Getting a Landscape/Portrait Photography job

[SunderlandPhotography]

Whatever you say isn't going to deter me from having a career in photography..

I wouldn't mind a new lens, but until I get a result from my sigma lens, I'm not buying a new lens. I want to know if the 18-55mm is any good for the moment until I decide to buy another one.

Also I'm not going to spend a ton of money just to buy a full-frame camera. I don't see any reason to, if I do then maybe, just maybe I'll buy one.

[joolselliott]

I'm just trying to make you aware that you may be spending more time doing other things rather than actual photography. This is especially so if you are doing it on your own.

Is the 18-55 any good? I had one a few years ago and shot my first calendar cover shot with it. However, you can no beat decent glass and lenses are a wise investment. If you look at second hand lens prices against second hand body differences there is a marked difference. Good glass retains its value for a good reason.

As for full frame the it does depend on what you want to do. Pretty much all the pro-landscapers out there that you see in the mags have a full frame for a reason. One, there is the quality and two they are also doing other things with their images than being in mags. Those images you see in the mags get printed elsewhere as they in various libraries. And as I said earlier, there are some libraries that will not entertain you unless you have the equipment to back up your work.

If you want to do landscape then you must consider where you income is going to come from. Libraries is one. Magazine work. Commissioned work for magazines such as shooting the images to go with a writer's words. Doing the words and photography yourself. Workshops (very hard as there is market saturation) etc.

Geographical location can also help in getting you work. Because I am a Brit landscaper living in France I have a slight edge on some things as my portfolio extends to both Biritsh shores and French shores. I can capture those great landscapes that are available in the UK when I visit relatives and then the French stuff is on my doorstep. There are certain magazines who like where I live as it is quite central and means many locations are freely accesible. For example, I've recently shot the chateau at Chambord, been sent up to two different locations in Normandy and then been sent over to Burgundy to shoot a private chateau.

[SunderlandPhotography]

Originally Posted by joolselliott

If I said to you that from 8th May to the 15th May I drove 2000 or so miles with a maximum of 5 hours sleep a day, are you still interested?

I do know what you mean about the day to day job. As I said though, you will find out that there are some aspects of a "boring" job that you can not escape.

With regards to your question about the 18-55mm. If you are deadly serious then I would suggest a good all rounder is the 24-70L lens. It has f2.8 for those portraits and goes wide enough at 24mm.

I was looking at the 17-40 and the 15-85mm. What do you think about them?

[joolselliott]

I have the Canon 17-40L in my bag. Now, I used to think that it suited my needs. After shooting a few thousand photos with it though, and doing what I'm doing, I'm starting to see it's flaws. The corners can be soft. Vignetting is a pain if you use a 105mm polariser plus a grad or two etc.

Not sure about your other choice.

One thing you need to remember is when you are doing both portrait and landscape you need a decent lens with an aperture that goes all the way through the focal lengths. This is why I suggested the 24-70L F2.8.

What you could do is what I did, as I didn't have the cash at the time. Find a 28-70L F2.8. It is the very first generation but the lens is still damn good. I use it a lot. Mine cost me about £500.

[JonnyM]

Some good advice from Jools. Yes, from what I understand taking photos is a small part of the job. Selling yourself, networking, liasing and of course post production takes up an awful lot of time. I guess you can never rest too, getting out there on the days off (?) and building up the stock library. I look at how much time I spend on my hobby at the moment, it consumes most of my spare time one way or another.

Apropos the lens, the 15-85mm gets a good write up but I'd suggest staying with your 18-55mm and put the money towards a better lens later on, especially if you're serious about working as a professional. I'm looking at the 17-40mm L, 24-70mm L and the 24-105mm L. I want to invest in a good lens that is primarily designed for a full frame body even though I have a 60D as I want to upgrade as soon as my budget allows.

[joolselliott]

Staying on the subject of lenses, what you could do is rent one for a week and see if it fits your needs!

It would be cheaper than buying one outright and give you a good idea of it's capabilities.

PS

As I type this the harsh reality of a working photographer is at play. I'm sat uploading, describing etc over 100 images to Getty.


PPS I think I have 1000 or so still left to sort out

[SunderlandPhotography]

Thanks. I'll look at all three lenses.

[joolselliott]

No problems. And as I said, why don't you try hiring a lens for a week. You'd at least get a feel for how it works ir not for you.

I've never used them, but heard good reports about these: http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/canon...-usm-188-p.asp

Oh yes, if you are thinking of going down the full frame route at some point you need to remember that EFS lenses will not work on full frame bodies.

Finally, just to let you into my day today. Started at 7AM French time. had about 30 minutes for lunch. Worked again until 4PM which is when I had to look after my daughter. Started again at 8PM with 4 videos to redo plus a few emails to send off.

As i said before, just keep in mind "this" side of the job!

[SunderlandPhotography]

No I'm not thinking about the full-frame route.

[SunderlandPhotography]

Thursday last week I nearly walked out of my job twice. After that day I looked for a new job on 3 different websites but couldn't find anything.

I then decided that I might be good at photography, so I'm writing up a 'cover letter' for an assistant and I'm going to send it out to some local photographers which I didn't know was there.

I'm also getting my ars3 in to gear and getting on with my coffee coasters and prints.

I feel like I'm getting my confidence back after being down for so long. I felt hyperactive for 2 days thinking about a job in photography and maybe working for myself.

If it means quitting my job, then so be it.