Professional Photography

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. I have done a lot of family photography and weddings. I also have photographed 2 high school senior's photos, sweet 16 birthday party and a few maternity photos. I got started by doing photojournalism at local events such as plays and town carnivals, ect. for the Cambridge Star Newspaper in Cambridge, MN.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Don't hire a student for your wedding. Student's should never be a lead wedding photographer, they should get their start in wedding photography by assisting. It might be a cheaper route to go, but if they mess up, you will never get a chance to change not having good wedding photos.

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. The flow of the day is going to be extremely important, thinking about whether to do group family and bridal party photos before or after the ceremony is something that should be discussed with your fiance prior to a consultation with a photographer. Some couples still like to be old fashioned and don't want the groom to see the bride before she walks down the aisle, some want to share the "first glance" and some want it to be more private and have it staged, which does make it easier to get better photos of the groom's expression.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. I am very creative and though I will frequently view other photographer's work for inspiration, I don't steal their exact ideas. I am very creative and I hate stiff poses and smiles. I like to do "semi-candid" style (particularly with children and couples), which means I help create the photo by choosing background and a more casual pose and then back off and wait for "the moment". I hate cheesy backgrounds and props, I use a few props mostly with children to help get a natural smile.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. That it is emotional. I like to show the subject's personality in the photos. It's never the same and it's challenging and unpredictable. This job keeps me on my feet and I have to be creative.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. Is there a sitting fee for portraits or a limit to the number of people that can be in the photo?
Answer - no sitting fee and no limits

Can I use the photos on websites or contests?
Answer - yes, as long as you aren't saying you were the photographer

Do I get printing rights?
Answer - yes, you have the right to print wherever you want

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. I wish customers understand that a photographer isn't just a person with a camera. A good camera is not all that is required for a photo to be professional quality. Also, photography doesn't only involve taking the photos. I do a lot to prepare for a photo shoot. Preparing includes brainstorming ideas for new, creative shots and poses. It also includes work after, doing editing to make sure the photos look as good as possible. I also prefer outdoor shoots. It can be difficult lighting, but it looks much more natural. I can't stand a lot of cheesy props that take the focus away from the subject (person).

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. I was going to school for journalism and working for a local newspaper when my editor started giving me "photojournalism" assignments such as attending local parades and town carnivals or graduation ceremonies and the grand marches for prom where I would take many photos for them to publish. I was getting a lot of compliments on my photography so I decided to take a photography class which I really enjoyed and was told that I was good at, so I decided I'd rather be a photographer than a journalist.

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. The best way to get into photography would be to take a class that teaches you the basics of photography and how to use a camera (not on auto setting), it is important to know how to adjust the settings on your camera for different lighting situations and then to find a few friends or family members or attend a seminar (taught by a professional photographer) to get some experience with photographing people. If you want to get into wedding photography you should start as an assistant or 2nd shooter, many amateur photographers offer to photograph a wedding free or very cheap because they don't have experience, but they could still end up with upset customers. It is best to build your portfolio as a 2nd shooter rather than risking upsetting customers as the main shooter with no experience.