Courses

[NatB]

And is it worth it? (to start working in the field).

I'm fairly new to photography but I want to learn more and possibly start a career with it in the future. Is this the best way to go about doing it, or should I just keep reading forums and on the internet (doesn't seem to get me anywhere).

Thanks,
nat

[ricktas]

http://www.ausphotography.net.au/forum/showthread.php?67437-Good-Photography-Course

http://www.ausphotography.net.au/forum/showthread.php?71249-photography-institute-vs.-australian-college

And check out our New To Photography forum, you will learn a lot by following that, and posting your photos for critique right here on AP. You say you keep reading forums and the net and I notice in another of your posts you attended a workshop, but in your words "but I didn't take many pictures, just listening to what he had to say". Listening and reading will NOT make you a better photographer, your approach is completely wrong, taking photos will make you a better photographer, nothing else!

So get the camera out, stop reading and start practising. Then post the photos here on AP and learn from the replies, use the replies to go back and retake the shots using what you have been told, work at improving. There is only one way to improve and that is use your camera, learn from your mistakes, take on board others feedback and work at it. Good photography is not something you learn in a week or month. Most of the really good photography you see on AP is from people who have been practising the Art of photography for several years.

[NatB]

Thanks Rick. I'll look into it. As a quick aside, how hard is it to get into wedding photography and is there a different plan of attack that I should consider?

[ricktas]

Thanks Rick. I'll look into it. As a quick aside, how hard is it to get into wedding photography and is there a different plan of attack that I should consider?

Small steps. You need to be able to use your camera effectively first. Don't even think about starting a photography business until you can present photos as good as the wedding photos you see in our weddings forum. As a newbie, you are at least 2 years off considering taking wedding photos, in that time learn photography!

[NatB]

Thanks.. i don't mean to start straight away, but I think I do need to plan since it will take a number of years.

I've started emailing wedding photographers out there to see if they need a free assistant. I hope someone accepts!!

[ricktas]

Thanks.. i don't mean to start straight away, but I think I do need to plan since it will take a number of years.

I've started emailing wedding photographers out there to see if they need a free assistant. I hope someone accepts!!

To be honest, before you can be an assistant you need to be able to take great wedding photos. Most assistants are used as a second photographer (taking the groom shots during preparations, whilst the Pro is taking the bride preparing etc). You need to SLOW DOWN. Start showing us your photos, work at improving your own photography first, before you even consider entering the wedding photography market, even as an assistant.

Remember, working as an assistant, the Pro will choose someone who can show a portfolio that suggests they know how to take good photos. You are competing with all those out there who have done the hard yards and learnt their photography first. If you came to me wanting an assistant job now, you would not get it (based on your own stated experience in your posts)! Harsh, yes, realistic, definitely. Learn to take great photos first, then start looking to your career path.

[NatB]

I think I come across as a really newbie but I have been shooting friends and couples a lot now over the past year. I just don't know how to make it into a business and turn couple shoots into weddings. Here is a couple photos from a shoot I did last weekend. I think I need to start with a website and then get a portfolio but I can't get a portfolio if I can't find wedding couples to shoot.

http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n605/NatB456/1115222898_HeTEc-M.jpg

http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n605/NatB456/1115213156_vnzM9-M.jpg

http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n605/NatB456/1115200831_wUgJB-M.jpg

[ricktas]

Good photos. start posting some in the photos forums for critique! But post them bigger, these are 600pixels, we allow up to 1024 pixels. There is a reason for that, larger photos are easier to critique and see any issues, like focus, etc. If you start posting photos you will get good feedback which will help you improve. You say you have trouble getting couples to shoot, who says you need a couple, why not a single person? The skills needed to take portraits are the same, whether there are 1 or 20 people in the shot.

[NatB]

Thanks Rick. I meant I can get plenty of couples to pose for me but I can't seem to get any weddings. The transition from just portrait shoots to wedding shoots is difficult. I have been paying for private workshops with a photographer in Melbourne and I think I've learned a lot of portrait photography from this. I was thinking about formal courses (TAFE and Uni) as that may open the door to work through referrals. I've heard some lecturers can help you with finding work etc

Perhaps it's more marketing rather than photography.

[NatB]

I have a lot of photos in my computer (over 50 shoots) but I really need to pay someone to set up a website for me so I can display them online. I guess that's another thing altogether.

Here is a bigger image from the same shoot:

http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n605/NatB456/1115176796_Q3PWi-X2.jpg

[ricktas]

Nat. please post them in the member photos forums. The business of photography forum is not the place for critiques of your work.