I'd like to do in Home Photography on Families and Infants, what do I need?
I have recently become interested in Taking pictured of Infants, and it turns out, I am pretty good. Does anyone know a good digital camera with those fancy black and white or sepia effects on it? Id like a good one. Also, Does anyone Know of a company that does picture printing? Id like to be able to have the families choose the pictures they like and have them printed for them. Does anyone know of a website that offers ideas on props or backgrounds or lighting tips and techniques? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
I never claimed to be a qualified Photographer..Nor Did I mention charging anyone, I simply find it fun and Would like to do it better. So…please, if you dont know anything about photography, then you are not helping me. The rest of the answer are fantastic however!
I am a photographer, and it is great to hear that you have found a love for photography! It sounds like you have already taken a great start. As for the camera’s with the cool effects they are not needed to create the effect. Thanks to tools like Photoshop, online printing stores and even your local printing shop can create this effect for you and your future customers.
I realize you never mentioned charging anybody, but if you get into this serious enough you will WANT to- just to cover your costs. Photography can get expensive. (It also can make a lot of money too…)
As for printing, when I first started my business I did a TON of research (As it appears that you are doing yours) I ran into a professional that was willing to take me under his wing and teach me a few things. He owned a very well known studio in my area and printed his pictures at COSTCO!!! I was shocked!
So don’t worry about the little details, just jump in, get started and with each great picture you take there will be one more customer craving your work. Especially when taking pictures of little kids… Every mom has a hard time turning down a picture of their kids… I am a Mom and still find me paying for others photo’s if the opportunity is there. Even though I own all the equipment and take millions of them!
Have fun with it and GOOD LUCK!
Go to the library and look for books on portrait photography and ones on setting up a portable studio or in-home studio. You could also search on amazon.com or ebay.
Buy a copy of one of the many photography magazines. There should be ads in them for labs that do the type of printing you want. Look in the Yellow Pages – there might be one close to home.
You’re probably looking at buying a DSLR and a fixed focal length portrait lens. If your crop factor is 1.6, a 50mm f1.4 lens would be an equivalent 80mm lens – excellent for portraits. Zooms are fine except when you need the extra speed in the lower light conditions of the studio.
Visit livingpictures.org
you’ll need an SLR or medium format and some lights. (ie. strobes or hot lights). as the person above me said, go to the library and check out a few books.
I never encourage unqualified photographers to charge!
You don’t say you are qualified so I presume you are not. A proper photographer wouldn’t need to ask this question.
Photography, like every other profession and trade has training which gives you the skills you need to work for other people.
If you are not trained for this Honey, you don’t get my vote.
I hate to see people ruining my profession for myself and all those who bothered to get the skills.
Bambi Cantrell
If you know anyone who has a current Mac computer, you
can use IWeb to create a website showing your recent
photographs. Set up an .mac account [$99 per year] and
publish your IWeb webpage(s).
Acquire from Vistaprint.com a colorful business card
by selecting from their many templates a suitable one
that meets your needs. Make sure to list the URL of
your website along with a telephone answering device.
Do not place your home address or anything personal
such as a cellphone on this businesscard. Then when
you receive the finished business card, pass it around
to various churches, temples and the like to solicit
business.
When you receive a major photography assignment, visit
your local professional camera store and "rent" the
necessary camera equipment to fulfill this assignment.
When starting out, you don’t want to tie your money up
with a piece of camera equipment which because of ever
changing technology "becomes obsolete." Remember, that
90% of professional photographer are not "buying"
camera equipment continually which can easily become
outdated; instead, they merely "rent or lease" the
camera equipment for set period of time; thereby
keeping their money for other expenses. Even though
you may have your heart set on an SLR and film, you
may have to give up that concept for the moment, since
digital photography offers the most economic method of
photo reproduction. Digital imagery is easy to edit on
a computer and the print quality is often far superior
to regular film-generated prints.
You want to buy an "essential/basic" DSLR system which
has an all-around affordable accessory lenses, then
consider the award winning Pentax KD series beginning
with the Pentax K100D 6.1 mp DSLR with "image
stabilization" built into the camera body. "Image
stabilization" is essential for allowing you to take
telephoto pictures at weddings, parties, while on the
go and you don’t have to drag along a tripod to steady
your camera. Unfortunately, Canon and Nikon have
chosen to install their "vibration reduction" devices
into very expensive auxiliary lenses. But getting back
to the Pentax K100D which comes in a starter kit
consisting of two Pentax lenses: a 18-55 mm. normal
lens and a 50-200 mm. telephoto which sells for $650
at samys.com. Again, the Pentax K100D starter kit runs
circles around the D40 Nikon!
For digital print processing, find a private
professional film processing lab who can handle all
your client’s print orders. And with a resale license,
you will be qualified for considerable "professional"
discounts on lab fees. A search on the Google and
Yahoo for wholesale photo albums will connect you with
various distributors who, again, you can sign on as a
photography studio and get a dealer’s pricing for any
number of albums, guest books, etc.
Instead of renting a studio, take people pictures at
local parks and beaches and for indoor shots, go to
the client’s residence or office to set up a photo
shooting environment which consists of a set of
lights, reflective screens, background drapery, etc.
Good luck!