Amatuer Photography services

[hptay]

Hi,

Just curious, whats everybody's response to newbie/amatuer photographer offering their services? Personally, I am interested in helping out in events and stuff but am always too paiseh and afraid to go out and try.

Any newbies out there feel the say way too? And what do the more pros say about this?

comments are most welcomed

Sincerely
Hp

 

[SniperD]

Usually just go and ask if you can help in taking some photos. Free of coz. If the shots are good you can give as gift or negotiate something lor.

For me, I usually tag along with the pros and actual photographer for the event to observe and learn.

The thing is, dun be shy and ask. If no, just say thank you and take a bow. If yes, you got yourself an opportunity!

 

[hptay]

hi SniperD,

Sounds like good advise ;p Theres an opportunity for me this sat. I am gonna help out at my fiancee's cousin's ROM as a video man.. hee hee but am gonna take my digicam along n see that i can do with it.

btw, when is it that people do actually start charging for their services and how to they charge? And when does an amatuer become a "pro"?

Personally, I doubt that one would become a pro simply by getting the right equipment. Surely there must be a certain level of skill but how does it get benchmarked?

Pls dun get me wrong as photography is more hobby than anything else. Its just that these discussions interests me so ;p

Sincerly
hp

 

[Keltzar]

A "pro" is a person who does it for a living.
A 'semi-pro" does it for pocket money.

Anything else is considered amateur or serious hobbyist.

whether a pro is good or not is another story.

there are no golden rules for when you charge. What is more important is you understand your worth. you can't charge for everything, nor do you want to always do it pro-bono.

To keep doing it pro-bono may end up positioning you as a free-worker. You don't always want to charge friends.

I have done shoots for little or no money which have paid off in other ways e.g. friendship/goodwill .

a rule to go by is that if the photos are being used for profit, then there must be a cost. You are the cost. If the photo is for a family album, then you may not want to charge your friend... but you would a client.

 

[CYRN]

Originally posted by Keltzar
A "pro" is a person who does it for a living.
A 'semi-pro" does it for pocket money.

Anything else is considered amateur or serious hobbyist.

whether a pro is good or not is another story.

there are no golden rules for when you charge. What is more important is you understand your worth. you can't charge for everything, nor do you want to always do it pro-bono.

To keep doing it pro-bono may end up positioning you as a free-worker. You don't always want to charge friends.

I have done shoots for little or no money which have paid off in other ways e.g. friendship/goodwill .

a rule to go by is that if the photos are being used for profit, then there must be a cost. You are the cost. If the photo is for a family album, then you may not want to charge your friend... but you would a client.

I'm also interested to be a "semi pro" but like you said, for familiy and friends dun charge... how to start getting clientel? Since I'm not really a pro shooter.

 

[Keltzar]

If your extended family and friends are using the photos for profit i.e. to sell something, to advertise something... then you must become the cost, so you may want to charge.

If they are using it as a snapshot of the clan during christmas, then I guess you won't want to charge!

 

[Tony K]

Originally posted by hptay


Theres an opportunity for me this sat. I am gonna help out at my fiancee's cousin's ROM as a video man.. hee hee but am gonna take my digicam along n see that i can do with it.

Hi hp,

I've tried taking both Video & Photography at the same ROM / events.
But they end up not good.

The 2 main reasons
- the 'important moments' happen only once & I can only use either the videocam or digicam at one time
I've yet to 'master' left hand, left eye & left brain use digicam
right hand, right eye & right brain use video cam at the same time
- there are many similarities in video & photo techniques
but there are also many differences.


For me, I'll prefer to concentrate shooting only video
and pass the digicam to another friend / relative

Happy shooting !

 

[Keltzar]

tony is right.

concentrate on one tool... it can be very disconcerting to have too many when performing under pressure.

Even just carrying two diff. cameras with diff. operating dynamics can be disconcerting, even if both are 35mm, say.

 

[CYRN]

Originally posted by Tony K


Hi hp,

I've tried taking both Video & Photography at the same ROM / events.
But they end up not good.

The 2 main reasons
- the 'important moments' happen only once & I can only use either the videocam or digicam at one time
I've yet to 'master' left hand, left eye & left brain use digicam
right hand, right eye & right brain use video cam at the same time
- there are many similarities in video & photo techniques
but there are also many differences.


For me, I'll prefer to concentrate shooting only video
and pass the digicam to another friend / relative

Happy shooting !

Tried that at zoo with my family.. one hand video cam..the other CP5700. Only on those animals shows.

My way is to align the CP below the video cam... then shoot mostly video...of course the cam is set to full auto and "pre-zoomed" using the video cam LCD as a rough guage (since the CP is roughly aligned to it) and try to anticipate the moment.. results not that good lah..but a few shots OK loh.

But for wedding better not try..else return no good.. worse, video not satisfactory.