What I've been up to – Chapter Dee

[Dee]

Not wanting to dump in Dawns thread, thought I would start my own edition ;)

Basically, I've been pushing this photography thing in all directions lately. Long story short, otherwise you’ll all get bored ;)

I've recently made some enquiries at our local village hall about event photography, they have engagement parties and birthday parties etc held there, so I thought I would ask if they needed a “Resident” tog as such, I called them today for an update, but apparently it hasn’t been put forward to the committee yet, they will let me know anything as soon as they do. If they come back and say no, they have no problem with me advertising on their bulletin board, which I know gets a lot of exposure.

I've also managed to land my first “job”, (term used loosely ;)) A friend of mine, her son has his prom in May, and she wants some shots of him and his mates with dates in front of their limo :D Will be paid for, as I imagine the parents will be wanting prints. Another mate of mine wants some pics of him and his girlfriend, which I am happy to do, as does one of Daz’s mates, its all about the experience more than anything at the moment. Any shots I get, Ill be using to build a portfolio. My birthday came around just in time, as I've got some money to play with, and I've set myself a budget of £50 to get a half decent one made up.

Also, I've made some enquires about showing some of my stuff at a local arts festival in July, be a good chance to let people see what I can do.

I am going back to college soon for another tog course, this time learning Photoshop and such :)

An old school friend asked if I would do her wedding photos because she has less than 4 months to find another after her original was sacked! I've graciously declined this offer ;)

And only this morning, I've put a advert in the local community magazine offering free portrait shoots. I wont be charging for my time, just for any prints.

Not much Ill admit, but all a step in the right direction :)

Bought to you by an excitable Dee :D

[Tak]

Sounds great hun :) Good luck with it all :)

[Blackstar]

Good luck Dee :) with each opportunity you will learn and improve and more doors will open. Fingers and toes crossed for you. :)

[Dee]

well done Dee, you're doing really well. It takes guts to get out there and try to make a living out of something you really care about. Beats working in an office 9-5 for the rest of your life!

Thanks hun, thats kinda the reason I am doing it, I know I dont want to be in an office forever, its just not me. All it does for me is pay the bills, thats all, I dont get excited about what I do and I hate it.

Ok its taken me this long to decide what I really want to do , but now I know, I am going to bloody well run with it ;)

And thanks everyone :)

[petemc]

Thanks hun, thats kinda the reason I am doing it, I know I dont want to be in an office forever, its just not me. All it does for me is pay the bills, thats all, I dont get excited about what I do and I hate it.

Ok its taken me this long to decide what I really want to do , but now I know, I am going to bloody well run with it ;)

And thanks everyone :)

I know exactly what you mean :) Wish you all the best luck and hope you get there. Its tricky stuff, tiring and hard going some days but when it works it is SO worth it. Say yes to everything, but don't give away too many freebies. Join some model sites like www.net-model.com, http://www.modelmayhem.com/ and such to find local models willing to do TFP/CD (time for prints / cd) so you can practice on them while taking on paying jobs.

[BBx]

All sounds cool! Will keep you busy and out of trouble no doubt :p

Good luck with it all lady!

:D

BB x

[Dee]

Thats just reminded me, thanks Pete! Meant to do that the other day :)

[petemc]

Regarding poses. I had a quick look at the pdf and I dunno, it seems too staged. A little too "Pose 43, pose 59 and relax." If you get me. Tear sheets are great, lots of people use them. What I do is browse Flickr or DeviantArt for ideas and save them. I keep them all in iPhoto under different types of shoots. Then if I have a shoot coming up I print them off and show them to the models. Its a starting point. Now with my iTouch I can show them things on that saving paper. But I'd prefer them over the fixed poses because usually you can find a shot with the same feel not just the pose. That way you can better convey the concept to the model.

[Dee]

Ill only learn with experience I guess :)

As for Net-Model, I have to show images in my portfolio within a week of signing up. Ill wait til Ive got some decent shots first :)

[Roberta]

Nice use of initiative! Good luck with it all!

[Haly]

Good luck with it all :)

[lostkat]

How very exciting indeed!!! Good luck Dee :)

[JodieG]

That's great, you sound like you're getting off to a really good start :) Cliff's dad is an amatuer photographer, he was really good before he had his stroke but now he doesn't have full use of one hand and the shots come out blurry sometimes. He takes loads to make up for it though and we have some really lovely ones of the children from him. He picks up camera gear from car boot sales and sells them on ebay for lots more as he knows what he's looking for. He goes every weekend far too early in the morning but he loves it.

Good luck with it :)

[Dee]

Thanks everyone :)

I am now on an uber mission to raise some monies for a home studio kit, looking for about £300 so I need to start selling crap on eBay ;)

Me and Daz are also going carpet shopping this weekend for the office and spare room, so hopefully the studio will come together soon :)

[Kell_ee001]

Anything that keeps out you of trouble! :p Good luck though hun - sounds like you're off to a good start :)

[Dee]

Need somewhere to track my progress :)

My mag advert is out, so hoping for a positive response on that front, Ive also spoken to the editor and asked her to put me on the front cover list. A local tog Darren Cresswell, (who strangley enough is a client of mine) has always done them, but sometimes they need something pronto. She will give me a call if thats the case :)

[Dee]

Well bugger me, got my first customer! A lady wants a portrait of her daughters for her husbands birthday, so I need to get my studio kit ordered pronto :)

[petemc]

Bugger me too. Thats a really quick turn around :)

[Dee]

Bugger me too.

Oooh errr missis ;D

[FakeSnake]

ahh.. i see why you need studio kit now..!

sound like DeePhoto is taking off with a bang!

with the studio kit, have you thought about 'backdrops' if you are turning the house into a studio?

[Dee]

And just replied to your other post ;D

I have a huge reflector thats enough for a "headshot" backdrop, but I am looking to buy some material to cobble something together myself :)

[FakeSnake]

And just replied to your other post ;D

I have a huge reflector thats enough for a "headshot" backdrop, but I am looking to buy some material to cobble something together myself :)

I have a 5/way if you need to borrow another?
T'will only cost postage both ways

what about something like this for flash kit?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/300W-Studio-Flash-Strobe-Light-Kit-Trigger-Softbox-Case_W0QQitemZ150229575636QQihZ005QQcategoryZ3860Q QtcZphotoQQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Dee]

Hmmm, I am dead worried about buying something this size off eBay. Spesh from Hong Kong :( Thanks for looking though :)

And thanks for the reflector offer, I have two atm, but Ill see how I get on :)

[leowyatt]

I've bought various stuff from hong kong and it's been great. Asuming you aren't buying electrical items you shouldn't worry :)

[petemc]

Personally I'd suggest finding a decent studio. Add the rental cost onto your fee and off you go. I don't have anything for my portrait work besides my camera, though I want to get a nice reflector asap. The issue is using it. Can't hold it and the camera at the same time.

[Dee]

The model has to hold it, just make sure you arent doing any full length shots ;) Either that, or hire someone :)

[Davey_Pitch]

Either that, or hire someone :)

Isn't that what Daz is for? :D

[Dee]

He wont even model for me, men suck ;)

Ive emailed the editor of the community mag just now with some shots, I called her yesterday and asked her to consider me for a cover shot :)

Ive also got some info about the arts festival finally, so I have 4 months to come up with some really amazing work. The festival gets 30% commission if they sell, and I have to name the price I want to sell them for. Pish, Ill just be happy to get them on display :)

[Dee]

Eeeep! Reply to my email!!!! :)

"Thanks for those – I love them all, but particularly the dog with the daffs. If it’s all right will keep them on file and then if the opportunity arises to use in the future I’ll get in touch.

Many thanks

Liz"

Fingers crossed :)

[Dee]

Yay! My studio kit has arrived!!!! :cool:

[Dee]

Noones reading anymore but I dont care :p :D

Got a gig tomoro night totally out of the blue! The new receptionist's husband is a DJ and wants some promotional shots, and is doing a gig for a friend so Ive been invited along! \o/ :cool:

[lostkat]

Looks like it's going really well so far :) If you need to practice on someone and Daz won't step up to the challenge, I'm happy to help :) Good luck for tomorrow!!

[Dee]

Thanks hun! Pop round one night when Leon is off out being a shlaaaaaaaaag ;)

[petemc]

Girl girl photoshoot. Now I'm interested ;)

[Lynnie_pitch nee Leigh]

Noones reading anymore but I dont care :p :D

Got a gig tomoro night totally out of the blue! The new receptionist's husband is a DJ and wants some promotional shots, and is doing a gig for a friend so Ive been invited along! \o/ :cool:
Sounds like progress hun :) good luck with the shoot :D

[Dee]

Girl girl photoshoot. Now I'm interested ;)

Sod off, you've seen enough of those ;)

[Nutcase]

Sod off, you've seen enough of those ;)

I haven't. Get on with it :evil:

Sounds like things are going great for you :)

[petemc]

Sod off, you've seen enough of those ;)

You can never have enough :D GL with things. Does sound like word is spreading. :)

[Dee]

A quick update if anyone is interested :)

Since my last post, Ive got a website up and running. I did the prom photos, and they went down a treat. I also shot my first wedding, the bride and bride were over the moon with their images, as was I when they told me :)

Last weekend, I went to our local arts festival and was grabbed by the event organiser. He asked me to document the whole day, and I have literally just come off the phone from him, he wants to purchase a stack of images from the day! He is also passing my details to the festival sponsors. Loads more people had my business card that day, so hoping to get some print orders shortly :)

Thats about it :)

[TinkerBell]

Woooo :D You are doing really well hun :) You should be mega chuffed, looks like you could be getting alot more business soon

:party1:

[Dee]

Thanks Tink, here's hoping!

[Tak]

Go you :) Well done hun and good luck :)

[Greenlizard0]

I don't really know you, but the best of luck. :)

Do you shoot porn?

[Dee]

I don't really know you, do you shoot porn?

Obviously not ;)

Daz would get jealous so Ive not ventured down that road yet ;)

[Tak]

yet

Just to emphasis it in case it was missed :p

[Dee]

My god, did I really start this over a year ago??? Anyone fancy an update? :D

Since my last post, I have done a group shot for a local Salsa troupe that was published in the local paper. They held a Human Auction for Children in Need which I took part in, and I was "sold" for the highest amount, the prize was a portrait session and print :D

I did another group shot for a local business last week that is going to be printed on all promotional material, as their staff are doing the 3 Peaks Challenge. I am also their unofficial photographer for the charity events they are holding over the summer. I will be donating a portrait session as a raffle prize.

I will be assisting another local photographer to help put together a kind of "Calendar Girls" calendar in the next month or so, and I will be credited on it. This will be going out to businesses all over Leicestershire.

My 365 project is still going strong, Ill be getting a Blurb book published of all my images at the end of the year. Be nice if other people bought a copy!

I have a small client base now, and a number of loyal customers that have come back for second shoots. I also have a wedding under my belt, and another seven coming up!

Phew :D

[Davey_Pitch]

Sounds like things are going well for you Dee, glad to hear it :)

[Haly]

Nice one :)

[Dee]

Thanks both! It looks good written down :D

[Knipples]

Good on ya Dee, well done!
:)

[Haly]

Yeah it's really satisfying to look back at what you've achieved in the past year and realise it's loads :D

[vix]

Oh wow, I'm going to be in your book :p

[Pheebs]

Sounds awesome Dee :) Keep it up!!

[Piggymon]

Well done ! :)

[Dee]

Thanks all! Its quite exciting really :D

And yes Vix, you're going in the book ;)