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Photographer's confidence
Hey, I am a relatively new photographer and I find myself losing confidence in my work and also when looking at Model's pages that say they require 'professional' photographers and 'high quality images' Seems like a lot of pressure being placed on someone who incidentally loves to try new things and may fail from time to time but ultimately loves his/her work. I guess what i am asking is how do photographers stay positive and confident about their work that they feel strong enough to approach any model, no matter what their experience is Thanks Jul 17 13 06:27 pm Link J_Chuk wrote: If you only show people your good pictures they will think you're a fantastic photographer. Jul 17 13 06:29 pm Link First stop looking at other peoples work on here until you regain your confidence. There is always someone better, looking at their work too much only kills your confidence. Secondly, work with newer models with good potential and really crappy portfolios. The crappy port generally means they are working with bad photographers and can't tell the difference between a good and a bad photo. So it's easy to give them better shots than they already have and if you screw it up they won't know the difference anyway.  Jul 17 13 06:36 pm Link J_Chuk wrote: Do those same profiles contain 'High quality images' from 'professional' photographers? I am just asking as normally when I see this I find the opposite in those portfolios. Jul 17 13 06:37 pm Link Pay for good models. They will help you get there. Jul 17 13 06:40 pm Link Revenge Photography wrote: Thanks... i find that i get more nervous when i look at models profiles rather than photographers. Jul 17 13 06:41 pm Link So everybody is a different skill level. Do things that will help you improve your skill level. Join a photography club, get books from the library, watch webcasts, study images of really good photographers. Try to select certain aspects that you feel need improvement and practice just on one of those. When you get better, move to something else. A photography club was beneficial to me. We had monthly contests and the judging helped see what was good and bad in everybodys photos. Don't dwell so much on comparing your photos to others, compare your photos to the ones you took yesterday. Jul 17 13 06:45 pm Link Stop comparing yourself to other people. They were at your level once and who says you can't go beyond even their level? Think positive and not negative. You have to know you can pull those shots off. Shoot photography because you love to shoot it. There is always another photographer in your genre that shoots better than even some of the best photographers and there are also photographers in your main genre that shoot much worse than you. If you believe that the only competition that you have is against yourself and what you're capable of (this is the truth, you are competing against yourself to get these better photos) than you will stop looking outward and start looking inward and you will also lose the ego of "this better than that" and vice versa and start to enjoy photography more. Jul 17 13 06:45 pm Link Thanks for the advice Everyone ! Jul 17 13 07:14 pm Link You always have to start somewhere and just keep trekking, like everyone else said. I actually started using this site when I had barely anything of a portfolio (really just pictures of my high school classmates), and it was EXTREMELY difficult to get people to respond or give me a minute of their time. Keep shooting and everything else (in relation to this site at least) will work itself out. Jul 17 13 07:33 pm Link i think you have to earn it. if you don't feel confident you can deliver for a model then don't approach them about doing a trade shoot. pay them. newbie photographers often wind up with newbie trade models (or non-models). you can fumble around together and help each other learn. don't try to pull one over on an experienced model by claiming you can do something you cannot. just be honest about your experience and abilities and let the chips fall where they may. i paid most of my initial models. group shoots (meetup.com) are another option J_Chuk wrote: Jul 17 13 08:22 pm Link I agree with everyone who said to hire experienced models. Also as mentioned group events are great, you get the models, make up and great wardrobe. The only problem I had with group shoots when I started, I was like the nerdy high school kid at the dance afraid to ask the pretty girl to dance. I got my comfort level shooting models I hired on my own. My advice to you, everybody starts somewhere. It's a progression, but you must believe in yourself and as someone mentioned keep learning. Read books, talk to other photographers (I actually did more watching and asking questions than shooting at early group shoots I attended). Hire good models and you will learn a ton from them. Just believe in yourself and you will be fine. Best of luck! Jul 17 13 08:55 pm Link J_Chuk wrote: Models will work for money. Hire what you need, when you need it. Jul 17 13 09:00 pm Link J_Chuk wrote: I do lots of pre-shoot planning. I always shoot on location... so I scout every location. I plan shots, angles. I always have a plan B. I practice using all of my equipment, so I know how it handles. Jul 17 13 09:06 pm Link Do your thing and enjoy yourself. You shouldn't be stressing about this if it's still just a hobby (I assume that it is). Find newer models and learn together. Sure it may be awkward and maybe the images won't be the greatest, but I guarantee you will learn something with every shoot you do. And who knows where those new models might end up, maybe feeling like they owe you a favor or two in the form of TF shoots  Just put yourself out there and like somebody else said, be honest. When I first started up here on MM I was honest that I had no experience shooting models but was an experienced photographer in other areas. So models didn't shoot with me expecting to be able to help them pose but expecting that I knew how to properly expose, compose and edit the photos. And it didn't stop me from getting TF shoots, even with experienced models. Jul 17 13 09:10 pm Link Getting a Mannequin is also a great idea as long as it has realistic facial features. They don't complain, they will pose within reason how you want them, and they will stand there for hours while you move your lights and gear around to get better pics. Jul 17 13 09:54 pm Link Keep going out and make as many mistakes as possible, but learn from them. You'll get better. Meet local photographers, many are more than willing to help new photogs learn. Attend some group shoots, network, have fun. Jul 17 13 10:00 pm Link Don't listen to those that said "pay a model". I learned fast that you basically have to specialize in one type of portraiture and work on getting those key shots that show off your technical ability. My #1 tip and I know this will work for you is to first delete most of the photos on your profile and only show off the ones that you style represents. After that, I suggest putting up a casting call for headshots and you will get a good amount of messages without doing much more as models new and old alike are always looking to update their port with headshots.....during that "headshot" photo session you can also shoot full body, 3/4 body, half body, environmental portraits , etc. You can also work out a deal where the model will bring multiple outfits and you can shoot whatever genre that you like after you shoot the headshots. You definitely don't need to spend money though. Also, having friends that don't mind being in front of the camera helps as well as like I said, you can practice and show your technical along with style on model mayhem. Follow all of my advice and you will be golden and your wallet will thank you. Jul 17 13 10:07 pm Link Warrenjrphotography-SJ wrote: This is not the critique forum - Critiques are not allowed in this forum. Jul 17 13 10:13 pm Link J O H N A L L A N wrote: Nice contribute and nice job trying to get me banned because you hate me but it isn't going to work as I never critiqued him. Jul 17 13 10:20 pm Link J_Chuk wrote: Jul 17 13 10:22 pm Link Rodney Almore Photos wrote: Get to know your equipment and what it is capable of, and know what light and light conditions will create BEFORE you press the shutter. Learn to communicate with your models and tell her or him just what you are doing and what want to create. Practice, practice, practice. Jul 17 13 10:22 pm Link Warrenjrphotography-SJ wrote: Ah, I don't know what you're talking about. Jul 17 13 10:29 pm Link From listening to those who have photographed Moses, I don't know that you ever do get fully confident in your abilities. Now, you get to a point where you know you can replicate a result every time, and people seem to like this result, so you gain confidence in that image, or image style, but then after you look at that image six months later, you start to feel like you could do it so much better. Then, the confidence wanes, and you're back at square one. I think the goal is to never be fully satisfied with your photography. I use this site almost exclusively for testing ideas and experimentation. I'll get an idea, and I know pretty much what will happen, so I need to find out if this is what I will get or not. Results may vary! But I'm always open and honest with the model about what's going on, and what should happen and so, I feel I can approach any model on this site. I will get turned down, or given rates by most though. That's just the way it is. Someone will bite though, and then look at my like I have two heads when I explain things to them. You too, can approach any model on here. You just have to be prepared to pay the model if your idea doesn't exactly match what they need or want. Supply and demand there. Just one man's opinion..... Jul 17 13 10:36 pm Link Warrenjrphotography-SJ wrote: +1 Jul 17 13 10:39 pm Link Experimentation is good and failures are expected. Just be sure to learn from your mistakes and try to correct them next time around. Meanwhile, always do some some "standard" shots for each model that you know from experience will work so you always have something positive to give them. Jul 17 13 10:39 pm Link J O H N A L L A N wrote: Please look up the definition of critique. Jul 17 13 10:43 pm Link Warrenjrphotography-SJ wrote: I think there is good solid advice here. However, it can be very reasonable to pay a llama. If you work with a fashion llama, agencies stats, and you're goal is fashion campaigns, it can be reasonable to pay such a llama. It's all about your needs. As for confidence, achieving technical knowledge and how to apply it gives you a good base, and having a strong vision powers one through worrying about others, instead one appreciates and is inspired by those who do brilliant work. I was watching a Phase One lovely bit of propaganda about medium format and the fashion photagrapher's in camera tonality was astonishingly beautiful. I didn't feel intimidated, just happy to see something incredibly good, and I immediately started thinking if I could achieve that with my camera, what settings--should I emphasize blue in camera, etc. Jul 17 13 10:47 pm Link Amateur models wanting pro photographers and not paying...lol...move on to the next model and don't beat yourself up over it. Jul 17 13 10:47 pm Link Self belief is everything - dedication leads to improvement and self confidence. Over imitation can lead to lead to blandness - so don't be afraid to set your self apart a little bit. That's how new styles emerge. Jul 18 13 12:11 am Link I understand those what most of you are saying but the one that really got to me was the practice and dedication to keep at it So thanks to all of you for your advice! I know a lot of photographers are male here but i am a 'she' :p Peace Jul 18 13 01:12 am Link J_Chuk wrote: My worst critic is me. I hate, EVERYTHING I do, within a few weeks of shooting it. Always. I strive to do better, and push myself to do so (which is why I also don't look at a lot of my older photos). Jul 18 13 03:39 am Link J_Chuk wrote: Confidence is best built slowly and steadily, and you will find that it will rise and fall often as you progress. Expect to make both new friends and new enemies, with some people being both at different times. Do not expect this community to be as supportive as some other communities. SPierce Photography wrote: My low point is usually the first few days after putting new finished work online, during which time I get hyper picky about technical and composition issues. As time passes, I grow to like the results better. Jul 18 13 08:33 am Link i often upload an image only to wind up changing it later that afternoon. reminds me of something i overhead in an art store. Q: how do i know when my artwork is finished? A: when you've gone one step too far! rp_photo wrote: Jul 18 13 08:53 am Link +1 on headshots. i've had a few models who obviously didn't feel that i could get them anything for their portfolio other than a good headshot but were willing to come shoot that with me. peter hurley has some interesting thoughts on headshots (he has a course on kelbytraining). Warrenjrphotography-SJ wrote: Jul 18 13 08:59 am Link J_Chuk wrote: Generally "high quality images" means "something better than what's in my portfolio right now," and "professional photographers" means "someone who can make high-quality images." (See above definition of high-quality image.) Jul 18 13 09:14 am Link Well I know some photographers are way better then me, I am way better then others when I start to question myself I try to remember that. If you want to improve your portfolio there are a few things you can do. (sorry didn't read the whole thread, so these might have been mentioned) 1. Pay experienced models to come work with you. Experienced models help boost the over quality of your images. They know how to fit and sell the look you want. They can help you learn how to deal with models. (posing and such) 2. Go to group events/workshops. This allows you one on one time with experienced models, allows you to network and even learn from other photographers. This is the best way to build your portfolio. And the best part, they are normally fairly cheap for what you get. 3. Only display your best work. Nobody is perfect day after day. We all have our those shoots were we just can't seem to get everything to click. These shoots should not be in your port. Jul 18 13 09:59 am Link Thinking your work sucks is actually a very good sign that maybe it doesn't, or at least that it will improve relatively quickly. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2 … ger_effect Don't be discouraged, and keep shooting! Just my $0.02 Ciao Stefano www.stefanobrunesci.com Jul 18 13 10:13 am Link That Italian Guy wrote: Good point. If we never doubted ourselves, we'd have no desire or passion to improve. Jul 18 13 10:17 am Link J_Chuk wrote: These are models with bad attitudes. Generally stay away from them. Once or twice I contacted a model of this sort with the statement that I'm not professional nor high quality but that I would like to work with them. Guess what happened! J_Chuk wrote: It's not pressure if you don't work with that model. J_Chuk wrote: I really don't want to work with just any model. Jul 18 13 10:25 am Link |
