All Photographers are Not Professional Photographers

A professional photographer is a skilled photographer that has dedicated their professional working life to partnering with you to create beautiful images of you, your children, your family.

Professional photographers not only know their equipment and know it well, they are also legitimate business owners who:

  • pay taxes
  • pay for their equipment and software with money they earn by providing this service
  • support their families with money they earn providing professional photography services

Professional photographers do not need to “portfolio build”, they already have a portfolio.  Professional photographers do not work for free: they understand that they provide a valuable service.  Professional photographers are much like professionals of other occupations, they have overhead and create photography not out of just love but out of a dedication to providing families with lifelong memories.

Some photographers participate in industry wide certification programs (i.e. Certified Professional Photographer), competition (competing nationally and internationally against other photographers), teaching/mentoring other photographers, writing about photography and reviewing equipment for trade publications, will mentor local photographers to achieve high quality photography as the norm within their area, work within the trade organizations to help maintain and/or create a sustainable profession where all learn and grow, etc.  A true professional photographer will have a large display of work available to look through on their website, will have a client list and should be willing to provide references, should be able to provide you with consistent and beautiful images and will partner with you to create images that you will be happy with for years to come.  A true professional photographer is not only a skilled artisan but also a business person like any other professional you may know.

This article was written by Marianne Drenthe and can be found at the Professional Child Photography site at http://www.professionalchildphotographer.com

Your first DSLR | Photographer Picks

What type of camera should I buy?

If I only had a dollar every time someone asked me this question. I'd probably would have bought my own pony by now.  The question usually puts my head in a tail spin. Here's why. Professional photographer equipment is expensive. It took me years to build up by spread and afford the lenses and full frame DSLR's I own now. To be honest, I have no idea. 

Technology moves pretty fast, what I learned on 7 years ago...Is probably for sale at a garage sale for about $50.  Before making the leap and investing in a new camera. The range of cameras available to consumers these days is impressive. The good news is, entry level DSLR cameras are at a price point accessible to most families. 

Buyers must keep in mind that more functionality and more bells and whistles usually comes with a higher price tag. 

I usually recommended for your first DSLR sticking with either a Cannon or NIkon. This is an an endless rival much like the sox and yankees. 

Who makes the best DSLRs, Canon or Nikon? It’s the impossible question. If it wasn't, one of these giants of the camera industry would be out of business by now.The fact is, Canon and Nikon offer some of the best cameras, lenses, flash systems and accessories – and they have done for years.

Whichever line you choose, you’re investing in an extensive, well-supported system that caters for everyone, from beginners to experts,

I myself...Have chosen Nikon...My reasoning when questioned. Is quite simple. Nikon branded itself with a celebrity.  One of the most prominent celebrity endorsement deals in the camera industry has been actor Ashton Kutcher serving as the face of Nikon. Since 2009,  Kutcher who has been appearing in commercials and print ads hawking Nikon digital cameras. This also happened to be the year I bought  my first DSLR. In 2012, TIME voted the partnership as" a top 10 celebrity tech endorsement" 

I as a "consumer" identified with ashton,, loved those quirky commercials and the rest is history. 

Nikon:1 Cannon: 0 

 I prefer ordering items for my business through amazon because

1. Their prime shipping membership is Amazing....They carry everything.  I also like the ease of returns with them.... I don't ever need to leave my house.

Quick facts you need to know

Lenses: Your most important accessory to a DSLR is the lens, or choice of lenses. If you are thinking about two different priced cameras, go for the lesser camera body and instead upgrade the lens. They are just that important to image quality, sharpness and ability to aut-o- focus quickly.

Megapixels:In some cases, too many megapixels may actually be a hurdle. If you don't have a high end computer with a fast processor and plenty of memory, you may not even be able to process an image from that 21.2MP.So while MPs are important, it is not the specification that should make or break your decision on a basic DSLR.

Pricing: Kits are always the most affordable and I recommend buying a whole kit to save rather than each product individually. 

 

TOP PICK NIKON D5200 RUNNER UP 32000 

Wolf Hollow | Ipswich MA Photographer

Andrew and I had an amazing opportunity shooting wolves at Wolf Hollow. Located in Ipswich, MA, Wolf Hollow a non-profit organization established to teach people about the importance of the wolf in the wild. Wolf Hollow offers a unique opportunity to view gray wolves in as natural a setting as possible. By observing how a wolf pack functions and how wolves are a benefit to the environment around. Currently wolves are a threatened species. While shooting the snow began to lightly fall giving us some great images to work with and we couldn't be happier with the results! 

About the "Diamond"

I get asked this question a lot...about the "Diamond" so here's the run down.

Did it hurt?

Yep! ...On a scale of 1-10...I'd give it a 10. Your sternum (or breastbone) is the long, flat bone down the center of your torso that connects to your ribcage and protects your vital organs. The dermal piercing involves implanting surgical steel into your skin. It hurts because the procedure takes longer then most piercings, the location and the thickness of skin in the sternum. 

How does it stay in there? 

Surgical steel implanted into the skin to hold the diamond. The piercing itself is a commitment, it does not come out and the piercing itself needs to be removed by a professional piercer. 

Who did it?

Josean Ortiz is the piercer. He's also the amazing man behind my triple helix.... This image was for Josean's portfolio. 

Why did you chose that spot? 

Three years ago I was diagnosed as a severe asthmatic and hospitalized quite a bit. After close to 32 + chest X-rays, MRI's and CT Scans I wanted to give the radiologist something to talk about...Kidding. It's a constant reminder to live life to the fullest, to be grateful for each day...and every. single. breath. 

"We live with the scars we choose"