Adamborz

That’s a good attitude to have... just keep at it.

Adamborz

This is good advice.. ask some photographers to let you be 2nd camera even if you do it for free for the experience.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

It seems like you have several goals.

1. Exposure for your work
2. Obtaining meaningful critique
3. Monetizing your hobby


Getting more exposure doesn't have to cost a thing, you could simply get a free flickr account that allows you to upload 1,000. Their Pro plan is $50/yr and offers unlimited image storage.

The free plan will force you to put only your best stuff. If you add your work to groups and use keywords, you will likely get a lot of views. I know of some photographers who have been contacted by stock photography sites as a result of clever keywording in Flickr.

For critique, I suggest you join a local photo club before you sign up for a personal website. Of course the quality of the critique will depend on the experience and quality of the membership, but by and large it's better than operating in a vacuum or reading through endless platitudes from people who have nothing else to offer and just want to be nice to you. Another advantage is that clubs usually have relationships with local venues where they showcase member's work. As you gain confidence and as your skills improve you will be asked to participate at those exhibits. You can also assemble a portfolio and visit local galleries that work with photographers - many do not. But it will be a source of critique as well.

A club's annual dues will be the same as the basic Zenfolio package, but you will get more feedback from a club. If you don't do SEO (I can see you are into acronyms, but if you are not familiar, it stands for search engine optimization) you are not going to get much traffic.

If you have no business experience, you should not even think about going into the business. If you do have a business background - as in running your own, then you know how to do this already and your expectations will more than likely be in line with reality. You'll need a business plan, marketing plan and some serious experience and the ability to take negative critique in a positive light - as a teaching moment - and use it to improve your work.

I've been doing this 52 yrs, and I always look towards getting fresh eyes and new words on my stuff - particularly from those who know what they are talking about and not picking nits or imposing their "way of doing things". A good critique might begin with "what inspired you to take this picture?" You'll know a good critique when you hear it.

Sorry for the rambling, but I hope you may find some of this helpful.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Constructive criticism.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Hello, Jonathan! Welcome to the forum!

It seems to me that you want to earn money with your photography, perhaps starting a part or full-time business. So... you want to break into the biz?! This is gonna entail lots of work and planning and requires a wide scope of skills, some photography, artistic, technical and some to do with BUSINESS and marketing.

After over 5 decades as a professional photographer, one thing I can tell you, unequivocally, this ain't gonna happen on social media or any of the sites anyone has thus far mentioned. For now, at least while you are reading this, forget about online sites and lest get down to business!


Suppose you post here is a resume and you are applying for a job as a professional photographer or creating an advertisement for your business. You have left out the vital information. All I know is that you purchased some gear a few years ago and have studied hard to learn your craft. You have not specified your present level of skill, in what areas of photography you excel or are interested in or aspire to.

Unfortunately, your "resume" is not a CV or even an encouraging story about your aspirations- it is a complaint: Your investment in gear has not returned any profits and there is lots of "ignorance" on social media. Both are true but that ain't getting you anywhere!
So.. let's start all over again.

You specified you equipment inventory but not your educational efforts. What have you been studying, have you have any formal education such as classes, seminars, some form of apprenticeship or mentoring?

One very simple marketing concept" is folks will pay you for your skills and performance and usually for goods and/or services that they can not do or provide for themselves. For example, people will go to a professional portrait photographer when "selfies" won't do the job such as for important business, corporate, or publicity portraits or the memorialization of very special occasions of stages of life. Business requires technically excellent and impactful images for adverts the products and services. Wedding photography has been much maligned in many photo forums but there is still a very lucrative market out there for good, competent, reliable and tradition and great images with emotional content. Many photographic "artists" approach some of the aforementioned with "snobbery" but they become "starving artists". There is no reason why artistry can not be applied to the business of photography.

Then there are the more challenging aspects of professional photography such as fashion work and high-end illustration, sports photography, and photojournalism. These, of course, demand specialized skill sets. Another factor is if there are industries or news agencies in your geographic area to support theses specialties and aspirations. Even if you have the skill and ambition, you may have to travel.

Shooting landscapes, flowers, nature, and "fine art" may be a viable path, however, to get into this, you need to network with established galleries or self- promote and stage your own shows and exhibitions. Again this ain't gonna happen on social media.

This may sound overly harsh but you gotta get your act together. You need to decide what you want to shoot, offer, specialize in and eventually sell. You have to make certain you know what you are doing, assess your skills and correct any deficits or areas that you feel uncomfortable with. You need to make certain that you are equipped for the jobs you undertake with your skill level and gear.
en you get all of your technical and artistic "ducks" lined up you need to devise a viable business plan. Starting any enterprise without a business plan is the fast track to the bankruptcy court!

Now- getting back to social media: Think of it this way. If you were going to open a brick and mortar" photographic business, would you choose a location where there were dozens of similar businesses on the same block and all of them offer the services at low-end prices? On social media and many of the so-called photography sites, you have thousands, possibly millions of folks vying for the same business at low prices. Competition is healthy but this online bizarre stuff is insane. A nice website is a good reinforcement, but in an of itself, it will not bring in sufficient work, cash flow and word of mouth referrals!

This does not mean social media and online promotional activities and other forms of mass-advertising are totally invalid but the should only serve as a reinforcement to direct, in person, targeted, face to face promotion. Once you decide on waht you want to sell and are self-assure that you knw how to produce it, first step is to create a real portfolio and start off with a simple but effective local promotional plan.

I'll give you a tip! My best customers don't shop for their food online and get deliveries, they go out and squeeze the fruit and the bathroom tissue, the smell the bread in the bakery and test drive their cars person! So... I netwoek with other vendors, display my work in shopping centers and banks, participate in consumer, bridal shows, and business and trade shows. I knock on doors at ad agencies and get the art directors to see my portfolio. I regularly make real sales calls. My portrait and wedding business works strictly on referrals and one bridal show a year.

You were correct in observing that there is lots of ignorance online, especially in photography! People are no stupid, consumers are not stupid and there is a lot of consumer savvy out there but unless folks are into photography as a hobby or avocation, they know very little about the finer points so YOU need to educate them. That's why I like direct-in person promotion and sales! I get to talk to folks and educate them as to what, why and how I do thigs. They are not looking at a screen and comparing prices- they are talking to a real person! Folks have to understand how your product and/or service will benefit them and personality counts as well. People will not spend ther hard-earned money with folks the do not like- it sounds too simple but it is true!

As for constructive critiquing, it is one of the most effective tools in photographic education but it carries an important mandate or caveat. The critic has to really know what he or she is looking at, talking about and believe me, delivering an honest and helpful critique is an art form! The critique shod is honest, informative to the point, expressing the attributes and shortcomings of any given image, remain encouraging and offered remedial or preventative measures to the submitter. Sadly, many of the critiques I see online are inept, undeservedly harsh or even worse, are undeservedly flattering both of which is a disservice to the maker of any image.

If possible find a professional photographer to mentor you take you on as an assistant or apprentice or get involved in a bonafide education program with qualified teachers. You may want to consider joining a professional photographers organization such as the Profession Photographers of America. They have a myriad of educational opportunities, print competitions, great reading material, and business-oriented programs- a great resource and good head start in getting organized.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

I am not a pro, so take this for whatever it is. Your signature is much to intrusive. You are selling a very good shot of the dog. If you must sign the photo sign the back.

Adamborz

Ha that’s the watermark which I take off when they pay. I leave it on when I post to social media places, but thanks! I cropped the other pic to not show the owner but here is one I provided to him. I made this watermark less obtrusive... but like I said I remove from the actual images provided to a client.

(Download)

Adamborz

Sorry got off on a tangent so let me say you have to promote yourself. Yes I have a large digital signature on my social media postings, but I’m not selling that photo and I want people to see my website address. Also I had business cards made up and hand them out when doing jobs, make up flyers etc.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

An artist, who presents his work as "art" should indeed sign his work on the front of the image but in proportion to the size of the "print or the on-screen image. The signature on this one is right for a 30x40 print. The signature should be placed where it does not conflict withthe composition or distract form the motif of the image. A handwritten signature in black, gray or white india ink can be tasteful. Sometimes formal portraits can be sight in gold ink.

Unless you are a known artist or photograher, the signature should be readable, so viewers can actually know you name.

IMPORTANT: The signature should be only that with no copyright notice or corporate name or website reference. A watermark on commercial or online work is a different matter.

Adamborz

Mine signature/ watermark is digital and I remove when I give to Client. I want mine to serve 2 purposes, 1 as watermark, 2 to point people to my site. It’s digital for social media sites, or if I present to a client before they buy I can put it right over their face if I want.

My name isn’t on my website so that part doesn’t matter to me, and it’s my actual signature too. I signed a piece of paper, scanned it and made a stamp in photoshop.

To each his own, but thanks for your input (I’m guessing you were directing that to me).

I could have just gone with website name across the pic as a watermark, but I like the personal touch of the stamped signature.

-Adam

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

I can't read the website in your signature. As someone who wants to see your work, the website was hard to decipher. Just my opinion, and if others can read it easily, than pardon my interruption on this conversation.

Adamborz

No I appreciate the feedback, and if you can’t read the abaerials.net in my watermark then maybe I should change it to make it more clear. Thanks, I actually pondered typing it with a fancy signature type font, or making a stamp of my actual handwriting.

Even though I get paid for photos, still learning...

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

tcthome Loc: NJ

creative critic ?

Deanie1113

I have the free version of Flikr. It's incredibly simple and my pics are organized and look great.