AMAZING TALENT OR Business ROBOT?

There are tons of photographers out there but only a small number of photographers are blessed with amazing talent. They can naturally through their camera's eye capture and record the inner beauty of what they see.
They can put a new twist on locations that others have used for years.
Some will imitate:follow as a pattern, model, or example.
To be or appear like : resemble! I call these the ROBOT Photographers!
Robot photographers are so worried about the business side of their trade Some let their talent go to the wayside!
I believe if you use your talent and people love it then they will buy it.

My goal in Photography is to be an individual first and foremost,take wonderful pictures and learn all I can about photography and if and when it turns into a business not to become a ROBOT!

Stay humble or you'll stumble~Arrogance will bring your downfall.- Rick Warren

This saying reminds me of some professional photographers who try to deter others from taking up their profession.
I challege all the Professional photographers to go through their old photos...the ones from when they were just starting out in photography...the ones from before they were a pofessional and look through them!
Try to remember back to just starting out. Learning new things. Asking people with more experience questions.
Then think of all the then pros who gave you advice. Maybe posted a comment of like on one of your photos and then think of the ones who tried to deter you from photography!
Now which ones do you think highly of now that your a "Pro" and which ones are still in business :)
"Always remember where you came from and Where you started"
Everyone starts somewhere and it's usually not at the top!

Just get on with it!

If the client likes it the client will buy it no matter how many years studying how much technical info or how much experience is behind that picture!
If an Amateur is really not good enough they will ultimately educate the client rather than steal from the better photographers in the end.
In the end they will end up herding the client to the better
photographers.

You will note I've not used the word professional because I've seen some horrendous "professionals" just because you make a living out of it does not mean you are the shit. On the other side I've seen some incredible "Amateurs" that make me swoon with envy, talent is born.

What it all boils down to is adapt or die, if someone is better than you Professional or Amateur then work harder and be smarter, sitting around complaining about it will just make you fall further behind while everyone else just gets on with it.

What to charge when pricing Photography?

I am just learning so I have not been charging but with everyone asking me "How much do you charge?" It is one of the things I will have to decide in the near future :)
How much is a memory worth?
How much am I worth as a Photographer?

The first general thing to take into consideration is that with any client, once you charge them a specific fee, it’s difficult to get them to pay more next time.Some entry level photographers say, Well I’m not really that good yet so maybe I shouldn’t charge so much, but if you charge X, they will always want to pay X and you will never be able to charge them more. You’ll have to find new clients every time you want to raise your price. So find a number that works for you and will for the next few years as you start building your business. Better to set a price a little too high to start than charging too low and having to constantly explain to clients why you’re raising your rates in six months.

In addition, charging lower rates will also hurt the rest of the photographic community in an industry where the bottom line often means much more than the quality of the product. With thousands of photographers trying to enter the business every day, there will always be someone who will be willing to charge less than you because they don’t understand the ripple effect of the lowest bid and how that will ultimately affect their own ability in the future to charge a fair price to stay in business.

Giving discounts is a slippery slope as well. It can give the impression that you don’t value your work if you’re not careful how you do it. Rather than discounting, consider throwing in an extra and state it as such, which can allow you to maintain your rates. Even making an extra print of one of your art pieces as a thank you or something else that will allow you not to lower your rate.

Giving a discount to a long term client as a thank you for their loyalty is one thing. Discounting your work from the start is quite another!

Practice~Practice~Practice!

I've had my new camera for two months now and I can tell the difference in the quality of my photos each time I shoot.
I hope I do not outgrow it too soon but I have a feeling I will.
So for now it's practice and keep learning so when I do have all the awesome equiptment I'll be ready :)

What field of Photopgraphy

A well known Photographer said they loved my style of photography and asked me~ What do you shoot?
I answered...everything...anything!
He said "you know you need to pick a field such as portraits...children....wildlife...sports etc because if you don't you will be known as the jack of all and Master of none!"
Never really thought of it that way before but it makes sense.
But for now I am just learning so I want to learn all that I can about all types of Photography! I can't pick just one~I want to shoot it all!
My Face book site~Feel free to check it out~
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/PhotographybyTeresa

My first photoshoot with a backdrop

I had my first photoshoot with my new backdrop.
I think it went well. I learned a lot and will use them again.
I found the editing of the photos is easier when a backdrop is used.
I need to work on my lighting next :)

I gaze at the Sunset with the man I love and I am thinking F8 at 1/250.
You know you have the camera bug bad when all you can think is How do I make this shot my own instead of the camera doing it for me.
You have to tell the camera what you want it to doツ
I Love my new Canon♥

Editing in the world of Photography

I have decided editing is a very important part of Photography.
One wrong decision in the process can make the picture look fake not better.
I've found that small changes sometimes are just what a photo needs to make it special.
The eyes are very important in Photos

Baby photography~

I photographed my first infants~Twins
I learned alot doing twins at least they were three months old :)
My next will be a few day old baby.
There are a few things I need for my sessions...
Backdrops and a reflecter are two of them.
I think an assistant would be good to have if you do newborn photography :)

Jealousy in Photography~

There is a lot of jealousy in the world of Photography.
I've noticed some of the ones who have been doing it a while think no one else can take pictures as good as they can.
Well I think as long as a person is living and breathing there will always be someone who can do better because no one on this earth is the best at anything.
There are several photographers I look up too, One is Russell James an

d he is down to earth. Has a facebook page and actually responds in person about questions and how they do certain shoots etc.
He accepts that others are trying to get in the business of photography or just want to take better pictures and does not talk down to them like others I have come across.
Even though he is an excellent photographer, you wouldn't be able to tell it. He is modest and grateful.
I have learned a lot from him and want to learn more.
My goal is to be a great Photographer but modest and to remember no matter how good I get that everyone starts somewhere in anything they do!

There is a lot more to photography than most thinkツ

I use to think all I needed was a new camera and my photography would get so much better.
Now that I have it and four lenses I realize I need so many more.
I have to ask myself~Do I want to spend my time changing lense's or Do I want to take pictures?
I want to take pictures!
I think I'm going to use the least equipment and props I can get away with to do a great job and save the whoop la equip

ment for when I actually start making money in photography.
I think Some of the best photograhy is minimal anywayツ

My prom experience

Saturday was Smiths Station prom. I was asked to come and photograph a few couples going to prom.
Next time organization will be required from all wanting to be in the pictures.
I got some good shots but know I could have done a better job...
More practice in organizing and learn new poses before the next prom is my goal!

My passion is Photography~so I take pictures♥

Growing up my world revolved around cameras~ Whether I was taking the picture or posing in front of it~I'm Not a super model but I thought I was and every image of me taken when I was a child~ I was posing me and everyone one else~ I loved being both in front and behind the camera~I had all these ideas in my head even as a small child~ I love the creativity of photographing someone or something~ My first camera was a pink one and I thought it was the coolest camera ever made~ I took pictures of everything and still do!

Follow me as I Learn Photography!