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Keri... and a request.

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Marian Murdoch

June 08, 2008, 11:08:00 PM

I hope she grows into her teeth.

Sorry for the pixelation on this one. Since moving from one computer to another, I only have small .jpgs on this computer. Tongue

This was from last year. I'm posting it now because Mike keeps pushing for them. Wink

I'm going to state right now that any further pushing for current portraits will be met with a harsh whooping with a wet noodle, as I'm very sensitive right now about lack of clients since we had to close the gallery 2mo ago. I hope my lack of clients doesn't mean that I can't comment on photos, as sometimes that's how certain remarks are being taken by me (hopefully incorrectly).

I've ordered "rack cards" and business cards from Vista Print, as well as doing the local farmer's market every Saturday and shoving flyers into the hands of anyone who passes my booth. I'm sure we've all been in a situation where you are fighting to stay afloat. I'd appreciate any promotion help you have, and a bit of "hands off" when it comes to asking about new work. I'm out there every weekend shooting anything I can see, just so that I can continue learning, despite the nausea from the chemo drug I'm taking, as well as doing my full time job in nuclear medicine while my husband is out of work. Yikes, anyway, so much for my rant. I now return you to the normal Marian. Tongue

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« Last Edit: June 09, 2008, 12:29:27 AM by wildmaven »

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Comments and Harsh Critiques gladly accepted. My photos are ok to edit.

My photos and art: http://wildmaven.org

Mike Hodgson

Reply #1 - June 09, 2008, 09:07:58 AM

In the post pro/editing, if you were painting in the high key effect, you missed the bottom right hand corner.

I found through experience, painting in a high key background has an effect around the subject, especially hair like this posting.
Using the clone tool in lighten, to rid of the line under the eyes.

However, you did well with lighting, your ratio is a bit high though, a 3:1 or using the soft box to soften the shadows will compliment her.

The arms, maybe to far forward?

Pretty model

I hope I was constructive.

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Ginnypenny

Reply #2 - June 09, 2008, 09:43:41 AM

Good natural pose, although I agree with Mike about the arms being a bit too forward.
The expression is good, not stiff and studio-ish.

I am not a fan of complete white backgrounds, although I have been experimenting with them lately, they are harder than they look both to acheive with studio lights or in PS.

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Susie
www.charlesbarnardphotography.com
www.definitionimages.com

Marian Murdoch

Reply #3 - June 09, 2008, 10:20:34 AM

Quote from: Mike Hodgson on June 09, 2008, 09:07:58 AM

In the post pro/editing, if you were painting in the high key effect, you missed the bottom right hand corner.

Oops! Thanks.

Quote

I found through experience, painting in a high key background has an effect around the subject, especially hair like this posting.

Yeah, the hair really bothers me. I will try to keep my backgrounds pure in the future.

Quote

However, you did well with lighting, your ratio is a bit high though, a 3:1 or using the soft box to soften the shadows will compliment her.

I'm going to be practicing with my mannequin head. I have 2 continuous lights with white umbrellas and will be buying a hair and background light.

Quote

The arms, maybe to far forward?

Would they have been better bent a bit more, too?

Quote

I hope I was constructive.

Thanks, Mike. Clapping

I'm a sponge when it comes to info like this!

Quote from: Ginnypenny on June 09, 2008, 09:43:41 AM

Good natural pose, although I agree with Mike about the arms being a bit too forward.
The expression is good, not stiff and studio-ish.

Susie, she was really hard to get to smile, so I started talking about boys and this is what I got. Grin

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Comments and Harsh Critiques gladly accepted. My photos are ok to edit.

My photos and art: http://wildmaven.org

Benji

Reply #4 - June 10, 2008, 04:30:38 PM

Chemo? Sounds to me like something I need to add to my prayer list, so consider it added, and I will start immediately.

Secondly, approach people you think would photograph well at the aforementioned farmers market and offer them a business card good for a free session. You will build a client base quickly that way, and if you do a good job on them they will tell everyone about you and your photography. This business is hard on ya for the first five years or so.

Benji

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Marian Murdoch

Reply #5 - June 11, 2008, 12:13:55 AM

Quote from: Benji on June 10, 2008, 04:30:38 PM

Chemo? Sounds to me like something I need to add to my prayer list, so consider it added, and I will start immediately.

Thanks you, Benji.

Bob also expressed concern in an email, so my thanks to both of you. I have an autoimmune disease which attacks the blood, the eyes, the joints and the skin and requires me to be on a once-weekly 8-pill dose of a chemotherapy agent to prevent damage to those areas. Though I am on a smaller dosage than what someone with cancer would get, I do get the fun nausea, fatigue, and hair loss associated with it. Tongue

I have to have blood tests monthly to make sure my liver isn't being destroyed by the pills. But I'm starting to feel better.

Again, thank you for your prayers and concern, which makes my heart light.

Quote

Secondly, approach people you think would photograph well at the aforementioned farmers market and offer them a business card good for a free session. You will build a client base quickly that way, and if you do a good job on them they will tell everyone about you and your photography. This business is hard on ya for the first five years or so.
Benji

Hopefully the business cards will arrive in time for this weekend's farmer's market. If not, I have a backup plan to print out some nice cards on my home printer.

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Comments and Harsh Critiques gladly accepted. My photos are ok to edit.

My photos and art: http://wildmaven.org

BobEdens

Reply #6 - June 11, 2008, 07:32:37 AM

when I shoot an event and know where to find some of the people I'll print on my home printer a bunch of 4x6s and then turn them over and print my contact info on the back. Then go hand them out.

shot a skateboard competition and carried a stack of photos to the skate park and got several sales from it.

perhaps some of the vendors or kids that you see at the market every week??

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-----------------------------------
"I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one heck of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult. "- EB White

Chattanooga Photographer www.BobEdens.com

Marian Murdoch

Reply #7 - June 11, 2008, 09:05:12 AM

Interesting idea, Bob! There are several vendors who have kids running amok all the time.

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Comments and Harsh Critiques gladly accepted. My photos are ok to edit.

My photos and art: http://wildmaven.org

Ginnypenny

Reply #8 - June 11, 2008, 09:37:48 AM

Aw, chemo drugs aren't fun. My husband's grandmother is actually taking them for something similar with her eyes. I hope this doesn't come across as uncaring, because I mean it just the opposite but - I am so glad we live in this modern age where we do have drugs. I have an immune disorder, nothing serious but I take a lot of antibiotics and am grateful they exist.

Anyway, back on track - at the farmer's market are you showing big portaits? Show big nice stuff. I see a lot of photographers showing lots of little stuff and no one stops to look at it, there is a lot going on at those sorta things and the less distracting and more impactful your area is the better.
BTW, get some people to model for you, friends, family, whatever and shoot them until you get great stuff, then show it.
That is how I started my wedding business. I had a friend with a white prom dress and a homemade veil and another friend in a borrowed wedding dress. I shot them until I knew I could sell the results I was getting. They loved playing "model" too, it was win/win.

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Susie
www.charlesbarnardphotography.com
www.definitionimages.com

Marian Murdoch

Reply #9 - June 11, 2008, 10:01:26 AM

Quote from: Ginnypenny on June 11, 2008, 09:37:48 AM

BTW, get some people to model for you, friends, family, whatever and shoot them until you get great stuff, then show it.

No family or friends (we are new to the area), but I've shot many of my coworkers (and wanted to shoot a few more, hee hee).

Quote

That is how I started my wedding business. I had a friend with a white prom dress and a homemade veil and another friend in a borrowed wedding dress. I shot them until I knew I could sell the results I was getting. They loved playing "model" too, it was win/win.

Maybe I can borrow Bob. Hey Bob, do you think you can fit into my old wedding dress? Grin

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Comments and Harsh Critiques gladly accepted. My photos are ok to edit.

My photos and art: http://wildmaven.org

Ginnypenny

Reply #10 - June 11, 2008, 11:35:01 AM

Quote from: wildmaven on June 11, 2008, 10:01:26 AM

Maybe I can borrow Bob. Hey Bob, do you think you can fit into my old wedding dress? Grin

Please don't post those here, thanks.

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Susie
www.charlesbarnardphotography.com
www.definitionimages.com

BobEdens

Reply #11 - June 11, 2008, 02:14:31 PM

Quote

Maybe I can borrow Bob. Hey Bob, do you think you can fit into my old wedding dress?

Now thats just scary.... better ask Mike

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Ginnypenny

Reply #12 - June 11, 2008, 03:09:52 PM

Quote from: BobEdens on June 11, 2008, 02:14:31 PM

Now thats just scary.... better ask Mike

oooh I bet Mike would be a hottie in a dress.

Marian, I'd come pose for ya in my wedding dress, but I'd have to work out to get back into a size 4! Or we could just not zip it up, LOL.
Hey, I would give anything for a trip to WA right now.

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Susie
www.charlesbarnardphotography.com
www.definitionimages.com

Travis Minnig

Reply #13 - June 11, 2008, 08:30:47 PM

OK, the first person that posts photos of Mike or Bob in a dress will also get shot... (WOW, that sounds threatening!)

Actually, I think that would be hilarious. I'll hold 'em down while you girls do up the dress and smash that shutter!

Travis

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Travis Minnig Studios

Marian Murdoch

Reply #14 - June 11, 2008, 09:07:11 PM

Quote from: Travis Minnig on June 11, 2008, 08:30:47 PM

Travis

When I come to Bob's neck of the woods, I'll bring a dress! Grin

(I don't know where Mike lives...)

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Comments and Harsh Critiques gladly accepted. My photos are ok to edit.

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