drspears Loc: Columbus, IN

I think you all should remember, YOU asked questions when you first started!!!!!!!!!

drspears Loc: Columbus, IN

I think you all should remember, YOU asked questions when you first started!!!!!!!!!

drspears Loc: Columbus, IN

I think you all should remember that YOU asked questions when you first started!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

drspears Loc: Columbus, IN

Sorry for the triple post---- it wasn't showing up on my screen. Sorry

normsImages Loc: Alabama for now

You are doing right, starting now and setting a goal to get the best possible portraits you can. When I do senior portraits, I set down with the senior and try to get to know them a little and capture their personality. Their interest their sports ect. You have the advantage and disadvantage. You know him but don’t let what you perceive as to what his real personality is. Not sure if that makes sense.
Hopefully he and the rest of the family don’t get tired of using them as ginny pigs will you learn.
Like I said we are here to help. After some practice let us see what you are getting and we can give some advice. The biggest thing is as you said study and learn your camera, Know your manual front to back.

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

Yes I did, but I also didn't start posts on forums making it sound like I was taking on senior clients and then asking questions about the fundamentals of photography all in the same post. I respected my mentoring photographers and never tried to make them feel like what they did was easy and anyone could pick up a camera and start charging people for their services.

I'm all for helping those trying to improve and share information I have gathered, but I'll also try to discourage anyone from taking on clients when they have no idea how to use their camera.

donrosshill Loc: Delaware & Florida

CaptainC, Was that snide responce really necessary?
He did not say Professional Portraits. He is simply asking for some general advise. Please cool down.

dandekarv Loc: Lake Forest, Ca, US

Did Budhaman said that he wants to be a professional? Or did he say that he wants to get into photography business?

But someone can have a goal to be a professional level photographer. To do so he needs to have right equipment, learn and practice. To achieve this goal this person approaches 'Guru'. The 'Guru' shows him the right and shortest path to achieve this goal.

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

Budhaman,

Sounds like you need a photo learning ice breaker to get started. Books are good, but I would suggest a class or two at your local camera store. It will give you enough traction to start digging further into composition, exposure triangle, lighting, etc... Do some trials with friends and then fire off specific questions to the forum. Support will be amazing.

dandekarv Loc: Lake Forest, Ca, US

I am also a beginner in photography. Now I am afraid to ask dumb questions in this forum.
Clearly I don't want to get insulted.

NegativeBLUR Loc: Dallas, Tx

It sounds like you have a while to learn before your son graduates, which is good. It will take much time and practice to understand exposure, where to shoot at what time of day, etc. I suggest you go out and take photos anywhere of anything that will sit still! Take the pressure off and photograph flowers....heck, a rock or a wall. You need to understand exposure, lighting and how to work your camera before you add in the stress of posing etc. Play with the settings to learn how shutter speed, aperture, and ISO relate to one another. Too slow a shutter speed can let in too much light (too slow not enough), the larger the aperture (which is a smaller number....will confuse you at first) the more light is let into your camera (allowing you a faster shutter speed which cuts down on movement/blur) and the higher the ISO the more sensitive you camera's sensor to light (which means you can use faster shutter, but TOO high can create "noise" which is basically grainy color). A good thing to help learn is to "bracket" your exposures (look this up...basically take the same photo several times changing one setting each time). Example: take a photo at a setting, another with one thing bumped up like shutter speed, another bumped up more, etc. Then STUDY your metadata (this is the recording of what settings you used for the photo) from the camera when you view your photos on your computer and LEARN from your successes and mistakes. THEN you have the basics and a better understanding of exposure. And you've JUST started....Good luck and don't get discouraged by snarky remarks here....there are many good and helpful people and you will learn a lot from them!

krispix Loc: London - UK

Ask away Dandekarv. You may get flamed by a few people, but just ignore them. Just be careful how you frame your questions and try not to be too general, like "How do I take pictures?". The purpose of this, or any other forum, is to help out with specifics. Provide as much information as you can, and a photograph if you can. I'm sure you'll get any help you need.

NegativeBLUR Loc: Dallas, Tx

Read my last remark, dandekarv.....there are no dumb questions. The main thing people do wrong here is thinking they can pick up a camera and PRESTO....they are now a photographer. It takes years of learning (I know I still am), practice and patience to become one, and those here who have been practicing years get a little (ok.....some a lot) upset when they hear of people picking up a camera one day and either calling themselves a photographer and/or charging for their services. It brings down the profession....nothing personal. Please don't be discouraged by a few ugly remarks! Besides, you will hear enough in your career (especially while still learning) that you need to be able to let it roll off. There will always be one person that doesn't appreciate or understand you work or style!

berchman Loc: South Central PA

I did not ask any questions. I read photography magazines and Ansel Adams' books and tried to apply what I learned from them. This is back in the 50's. People who come to this forum with completely open and general questions are just plain lazy, too lazy to do some research, reading, and practice.

Steve221221 Loc: Metro Detroit

That's funny, when I first read "Senior Portraits" I thought of elderly people.