1 Year Shooting - Advice on Next Steps

D.S.

Hi everyone,

I'll be shooting 12 months now come July, and it's been a really fun journey so far, and I have to say, I have been seriously bitten by the photography bug (regardless of any ability / lack of natural ability!). I am looking for advice from any other togs out there as to how I move things forward to the next stage.

For the past year, I have been largely focused on natural light photography - landscapes and portraits. I have become more and more interested in portrait photography lately - though all my portraits are family portraits (my partner and/or 1 year old son).

I am at a stage where I am really enjoying what I am doing but I want to keep pushing (and am not entirely sure where to go next). One avenue I would love to explore is more serious portrait photography (natural light first, then maybe moving to strobes which I haven't done yet). If I go down this route, I am probably keen to explore the more creative / arty side of things. At the moment, I am not interested in doing anything as a business / service (and wouldn't assume my work would be good enough anyway), as I want to keep full creative control over what I am trying to do.

Does any body who has gone through a similar journey have any advice as to how I would transition into this side of things? I am self taught and haven't come from a photography college/design school so have no access to models / stylists / props etc and have no idea where to start.

Any advice would be great. I attach a link also to my flickr if any one has any general advice as to how to move to next level.

Thanks in advance,
Derek
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dereksheerin/

Paulw

Best advice -join a camera club. You will get varied experience there and it's a good way to learn from others.

There are also some groups on facebook for models, etc, where you can join up with other photographers for model shoots, etc.

Just keep having fun.

clintondaly

Great Pics on Flickr

squareballoon

Lovely pictures on Flickr! I think your landscape pictures are very strong. I love the pictures of your family too, I would just dial back on the creative edits just until you find a consistant style that works across them all. Joining a camera club is an excellent idea.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

Your pictures are amazing. I refuse to believe you have only been shooting for one year. They are professional shots in my eyes. Well done

amdgilmore

D.S. wrote: »

regardless of any ability / lack of natural ability!

You're a lot better than most 1 year photographers.

I agree with the comment by squareballoon above though - what's lacking is a consistency of style (which, to be fair, is one of the hardest things to achieve when you're starting out). I've been at it just a year longer than you and am only recently hitting upon a style I like - and even then I don't really feel 'settled'.

I also just started doing portrait shoots a couple of months ago. The Dublin Models group on Facebook is a really good resource for models and make-up artists. You should join and put up a post explaining where you're at with your photos and what you'd like to do in future. You've already got good photos so you'll get plenty of replies. I tend to pay the models, but you can specify that it's 'TFP' work (time for print - ie, all parties working for free but the photos are not for commercial use) if paying isn't an option.

Since you don't have any model shots in your portfolio, you may need to message a moderator first with a link to your portfolio and explaining why you want to join.

Good luck.

Gehad_JoyRider

Honestly I think you should keep doing what your doing.. Don't pay attention to any one, photography's an entirely emotional creative experience for you, asking people what they think you should be doing is like asking advice on what you should do with your life. Read look at your favorite photographers don't try to copy them but draw some element of there over all composition and use that to help create your own, there's no such thing as an original image how ever you can certainly. Use other work to booth inspire your style.

As for an over all style I see quite graphic images with great lines. I think there's a lot of investment in time you've take time to learn how to shoot your processing is very clean, I m not the biggest fan of the kids eyes i think there a little two bright and over powering in terms of what ever your using to boost them there a little strong that's the only thing I have to say.

Get a good monitor and you'll be sorted... Carry on the good work.

ComeraghBlue

Fantastic portrait images there on your Flickr

D.S.

Thanks all for the commentary and feedback.

@PaulW - I am based in Melbourne and while there is a long standing camera club around the corner from where I live, I went a few times and found the atmosphere v negative (a much older crowd where there wasn't a huge amount of creativity, and new ideas were put down actively )

@squareballoon / amdgilmore /gehad- I agree with both of you on creative edits / eyes. I v much still in a phase where I am experimenting with different styles of edits (both overly PP'd and under pp'd). I suppose i am trying to a) pick up skills and b) figure out what styles work and don't work for me. Definitely need to find a rhythm and personal style but reckon I'll probably keep experimenting (sometimes wildly) for awhile yet..

In terms of trying to explore more of the 'creative'/'arty' side of things - I'll hunt around for another camera club and see how they do things. I might also try and find some link minded models/stylists who might be willing to do a free shoot in exchange for some free captures for their portfolios.

Sabre Man

Marcelo Enough Pensioner wrote: »

Your pictures are amazing. I refuse to believe you have only been shooting for one year. They are professional shots in my eyes. Well done

I couldn't agree more.

dantastic

I have nothing to add here, your photos are ****ing awesome!

mystic86

Holy **** those are some great photos on Flickr! I've only started a few months ago and I was reasonably happy with my progress, now I'm feeling pretty crap again! ha

Do you do much post processing? A lot of those photos look like they've been through some editing or filters or something... though I don't know what i'm talking about really.

D.S.

mystic86 wrote: »

Holy **** those are some great photos on Flickr! I've only started a few months ago and I was reasonably happy with my progress, now I'm feeling pretty crap again! ha

Do you do much post processing? A lot of those photos look like they've been through some editing or filters or something... though I don't know what i'm talking about really.

Hey there mystic - thanks!

Yes recently I am doing a fair bit of pp and am trying lots of different styles and techniques. To be honest, I am still learning, and do look back on those flickr shots with conflicting emotions. At this stage - they are more of a record of the learning process I am on..

In terms of my in camera process - I have read a lot on compositional techniques, and light management. Will try and find nice natural light conditions (e.g. sunrise/sunset) or use reflectors / diffusers to manage light (for portraits). This for me makes the biggest difference to an image. If it's not right in camera, pp can't make a bad image into a better one.

In terms of post, I use lightroom to manage exposure, contrast, lights / shadows, saturation and luminance at a global level. I then normally use gradient filters and radial filters to do some light mapping (essentially trying to manage where the eye moves to in the frame in conjunction with composition), then usually I do some work in photoshop using layers and masks. Sometimes I do v little - just some colour management and dodging & burning, and selective sharpening. Sometimes I'll have an idea in my head and will do a lot (e.g. using textures to create different looks and feel, trying to create a film look).

I read a lot and watch a lot of tutorials. I definitely have the bug. It seems everywhere you go, there is something new to learn. Photography a huge topic really. Started reading about colour theory last weekend, and how colours mean different things to different cultures, and different things to consider with colour palettes, and it blew my mind how massive a topic it is in it's own right.

I like messing around in photoshop to be honest. You can get v creative (though it takes things away from the more natural / documentary / reportage style). But, i'll only do it for 1% of my images, as you can lose at lot of time. Youtube is great - tonnes of free tutorials. Just got a Wacom tablet today, so looking forward to giving that a go at the weekend..

Myksyk

D.S. ... I think it would be an entirely good idea if you got a lot worse ... and stopped making the rest of us newbies feel inadequate!

slowcyclist

Really wonderful photos on Flickr Derek - I'm already following you! I can't believe you're only at this a year. Well done.

IHPhoto

Lovely work in such a short period of time