On Becoming a Photographer - full-time and self-employed

My questions for you are this:
Do you enjoy your job, what's some pros/cons?
Yes. I love my job.
Pros:
1) I'm always learning and being creative
2) I get to spend lots of time with people and I meet new people ALL THE TIME!
3) I have a flexible schedule - there is no 9-5 (I don't like to have the same thing every day, I love that life changes...but I've gotten REALLY GOOD at using my calendar)
4) my photography "seasons" come and go (so I get some "down time" as well as a busy season)...lots of others, too.

Cons:
1) Being self-employed means everyone is your boss...you serve your clients and if you don't do it right, you loose business.
2) Your schedule really depends on what other people need - my summers are super busy and I'm booked almost every weekend.
3) When you have "seasonal work" you also have seasonal pay.
4) You are not only a photographer, but you are an accountant, graphic designer, costume picker-outer (for almost 80% of your portrait clients!), and office staff and you are CONSTANTLY working. There is no 9-5


How does one become a professional photographer as far as education/degree stuff?
I have a degree in Art Education. For me, this was a well-rounded degree. I train several photographers each year and my education degree has really helped me. If I were to do it over again, or go back, I'd get a double-major in Graphic Design and Business...but that would take a lot of work. I have really had to make up things and learn from talking with other photographers for the most part.

Would you recommend this career?
I would recommend photography as a career. My best advice though is to work for another photographer, someone you really admire and want to "be like when you grow up". Learn about the Art, the people-skills, and the business as much as you can. I worked for Kelly Brown Weddings for four years and I still entertain the idea of working for her again...it was an amazing and growing experience. I am really glad that I did it for so long because we worked through all kinds of things and I learned more than I would have any other way.


Where did you go to college? Did you take specific courses for Photography or did you simply fall into the job?
I went to Northwestern in Rsvl. I only have had 2 photography classes EVER! I took several graphic design classes while I was in college, but things change so quickly!

My first wedding was in 1999 and it was a friend's wedding in Rochester, NY. They asked me to do a slideshow for their MN reception and take candids that day. I LOVED it and they used my photos instead of their professional photographer's photos! I thought, "I can do this!" and I did. Then, I worked for Kelly for four years as I went to school and taught. The fourth year, my business was so busy and I was teaching full-time. I had 34 weddings that year. So, I quit teaching and quit working for Kelly. I shot 24 the next year on my own! Then, I was pregnant and shot 15 (by choice) and this year, I'm at 19 for myself and one for my associate photographer. I'm already booking for next year. God has truly blessed me.


What kind of camera do you use? Digital or Film?
Canon 5D
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 30D (back up)
I shoot all digital. That's another LOOOOOOONG story.

I hope that is helpful.
Please, keep sending your questions. I love to chat with you all.
If anyone has other comments on this, please leave them! I'd love to hear from you.
ali

Newborn Photos

Hey you! Okay... so I'm doing my FIRST newborn photo shoot, and I'm SUPER nervous!!! I was wondering if you could give me a few tips???

I'd love to give some tips. Honestly, I used to find newborns to be THE HARDEST to photograph. They are so tiny and they surely don't say where you put them. (Unless you are lucky enough to have them sleep soundly for part of the shoot!)

For example...what lens you use... I was thinking my 50mm because it goes to F1.8...
Any special poses that work well...what to do if you're in a low light situation inside a house, because I'm assuming you don't usually do newborn shoots outside...

I'll answer these two together...I like my lowest f-stop, but it can be hard to keep a baby in focus. Their little bursts of moment are somewhat random. So, no matter what settings you are on, make sure to refocus almost every frame. It stinks to come home and see your "favorite" shot is blurry.

My favorite portrait lens is my Canon f/2.8 24-70.

Key things about posing newborns (all the way until they can hold their head up on their tummy):
1) Put babies in their NORMAL environment and position. Don't try to make a newborn do tummy time and think you'll get a great shot. You might - once in a blue moon - but your best bet is putting her in a place she normally lays. This is often Mom's arms or in the boppy...

2) Don't shoot up a baby's nose. I think this is the #1 "issue" I have with people's pictures of their own children. Look at your shots often - that is the benefit of digital. Make sure you're framing the baby well.

3) Don't tilt the camera so that the baby looks like she is laying on a slant. If you angle your camera, make sure the baby's eyes are above her shoulder...does that make sense? (I wish I could draw you a picture!) I'll try to take a photo of my daughter and show you tomorrow...if I don't, someone please email me and remind me.

4) Put the baby in a place she doesn't belong - a fireplace mantel, basket, bookshelf, kitchen table...add a few props

5) Simplify. Find a minimalist space in the house.

6) Look for texture. It's beautiful to have texture behind the smooth baby skin.

7) Open shades and find natural light. Shoot during the day when light is bright...if you are shooting inside.

I am realizing these tips fit for most portraits.


Also, HOW do you get it so all you see is the baby and the parents hands and the rest is all black in the background.

I take the picture with the parent wearing black long sleeves, and put them in front of the darkest background they have at home. Then, I alter the saturation and contrast to make it more dramatic.



Thanks so much Ali, I know you are such a pro, I feel like such doofus asking for your advice!! = ) = ), but you are SO good!! (I just looked through your newborn pics to get some inspiration!! = ))

Thank you for your complement. I am honored to be someone people look to for inspiration. That is beyond what I ever imagined!

Post-processing

Do you use Lightroom or Aperture to load and organize your photos? I've been using iphoto, but was able to get a copy of photoshop and am worried that iphoto does something to the color profile. Also... do you do much with "actions" in photoshop. I really am new at the editing process and am not really even sure what that is, but am curious about how much editing you often do with your photos.

Yes. I use Aperture. It's great for organizing...but I don't honestly use it for much else. I have a good friend, Noemi Photography, who uses Lightroom for most of her post-processing! It must just depend on your preference and experience with your programs.

I LOVE actions, but they can be somewhat debilitating. When you don't NEED to learn how to do it yourself, you can fake it pretty well, it doesn't make for great photography. Does that make sense? I started using PS and just used actions. Then, I took a class at MN Center for Photography (no longer exists) and learned SO MUCH! Being educated about PS makes a huge difference, even though I still use the actions (for time sake).

Cropping heads off

Q: Is it kosher to crop photos so that the child's head is not fully in the photo? (silly question, but my husband asked me that).

I actually do think it is...in many situations. Send me a couple and we can talk through them.

Check out the difference in the first one here (wider and keeping Brenna's head in the picture) and the next two. I much prefer the second and third.

Camera Lenses

Q: If you were to choose between a 24-70 2.8 and an 85 1.2 (aware of the price difference) would you still go for the 24-70? assuming the 70-200 will be my other lens.


My two favorite lenses, the ones that I can shoot anything with and can't live without, are my 1) Canon f/2.8 24-70 and 2) f/2.8 70-200 (without Image Stabilization - but that is a whole nother conversation).

I do like lower apertures, but don't think that a fixed lens has the same capabilities and wouldn't say anyone NEEDS anything lower than an f/2.8.

Format

What format do you shoot in? Do you set your camera to JPEG or RAW?

I shoot in RAW. The best reason to do this is because if you totally botch something up, you can usually fix it. But, that's not why I recommend it.

Truthfully, you should shoot like you're shooting film. Meaning: try to shoot it right the FIRST time! Editing takes a lot of time and effort, so you don't want to have to make MORE work for yourself.

Not only can you fix mistakes with RAW, you can make your images more dramatic. Use Lightroom, Aperture and/or Camera RAW to edit before you photoshop. It's AMAZING what you can do! Feel free to send an image or two that you'd like corrected or enhanced and I'd be happy to show some for demo.

Twins!

We're gonna win, Twins,
We're gonna score!

We're gonna win, Twins,
Watch that baseball soar!




In honor of the Twins Home opener tonight, I will give away a FREE shoot and 5x7 print to three families with multiples. If you know someone with twins, triplets (or more!), have them send me an email - alison@alisonleaphtography.com.

The first 3 families will receive:
- FREE 60 minute shoot before June 1, 2009
- FREE 5x7 print
- on location in the Twin Cities
- online gallery for viewing and ordering

Email your name, phone number and address to alison@alisonleaphtography.com.

The multiples can be any age...even if they are not born yet, we've got until June 1, 2009!