Photographer Links

Hillary Wardaugh - Wedding and Portrait

Geoff Comfort - Architecture

Dan O'Day - Wedding and Fine Art

Andrew Taylor - Photojournalism

Mike Bowers - Photojournalism

Week 4: Head On Seminar

Wednesday 4 March 2009

Today was amazing. We all learnt so much and it was such an honour to learn from such talented and successful photographers, can't wait till the next seminar. Here are some (non-technical) things that I learnt;
`No matter how busy or successful you are, you have to have time to continue and develop your own personal work. Don't forget why you started photography in the first place
` You have to be persistant. A lot of the time emails are not enough
` Enter as many competitions as you can, and don't ever stop entering - it is good exposure and it pushes your own limits
`If you ever get to photograph celebrities, don't suck up to them. Try and establish a good relationship by just being human and treating them the same
`Discover what you are most interested in -e.g. fashion, food, etc. Don't rock up to a fashion editor and show them a portfolio of food, cars, models, landscapes etc. they are not interested in things you can't offer their company - if you're going for a fashion job show them a fashion portfolio.

Week 3: Portrait Photography

Portrait Photography

Service
$150 for weekday portrait
$220 for weekend portrait
Incentive: weekday
Usually 90 min sitting

Portraits
`different mentality to weddings - people aren't prepared to pay as much
` low sitting fee, high re-print prices

Christenings
`$660 for couple of hours coverage

Package
`prints that are mounted
`in a bag with logo
`gift cards
`voucher, 'pass this on to your friends'

Contract
` 'referred by_____________'
`if there are a lot of referrals from one client, free enlargement
`what to wear
`if your child is ill, pospone
`how to pospone
`photoshop and what to expect

Locations
`home
`garden
`park

Your Selection
`narrow it down to less than 50 images

Folders
`jpg screen
`web
`high res

Selection Process
`first shows slideshow of pics with music, then client can pick which ones they like
`do not bring children (also says this in contract)
`happens 1 week to 10 days of photo shoot
` 1 week for clients to look at photos online. Usually when they come in they still don't know what they want, you help them
`uses PROSELECT.com.au as a viewing program for clients. Royalty free music
`actually show them sizes to real life - e.g. 5x7, 8x10 etc

Reprints
`3 weeks
` + framing + album = 6 weeks

Lenses
16-35mm 2.8
50mm 1.4
70-200mm
24-70mm
`shallow depth of field

Kids
`bring colours

Lighting etc.
`shade
`mostly natural, with use of mostly silver reflectors, or black blocking off sun
` assistant
`mornings and arvos best
`depth

Editing
`you can download photoshop actions

Links
Slideshow software: Proselect.com.au

Week 2: Wedding Photography

Wedding Photography

Wow, what a fantastic first lesson! So much useful information from a business perspective. Loved the style of teaching and especially content, so much better than us sitting there listening to general business theories

Here are some of the things I learnt:

` enter as many comps as you can - great recognition as a photographer
` wedding photographers average income per wedding: $5000 - $8000. Can earn $10 000
` most of H's potential clients are via referral
` average advertising costs about $15 000 per year
` takes about 1 week to create 1 wedding album - 40 hours
` be aware of your competition i.e. other photographers


Getting out there:

` competitions
` website
` paying extra for stronger links in Google. e.g. $8/per month for google add words
` listings on generic Wedding websites
` advertising in wedding magazines e.g. Canberra bride. Costs about $1300 full colour a4 ad
` wedding expos
` charaties for portraits
` work experience
` join AIPP

Useful Links

`slideshow: slideshowpro.net
`website music: royaltyfree.music
`business cards: temmcoau
` printing: nulap ($20 000/year as opposed to $40 000 with Bica Prolab)
`mounting: photomounts.com.au