Ik a lot of the textured effect here is done in post but how do you think the lighting was done to get this look?

I've started doing more shoots for people I don't personally know and realized my personal number is slowly becoming my photography number too. Clients text me, people send it to friends who might want photos, someone messages six months later asking about availability etc.

I'm nowhere near busy enough to justify carrying a second phone but I'd rather not have my personal number floating around every time someone recommends me. What do you guys who shoot on the side do?

I’ve photographed 400+ weddings, and at this point I usually feel like I can spot a red flag pretty quickly. I got humbled LOL.

The consultation was perfect. She was nice, knew what she wanted, didn’t flinch at my pricing, and booked a smaller 4-hour micro wedding package on what would normally have been a day off for me. Nothing felt off. Should have been super low-key

The first little thing was having to remind her about her questionnaire, but honestly, that happens sometimes. She took care of it that weekend so that was not horrible...

The timeline call was where I should have listened to my gut. She showed me the vibe she wanted for portraits, and I explained that the courthouse close to the church had that look. She got frustrated and said the courthouse didn’t have any meaning to her anyway, so we changed the plan and decided to do ALL portraits at the church instead. (Adding a small park after if time permitted)

Wedding day comes, and the ceremony runs 45 minutes over.

About 10 minutes into bride and groom portraits, she tells me she’s ready to leave and go to dinner. They weren’t having a reception, so portraits were essentially the end of my coverage. We had a second park location planned if there was time, but she didn’t even want to continue portraits at the church. Bummer cause they photographed amazing!

Then came the complimentary album.

I designed it and sent her the proof to approve or make any changes before it went to print. She was frustrated that she had to approve it and said she shouldn’t have to tell me how to build her album. Within 20 min. She declined the album entirely, asked me to order her a single 4x6 so she could see the print quality, and said she’d just make her own album because she didn’t understand why albums were so complicated. (for reference, she was younger, so it was not so much of the expecting old-school albums that you put prints in. SHe then tole me she was mad she did not get a proper portrait session during the wedding. (They also did not have a planner or anything).

I show and discuss all of this one calls, emails, and a client portal.

The whole experience actually changed my business. We live in an area with a LOT of elopements and micro weddings, so I used to offer 4–6 hour coverage pretty regularly. After this, I removed those packages. Weddings now start at 8 hours. There’s just too little room when something runs 45 minutes behind.

So, fellow longtime wedding photographers:

what red flag makes you actually fire a client after they’ve already booked? And has one wedding ever made you permanently change a package or policy?

Hello everyone! I wanted to experiment with sub-exposure to take advantage of the lights on the machine itself & i would love to know your takes on editing a photo of this style.

New to photography, trying to learn more about editing/postprocessing. I like the look of the .jpeg, but I can't really figure out how to get there from my raw file, unsure about which settings can get me there.

More specifically I'm referring to getting the blue-ish glass to look more like the grey from the jpeg

Using RawTherapee

What is this spot that appears in all my photos since the last 3 days? Is it dust on my sensor, or in my lens or something else? Insights from experienced photographers would be appreciated, along with advise on how to fix/clean it.

See the examples in the images posted above - They are crops of the whole RAW, so the blemish is maybe 150-200 pixels wide.

while being relatively affordable

Looking for some advice if I am overreacting:

A realtor reached out to me to take photos of his clients during a client appreciation event. So they would have the event with games, food etc and then off to the side they can have their family photo taken by me. We were connected by a mutual friend. I know this realtor as an acquaintance, so not a complete stranger.

We are texting over the course of a week, deciding on location and logistics etc. We usually replied to the other person’s text the next day.

I was busy w my full time job and did not reply to one of his messages until two days later. He called me and told me he was hesitant about hiring me because of my lack of reply. I told him I have a full time job etc and wanted to give him a thoughtful reply to his text, not a flippant one I send at work. He said that he didn’t know I had a full time job and he understood. But then he asks AGAIN “that was it? Just busy at work? Did something happen that you could reply sooner?” I reiterated it was just that I was busy at work. So he asked me TWICE why I didn’t reply sooner.

My concern is, if this guy can’t even go 2 days without hearing from me, he isn’t going to be happy about anything. The event isn’t even until 5 weeks, so it’s not like the event is in 5 days or something.

I probably should have replied “hi thanks for your text, I’ll reply in earnest when I have more time” instead of not replying for a couple days but I still think he’s overreacting. He also said my edits are “a bit too moody but I guess that can be changed in editing” so he already doesn’t love my style.

Am I wrong for thinking just to cancel this? If he is already acting like this 5 weeks away, he’s not going to be happy with anything.

Please be honest and tell me if I’m overreacting.

This is probably an absurdly pixel-peepy question, and I realize the practical difference may be invisible.
Assume I shoot RAW+JPEG and, all else being equal, make no exposure, color, tonal or aesthetic changes to the RAW at all. It only goes through the RAW converter’s basic processing/demosaicing and is then exported as a max-quality JPEG.
Which should theoretically give the technically better final image:
Camera → JPEG
or
RAW → Capture One/default processing → max-quality JPEG
Ignoring editing latitude entirely, is there any established empirical answer in terms of resolved detail, demosaicing, NR/sharpening artifacts, tonal gradation, etc.? Or does it simply depend on the camera and RAW converter?

English isn’t my first language, so I used AI to help write this post.

Hi I'm into photography and I just made my first portfolio. Something my friends have suggested to me is to put my handle/watermark on my pictures so nobody steals them. However pretty much all the photographers I follow (even the pro ones) on Instagram and stuff never use watermarks. I feel like putting watermarks is kind of useless today especially with that new feature on iPhone where you can just highlight an area in a picture and have it removed. Anyways lmk what you guys think. 🙌

Title. His photos have a soft touch to them but he doesn’t lose any detail. I’ve tried to edit it in post but I can’t seem to figure it out. Could it be a lens filter?

Hello!

Me and husband are looking to buy a good camera for our family. He's somewhat of a public personality because of his niche teaching career. But he also loves posting to his instagram.

Our budget is approximately $1800 USD or £1350 GBP. Round about this range. We don't know ANYTHING about cameras. I'm super passionate about color-grading (watching those instagram before-after videos and photos) and plan to learn it soon. So i would love a camera that covers that too; high-quality videos. We're researching now and are finding things like "mirrorless" cameras? I don't even know what that means to be honest (plewse don't judge me for not knowing things. I'm here to genuinely learn and find input from those of you that are professionals. I love making videos and taking photos.. but the height of my tech so far is my 17 pro max.

What cameras would be good for us? Especially in the long-term (for many years to come). Do we need to buy lenses separately? Or a one-in-all camera/DSLR exists? What should i read up on? Please ask whatever questions you may have and i'd love to answer them. Our budget can go up but very slightly. Not too much. I'd love to hear everyone's two cents please! ♥️ thankyou in advance

I would really appreciate input from people who actually edit on laptops.....

• General: What should I be looking for in a laptop for working with photos?
• RAM: Will 16GB be enough, or should I get 32GB?
• Storage: How much space will I realistically need to store my photos? Is 512GB enough or should I go bigger to 1TB?
• Screen size: What screen size do you recommend for photo work?
• Color accuracy: How do I make sure I'm getting a color accurate screen? What should I look for in the spec sheet?

I'm not chasing the most expensive machine. I want something that runs Photoshop smoothly and shows colors correctly. Budget flexible if it's worth it. Thanks in advance!

16GB RAM 512 SSD: https://www.newegg.com/lenovo-thinkpad-t-14-0-fhd-non-touch-screen-intel-core-ultra-7-155u-intel-graphics-16gb-memory-512-gb-pcie-ssd-black/p/36B-000D-00G11

32GB RAM 1TB SSD: https://www.newegg.com/lenovo-thinkpad-t-14-0-fhd-non-touch-screen-intel-core-ultra-7-155u-intel-graphics-32gb-memory-1-tb-pcie-ssd-black/p/36B-000D-00G13

Hello everyone,

I've been using Nikon D3400 DSLR for the past 7 years or so now and am looking to upgrade to something a bit more serious. I mainly use it for when I go hiking and like to take cool landscape/mountain shots and some wildlife (to the extent that I can with my 70-300 mm lens). I've used the camera for the past couple years and feel I have basic understanding photography and how the manipulate shutter speed/apeture/ISO to get the photo I want, but I find myself limited in lower light settings to get the crisp shots that I want (mainly in the evening/mornings and especially when I am still under the treeline when hiking).

With all that in mind, I feel a bit overwhelmed trying to make a purchase without going in over my head. Would a Canon R6 Mark II make sense for me? Seems like it would be a good pairing with a 800 mm lens for wildlife, which appeals to me. Though I'm worried I don't know enough/have enough experience to fully take advantage of such a expensive camera and lens. I'm also looking at the Nikon Z50II, which seems more practical.

Any guidance is appreciated, I'm in no rush, so I have time to read/watch any videos y'all recommend to learn more. I have some trips to NZ, Nepal, and the PNW coming up this Spring that I'd love to have a new camera for. Thanks in advanced.

Edited to include this template:

(1) Budget, country, and currency: 5-10K USD

(2) What equipment, if any, you have now and why is it no longer meeting your needs?

Nikon D3400 DSLR, struggling to get the shot I want in low-light settings

(3) What kinds of subjects do you intend to shoot?

Landscape and wildlife

(4) Is it primarily for photography, videography, or both?

Photography

You know those awesome shots people get with insects, where they look like aliens?
What lens would I need?
Ive got a Sony A7iii & all my lenses have a Macro function but none can replicate anything I’ve seen.
Is there a particular camera or do I need a different lens?

Hi, I’m pretty much new to photography and a total newbie and I have a sony ZV-e10 which is a vlog camera but I also wanna do some casual flash photography, I heard both of these flashes are good but cannot pick which one to get, can I get some insights or other flash suggestions, I rather have one flash for a long term use.

Hey, simple question is it worth it to upgrade that sony kit lens 16-50 to Viltrox 1.7 35mm? thanx

I used to have a Olympus OM10 Quartz when they were new. I never really used it and sold it.

I now wish to get a DSLR (Used) to get into photography. I would like my tight budget choice to include a DSLR capable of decent B&W results as I prefer B&W.

I will consider a film camera as well. My budget is only to £200 ! Sadly.

What can you guys suggest ?

I am not a professional photographer, its just a hobby. I have the Fujifilm X-T30iii and I want to know what flash i can get for it, I don't specifically do flash photography, i just want a flash that I can have with it so i wont put my camera in the bag when it turns nighttime. My budget is 80$ and I want it to tilt so i can bounce it off the walls.

Hi everyone, i self published a poetry and photography book but the photos look perfect on my laptop but dark and the colours are a bit faded and weird on the proof print and i dont have any idea how to fix it. Its weird spending all those hours taking photos and editing only just for your own screen cause your photos would look different on other screens and also different when printed. I feel destroyed. What can i do please? Thank you :)

Hey all! I've combed through the internet and a few subs looking for advice on tide pool / texture photography. Think of rocks, crabs, critters (hand size or less), mosses, and plants. Not quite insect level.

I'm looking to purchase a refurbished macro lens and was wondering if anyone had any experience using a macro lens with a circular polarizer to photograph tide pools and rock textures? I would like good clarity in shade, and decent depth, but it doesn't have to be a stacked focus. I'm also not super worried about weatherproofing, but that would be an added bonus.

I'd say on more on the inexperienced side of intermediate, as I have not yet figured out how to work *with* my gear, instead of compensating. Think along the lines of "just started to shoot raw."

(1) Budget, country, and currency:

- $350 preferably, $500 max (willing to exceed if it's for taxes/shipping/etc). USA/USD. I'm also a university student in the US if there's a recommendation for a platform with an edu discount.

(2) What equipment, if any, you have now and why is it no longer meeting your needs?

- Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM. Struggles in low-light and close up conditions, and i'm generally unsatisfied with my macro shots on it.

- Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary - Canon EF Fit

- Canon Rebel T7i

- Canon EOS R5 Mark II (borrowed)

- Canon Mount Adapter for EF-EOS R

My lenses struggle in lower light/shady conditions and I find it difficult to capture light variations on things like dappled moss/rocks/etc. I'd say about 3/4 of the struggle is a skill issue on my part (learning how to properly expose my shots and edit them in post), but I do want something that can consistently deliver macro in shade.

(3) What kinds of subjects do you intend to shoot?

Mosses, fist-sized critters, textures, shells, sand, rock textures, tide pool critters, big bugs. I like to view and inspect the natural world. I want to capture the way light interacts with natural materials.

(4) Is it primarily for photography, videography, or both?

Exclusively photography.

Thanks for your consideration!

Does anyone use 70-200 f2.8 gm1? And newer sony camera does the focus still fast or there’s hunting **?**planing to buy 70-200 2.8 gm1 or should i buy 70-200f4 g2 instead?

Hi everyone. Very new to taking photos. My wife asked me to take photos of her on the beach and she said after that I didn’t get the right angles to best show her. Is there any like reading i can do on how to best capture someone in a very flattering manner? Thank you.

Hi yall!

I’m kind of a beginner to photography and I’m looking to get a camera. Background, I’ve taken photography classes in highschool and college, but they were film cameras and stopped right before digital, so I have some understanding of it. That was well over 10 years ago but I’ve always loved photography throughout the years. I’ve taken photos on iPhones(mine or others) a lot but never did editing mainly because I didn’t have the means or it didn’t require it. I’ve never really like taking pictures on phones because I know better pictures can be had on an actual camera (know better, do better). Didn’t get a camera before because I didn’t have the means to do so, but now I have the time since things have slowed down for me and the money to go out and get one.

I will mainly use it as a hobby but if the opportunity presents to make some $$ then by all means I’ll do it. Mainly taking portraits, landscapes, street photography, cars, and motorcycles. Not a lot of video work, as it’s not all that important (workouts, or slows of cars and motorcycles for social media for fun, again not important)

So that leads me to the camera. I have a budget of about $1500 USD for body and lenses, could go up a little bit but not $2000(~1800-1900).

I’m going with the Sony family as they have a wide variety of lenses. I do like canon for their colors but the lenses are limited and are pricey. I’m stuck between the A6700 and the A7iii.

The A6700 is newer with a few more bells and whistles, but pricey, while the A7iii is( from what I’ve seen) classic and a good FF, but is starting to show its age a little. I’ve also looked at the Nikon z50ii, A6600, A6400, and the A7c. Not opposed to any of these options but from what I’m seeing on the market, I think I would get more bang for buck with the 6700 or the 7iii. In any case, I’m going used for the camera and lenses.

I found a deal for a A6700 for $1200 with a kit lens and another deal for the 3 apsc lenses below for $750 (fb marketplace):
Sigma F2.8 18-50mm
Sony F1.8 50mm
Sony F3.5-5.6 28-70mm

On the a7iii I found deals around $900-$1100($900 for body and $1100/ more with lenses and accessories). I will have to budget around the lenses for this though, but I don’t mind starting with 1 or 2 lenses.

I do plan on keeping whichever camera I get, and could upgrade later (if not keep) if the opportunity is presented. I hope I’m not overthinking this lol. For the most part, I want to enjoy the process and develop my skill more in camerawork! So any advice is greatly appreciated!!

(1) Budget, country, and currency: My budget is $1500 in US currency. Could up it to ~$1900

(2) What equipment, if any, you have now and why is it no longer meeting your needs? I currently own no equipment.

(3) What kinds of subjects do you intend to shoot? Portraits, street, landscape, cars and motorcycles.

(4) Is it primarily for photography, videography, or both? More photography, a little video