Where to start...

[karls-images]

Hi all. I've been looking at some your work in this field and i must say that there are some stunning stuff, but where do you start?? and who do you approach??

I've been a digital photographer for nearly 2 years now and will soon be moving upto DSLR and i would like to earn with it too. I'e done the weddings, been a mobile portarit photographer and would like to try something different.

I do have some old studio lights that i are with my hotshoe flash gun pointed away thats will come in use. I've also seen some light tents on 7 day shop com, they might be cheap but it would come in use for small stuff and because my misses is a pro chef i could even take shots of food??

You may have heard this asked before, but maybe there's some fresh ideas......

Thnx.

[Blinky]

#1? The very, very first thing? Your printed portfolio. Every potential customer will want to see it... even though they may not look at it more than 60 seconds. Think about making nine carefully designed and executed images that will make a clear, COHESIVE statement about what you do best and how you see your subject.

You don't have to have lots of gear to create good commercial images although a lot of assignment images will require special stuff... So assign yourself images that play to your strengths and interests... and the stuff you already have access to. That's what your portfolio is anyway... your strengths and interests.

Commercial is a broad category... do you have any specialization in mind?

[karls-images]

Thanks for this Blinky.

To be honest i have no idea where to start, but i think i may like to start off with small objects, like jewellery. But my wife is a pro chef so i thought maybe some food may go 'down' well.

I think maybe one of the first things i'd like to purchase is a light tent, i don't have to invest in any new studio lights just yet because i do have some that i've had for over 10 years now and all i do to fire them off is to use the flash gun pointed away.

Could i approach busnesses to see if they will let me take photo's of machinery or the factory floor, or maybe a house show room and off photo's for free, this would be purely to build up a portfolio of my interests....??

Thnx.

[d2creative]

Originally Posted by karls-images

To be honest i have no idea where to start, but i think i may like to start off with small objects, like jewellery. But my wife is a pro chef so i thought maybe some food may go 'down' well.

That's probably two of the toughest things to shoot, especially food. It's amazing what goes into a good food shot. And jewelry can be tough too depending on the piece. A light tent would work great for some things but it won't work for everything.
I agree with what Blinky is saying. You need to work this stuff out and learn on your own time, building up your portfolio. Try out a bunch of stuff, use the forums for advice and you'll figure out what you like to shoot and what direction you want to head in.

[eddieli]

Assume you know where you want to go with your photography, for instance, jewelry or food, what is the best way to find more opportunities to shoot commercially? Take your portfolio to a restruant or jewelry store and ask them directly?
thanks.