I have my first proper client photoshoot this sunday. Eeek! I’m nervous and thrilled to bits at the same time. I can’t wait to get in there and prove to myself I can really do this, but at the same time I know my limitations and I need things to go smoothly in order to move forward confidently from here.
I spend a lot of time looking at other people’s photos. I really think it’s the best way to learn what makes a good photo. It also helps me decide what kind of photographer I’d like to be. Sometimes I think I spend too much time looking, and I end up feeling discouraged. Looking at portfolios of photographers I admire always reminds me how inexperienced I am, but inspires me beyond words. I’m very grateful and appreciative of all the support from my friends and family, but I know that most of them have no idea how competititive the portrait industry is, and how truly amazing some photographers are. I have no illusions: I’m very, very clear about where I stand right now and where I’d like to be standing in another year or two’s time.
I have the equipment. I have the personality. I have the creative flair. I have the passion. I’ve had a manual-settings-only rule for about two years now and it’s really built my technical confidence. I’ve been shooting in RAW for about four months and I’m getting better and better at post processing. What I lack is experience and the sort of confidence that only experience can bring. So I hope to gain as much as I can over the coming 12 months and build my portfolio.
Anyway, this client is someone I know, but not someone I’ve known for very long, and she asked me to do a shoot with her family purely based on some photos of Master T that I’d put on Facebook. I took this as a huge compliment, and it really spurred me into setting myself up properly to do some paid work, should it come my way.
All I’ve done so far is an information and pricing sheet for prospective clients. It will eventually form part of my website I guess, but I’m nowhere near getting into designing that yet. Things take so much longer when you spend most of your days being a mum: I still forget this and get impatient with myself!
I’ll leave you with a shot of Master T from yesterday:
I’m sure tomorrow will go very well, but here are some “best of luck” wishes on top!
He has the most incredible, intense blue eyes I have ever seen on any baby. True sapphire. x
By: mj on February 23, 2008
at 5:29 pm
Hi hon! How did the photo shoot go. I bet it was fabulous and you were terrific. If this pic is anything to go by …….
Anyway, when you have a spare 5 mins drop me an email as I would love to hear. Even a flickr email would be fine!
By: Naomi on February 25, 2008
at 2:15 pm