are problems such as blown red channel that a client may not notice but I would be embarrassed about when I become aware of that area of development - I have made allowances in my pricing.

Imo you should go pro when you know your work is technically as well as artistically sound. Good luck, you certainly have the eye and the talent to be a brilliant Pro.

hth

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by NicolaB

Imo you should go pro when you know your work is technically as well as artistically sound. Good luck, you certainly have the eye and the talent to be a brilliant Pro.

I'd say the caveat to the above is that you need to be consistently producing your highest quality and have that consistency regardless of conditions.

To get the feedback you seem to be looking for, I'd say start a discussion in the 'Earning' subfoum (a search in there will get you a lot of the answers you seem to want), and submit some of your images to the critique subforum too.

[Jim Bryant]

How come nobody has mentioned anything about actually knowing the business side of photography? You can be the best photographer in the world, but if you don't know anything about running the business side ( photography business) or marketing, you're doomed.

I suggest you go out and purchase some of the following books:
John Harrington's - Best Business Practices for Photographers
Tom Zimberoff - Focus on Profit
ASMP 's Professional Business Practices
Leslie Burns - DellAcqua - Business Basics for the Successful Commercial Photographer [or, How to Use Your Left Brain, Too]
Richard Weisgrau - The Real Business of Photography
Selina Maitreya - How to Succeed in Commercial Photography
Maria Piscopo - The Photographers Guide to Marketing & Self Promotion
Vik Orenstein - Building Your Photography Business

Good luck!

[andyw]

Whether you are a professional or an amateur - it is NOT the quality of the work that defines that.

I know of amateurs who can produce work which would put many professional photographers to shame.
Likewise I know many professional photographers whose work would be consigned to the reject bin by most.

The amateurs are amateurs because they do photography for the love, for themselves and not for the money or for some snotty art director or bitching mother in law.
The professionals are professionals because they get paid and earn the majority of their income from photography.

I make a living taking mediocre pictures like this cant get image to show ??
I know there are hundreds of amateur photographers who can do that shot better (so could I) but the difference is that I do this day after day and it is what the customer wants.
I know how to market myself so the customer is happy with that sort of mediocre crap.

Actually, most of my commercial stuff is better than that but you get the idea.

Your posted shots are absolutely fine and if your customers are happy with them then that is what counts.
If you find that customers are complaining about the standard/quality then you know you have to improve.

There is no magic point whereby the quality of your work changes from being amateur to pro.
If you have people who see your work and want you to be the photographer then the quality of your work is as it should be (for that/those customers).

It is fine getting opinions from your peers on here and elsewhere but the final judge of your work (quality and price) is your customer. If they are happy then you have it.

Pricing is not based purely on quality of the work. Again I know people who charge 2000 for something I would not hang in my toilet, and there are those who charge 20 for something which could grace the National portrait gallery.

You can only set your pricing at a level that your particular market will stand it.
You get that by research.
If you have set it to high then you will soon know, likewise if it is too low then you will get swamped and it may well be time to raise them.

[jkentphoto11]

Thank you all so very much for your responses! I guess my main concern is that I don't want to be producing crap work and not even be aware. I mean of course, I think I am doing a good job and I can always find ways to improve for the next shoot, but I just don't want to be completely delusional! Since I started taking pictures for other people, which has only been since this March, I have had lots of positive feedback and many people that I don't know wanting pictures so that's a good sign. I guess I'm just lacking in the confidence area a little bit because I am such a perfectionist and I want to be an amazing photographer...not just a mediocre one. I hope that I will continue to grow and improve over the years. And I have definitely started studying more about the business of photography. I know running that running a photography business is a whole lot more complicated than just taking pictures. Thanks again for all of your feedback! No one said I suck so that's good!

[TomHarmon]

You definitely have talent. If the work you've shown is consistent with what you can do, then I'd say you are definitely ready to start making money. There's a lot of good advice here about being in business, but I'm gonna keep it simple.
If people are willing to pay you, then start charging.
Some may disagree, saying you need to figure out the business side first, but that can't and won't happen overnight. Start slow and work on the business stuff when you can. It's a lot of work.

[jkentphoto11]

Originally Posted by TomHarmon

You definitely have talent. If the work you've shown is consistent with what you can do, then I'd say you are definitely ready to start making money. There's a lot of good advice here about being in business, but I'm gonna keep it simple.
If people are willing to pay you, then start charging.
Some may disagree, saying you need to figure out the business side first, but that can't and won't happen overnight. Start slow and work on the business stuff when you can. It's a lot of work.

Thanks so much Tom! I definitely agree with you....the business aspect of photography is very very expansive so I've been working on it as I go. I think the prices I have developed are very reasonable and fair for the market in my area. I have had lots of people contacting me for pictures so that's definitely good news! Now just to keep learning, practicing and getting better at the technical, creative and business aspects of photography. That's what I love about photography...there is always room to grow and improve your images! Thanks again!

[Tzetsin]

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

How come nobody has mentioned anything about actually knowing the business side of photography? You can be the best photographer in the world, but if you don't know anything about running the business side ( photography business) or marketing, you're doomed.

I suggest you go out and purchase some of the following books:
John Harrington's - Best Business Practices for Photographers
Tom Zimberoff - Focus on Profit
ASMP 's Professional Business Practices
Leslie Burns - DellAcqua - Business Basics for the Successful Commercial Photographer [or, How to Use Your Left Brain, Too]
Richard Weisgrau - The Real Business of Photography
Selina Maitreya - How to Succeed in Commercial Photography
Maria Piscopo - The Photographers Guide to Marketing & Self Promotion
Vik Orenstein - Building Your Photography Business

Good luck!

+ 1 MIIILIOOOON (mwahahaha) ok, jokes aside, I dont care how good you are if you dont follow this advice you WILL FAIL. You'll fail and you will blame your work which is wrong. Your work is good. If your business sense is bad, your business will fail.

[Phoxxie]

WHOA! Those pics are great, I'd love to know how you took them! I just got a 7D and I have nooo idea what im doing haha.