For Christmas my wife got me 4 one hour sessions with a professional photographer that I will be doing soon. The first session she wants me to bring along some of my photos, ones I consider good and ones I consider not so good, and my gear and well discuss and plan what I will do in between and for the next 3 sessions which will be shooting sessions. The sessions can be anywhere within 20km of Melbourne, including the studio.
So what things do you guys think I should be trying to get out of these sessions? My concern is I don't really have a style or niche, I need to improve everything! I have some shots I really like and lots I don't but I feel its more luck in my case than good planing, the shots I plan never work out as good as they were in my head :( I also think I rely too much on croping and PS.
I though I'd do one session night photography, the rest is up in the air. As for photos I though maybe I'd take in my sofobomo book that has a lot of bad shots but also some of my fav's, and some entry shots from here.
What an amazing gift! I know you said you don't have a style, but think about the kind of things that you love to shoot. Is it your family, kids, old cars, portraits, odd objects, studio shooting (anywhere from family portraits to product type shots), or sunsets?
I still don't have my own style. I am trying to figure it out. I am getting better at shooting what I see, but my mentor NikonJeb suggested that I take my camera everywhere. This has helped me in seeing things differently.
I hope you find what you are looking for and I would love to see what you get out of that opportunity!
Hope the pro is really a pro. Looking at your profile page, I have met a few "pros" that you would run circles around.
I was going to look in your faves to see if you tend to prefer any particular genre of photography, but you've not faved much. I guess the question is what sort of shots interest you?
I presume you're looking to gain knowledge you don't already have. To judge from the relative lack of people pictures in your challenge entries and portfolio the obvious area to focus on is portraiture/studio lighting, especially if you have reluctant models at home.
I presume you're looking to gain knowledge you don't already have. To judge from the relative lack of people pictures in your challenge entries and portfolio the obvious area to focus on is portraiture/studio lighting, especially if you have reluctant models at home.
LOL, sounds like my portfolio.. Reluctant isn't really the word for my models though.. More like militantly anti-modeling models...
Reluctant isn't really the word for my models though.. More like militantly anti-modeling models...
I would think college girls would be eager to ham it up for the camera.
Yeah, except this is a technical college.. Not what you typically think of when you say college girls, they're pioneering new materials for breast implants, not getting them..
For Christmas my wife got me 4 one hour sessions with a professional photographer that I will be doing soon. The first session she wants me to bring along some of my photos, ones I consider good and ones I consider not so good, and my gear and well discuss and plan what I will do in between and for the next 3 sessions which will be shooting sessions. The sessions can be anywhere within 20km of Melbourne, including the studio.
So what things do you guys think I should be trying to get out of these sessions? My concern is I don't really have a style or niche, I need to improve everything! I have some shots I really like and lots I don't but I feel its more luck in my case than good planing, the shots I plan never work out as good as they were in my head :( I also think I rely too much on croping and PS.
I though I'd do one session night photography, the rest is up in the air. As for photos I though maybe I'd take in my sofobomo book that has a lot of bad shots but also some of my fav's, and some entry shots from here.
Any advice welcome
Tony
Another thought Tony, You didn't mention what the professional's specialty is..
If this were me, I would probably ask to see a portfolio of the pro's work, pick a few images you feel are outstanding, and the cream of this photographers work, and then ask him/her to help you achieve similar results..
Anthea was really looking after you this year.......
I think that at least one session should be solely dedicated to Self-Portraits..............
But seriously, a session in the studio using flash (your flashes)
A session of people (bribe Seb) photos outside..........
And one of Night Photography cause you mentioned it..............
My wife is pretty good to me but she never offered to get me a Pro......:O
Like others have stated, figure out what you are weakest at and find out the strengths of the Pro, hopefully they will coincide. For me lighting techniques would be fun.
Thanks for the replies guys, yes I've looked at the photogs site and portfolio, her main areas of work seem to be travel and night photography, and studio (product and corporate). I do have reluctant models at home, but I also tend to refrain from putting the family shots on the site.
I think the travel part would help me, not for travel as such but even getting the life out of my own city, I often look at a place and think there is a lot to capture here but don't really get the shot I wanted. The night shots, and studio or people would also be good.
Thanks Yo_Spiff, I do have to get in the habit of clicking favs, not that I don't have many just not in the habit of clicking the button. If I was I don't think you'd see a trend :)
