 Bobbi S. Tomes |
awards please look at my galley and give me some constructive advise on how I can improve my images so I might ne considered for some of the contests. I have looked at some other galleries where a person had several finalist and winning images. I have been n! I wish I could afford to do the courses nut I cant, its all hands on for me. I can say my work has impoved beyond beleif sinse I joind this site, but I am not confident that I am good enough to sell my work or advertise as a photographer when I cant get even one recognition for my work. I know that for someone who mostly only does bearly free jobs for friends and family I am very good, but good enough to call myself a photographer? I would like to have some awards or certificates I can show off to potential customers. What can I do to get some?
|
|
|
|
||
|
Diane Dupuis |
Guess what Bobbi - the definition of photographer is "one who practices photography"... We're all photographers - some are hobbyists, some are professionals... Keep up the great work but you'll have to work on your self-confidence a bit. Keep reading everything you can get your hands on (libraries are great - so is the internet) and practice practice practice. The finalist medals will come... Don't give up!
|
|
|
|
||
|
Kerry L. Walker |
If an award means that much to you, got to picture.com. You will win an award but it won't mean anything. Or send me $50.00 and I will send you an engraved plaque. That won't mean anything either. As Diane said, just keep practicing. Shoot portraits for friends and keep a library of your work to show potential customers. Actual samples of your work will mean much more to them than any awards you have won and they can be the judge of your work, not someone they don't know. Good work will get you the work, not awards you have won. Now, I am not saying you should not enter the contest here. By all means, do so, but do it because you want to and because it is fun, not because you think an award will impress others. Your good work will impress them.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Nicole Kessel |
Keep your head up, Bobbi! A lot of customers come through refferals. So if your shooting friends and family and they are happy make sure to tell them to spread the word. Having a portfolio or website for future customers to view your work would probably mean more to them then any award or certificate.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Debby A. Tabb |
Bobbi, I agree also with Diane, practise your skills and I see you enjoy shoot people- then learn more about posing and framing. You have some wonderful shots and I am sure will excel quickly. But Bobbi, Do this for the LOVE of your craft- not the award. And I'll tell you a little something- I have posted Images that were Published and that won company awards even one that IS used for a major company Promo Portrait- Yet, here I have won nothing with them. This shouldn't bother me or anyone else- These people do this contest for our enjoyment-our fun- they end up with thousands to look at- can you imagin how much work that is? somethings get missed, somethings strike them different form one mo.to the next. So if you don't get acknowlaged this time -try ,try again- and just have FUN. but keep shooting, Debby
|
|
|
|
||
- Dr Silly Contact Dr Silly Dr Silly's Gallery |
Bobbi all you need to do is show your work. If you have photo with awards and people do not like your work all the awards in the world will not help. If they like your photo that all that counts. Just show the work you beleive is good. Bump a Nose and Have Some Fun
|
|
|
|
||
|
Christopher A. Vedros |
Bobbi, If you're looking to make some money doing portraits for people or even weddings, that's great, give it a shot. But the funny thing is, you could do a wonderful job, and your client could be thrilled with it and happy to pay you for it, but it doesn't necessarily mean it would win anything in this contest. On the other hand, there are some incredible examples of the art of photography among the winners of this contest, but it doesn't mean the average person on the street would necessarily pay anything for them. Maybe a stock photo agency would, or certain magazines. But even that depends a lot on luck, marketing, and being able to contact the right person at the right time. You don't need to win a contest to earn the right to call yourself a photographer. You already are one.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Nicole Kessel |
You bring up a good point, Chris. The whole "art" versus what the general public wants is SO true. For instance, I convert many of my portraits to B&W and my husband hates it. He prefers the color. But, me... I think the B&W portrays more emotion... I don't think either one of us is "right". We are just looking at it from two different perspectives.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Debby A. Tabb |
Exactly! I was going to say the same thing Chis-Nicole got to it first,Good for you! and she's right -it happens in the contest as well. it happens all the time in Wedding Photography-Photographers don't understand why Brides don't favor those artsy shots they do-we may, but they don't -because they are looking for portraits that tell the story of thier event. then out of the blue-you get one that says-they are in love with all the artsy ones-can you do something about the rest. You have to shoot what you enjoy and for the nitch you are developing. The most importrant thing you can do is practise your art and don't let things get you down.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Terry R. Hatfield |
Hi Bobbi!If Awards Are What You Want In This Contest You Need To Work All The Category,s All Of Your Images Are In The People Cat I Assume?If You Put An Image In Daily Your Competing With Yourself At The Least,2 Images In Each Cat Gives You A Better Chance,What You Dont Like The Judges Might Like,Follow The Rule Of Thirds,Edit Your Image The Best It Can Be,Follow The Contest Rules:-)
|
|
|
|
||
|
Bobbi S. Tomes |
Wow, thank you all for the encouragement. I had really been feeling disscouraged lately. I guess part of me has always felt like, to BE a person of a career, any career, you HAD to have some degree with your name on it. Like a doctor with no education or degree, good luck to him finding patients! But I suppose photography can be an exception. What Chris said, "You don't need to win a contest to earn the right to call yourself a photographer. You already are one." made me smile, and feel so much better about what I am doing and where I am at. Thanks again to all Bobbi
|
|
|
|
||
|
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here
Report this Thread |
||