Essential The Official Photography Thread

[richtree]

the end is near brehs

In the second video that guy took some of the most mediocre photos I’ve ever seen lol.

Cell phones have a place, quick little day to day photos and what not. You’re not pulling up to a wedding shoot with your phone ..

 

[Standing on business]

Y'all buying brehs black beauty dish? him and photo me ike were some of my favorite channels of the strength of them being black photo me ike a fool though lol..

The BlackDish

Welcome to the home of the revolutionary BlackDish! The BlackDish is the world's first and only black-lined beauty dish, that also easily converts into a traditional softbox.

theblackdish.com

 

[shutterguy]

the end is near brehs

Just picked a 14 Pro Max yesterday, I will say so far the camera is very impressive. Can’t see it replacing my EOS R anytime soon though especially for shooting night and action related shots.

 

[MikelArteta]

Y'all buying brehs black beauty dish? him and photo me ike were some of my favorite channels of the strength of them being black photo me ike a fool though lol..

The BlackDish

Welcome to the home of the revolutionary BlackDish! The BlackDish is the world's first and only black-lined beauty dish, that also easily converts into a traditional softbox.

theblackdish.com

looks like a waste of money to me

 

[MikelArteta]

Just picked a 14 Pro Max yesterday, I will say so far the camera is very impressive. Can’t see it replacing my EOS R anytime soon though especially for shooting night and action related shots.

imagine two years from now we done out here bruv

 

[shutterguy]

Y'all buying brehs black beauty dish? him and photo me ike were some of my favorite channels of the strength of them being black photo me ike a fool though lol..

The BlackDish

Welcome to the home of the revolutionary BlackDish! The BlackDish is the world's first and only black-lined beauty dish, that also easily converts into a traditional softbox.

theblackdish.com

I already have 3 beauty dishes from Paul C Buff, and those were $80 a piece. Looking at the video I don’t see enough difference between the white dishes I have vs the black one he is selling to justify the $250 price tag.

 

[shutterguy]

imagine two years from now we done out here bruv

It’s absolutely crazy the quality you can get from these new phones nowadays. Going back to what you posted earlier in the thread, cameras like ours will be in the hands of hobbyists or professionals in the field in the future. If Apple gets into the drone market, it’s a wrap.

 

[Kamikaze Revy]

imagine two years from now we done out here bruv

It looks like nice but a few things jump out at me:

• You're never going to replace the need for a great lighting set up. As a guy that has been doing this professionally for 4 years now, I learned first hand that the camera body isn't going to make the night and day difference most people think; it's all about the lighting.
• The simulated bokeh is a bit jarring to me.
• I shot video on a GH5 for 3 years and loved it. Last year I bought 2 RED Komodo's and I've fallen in love with the RED color science and the film look. The iphone color's aren't there yet and the image still looks video instead of the dreamy film look.

I've had these discussions before with local guys in the business and feel like we have to be realistic about a few things:

• The overwhelming majority of our content is going to be viewed on a phone, by people who have no idea what they are looking at when it comes to all the technically aspects that we care about. Viewers are making decisions in nanoseconds based on feel, not on whether or not the image was exposed correctly, etc.
• The gear we buy has to be looked at as what they are; TOOLS. You should have a clear business reason to purchase it, not just, "This has more megapixels and clients will love that!".
• It's more important to approach the business as a Marketing Professional instead of a Photographer or Videographer. I learned this the hard way but thankfully I was able to successfully pivot. When you try to sell yourself as a Photographer or Videographer, you position yourself to be lowballed often. Think about it. The job title itself; Photographer/Videographer are entry level positions, and EVERYBODY has a cousin, friend, brother in law, that "could take the same pictures for $100 but he's busy that weekend". I also learned that when you come to the table as the photographer or videographer, the client will very often, as the opinion of a 3rd party marketing consultant for the type of content they need. YOU should be the one leading that conversation, but you aren't because you're marketing yourself as "the guy with a camera that takes great pictures" and that's it.

The cameras on these new phones are great, but I still think they really on serve a specific purpose. Our jobs aren't going away. We just have to adapt the way we approach clients because the days of "check out my portfolio, I can take some nice pictures" are coming to an end incredibly fast. We HAVE to offer more value than that in a world were the tools are more accessible than they've ever been.

 

[8WON6]

I already have 3 beauty dishes from Paul C Buff, and those were $80 a piece. Looking at the video I don’t see enough difference between the white dishes I have vs the black one he is selling to justify the $250 price tag.

yeah dude putting that $250 price on that beauty dish is some "i know my worth" stuff. For $250 i can get 3 or 4 other light modifiers that do the same thing.

 

[shutterguy]

 

[MikelArteta]

 

[MikelArteta]

yeah dude putting that $250 price on that beauty dish is some "i know my worth" stuff. For $250 i can get 3 or 4 other light modifiers that do the same thing.

all those peter mackinnon, manny ortiz, gary fong accessories are a waste of money

 

[Kamikaze Revy]

I gotta get a cargo van for my business brehs.
I can't be lugging this amount of gear in my sedan any more and I can't be tying up the family van.
I was looking at Ford Transits and Chevy Express. The market is terrible right now though.
I'm seeing used vans with 70k and up miles being sold for more than brand new ones

 

[Standing on business]

It looks like nice but a few things jump out at me:

• You're never going to replace the need for a great lighting set up. As a guy that has been doing this professionally for 4 years now, I learned first hand that the camera body isn't going to make the night and day difference most people think; it's all about the lighting.
• The simulated bokeh is a bit jarring to me.
• I shot video on a GH5 for 3 years and loved it. Last year I bought 2 RED Komodo's and I've fallen in love with the RED color science and the film look. The iphone color's aren't there yet and the image still looks video instead of the dreamy film look.

I've had these discussions before with local guys in the business and feel like we have to be realistic about a few things:

• The overwhelming majority of our content is going to be viewed on a phone, by people who have no idea what they are looking at when it comes to all the technically aspects that we care about. Viewers are making decisions in nanoseconds based on feel, not on whether or not the image was exposed correctly, etc.
• The gear we buy has to be looked at as what they are; TOOLS. You should have a clear business reason to purchase it, not just, "This has more megapixels and clients will love that!".
• It's more important to approach the business as a Marketing Professional instead of a Photographer or Videographer. I learned this the hard way but thankfully I was able to successfully pivot. When you try to sell yourself as a Photographer or Videographer, you position yourself to be lowballed often. Think about it. The job title itself; Photographer/Videographer are entry level positions, and EVERYBODY has a cousin, friend, brother in law, that "could take the same pictures for $100 but he's busy that weekend". I also learned that when you come to the table as the photographer or videographer, the client will very often, as the opinion of a 3rd party marketing consultant for the type of content they need. YOU should be the one leading that conversation, but you aren't because you're marketing yourself as "the guy with a camera that takes great pictures" and that's it.

The cameras on these new phones are great, but I still think they really on serve a specific purpose. Our jobs aren't going away. We just have to adapt the way we approach clients because the days of "check out my portfolio, I can take some nice pictures" are coming to an end incredibly fast. We HAVE to offer more value than that in a world were the tools are more accessible than they've ever been.

Do you mind briefly explaining how you were able to do the bolded

 

[Kamikaze Revy]

Do you mind briefly explaining how you were able to do the bolded

I nuked my website (which was focused on videography services) and relaunched it as a marketing and communications agency. I stopped introducing myself as videographer and started introducing myself as Director of Marketing and Communications.
I changed all of my social media branding to be marketing agency focused.
My pitch is: I own a marketing and communications agency that offers Marketing Consultations, Web Design, Graphic Design, Audio recording, video production, and photography.
Basically, I’m doing all the same work I was already doing but I wrapped my presentation differently. I immediately started getting booked by existing clients for marketing consultations and I’ve even been booked to do entire work shops for team building events.
Bottom line, your presentation should resonate with the need of your client while positioning yourself as a subject matter expert.
If you’re a videographer, tell them you’re a marketing professional that offers video production, not a videographer. That simple switch will start to change up the conversation. Also, build your network and start offering wrap around services. If you’re doing just video you’re going to be pigeon holed again. You have to be able to control the narrative.
This is just my experience and what has been working for my particular goals.
This year is my first year with a steady group of guys I trust and pay them as 1099 contractors. My goal is to be able to offer full time employment to be able to expand my business and free me up to open another business.