westernlifestyles Loc: NV

I know you have receive a number of responses....but I must add my 2 cents :) If you are beginning, welcome, I hope that you enjoy every moment of your new camera. As far as senior photos, may I recommend natural light for starters. Your 85mm will be great for close-ups and just make sure you are not in bright sun, watch out for shadows on faces etc. through your lens. If you have to go inside, try to get near a window and diffuse any hard light with a shear cloth or curtain. Play with manual settings, for outside try 100 ISO, F11 or 16 and an aperture of 100 +or -. If you are have Photoshop, consider shooting in Camera Raw, it can be more forgiving/correctable than jpeg. Best wishes, WLS

Georgia Peddler Loc: Brunswick, GA

To defend your argument you only quoted half of my post.

westernlifestyles Loc: NV

Sorry...I meant shutter speed at 100+or- (not aperture). Enjoy. WLS

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

I was going to respond but am just tired of all the off-subject crap. I'm wearing out my delete key trying to sort out the bits of good advice hidden among all the snarky comments. I only mention this because snarky is a really neat word and so hard to work into everyday conversation.

Georgia Peddler Loc: Brunswick, GA

Enough, we have beaten this issue to death today. And, while we have accomplished nothing worth while, the poster who instigated this idiotic question in the first place has spent considerable time laughing his arse off at our bickering back and forth about how to be a successful and profit producing photographer. Enough humor for one day, eh?
Keep us posted and when you have deposited your first profitable check, let us know if you gained any worthwhile information from us idiotic UHHoggers' feeble attempts to get you up to speed and working full-time at your new profession.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Didn't even catch that. I just looked at an old meter with settings up to f90!

gessman Loc: Colorado

Use this to practice:

http://camerasim.com/camera-simulator/

You might also want to back up to the previous level of this site. There is a wealth of information that should help you get up to speed rapidly:

http://camerasim.com/

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

I have a feeling most that ask the question "I got a camera, now how to I get clients?" have no idea what a PROFITABLE check is. I know when I started, I thought I was laughing all the way to the bank with my $100 sessions... well until I sat down with my accountant. Then I cried. Nothing like ending up in the hole and thinking you are a real business.

I'll gladly share information about starting a business and the COGs with any person who asks, I'll even break down how much those $50 sessions are actually costing you, but don't belittle the profession and talent it takes to run a business by asking (or imply) that you just got a camera and want to open a business right now. Take the time to learn what is involved, learn your camera, learn about lighting and exposure. What's the rush to turn professional? I can tell you it's not a road to riches, it's taken me three years to even draw small salary. I learned the hard way and if it wasn't for my accountant and photographer that took me under his wings to teach me how to run a business, I would have been like many other start up photography businesses, closed down within a year.

I don't want anyone to have to sell their camera and equipment because they thought this was an easy way to make money, I've seen many a photographer not only work themselves into the ground but lose their passion and love for the craft because they rushed into this.

You can hate me all you want and be offended all you want, but each time someone asks about starting a business the first questions from this forum should always be:

1. do you know your equipment?
2. has anyone besides your family and close friends told you that you should be in charging for your pictures?
3. when did you take up photography?
4. do you have a business plan? (I should have had one)
5. do you know what your COGs are?
6. do you know what you will be specializing in?

donrosshill Loc: Delaware & Florida

Dear Buddahaman. Thank you for posting your question and asking for help. It is a fair question that deserves a respectiful answer and certainly not the many snide and distatful responses that you have received. The UHH (forum) has a large number of very nice people who can and will help. Please don't give up on the UHH.
Take your time. Learn the camera and it's functions, check out ( Google) other informational sites. You will find many who will help you learn.
I am 78, retired, still enjoying photography after making my living with it for the past 58 years. I still do not know it all and never will. I hope others can grasp this thought.
D. Ross Hill: Image 1.

Dogman Loc: Michigan

Nicely done and no reference to a smuck, newbe or a wanabe. :thumbup: :thumbup:

My guess is buddhaman's fire extinguisher is empty and it may be a long time before he/she returns. Too bad as there is a lot that can be learned here once you wade through the flame throwers.

I've looked at Capt. C website and for sure, he's talented. Same for some of the others UHH membes who have provided links to their work. The skill level I've seen on their sites speaks for itself. I can overlook the tone of their remarks, most of the time. Others who have piled on on this thread and have not proivded their skill level with a similar link, carry no credibility.


Dogman

donrosshill Loc: Delaware & Florida

Thanks Dogman. Usually when people get to be my age they become less tollerant of others. I thank God that I have not. Life is to good to waste on this kind of trivia.
It is much easier to ignore it and smile than become part of it.

gessman Loc: Colorado

...and on the other hand, not a mere few businesses have been begun by those too ignorant to know they couldn't succeed, in the minds of the experts, who have gone on to be highly successful, adjusting and learning as they go and doing what they have to do with sheer guts and determination. While it might be reasonable to urge a person to be cautious and get guidance, it would be my humble opinion that few businesses would succeed if we all "went by the book." As we urge others to be cautious, we need to heed that suggestion ourselves lest we discourage the next great "wonder of the world." While many should not be encouraged, it is not our role to overly aggressively dissuade a person from doing as they choose nor to discourage them from trying. It is, after all, their butt they are going to lose, if indeed they do, but that was hardly the point in this instance.

Georgia Peddler Loc: Brunswick, GA

I am new to photography any help would be greatly appreciated. I have Nikon D7000 with Nikkor 85mm f1.4g lens. I like to learn and start taking portrait. What other equipment that i might need to get started? Also, what settings on camera? Please help...

Paragraph above is original post. Enough said, eh?

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

[quote=Annie_Girl]5. Do you know what your COGs are?
Cost of Goods?

gessman Loc: Colorado

...and yep, I read the original post, and the subject but then a little bit further down the first page, which seems to have been missed by some, the OP said, "Capt C...I'm so sorry to upset you. I'm truly an amateur. Camera and Len that I have are from reading this forum and taking advice from it. I Have no desire to be in business what so ever...I only want to learn to take Better pictures of my families and friends. I am so regretful in asking this question as to upset you. I will try my best to word my question better in a way not to upset you or anyone else."

Still, it is my opinion that we need to be cautious in discouraging people from doing what they want to unless it is going to directly impact us. Even then we are not at liberty to "browbeat" people into adhering to our demands, and once again, here we have a case of browbeating someone who clearly stated that they had no intention of doing what they were being browbeaten out of. Nor is it our responsibility to "police" the business in advance to protect the public as well as our professional interests from being smeared by some nincompoop. Sometimes this forum seems to take on a life of its own in the "answers" regardless of what the question is, as is the case in this thread. Some folks cannot keep from trying to impress everyone with their knowledge, skill, and experience even if it doesn't relate to the point.