I am an amateur photographer but am interested in starting a part-time
business out of my home with table-top, studio, sports, and nature
photography. I am considering the Nikon D-1 and Nikon lenses.
My question is general in nature...Is the D-1 the best bang for the buck?
I need to provide quality to my business customers. Will the file sizes
generated in the D-1 be suitable for a Professional career in this field?
I realize the scope of my applications is great but I don't have more
than 20-30K to spare to start this part-time pursuit.
My bread and butter comes from strategic business Web consulting with
large customers but business analysis and technical documentation leaves
me with no creative outlet. (I think I might be left and right brained)
If I'm going to get into photography as a serious hobby, I might as well
get paid for it. At least if just to pay for the equipment over the
years.
Side question...I checked into some Nikon lenses...why are some 400mm
lenses 8-10K while others are 1-2k? I assume is has something to do with
speed of adjustments with AF and other variables. This application is
sports photography.
I appreciate any help here.
--
Geoff Kirkwold
Does any of this thread bother anyone in the least other than me? I know
I'll get slammed but thats ok. I still want to throw my two cents in. It
seems strange that someone with such a lack of knowledge(see question
posted in the above thread about long lens) is preparing to start
charging the public for photographic services and is seeking advise from
pros in the field to accomplish this. Heres a website consultant who
wants to shoot sports for web pages,do studio work and charge clients for
it. It also means some else isn't going to be hired for the work. I have
a good business and don't feel threatned by this but I do feel insulted a
bit. I have worked long and hard for many years to refine my photography,
to respect both the craft and the work that others have done. Inherent in
this question I believe is a lack of repect for the work that
professionals do day in and day out. It seems to imply that photography
is equipment and little else and that with a little basic knowledge most
anyone can do this . Get the tools and I too can build a house. I think
most anyone who does this for a living has seen it may times over.
Reminds me of a story about a writer who was at a party. A surgeon was
speaking to the writer saying that he would also like to write a book
about a very similar experience that he had that the writer had based his
story on but that he, the surgeon "just didn't have enought time" to
write it.
The writer replied that he too wanted to do surgery but that he was also
to tied up in his workto find the time to do it.
I wonder what typerwriter Hemmingway used and if this gave him an
advantage over Steinbeck.
OH well, I feel better now. Take care everyone.
Regards,
Laurin
Laurin,
You seem like an articulate and thoughtful person so I will go easy on
you. In response to your post to my request for advice on the ProDigital
forum:
Do you feel Web consulting and photography are worlds apart as are a
writer and a surgeon? I think not. I am drawn into photography as it is
a natural compliment to Web development and communication as a whole.
For me to justify spending tens of thousands of dollars on camera
equipment, I am putting my feelers out into a larger world of
photography. I will never make the kind of money in photography that I
do in Web but I need a creative outlet and have the opportunity to shoot
college level sports with a press pass. Just in the right place and the
right time. FYI, I only charge this client $25/hr because he is first my
good friend and second my client. There is no way you or any other pro
would ever work for him because he's too thrifty. I do it for a hobby
and he pays my car gas and beer money.
Now, since you feel your advice is worth big bucks and therefore persons
should not share knowledge in a forum, what is a forum for? Really smart
people to get smarter? Or do you oppose rookies like me getting smarter?
If it makes you feel better, I would be happy to share my Web knowledge
with you or any other Pro Photographer in an equal amount that is shared
with me. We all have something to gain then.
Nobody lacks respect for your photography skills or the years it took to
refine them. But being selfish with that knowledge implies that I will
abuse your trust or otherwise harm your business practice. I have been
in the Web world since the beginning and I do not remember a time when I
was NOT personally training a young college-age "Webbie wannabe" into
the art of building Web sites and running their own professional
business. It takes me at least a year of energy on each one and I do it
for free most of the time. Other times, they help me paint my house. I
know they are being groomed to be future competitors, but mutual respect
will handle most conflict. Besides, they could be a great ally in times
of need as well.
As to your comments on the difficulty of photography...I agree there is
much to the art and it is an art. But the fundamental concepts of
photography are simple, tried and true. The only thing that changes in
photography is the technology. People that buy from you are interested
in the composition, color, mood, creativity, expressionism, and the sort.
I suspect most clients care less about what lense was used as long as the
final product is what they need.
Don't over estimate the knowledge needed for your craft. Bright people
with natural ability and hard work can learn everything necessary to be
viable professionals in a year or two. I suspect you view your
photography more as art and less as business. That's fine. I'm an
entrepeneur looking to cost-justify a large equipment expense by taking a
year or two to learn the finer art or photography and make it a business
add-on. I have a brother who is a fine-art grad from a state u and he
owns his own business in multimedia. Terrible businessman...excellent
artist. His snooty attitude toward everything being art has destroyed
numerous relationships with good paying clients. Now he's looking to
sell his business that's worth nothing. People still buy from people.
There is a huge market for photography that will never win awards.
My skills with the Web came too from hard work...even graduate school in
software design. Trust me when I tell you, learning about photography
provides my brain with a break, not a stress. I have also helped to
build houses from scratch, and trust me, they're not that hard to build.
With a basic set of knowledge, you too could build a house. Don't be
afraid to learn about building houses.
I am curious what you think of Leonardo DaVinci? Was he too trying to be
a surgeon and a writer? Did he aim too high and try too many new things?
I'm only 31. Am I a fool to think that when I'm 35 I will purchase a
woodworking shop for my home and build my own beds, tables and dressers?
Am I unrealistic that when I'm 40 I want to write music (a hobby from my
youth) and try to publish some of it. Am I a freeking lunatic to think
that age 45 I might take up painting as hope to sell some of it! Kudos
to those who want to be stuck in the same career their whole life. It's
just not for me. A true artist sees their life, knowledge and
experiences as the canvas to be explored...not just the physical canvas
in and of itself.
Well Lauren, your lack of depth and ignorance of human understanding
leaves me feeling sorry for you. Not in a smug way but as a fellow
travler on the same road. Sad to see you stuck in a mud puddle and claim
no others may enter with ease. In the bigger picture of life,
photography is so insignificant as is any other career pursuit. Careers
are our mud puddle. Next time, defend your family or religion with this
type of overreactive vigor, but don't make photography a battleground of
ill will. How many homeless people will you help today?
