Q&A
This is from a Q&A session I did in August 2007 on my personal blog … I hope it’s helpful to any aspiring photographers who come across it!
-R.
How long have you been in business?
I started portfolio building 6 years ago and have been in business 5 years. Although, I took 2 years off when we moved to Boston and I had my third monkey - so I’ve only been shooting for clients for 4 of those 6 years.
Is there anything you wish you had done differently when you started your business?
Definitely. There are many things I probably should have done differently, but the first thing that comes to mind is knowing how (and when) to say no. It sounds like a simple thing, but it was hard for me to do and I wish I had learned it earlier on.
Do you have any advice for people starting a photography business?
Yep. Go slow. Really dig in deep and learn the principles of photography, how to use your equipment, and post-processing techniques before you think about going into business. Get objective constructive criticism from a professional and work to improve. Keep in mind that once you accept money for your work people expect you to be professional and deliver. And if you want to make a profit you have to run a smart business – have a business plan, meet with an accountant, crunch numbers and figure out what you need to charge to turn a profit. Oh, and don’t forget to have fun along the way!
What camera do you use?
I’ve shot Pentax, Nikon and Canon. I currently use the Canon 5D.
What lenses do you use?
I’m a prime lens junkie (Dena calls me a lens whore) and own a nice range of primes from wide to telephoto but the 50mm 1.2L is my favorite. That said, I’m hoping the 70-200 f/2.8L and a fish eye are in my future. After all, I’ve got to round out my collection! 
What camera do you recommend?
Any entry-level Canon or Nikon dSLR will be great. Read online reviews, go to a camera store and hold both in your hand. Get what feels the best to you. Keep in mind that expensive equipment will not make you a better photographer – there are no magic bullets in this industry. Here’s a good analogy from my friend Anna … Learning photography is like learning to play an instrument. A Steinway piano or Stradivari violin will certainly increase the quality of sound, but neither will make you a better musician.
What books do you recommend to get started?
I always recommend Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson and Scott Kelby’s Photoshop books. Betterphoto.com is also a great learning resource for those who are just starting out. I think Bryan Peterson even offers online courses through that site.
Do you use reflectors?
I have one and I think I’ve used it twice. Okay, maybe three times. I occasionally use reflectors for newborn shoots but I find that reflectors just don’t work with my style of shooting – especially with toddlers that aren’t going to hold still. I’d rather find a different spot with better lighting than be tied down by a reflector.
ISO Settings?
I try to keep my ISO as low as possible but will bump it up if necessary. So, I guess I’m trying to say my ISO varies with each session – it totally depends on how much light I have to work with.
How much posing do you do?
Um . . . gosh, I don’t know. I guess my first priority is finding good light. Next comes figuring out how I’m going to get my subject there and what is going to add interest to the shot. I try to pose as little as possible but everyone needs some direction.
Any ideas for posing groups?
Nope. None. I’m terrible at it and upfront with my clients about that – I don’t do traditional posed group shots. Posing is an art form in and of itself – it’s an entirely different animal than what I do and I really admire photographers who do it well.
What is your method for black and white conversions?
I mess around with actions occasionally but I generally end up converting using channel mixer and then adjusting with levels and curves to taste. The recipe is different every time – I play until it looks right.
Someone asked about skin tones in black and white conversions. Adjust your midtones in levels or curves until the skin tones are just right. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, go get a Photoshop book by Scott Kelby – you’ll have it all figured out in no time!
Your images look so crisp. How do you achieve that?
I start out with a really great lens. In fact, I’d rather have a cheaper camera body and nicer lens if I had to choose. I love prime lenses because they’re so crisp and Canon’s L-series lenses are wonderful to work with. I also sharpen each image in Photoshop (unsharp mask) to clear that haze from using a dSLR. And I sharpen my images for web before I show them online. Good post-processing with an appropriate amount of contrast also helps – I sort of stretch the highlights and shadows which clears that muddy look, if that makes sense.
What actions do you use?
I used a bunch of actions when I was first learning Photoshop but now I only use Jinky’s actions for sharpening, and sometimes use Brenda’s actions for color processing. Mostly I use actions I’ve written for myself in Photoshop or just adjust everything manually. Anti-climatic, I know. I’m such a disappointment.
How do you avoid blowing out highlights when the sun is out?
Sometimes you just can’t avoid blowouts. If the scene you are photographing is out of the dynamic range of your camera then you either blow your highlights or lose your shadows. You just have to make a choice and decide what you’re willing to compromise. So, I usually choose to not photograph when it’s really sunny out – LOL! No really, I’ll go find a shady spot or photograph early or late in the day or have the subject face directly away from the sun and let the background blow out and expose for skin tones. You can usually find a way to work around full sun – you just have to be flexible and play around until you get it right.
Do you use studio lighting?
Nope. I can’t imagine being tied down to studio lights – I’m all over the place during a session. Natural light can be challenging but it suits my style so well that I’m willing to deal with the pitfalls, if that makes sense.
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Thanks for all the helpful info. I love your photos and your blog. I live in the Raleigh area and am dabbling in child photography. I also don’t want to resort to studio lighting so I’m learning all I can about capturing better natural light shots. Its so much fun! thanks for all your insight i appreciate the time you took to write this!