A “Tough Love” email Q&A (warning: this is long)
I often get emails asking for advice, and I try to answer everyone (sometimes it’s hard and takes way too long, but I try!).
The email that I got on Sunday was very similar to many of the emails I’ve gotten before: asking questions about beach photo sessions, equipment, business, clients, etc. I thought about my response for a VERY long time before typing it up & sending it.
My answers weren’t all butterflies sparkles & sunshine, which is why I thought so much about it before sending it. Anyone who knows me well will tell you: I’m honest. Sometimes brutally honest. I think it’s the best way to go. What you see is what you get with me, and if I give you advice, it’s my honest no-sunshine-up-your-booty attempt to help you improve. If you don’t like it, that’s fine. We’ll both move on.
I thought posting my response up here would give good insight into my beach sessions, and my business.
So, here I am, in all of my meanie glory:
Hi ********,
I apologize in advance, but I’m gonna go “Tuff Love” on you. Hopefully it will help you (and not hurt too much… I’m really sorry if it hurts!!) Now that I’ve got you all scared… read my answers below…
Hi Carrie.
My name is spelled Carey. When you email someone asking for advice, figure out how his/her name is spelled. It will get you off on the right foot.
I am so sorry to bother you but your name is the first whom I thought of when I got a recent request for a session. You see…I’m a newbie photographer from *******. We just moved from ******to ****** We’ve been here in ******** for about 3 months now and I am trying desperately to get my name out there and get my business up and off the ground. Well…long story short…I finally got my first booking here this coming Tuesday. The request is for a beach portrait session.
Awesome! give it time… best to build slowly than be a “flash in the pan”
Needless to say, I am a panic stricken mess. Beings that I am from ********, I have very little experience shooting on the beach for sunset sessions. Other than my own children, I’ve never shot in the sun or on the beach like that.
So you’ve never done a professional session on the beach? You need to take that out of your business marketing. The logo you attached at the bottom of this email says “BEACH, FAMILY, ENGAGEMENT….” The first word in your slogan is something you’ve never done professionally???? Not good.
I’m excited to have my first client here and am praying like mad that I don’t mess this session up.
Praying is great. I pray before every session of mine.
Good preparation, experience, excellent equipment, and confidence are just as important.
Here is where you come in…
I know how awesome you are about helping others with photography. I was wondering if you might have a second to send me some tips for shooting sunset portraits on the beach. I know to begin shooting about an hour before sundown but what in the world do I do in the meantime with all of that harsh light on the skin tones?
Starting an hour before sunset is too starting too late. It takes a while for the kids to “warm up” for the session, and the good light is already gone. The best light, typically, is 90-50 minutes before sunset. That can be changed by clouds, smog, crowds, and lots of other things beyond your control. Once you get close to sunset, the sun starts falling FAST, the light gets REALLY red/orange because it’s traveling through so much atmosphere (even worse if it’s smoggy), and the light gets dim. I highly recommend starting well before 60 minutes before sunset!
I had some questions and wondered if you could answer them and send me any advice you might have for a first timer. I feel so under skilled for this assignment but have not told the client that. So…if you have the time in between now and Tuesday. ….
Do you spot meter when shooting in the sun to avoid the shadows and if so…how?
I use evaluative (matrix) metering for images with sand & sky. I use center-weighted metering for closeups where the background doesn’t matter to me as much. I never use spot metering for outdoor sessions (that’s because I shoot in Av mode, and the shutter speed that the camera would choose via spot metering wouldn’t produce pleasing results for my clients).
Do you use a flash for fill light to avoid shadows or do you instead use a reflector?
Nope. See THIS post for a little bit of insight into my lack of “stuff”
Do you shoot in the shade until the sun begins going down or are you shooting on the beach in direct light for that whole hour before?
Full sun. I’m lucky if I find some shade, but that’s rare.
Do you shoot in manual or aperture priority for shoots with kids on the beach?
Av mode. I choose the aperture ## and let the camera choose the shutter speed. Works best for me. Many photographers shoot in manual, choosing the aperture & shutter speed themselves. That doesn’t work for me.
Whichever mode you shoot on, what do you typically keep you settings at?
The lowest I can use, except for group shots. For groups, I want to make sure everyone is in focus, and that won’t happen at f/2.8, so I dial in a higher number.
I have a 50mm 1.4, a 105mm macro, a 12-24mm wide angle, and a 70-300mm lens. Which would you use on this shoot & why?
“which would you use and why?” That sounds like a high school essay question. heehee
You didn’t include the f/##s on all of those lenses, so it’s hard to say which would be best. I’d probably use the 50mm because I’m guessing that’s the highest-quality lens that you’ve got. Macro isn’t versatile enough for an entire session. 12-24 wide angle is very wide, and it probably doesn’t have a pro-level f/##. Most 70-300 lenses are plastic f/3.5-5.6, so I’m just guessing that you’ve got one like that. It’s not a really great lens. It would be OK if you really knew what you’re doing on the beach, but since you’re already worried about handling the light & the environment, you’ll want to use the best lens you’ve got: the 50mm 1.4.
Should you have any other advice or suggestions, I’d greatly appreciate your input. Your images and your talents are amazing and I’ve always enjoyed your blog updates and your sites. You have ROCKIN’ abilities and are truly someone I look up to. Beings that you specialize in these type settings and because you are a skilled photographer who has always been there to help other newbies, I knew I had to ask you for help.
Sorry if I am too hard on you. But, I really think you should do more free or VERY low cost “portfolio building” beach sessions before you start marketing yourself as a professional beach photographer. It’s clear that you’re not confident yet, and that confidence will come with practice and experience. Taking your own kids out is great, but you already know that taking pictures of others is MUCH better for building experience & confidence.
You were very honest with her is a very kind way. I would not feel put down or offended by that advice at all–I would feel encouraged and guided.
You get props for being honest and not just handing out the advice she wanted to hear, but added “motherly” or “from experience” advice. Good for you!!
I really hope she learns from this experience and is successful for the sake of her client and then continues to practice–or even admits to her client that she is new at Beach photog and the charge will reflect that.
My 2 cents, Joanne
Carey, that was a fine response. Tough love is a heck of a lot better than a pissed client, especially a pissed client that may leave you a bad review on Google or Yelp or tell all their friends you suck!
I’m new to photography but not new to business. I have been shocked looking through craigslist at all the so called photographers who obviously have no grasp on their equipment, sense of composition or dynamics of light. Not to mention most of the post processing is crazy bad! I honestly can’t believe people would advertise a “business” and have no idea what they are doing. So on that note… Carey, you are doing the right thing telling it to people strait
Keep up the good work!
***A quick note on business promotion so as not to discourage any up and coming talent.
Pushing yourself in business (photography in this case) is fine. Most good business people operate a little outside of their comfort zone. This helps promote personal growth and ultimately puts you ahead of the pack. But promising something you have no idea how to attain is way out of line! Know your skills and your equipment, if you feel like you are way outside of your comfort zone practice (for free) on some victims who know you are practicing. Don’t give yourself a bad name before you have any name at all. You will fail if you do this.
Well darn it. I just love you even if you are a meanie.
hahaa!! j/k. Great advice across the board.
Carey –
I want to thank you for posting this! It is wonderful that you can be so honest!