re: Official Photography Thread. ♥

Quoting 3LittleMonkeys:" right! We had crappy studio portraits done recently and I hate them all....except maybe this onebut ... [snip!] ... we got 1 year of free photo 8x10, so we can go in every day and get a new photo...eventually, we'll get a decent one. LOL"

your family is so beautiful!

lol you ladies have written pages and pages and pages since I was last on. I've tried to catch up a bit but couldn't comment on everything otherwise you'd be reading pages and pages of only my comments  

For the record, I'm a Nikonian too.  
I started with a Nikon D90, went full frame with a Nikon D700 and now am shooting with a Nikon D800. My studio lens is the Nikkor 50 mm 1.4G, my outdoor shoot lens for couples is the Nikkor 70-200mm 2.8G, I also use the Nikkor 85 mm 1.8G (use mainly for outdoor family/children shoots), and have the Nikkor Micro 105 mm 2.8G for ring and newborn close ups as well as for fun. I almost forgot, I also have the Nikkor 24-70mm 2.8G which I love for shots where I need a bit more of a wider angle.
I also have the little N1J1 system camera that I use instead of a point and shoot because I still wanted some quality in my snaps and wasn't happy with any point and shoot I had tried.

I seriously don't think any one camera brand is better than the other one though. Everyone should choose the one that feels right in their hands. Of course Nikon and Canon are the big brands so one of them would the one I would choose just because they probably have the most to offer in professional lenses and any accessory you want to get is geared towards them.

I had a newborn yesterday in the studio. I can't post any pics online other than a sneak peek on my blog though (parents wishes). Once I have the blog post done, I'll put the link here if you want to look. I had posted a pic of my studio set up prepared for a newborn shoot yesterday on my facebook page. Those of you who have liked my page probably saw it.

I feel so overwhelmed with work even though other than the newborn shoot yesterday, I have officially been on break since Nov. 10th! I'm getting quite a few print orders now before Christmas and have been trying to catch up on family stuff as well. I'm hardly making a dent in all the plans I had to do during my break  

<blockquote><b>Quoting Mrs.Dani:</b>" Okay well more than two.   Sitting on the bed he was born on: Me and him on the bed: Him next to the room number (needed flash) Daddy and him outside: All three: First solids! "</blockquote>
He is so handsome in his cute little shirt in the first picture.  )

Quoting Chuck Finley.:"   My dad just called to tell me he bought me the 50mm 1.4 for Christmas. I am so excited!!"

Congrats and keep the other for backup IMO

Quoting Man. Bear. Pig.:" I need to look into getting one of those. I saw it differently on my computer than when I printed my ... [snip!] ... christmas pics there and they were horrible. Not sure if it was just their printer or if the color was THAT off on my monitor? "

Everything looks like smurf at Walmart. They are the worst.

Quoting Cheryle [TOG]:" lol you ladies have written pages and pages and pages since I was last on. I've tried to catch up a bit ... [snip!] ... have been trying to catch up on family stuff as well. I'm hardly making a dent in all the plans I had to do during my break  "

That's a lot of equipment! I'm jealous. That's where I think I'm lacking. I dont think the body makes as much difference as the lenses and I definitely need more! I pretty much only shoot outdoors, except for babies which are inside. I am not busy because I dont have money for advertising, and there is only so much I can do on Craigslist. I just have to get out, network, and meet people, but I rarely have time between working full time and school full time. Ugh.

Hopefully I get busier though. More practice= Better pictures... and I LOVE taking pictures. I really do.

Quoting awesomebrandi:" Everything looks like smurf at Walmart. They are the worst."

So I'm on a time crunch and I have to get our holiday cards printed thursday. Where should I do it at locally? MIL has a Sams Club card, but I dont know if they'd be any better.

One of my biggest issues, is feeling guilty about telling people my prices and coming up with packages. I think the people that I run into do not have a lot of money so they'd rather go to Walmart  . I want to appeal to everyone but it usually ends up being a pain in the ass between gas, travel time, edit time, etc. I dont know what to do.

I mean... I charge 75 and edit about 20. I think I'm overcharging based on my experience and quality. Honestly, what do you guys think is a fair price for my experience? What should be included?

<blockquote><b>Quoting B r i t t a n y !:</b>" Are there any differences between ordering a lens from Best Buy or Adorama? Probably a stupid question but the $80 price difference for the same lens makes me nervous lol."</blockquote>




No there isn't a difference unless its stated, like used or refurbished.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Man. Bear. Pig.:</b>" So I'm on a time crunch and I have to get our holiday cards printed thursday. Where should I do it at locally? MIL has a Sams Club card, but I dont know if they'd be any better."</blockquote>




You should looking into WHCC, mixpro, or mixpic. There are others I can't remember. Once you see the quality of those prints you will never get them again from Walmart, target, CVS, or any drugstore.

ETA, I just noticed you need them tomorrow... But for the future look into theses places.

Quoting Man. Bear. Pig.:" So I'm on a time crunch and I have to get our holiday cards printed thursday. Where should I do it at locally? MIL has a Sams Club card, but I dont know if they'd be any better."

You need them IN HAND by tomorrow? I haven't seen Sam's Club but I know a lot of people talk favorably about Costco's prints, even other photographers.

Quoting Man. Bear. Pig.:" One of my biggest issues, is feeling guilty about telling people my prices and coming up with packages. ... [snip!] ... on my experience and quality. Honestly, what do you guys think is a fair price for my experience? What should be included?"

I think you're too cheap if you're shooting and handing over 20 photos for only $75. You need to think about YOUR time and costs. How long does it take you to drive there, shoot, drive home, load up the photos, edit them, put them on a disk or whatever and get them to the client? How much do you pay in gas, how much is depreciation on your equipment and car? Even though you don't have much overhead right now, it is still costing you money.

A big step in being successful is STOP BEING ASHAMED!   I'm not saying go out and start charging $250 or whatever. But don't be ashamed of charging $75. That is not overcharging. So what if some people rather go to WalMart? Not your problem and has no reflection on you.

Quoting awesomebrandi:" I think you're too cheap if you're shooting and handing over 20 photos for only $75. You need to think ... [snip!] ... $75. That is not overcharging. So what if some people rather go to WalMart? Not your problem and has no reflection on you."

Thank you. I just worry that my quality is not worth the 75 dollars, is my only problem. When I look at the pictures "actual size" in PS, they're often blurry. I think 8x10 would be okay, but I'm terrified that they'll try to make a huge pic, and it will look like crap.

Yeah, I'm on the outskirts of Phoenix, so driving into the city generally takes me about 1.5 to 2 hours round trip.  

Quoting awesomebrandi:" You need them IN HAND by tomorrow? I haven't seen Sam's Club but I know a lot of people talk favorably about Costco's prints, even other photographers."

Not in hand, per se... but maybe by Monday? They aren't anything fantastic so I guess it wouldnt matter too much.

Quoting Man. Bear. Pig.:" Not in hand, per se... but maybe by Monday? They aren't anything fantastic so I guess it wouldnt matter too much."

You have time to order from a place like WHCC or Millers - they do two day free shipping.