I need a mentor. There. I've said it. I've been thinking about this for awhile, but far be it from me to ask for help. No, I'd just rather ... well, let's not dwell on the negative, shall we?

I was asked to photograph two weddings in September, which I happily agreed to do. I didn't want to charge either couple anything as I wanted to use the photos to build up my portfolio, but both brides gave me money. And I was QUITE unhappy with the way the pictures turned out. Both brides say they like the pictures...but I think they're being nice.

A few other assignments were photographing children of friends of mine. Again, I didn't like the way the pictures came out, altho one Mom ordered copies and says she truly liked a few of the pictures (I don't expect EACH picture I take to come out...5 out of 20 isn't unrealistic, I don't think), but one of the other moms...well, let's just say she's looking for another photographer for her child's holiday pictures LOL!

The funny thing is...when I'm NOT trying...I get good shots! This one, for example, is adorable (to me):

I'd love to sit down with a professional and get some tips. It's not so much composition as it is lighting, altho some might take issue with that, too.

But...where to find a mentor? Any ideas?

Here from Michele!
Sorry, not a professional photographer and know nothing about lighting of portraits and such. But you can mess with a borderline picture and make it much better.

Gosh, I'd love to help you as much as I can...

I'm a hacker, ;), but you can see my stuff at

www.dallasksphotography.com

If you like my style, you can e-mail me!

I'm no pro at all, but a friend of mine after his early retirement also startet with weddings and famlies. He soon realized if he wanted to take a step forward, he had to join photo workshops.
To day he are represented in Galleries in Hungary, Germany and Norway.
For the moment he has an exihibition in Oslo, Norway. Why not send him a mail, and I'm sure he can tell you about his "hard way". The best of Luck to you anyway.
http://www.fotografiens-hus.no/utstilling_aktuell.lasso
His e-mail: walt-rie@online.no

I'd suggest taking a class....It will provide you with some technical background to go with your natural ability. It will also expose you to people with a similar passion and who knows what happens from there..........Ohhhh laa laa

LOL

I think I agree with the class thing. I'm going to do it; it couldn't hurt.

The reason your others come out so well is that you aren't really worried about it and, probably, they are more candid rather than posed.

I agree with everyone who said take a class... and it's a great way to meet new people :)

-> -> Fellow NaBloPoMo Participant. I saw, I clicked, I read.

I've been thinking about the same thing. I'm more interested in learning about the technical parts of photography. I have the eye, but lenses and focal lengths confuse me. I've thought of finding a local photographer, but don't know if they'd see me as competition and refuse to mentor me ;) I also thought of taking classes. There's an online school of photography that has classes, and I'm considering that too.

I am a total newbie at photography...I never even held a SLR until the first of this year...

Are you a book person? As in, can you stand to read semi-instructional books? There are some good ones out there on portrait style photography.

I am desperately needing a class but I am avoiding it because I fear it will take the "fun" out of photography. I need to get over that. And yeah, I don't like to ask for help either! ;-)

You have a great eye and I love your stuff. How comfortable are you when you are taking the photographs of the people? If you are uncomfortable that may be projected onto your subject, even unconsciously.

Keep us posted as to how it turns out!

I would join the "Classes!" chorus. After all, even if the classes did you no good, you might meet some fellow students, or instructors, that you liked and could hang around with one on one outside of the formal setting. :)

I see everyone suggests a class - I think that sounds like a good idea because you know the person likes to teach people to begin with as opposed to just calling up random photographers. Is there a college nearby?

what about craig's list? you might get some freaks, but you also might get some real leads... you could offer to 'intern' for someone. and there's always practice practice practice.

Janet, I immediately began reading the comments that were suggested here because I'm in the same boat as you. I think I have the eye and the ability to compose, but the lighting decisions really throw me from time to time.

And even today, an unexpected photo op popped up, an egret landed outside my kitchen window. I grabbed the camera, all the while debating on which setting I should be using, because the sunlight is so strong in that area.

Maybe in the future, we could pass along tips? I also bought books on the subject, but even as much as I love to read, I found myself lost when trying to understand certain paragraphs.

It would be much easier to find a person to "shadow" at this point, a patient teacher who is willing to sit down and help me decipher the camera step by step.
Those of you who know these things would make good money doing this on the side!

WELL!!! I guess you did not want to e-mail the one professional photographer you do know...sort of:-) Are you ready for a lengthy post? Good...here we go.

As you know, I work as a freelance photographer here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area...I have managed to make it four years doing this and things are only getting better. I am here to tell you a few things may help you.

First off...a mentor is a great idea. When I found myself out of work and back in photography, I thought I knew it all...really. I started doing some jobs for a local commercial photographer who saw something in me, even though he would not admit it. This guy never praised my good stuff, but would not hesitate to rip my bad stuff.

After about a year I looked at my old stuff with my newer stuff...vast difference!!! The next year I compared my old to my new...AGAIN...night and day!!! Slowly his criticism started to wane a bit and he started giving me a bigger workload and different assignments...but the biggest thing he did was to take me out of assignments so I could see how he works...with people, equipment, lights, lenses and all the areas that you must know to become a good photographer.

You see...I had a natural eye, but I lacked focus and consistency. That is the key word...consistency. I am now at a point in my career where I don't miss as much as I did. There are a lot better photographers than me out there...better eyes...better lighters...better artists. So why did my mentor choose me? Because I am a grinder and because he was able to mold me to shoot ANYTHING. On my business card it does not say "wedding photographer", "fine art photographer" or any other label...I am simply a photographer and it is mainly due to a grumpy transplanted New Yorker who forced me to think through my problems and develop techniques and ideas to get the job done. Now I work as his assistant and I am able to use his studio to work on my technique and whatever else I need. He sends me in his place to jobs knowing that I can do what needs to be done. He told me more than a few times when I was nervous about a job, "If you think you will fail then you will fail...if you think you can perform the task then you will"...its all about confidence, which comes from a ton of practice. Hell, he still looks at magazines to get ideas and then attempts to try and duplicate what they do.

Next...equipment is key. Its an ugly truth, but one that is undeniable. When you become a photographer, you must invest in your living. It has been hard to buy new equipment, but I have managed to amass it over time. If you do not have good quality lenses, you need to make the investment...this is the kicker...all of them really need to be straight f/2.8...even your longer lenses. You need to have your bases covered...I use a 12-24mm f/4, a 35-70mm f/2.8, an 80-200 f/2.8 and I am getting a 17-35 f/2.8. You need good glass to get the look that you want. After that you learn what each can do for you. That 80-200mm can be a stunning portrait lens, the 12-24 can give you those odd wide views that sell an image and a macro is a good idea as well.

Now we go to the hardest part...your thoughts can be your worst enemy. Trust me on this. To this day I have doubts that I am a good photographer and I make a good living do it! Its ok to have doubt, but it needs to stoke the fire to get better! If you mess up, you mess up...go to the next job and make it better. Always strive to find the shot, think on your feet and look for the place where you think you can make a good image. This past week alone I thought of quitting several times! Take this for example...my mentor is out of town and he calls me and tells me to go find a natural gas rig to shoot for a cover of a magazine. I go and find one, shoot it and send it to him. He calls me an hour later telling me how horrible it is and that I need to go find something magazine cover worthy and not a giant stick in the ground. Something scenic he says. So the next morning at 6:45am, I am driving all over the outskirts of town looking for an scenic gas well. I find one, but the light is all wrong and that is key. I shot a few safe shots that might work, but then go on looking for more. I started thinking that I was going out of my mind when I found one...downtown!!! I told myself I would nail this shot because I could visualize what I would see. I finally found an angle of this rig with the Fort Worth skyline behind it and the Trinity River below it. I parked my car and walked onto the bridge close to there and just started shooting...long lens to compress the subject and background...short lens to get a wide view...I shot a ton, went home...found the right one and sent it...I NAILED it...my mentor calls back and says "great job"...bingo...magazine cover!! He knew I could do it, so therefore I knew I could do it!!!

Classes are a great idea...personally I have never taken one on any serious level. I took some in high school, but I was already far ahead of what they taught. Classes are perfect for learning from others and for learning the principles and theories on lighting, composition and posing...invaluable!

Also...find someone who is willing to model for free! Go to a college and find drama students who might need some portfolio shots, then test some ideas...you may fail miserably, but you will learn from those failings!

I will draw this lengthy post to a close, but I just want to say that you must project an air of confidence in front of your subjects. If you are doing a portrait, you must control the scene...remember...this is your picture...your art and you should control the way it is approached. Trust me...I still have problems with this one! I suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder, but after years of doing this I have learned how to deal with it mainly because I have watched my mentor and how he deals with people. He can be blunt, but he is never wrong and the people believe that he will make them look good...and that is half the battle. Be proud of your work, but don't get comfortable...always look to get better...look at people's work that you admire and try and figure out how they do it...look at the shadows and highlights...try and figure out what lens they used and if they used external lighting or if they did it with natural light.

I will stop now...you are probably asleep by now...but I truly mean this...feel free to contact me anytime. I love talking about photography...its my passion and I truly want to help others catch the fire that I have. You can always e-mail...I may take a day or two to get back to you, but I always have an opinion and a possible solution.

People have no idea how hard it is to be a photographer...especially one like me that prides himself on being an all-around photographer. The hours of prep work, shooting and post work are long and arduous, but I would not dream of doing anything else, except possibly writing and directing.

Have a great week and let me know if there if you ever have any questions:-)

Uzz

Can't help U with the mentor thing... but my Flight Chief is a great photographer. And have you ever checked out Resurgemus on my blog roll? He's pretty good, too.

let's take a class!