It is a good thing to look back. Its made me realize that while its frustrating for me now to lose clients to the $50 shoot and burner, I was once that shoot and burner and would nt be where I am now if It was nt for those clients of mine. Around 3 yrs of reading, practicing, making mistakes, learning from them, more reading, more practicing, more reading....never ending reading and learning and I definitely feel like I have improved!! Ive worked hard and every session I do I love learning something more. But We all start somewhere and I write this post as a reminder to myself that I must not get upset with losing potential clients to somebody cheaper than me because Ive worked hard to learn what I know and I am quite happy to just keep shooting for fun instead of working for about $2 an hour if I was to lower my prices. Im okay waiting for that person that understands that you get what you pay for. Im okay with spoiling that 1 client a month rotten rather than 1 a week and not getting to spend anytime with my children. Which is the reason I started shooting in the first place! My children. So here I give you my journey. embarrassing as this is for me its hopefully encouraging for someone out there to just keep at it and not give up! practice practice practice and you will see improvement!
Some of the first images I took with my brand new D40. On full Auto Im sure!
I think I discovered picnik here!
I feel like I need to apologize to Sarah and Alex for these over edited over saturated images. I should never of charged you for these. I know that now. If we are ever stationed near each other again please let me shoot your family again!
Some of my first newborns
Middle of the day shooting.smh. oh and the fake sun flare. I do still like this image on the right though! My boys and the big ocean!
I learnt to shoot in the shade. Sometimes it worked. Sometimes it did nt.
Not something I should of been charging for.
White balance issues. Thats what shooting on Auto does for you.
I really wanted to get serious now. I started reading more online. Purchased the book Understanding exposure and read read read. Of course I still made mistakes. white balance? I dont think I even knew what that was still. I do think I was now shooting in AP mode though...
Purchased Photoshop elements and started using free actions I found online.
Around this time I sold my D40 and purchased a D90 convinced it would 'help me take better pictures'
Joined Clickin moms.
Theee best thing I ever did.
Discovered so much.
White balance,
MANUAL mode!!!!
Being in manual mode gave me that control I needed to get the images I wanted to produce.
Of course I still made mistakes... Still do. Trying to find 'my style' i was still a little heavy on the 'eye' editing. I'll learn. I'll learn!
Upped and moved from the UK - USA
Had a lot of time on my hands to READ.
I read and I practiced.
Practiced more.
Stopped charging. And practiced MORE!
Re did all my pricing etc
Started charging for my time and my knowledge.
Still practicing
(shooting for fun)
I hope this has encouraged someone to just keep at it. And you will see improvement. Learn how to use your camera, see the light and be in control of your camera instead of letting it think for you and you will get the results you want.
