Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
It's Polite to Ask....
I was out shooting a model and training a future photographer and we happened upon this interesting gentleman sitting on a bench having a smoke. I looked at him and thought "Now that's a face that tells a story." (Not to mention his intriguing fingernails). So, I struck up a little casual conversation with the man and then asked him if I could take his picture. He consented...and this is him:
If you happen upon an interesting subject, remember: it's polite to ask before shooting.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Q and A: "I want to start a business. Which camera should I buy?"
I decided to post this since I get questions all the time from people who want to start a photography business (so if I sent you here instead of directly answering your question, it's because I've answered it twice already this week and my fingers are tired from typing [grin]).
The first question is usually, "What camera should I get?" Which is also the first question I asked when considering starting my business in the late '90's, and also when upgrading almost a decade later to digital from my film system (which was the Contax N1 with Zeiss lenses).
In professional photography, size matters. To produce professional looking photographs, you should start with a nice, big, high-quality sensor. Think of the sensor as the "film." Back in the pre-digital days, we photographers had a VAST array of film from which to choose. You could go to WalMart and buy some low quality Kodak film and take some low quality photos, or you could go to a camera shop and buy some high-grade film and take some high quality photos (depending on your camera). We could choose from high-or low-contrast film, film that would produce more saturated colors, or just more saturated reds or greens, a soft tone/soft color film if you wanted that look in portraits, infrared film if you were feeling a little adventurous, or even medium or large format film if you had a medium format (higher quality than a 35mm) or large format (even higher) camera (I still have my medium format film camera and will even still pull it out and shoot with it once in a while for fun).
It's similar with the sensor in your camera. Smaller or lower (not LOW, just lower) quality sensors (like in the Canon Rebel series or the Nikon D-series less than 300), although greatly improved and capable of capturing beautiful images, are not quite professional quality and don't produce the color, tonal range and detail of a higher quality sensor. They are fantastic cameras for anyone who wants great snapshots of their family, vacations, or day-to-day photography and are great to learn on, but once you have learned, it's time to move on to something bigger and better (if you do want to start a legitimate business). I'm sure there are some who own these cameras who would argue that point with me, but I haven't met a single professional photographer who shoots with one of those cameras, and I have met a LOT of pro photographers (including Bill Allard, former staff photographer at National Geographic Magazine. He was wearing a Leica camera on his shoulder when I met him at a gallery opening in Charlottesville, VA. Just a little thing that makes me smile when I think of it).
Lori Grunin over at CNET has put together a list of the best professional quality cameras. If you want to start a photography business, start with one of these cameras. The sensors in these have the quality necessary to produce professional results. Here is the link, with reviews of each body:
http://reviews.cnet.com/best-professional-dslr-cameras/
I personally shoot with the Nikon D700 (with the D300 as a back-up. SIDENOTE: if you want to shoot weddings or other special events, please have at least 2 cameras in case your main one fails; you do not want to be sued!). Another sidenote: the D700 review says it's great if you don't need enormous images, but I can testify that you can enlarge 'til your heart's content with no loss of image quality (she is referring to the fact that files coming from the camera are 240 instead of 300 ppi; [sidenote: most professional print houses print at 250 dpi]).
I prefer pro-quality Nikon to pro-quality Canon because of the ease of use. The controls are exactly where I want them to be and I can change many settings on my camera with an easily accessible button or dial rather than having to scroll through menus. That said, both Canon and Nikon produce fantastic photos. I have many friends and colleagues who are pro photographers who adore their Canons. I know just as many who love their Nikons. If Contax had've evolved into digital, that's what I would be shooting now (I have a fetish for German cameras) but they did not. And I do love my Nikons!
One last note: in this digital age, it seems that there's a mom on every corner who wants to be a professional photographer. If you checked out that list of pro cameras on CNET, then you know they are EXPENSIVE. Having a nice, professional system is going to cost you thousands of dollars (and does not instantly make you a professional photographer), especially once you add a nice selection of pro quality lenses (which can range from $500 all the way up to thousands PER LENS).
BE SURE IT'S WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO.
It is a HUGE investment, not only of money, but in time. Don't ask me how long it takes me to edit photos after a small shoot of say 60-80 photos (or 500-1500 or more at a wedding/reception)...let's just say that I spend a LOT of very late nights editing (then again, I'm pretty picky) and it definitely takes away from family time. Consider carefully before diving in! And if you already own a consumer level DSLR like the Rebel or the D90 (or new D5000), and just want to be able to take good photos for your family, then don't obsess over getting a pro quality camera. The camera you already have produces beautiful photos and is perfect for what you need. Seriously, does every snapshot you take have to look like it could grace the cover of National Geographic? No! Of course not! When I'm just taking pictures of my family or a non-work-related event, I pull out my tiny Lumix point-and-shoot and am perfectly happy with the results.
Other things to consider beyond the camera:
The first question is usually, "What camera should I get?" Which is also the first question I asked when considering starting my business in the late '90's, and also when upgrading almost a decade later to digital from my film system (which was the Contax N1 with Zeiss lenses).
In professional photography, size matters. To produce professional looking photographs, you should start with a nice, big, high-quality sensor. Think of the sensor as the "film." Back in the pre-digital days, we photographers had a VAST array of film from which to choose. You could go to WalMart and buy some low quality Kodak film and take some low quality photos, or you could go to a camera shop and buy some high-grade film and take some high quality photos (depending on your camera). We could choose from high-or low-contrast film, film that would produce more saturated colors, or just more saturated reds or greens, a soft tone/soft color film if you wanted that look in portraits, infrared film if you were feeling a little adventurous, or even medium or large format film if you had a medium format (higher quality than a 35mm) or large format (even higher) camera (I still have my medium format film camera and will even still pull it out and shoot with it once in a while for fun).
It's similar with the sensor in your camera. Smaller or lower (not LOW, just lower) quality sensors (like in the Canon Rebel series or the Nikon D-series less than 300), although greatly improved and capable of capturing beautiful images, are not quite professional quality and don't produce the color, tonal range and detail of a higher quality sensor. They are fantastic cameras for anyone who wants great snapshots of their family, vacations, or day-to-day photography and are great to learn on, but once you have learned, it's time to move on to something bigger and better (if you do want to start a legitimate business). I'm sure there are some who own these cameras who would argue that point with me, but I haven't met a single professional photographer who shoots with one of those cameras, and I have met a LOT of pro photographers (including Bill Allard, former staff photographer at National Geographic Magazine. He was wearing a Leica camera on his shoulder when I met him at a gallery opening in Charlottesville, VA. Just a little thing that makes me smile when I think of it).
Lori Grunin over at CNET has put together a list of the best professional quality cameras. If you want to start a photography business, start with one of these cameras. The sensors in these have the quality necessary to produce professional results. Here is the link, with reviews of each body:
http://reviews.cnet.com/best-professional-dslr-cameras/
I personally shoot with the Nikon D700 (with the D300 as a back-up. SIDENOTE: if you want to shoot weddings or other special events, please have at least 2 cameras in case your main one fails; you do not want to be sued!). Another sidenote: the D700 review says it's great if you don't need enormous images, but I can testify that you can enlarge 'til your heart's content with no loss of image quality (she is referring to the fact that files coming from the camera are 240 instead of 300 ppi; [sidenote: most professional print houses print at 250 dpi]).
I prefer pro-quality Nikon to pro-quality Canon because of the ease of use. The controls are exactly where I want them to be and I can change many settings on my camera with an easily accessible button or dial rather than having to scroll through menus. That said, both Canon and Nikon produce fantastic photos. I have many friends and colleagues who are pro photographers who adore their Canons. I know just as many who love their Nikons. If Contax had've evolved into digital, that's what I would be shooting now (I have a fetish for German cameras) but they did not. And I do love my Nikons!
One last note: in this digital age, it seems that there's a mom on every corner who wants to be a professional photographer. If you checked out that list of pro cameras on CNET, then you know they are EXPENSIVE. Having a nice, professional system is going to cost you thousands of dollars (and does not instantly make you a professional photographer), especially once you add a nice selection of pro quality lenses (which can range from $500 all the way up to thousands PER LENS).
BE SURE IT'S WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO.
It is a HUGE investment, not only of money, but in time. Don't ask me how long it takes me to edit photos after a small shoot of say 60-80 photos (or 500-1500 or more at a wedding/reception)...let's just say that I spend a LOT of very late nights editing (then again, I'm pretty picky) and it definitely takes away from family time. Consider carefully before diving in! And if you already own a consumer level DSLR like the Rebel or the D90 (or new D5000), and just want to be able to take good photos for your family, then don't obsess over getting a pro quality camera. The camera you already have produces beautiful photos and is perfect for what you need. Seriously, does every snapshot you take have to look like it could grace the cover of National Geographic? No! Of course not! When I'm just taking pictures of my family or a non-work-related event, I pull out my tiny Lumix point-and-shoot and am perfectly happy with the results.
Other things to consider beyond the camera:
- the ability to take a good picture, technical and artist eye
- fast, powerful computer
- professional editing software (and learning to use it)
- external hard drives (you'd be amazed how quickly these fill up!)
- website
- marketing costs
- lighting (at the very least, a good reflector and off-camera flash)
- time time time time time time
- $10,000 is an average beginning cost
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
©2009 sandi miller, Miller&Miller Photography
Always Moving Forward
There is always something new to learn. As technology advances and thinking evolves, I like to be right there in the mix, learning and growing. This week, I'm taking color and light to the next level.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
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