Joe Thomas wrote:

Okay, well photography is currently a part-time hobby for you.  I think the question in my mind after reading your post is what do you want it to become?  Do you want it to become a full-time job?  Or do you want to continue it as a hobby? 

Right now, I don't want my photography to turn into a full-time job, although that may change anytime in the future.  Seeing as that I am not married to it as my life support I can photograph what I want in the way I want.  And if someone else doesn't like my ideas or style then that isn't a deal breaker for me. 

So the first thing I would suggest to you to you is to clarify how serious you are with your photography.

Good point. I would prefer this remain a hobby and nothing more. I care some how others view my work, but it doesn't drive my work. I want to make images that I feel proud of and others may find joy in viewing. I know I can't please everyone, but I'd at least like to have the ability to interest some and possibly inspire a few.

twodogsphotography wrote:

Photons 2 Pixels wrote:

First my background. I never had any formal classes/training in photography or art or anything related. Everything I know (which admittedly isn't much) I learned online (especially the forums), through books, and by experimentation. I've been at this for 2 years now part time as a hobby. I don't make money from "model photography" and I'm not trying to do so. I've probably had about 15-20 shoots total with models.

What I need advice on is where to go from here. I look at my crap and that's exactly what I think...crap. I don't compare my work to anyone else's. Do you think I have potential to improve and be at least decent? Is there anything I'm doing right? Is there anything I'm doing wrong that I should change so I don't develop bad habits?

I'm not looking for a quick fix, just general guidance and hopefully an idea that I'm not stuck on a plateau with no way off.

My own advice to myself would be to take classes but unfortunately, that isn't an option right now with my varying work schedule.

I've been doing model photography for about a year, before that it was mostly nature, bugs flowers and the dogs. I lurked on Fredmiranda.com in the people forum, they give honest no holds barred critiques on people pictures and there are some very good photographers giving their opinion. It was there I found out about MM and models. I highly recommend reading the forums on FM for people and weddings. I learned quite a lot by looking at a picture and reading what people say about it.

There is no way that with practice you won't improve you may not think so over the short term but if you go back 6 months a year you'll see a huge difference in your work. If you don't like the pictures you take now find a different genre closeups, head shots indoor B&W, experiment, buy picture books, used photography books are cheap on Amazon, try to copy the ones you like, I do :)It gives me a goal when shooting rather than just find a model and take pictures.

Take lots of pictures

Thanks. I'm also on photo.net and they do the same there. There are a lot of good photographers who offer advice. I've received some there as well as browsing through the photos and looking at comments. That does help some.

Lots of pictures. Will do. Thanks for the advice.

If I understand you correctly, you are saying you are primarily a hobbyist.
Enjoy it, don't be in a heated rush to make a living from it.
For one thing the market is really rough.
The pros are being substituted with the uncle with the SLR that doesn't need to be paid.
Once they find out uncle bob has no clue what he is doing, the wedding or whatever is over.

Right now you are at the best point of photography.
You don't have to conform to someone else's vision.
You are free to develop your own style and your own mark.
If you start doing whatever other people want, you have no time to find out who you are as an artist.

Once you have your own style and you bring it to a higher level then you will stand out from the other million photographers and wanna be photographers.

I started creating bizarre images just to see if I could.
That's what I became known for.
A friend of mine, Dave, can bring a true smile out of anyone.
Another friend Danny, is a master of black and white.
Yet another friend Kevin, uses his models and backgrounds to create deep and powerful stories.
We can do what others do but not everyone can do what we do.

Once you fully develop your own style, you will be able to do what others do but no one will be just like you.

When someone wants a photographer, you will be able to do that.
When someone wants YOU, no one else will be able to take your place.

Take this hobby time to figure out who you are as an artist, and why no one can take your place.