How to Start a Photography Business with No Experience
We’ve all heard that statistic that 80% of businesses fail within their first year, I’d say that percentage rises even higher for photographers.
It’s just the sad truth of the industry that many families own a DSLR, and are happy with good enough because they haven’t seen, or don’t need extraordinary. As a marketing consultant, I’ve worked with many businesses who don’t need to hire for headshots, when Bob in accounting has a DSLR. I’ve worked high profile events where a headshot was sent in last minute via their iPhone.
Micro Four Thirds vs Full Frame: 9 Side-by-Side Comparisons
One recurring theme in photography circles is that because of the smaller sensor, it can’t quite produce the quality a full frame sensor can. And that might be true at the pixel level. But we’re not looking at pixels, we’re looking at pictures. And that’s an important distinction I’d like to go over before we move on to comparisons.
Best Portrait Lenses for Micro Four Thirds (Panasonic/Olympus)
I started with Micro Four Thirds (m43) back when it began in 2009 with the Panasonic GF1. It was the first truly compact mirrorless camera, paired with the Panasonic 20mm f1.7 it could fit in a jacket pocket. Fast forward over a decade later and I’m still loyal to Micro Four Thirds, and one of my main cameras is the Panasonic G9.
My first portrait lens (and it was under $100)
In that decade I’ve used a myriad of portrait lenses, heck, back when they didn’t have any I adapted the legacy Canon FD 50mm f1.4 SSC. Offering a 100mm equivalent focal length on Micro Four Thirds cameras, it was a fantastic portrait lens to get started with:
Let’s in a lot of light in a dimly lit concert venue – Canon FD 50mm f1.4 SSC
Beautiful background blur, and stopped down the sharpness increases (at about ~f2.4 here)
Albeit, for me personally, it was a tad bit soft (compared to the premium lenses of today), and the colors and contrast were a bit flat (although that’s a plus for some, especially in video). Though today I wouldn’t recommend it for portraiture as prices have come down such that there are much better alternatives, it is all dependent on you.
As far as background blur, I’ve covered this in-depth with our comparison of Micro Four Thirds vs Full Frame. Essentially, you can blur the background – you just have to understand the term “full frame equivalent”. Micro Four Thirds has a 2x crop factor, in other words, the aforementioned Canon FD 50mm f1.4 would be a full frame equivalent of a 100mm, and f1.4 in terms of bringing in light, but f2.8 in terms of depth of field.
Senior Photos in Las Vegas + 7 Senior Pictures Tips!
Pssst!... I'm back in Las Vegas! Let's get creative with your Senior Photos session - anything your heart desires... and for 50% off the PRO package for a limited time only!
Hi, I'm Jay Soriano, Photographer. A specialist in portraiture, I can help get you senior photos you love, guaranteed.
Photography has always been my passion and I’m happy that I get paid for what I love to do, but it’s not about the money. That’s why I have a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee*, I’ll show you your photos throughout our session and if you don’t like what you see, you won’t have to pay me. No questions asked. I stand by my work & I want to deliver photos that you’ll love.
*Psst – this page of my portfolio page features mostly senior photos, For my individual portraits, and to learn a little bit more about me, please see my homepage – JaySoriano.com, and for the latest images, checkout my Instagram @jaysoriano.
Free/Cheap Photo Studio Rental Options, Advice from a Pro
Photo Studio
Whether you need a photo studio for a few hours, a few days a month, or you want to start your own photo studio for your photography business, As a portrait photographer, I’ve navigated all of the above and I’d love to share my thoughts to help out fellow photographers.
The Free Photo Studio
When I was in-between moves from Las Vegas to Vancouver, WA (a suburb of Portland, OR), I needed a place to shoot new clients for a month. I specialize in headshots and shoot predominantly on studio backgrounds, so I needed to find a solution.
A Brief History of Street Photography
An Amateur Kodak Snapshot Album, 1890-1892
The street photographer is thought to be the evolution of the flaneur — literally a “stroller” or “loafer.”
A flaneur is an observer. He is a “connoisseur of the street,” a spectator roaming the city to experience life as it unfolds before him.
And what better way to capture these experiences than with a camera?
But just as every person-shaped blur in half of the street photos on Instagram, the identity of street photography is almost impossible to define.
At best, we can only hope to arrive at a general area of definition where most photographers could agree with.
A Brief History of Headshot Photography
Jay Soriano, Headshot Photographer.
Among the many sub-genres of portrait photography, the headshot seems to be one of the easiest types to define.
Traditionally, headshots could very well be the only résumé every actor, musician, or model looking to land a job ever needed.
Casting directors know what they want from an actor, or at least an idea of what the actor should look like (in terms of facial features, age, etc) and how they would fit in the entire production. A great headshot would supply this information and then some.
A Brief History of Portrait Photography
Portrait photography is the process of taking a subject’s picture in an attempt to capture their personality. The element of consent separates portrait photography from every other type of photography involving people on the frame.
As Richard Avedon puts it, “A photographic portrait is a picture of someone who knows he is being photographed, and what he does with this knowledge is as much a part of the photograph as what he’s wearing or how he looks.”
As a headshot and portrait photographer capturing another human being’s personality or character — your subject’s “essence” — in a portrait takes mere hundredths of a second.
Photo Studio Rental in Vancouver, Washington (Near Portland)
I moved into Vancouver, Washington looking for a photo studio rental that had backgrounds and props that would differentiate me from other photographers, I couldn’t find any that matched my style. So I created my own and I’m offering it to other photographers for rent.
When I was searching for a photo studio rental, I wanted one without branding. Personally, I feel it doesn’t look good for me (or my clients) if I’m using another photographer’s studio covered with their branding, their photos on the wall, their marketing material, etc. But I couldn’t find any, especially under $50/hr!
This studio has zero branding, no logos, none of my photos, just access to awesome backgrounds and props!
Best Photo Shoot Locations in Vancouver, WA
If your a photographer in Vancouver, Washington, most of your business will likely be in Portland. But with 400,000+ (and counting) living in Vancouver, it’s time to start finding the best areas to shoot that are close to home. There are many parks, trails and historic elements that lead to beautiful photos. Having lived in Vancouver, WA most of my life, I’ve ventured across many areas and have a list of the best shooting locations in every area of Vancouver!
My best advice is to take note of the location, and scout it on Instagram before visiting.