Chrisie

My name is Chrisie. I'm trying to break into the world of professional photography. My favorite subjects are flowers and animals and landscapes. I have a Kodak Easyshare camera which I got as a gift, which is what I am using until I can get the Nikon of my dreams. I have done a few awesome tulip and gerber daisy macros. Any advice I can get from the more experienced folks out there would be greatly appreciated. :D

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

If you want to be a professional photographer you need 1 training and 2 proper tools. A professional auto mechanic goes to school to be trained and invests in professional quality tools. Are you in college now or planning on going to college? Some of the best schools for photography include Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara Ca, or rochester institute of technology in rochester ny. If a 4 year school is out of reach I can recomend the New York Institute of Photography correspondence course. they advertise on this website. They are over 100 years old and have an excellant reputation. I recomend that you shoot and post for critique, apply what others say and shoot some more. Read as much as you can popphoto and outdoor photography are two good magizines and practice what you learn. Then go out and shoot some more. Expierence is the best teacher. There are other websites too. Photographycorner.com has some superior photographers, so does popphoto.com

As for tools untill you can afford that dream nikon, look at used equipment. check out adorama.com,b+hphoto.com, and keh.com These are the three most reputable camera dealers in the country and offer a large selection of tested used equipment. If you are willing to accept a body with a few exterior cosmetic flaws but solid insides you can save some big moola. Invest as much as you can into your lens. They are the key to sharper better images. also get a tripod. Oh and one more thing go out and shoot some more. Try different subjects from positions other than eye level, nice thing about digittal it is not costing you money. shoot out of your comfort zone. Finally if you are going to be aprofessional you are going to have to know the program photoshop. Get yourself a copy of photoshop elements. Once you master that you are at least 75% of the way to mastering photoshop. good luck now go shoot.

johnny q

Hello: My name is John. I love photography! I'm certified in Photoshop, shoot w/Nikon D50. I'm now confined to a wheelchair due to ALS. I'm looking for ideas how I can still shoot from a wheelchair being my hands are now getting weaker. I still love the outdoors. Any ideas? Tnx, John Q.

notnoBuddha

Attn JohnnyQ - the first thought that occured to me was either a head mounted as a bike helmet mounted camera or take a like camera {s} and have them mounted different places on your wheelchair. I would suggest maybe a wireless remote to trigger the shutter or an inventive type may be able to rig up a way to trigger it by your feet if that is still an option. I know that some have also a trigger that is actived by blowing through a tube. Thanks - you just inspired me to get something done around here. The best of luck to you.

Chrisie

The main problem I have is financing. That is the ONLY thing holding me back from anything. I have plans in the near future to get my schooling done, but it may be a few years. In the meantime, I am getting as much basic knowledge and self-educating as much as I possibly can. It has only been in the last few months I have decided to take the bull by the horns and do something about it. I stumbled across this website and joined since everyone I looked at seemed nice enough to the newbies, which I like. I am going to try to download my favorite pics for folks to look at and give me some critique. Only one has been altered in the least. (I don't do Photoshop yet. What you see is what I got.) :)

My pride and joy


Side view of a red daisy


Stormy Beach

notnoBuddha

Attn; Chrisie - Not trying to put a damper on your dreams, but I would look at this a little differently. While for sure it is a truth you must have skills and the tools to ply your craft I would suggest you spend at least as much time on the business end of it - how will, and to whom will you market yourself? What are the financial logicts, what are the time requirments. If this is to be your only source of income will you have enough money to live on while you establish your business. Please understand I wish you the best but please be aware of as many of the aspects of your having your own business first. Yes, I am aware that most photography schools will have courses in such things but remenber their reason for being. I would suggest you speak to as many small business owners you can to get some of their insights, and get some business course outside of a photo school. - few things are all good, or all good. That concludes my sermon for today. If you have not reached the point already you may now disregard everything I just wrote. Have a good life.

Chrisie

Thank you. Yes, while I am working on my skills and tools, I will also be working full-time in the job I have (which is why I said earlier that it may be a few years). As far as marketing is concerned, I have been looking at several websites designed specifically for that, and doing research on marketing oneself and what to do to sell. I actually did a friend's wedding this past weekend, and she loved the pictures, so that was a nice little ego lift. I am a subscriber to a couple photo-sharing sites that host contests (I haven't won any yet, but have gotten some compliments), just to get my name out there (but without marketing, I can't go very far). Right now, all I can really claim to be is a hobbyist, and even that claim is a bit tenuous, seeing as how I go far too long between picking up the camera. Like I said earlier, it's only been recently that I've decided to take the bull by the horns, so I know I have a ways to go. But I fully intend to learn everything I can before I go to school for it.