If You Could Photograph Just One Thing...

[JohnPD]

Well a wedding is something special, although I did shoot a small one in the past (but I knew there would be parents with cameras as well and it was really small, and somebody I know well asked me on behalf of her sister). The thing with a wedding is that it is a 'once in a lifetime' thing and I would feel so much responsibility for delivering good photos that it would take away the pleasure I get from photography. For example a rugby match, if I miss some shots it is fine, There will be other matches and it is impossible to get all the action during a match. With weddings, that is different, like exchanging the rings.
But broader than weddings, I have done some portrait work, or as session with the cat of a nephew when it appeared he had to euthanize her quite suddenly. By doing it every now and then, I learn from it and know "I could do it if I had to". When we were redoing the website at the company I work for, some portraits of the employees were needed and I decided to do the greenscreen photos myself. Partially to reduce on costs, partially because I knew I would be able to do it and knowing that in the future new employees might be needed to photograph as well and being flexible when doing the photos ourselves was a plus for that. And of course a bit trial and error during the photo sessions was OK and it was possible to redo if necessary.

That makes sense. Weddings are a once in a lifetime event (even if you remarry). It's a now or never thing. Thanks.

Also like with sports, you do some cropping for composition in post, but are bound by what happens at the pitch relative to were you are at the moment. When doing a bit of landscape, you might need to look more into compostion upfront.

Right, different types of photography, different rules.

 

[Jeff WX1USN]

Birds birds birds, I would love to do female nudes but the wife would probably kill me, a strong Irish temper, those freckles are no lie!

 

[Levina]

Birds birds birds,

Why am I not surprised!

I would love to do female nudes but the wife would probably kill me, a strong Irish temper, those freckles are no lie!

Female nudes?! Now that does surprise me. And I understand your wife!

 

[Mike]

Birds birds birds, I would love to do female nudes but the wife would probably kill me, a strong Irish temper, those freckles are no lie!

I feel you brother! My wife is hispanic so I make sure I'm well away from any dishes before I start any nonsense!

 

[Levina]

Well a wedding is something special, although I did shoot a small one in the past (but I knew there would be parents with cameras as well and it was really small, and somebody I know well asked me on behalf of her sister). The thing with a wedding is that it is a 'once in a lifetime' thing and I would feel so much responsibility for delivering good photos that it would take away the pleasure I get from photography. For example a rugby match, if I miss some shots it is fine, There will be other matches and it is impossible to get all the action during a match. With weddings, that is different, like exchanging the rings.
But broader than weddings, I have done some portrait work, or as session with the cat of a nephew when it appeared he had to euthanize her quite suddenly. By doing it every now and then, I learn from it and know "I could do it if I had to". When we were redoing the website at the company I work for, some portraits of the employees were needed and I decided to do the greenscreen photos myself. Partially to reduce on costs, partially because I knew I would be able to do it and knowing that in the future new employees might be needed to photograph as well and being flexible when doing the photos ourselves was a plus for that. And of course a bit trial and error during the photo sessions was OK and it was possible to redo if necessary.

Also like with sports, you do some cropping for composition in post, but are bound by what happens at the pitch relative to were you are at the moment. When doing a bit of landscape, you might need to look more into compostion upfront.

A good neighbour once asked if I could do a wedding. Her daughter was getting married. I didn't have to think about it for a second: nope. It took some explaining as to why not ("but you're a photographer!"): I have no experience in the genre, nor at shooting indoors (lights!) and you absolutely cannot fail. You summed it up quite nicely, Jan.

 

[greatgrandma]

At my last job, we documented violations of the standards with photographs. My boss told me that I shot more photographs than a wedding photographer.

I would not sign up for just shooting one thing. I want to take photos of my family. I want to take photos when I travel. I like to take photos of food, lighthouses, horses, birds, any kind of animals, and I have actually even done a wedding, but that was because it was my son's wedding and they didn't have a photographer. Also I did a video of a wedding (the people coming to the wedding and afterward) for the daughter of a friend. And the girl actually took all the videos and looked at them and edited them together.

 

[ImageMaker]

I wish…

…I wish I could shoot beautiful models.

No, wait…. I am…!!!!!


So don’t wish. Make it so!

 

[RichardB]

So don’t wish. Make it so!

Yep. YOLO!

 

[Ltdave]

I wish…

…I wish I could shoot beautiful models.

No, wait…. I am…!!!!!


So don’t wish. Make it so!View attachment 11327

i made a comment to an acquaintance once, similar to 'i wish i could shoot more models'. he had just moved from Toledo Ohio (home of Max Klinger/Jamie Farr in real life and Tony Packo's Hungarian hot dogs) to LA. to shoot models. his reply to me. "Make it happen, Cap'n"

i wish i could 'make it so'... just no confidence i guess

 

[JohnPD]

i made a comment to an acquaintance once, similar to 'i wish i could shoot more models'. he had just moved from Toledo Ohio (home of Max Klinger/Jamie Farr in real life and Tony Packo's Hungarian hot dogs) to LA. to shoot models. his reply to me. "Make it happen, Cap'n"

i wish i could 'make it so'... just no confidence i guess

But you are shooting models, aren't you?

 

[Ltdave]

But you are shooting models, aren't you?

sort of yes.... not as my main focus (no pun intended). id rather do more of that...

 

[JohnPD]

sort of yes.... not as my main focus (no pun intended). id rather do more of that...

Is it that hard to find models where you are?

 

[Ltdave]

Is it that hard to find models where you are?

it certainly seems that way. i could go down to detroit (about an hour drive) but ive got no studio there (actually dont have a studio HERE either but my living room would work fabulously with white walls and HIGH ceiling)...

 

[JohnPD]

it certainly seems that way. i could go down to detroit (about an hour drive) but ive got no studio there (actually dont have a studio HERE either but my living room would work fabulously with white walls and HIGH ceiling)...

I suppose it also depends on what kind of models you are looking for? Finding models for headshots might be easier than say for G&N?

 

[Ltdave]

I suppose it also depends on what kind of models you are looking for? Finding models for headshots might be easier than say for G&N?

you would think. i know a gal who was on the local hockey team's cheer team. i offered $50 for 45 minutes of shooting, just doing digitals (what agencies now call the images they use in their catalogs. MINIMAL make up, hair, plain white shirt and jeans and heels against a plain white background or very very lightly tinted gray background).

i was just wanting to put a couple of those type images in my portfolio so i could start looking for headshot clients (businesses, bankers, realtors etc).

Im so sorry Dave, I dont have any time.

really? over $50 and hour, you cant swing by for a dozen photographs? not on an afternoon after work, not on a saturday morning, not any time. id also asked a couple of other members of the cheer team if they wanted to do something similar or do some 'fashion' downtown at a couple of cool locations... nope. no time. theyve seen my IG stuff. theyve seen my stuff from the hockey games, and they even reach out to me and ask for photos at the games (other than what i normally would shoot of them)

ive not had any luck with Model Mayhem getting prospective models to respond. i dont know if most of them even go back on MM after signing up

 

[JohnPD]

you would think. i know a gal who was on the local hockey team's cheer team. i offered $50 for 45 minutes of shooting, just doing digitals (what agencies now call the images they use in their catalogs. MINIMAL make up, hair, plain white shirt and jeans and heels against a plain white background or very very lightly tinted gray background).

i was just wanting to put a couple of those type images in my portfolio so i could start looking for headshot clients (businesses, bankers, realtors etc).

Im so sorry Dave, I dont have any time.

really? over $50 and hour, you cant swing by for a dozen photographs? not on an afternoon after work, not on a saturday morning, not any time. id also asked a couple of other members of the cheer team if they wanted to do something similar or do some 'fashion' downtown at a couple of cool locations... nope. no time. theyve seen my IG stuff. theyve seen my stuff from the hockey games, and they even reach out to me and ask for photos at the games (other than what i normally would shoot of them)

ive not had any luck with Model Mayhem getting prospective models to respond. i dont know if most of them even go back on MM after signing up

Sounds tough. Kids must have it good if they can afford to reject 50 bucks for an hour's work.

 

[Ltdave]

Sounds tough. Kids must have it good if they can afford to reject 50 bucks for an hour's work.

yeah, shes mid-20s with another job but youre right. id have JUMPED at the chance especially since all she has to do is pop the knee and stand there.

 

[JohnPD]

yeah, shes mid-20s with another job but youre right. id have JUMPED at the chance especially since all she has to do is pop the knee and stand there.

Maybe she just doesn’t like to have her photo taken. A lot of people are like that: uncomfortable in front of a camera, too self conscious.

 

[CraigMcM]

I'd want to shoot raptors; birds of prey.
Snowy owls are what really excites me.
Eagles, hawks, falcons. I love to see them.
I just don't have opportunities for doing so without traveling,
which can be costly.

Either that, or with unlimited budget, astrophotography.
Costliness for this, of course, goes WAY up.

It's not affordable for me to dedicate myself to either of these pursuits.

 

[JohnPD]

Either that, or with unlimited budget, astrophotography.
Costliness for this, of course, goes WAY up.

It's not affordable for me to dedicate myself to either of these pursuits.

How about a Seestar S30 or S50? Jeff talked about how good they are and how he uses them every clear night. His results with them are astonishing. And those Seestars are fairly reasonably priced too.

In the US the S50 is $499 and the S30 $350.

Here's Jeff's thread on astro equipment: https://focus-on-photography.net/th...y-equipment-and-techniques-and-questions.340/

Maybe an idea?