So last week I put it out there that I truly want to help new photographers! I was there not too long ago and I know every struggle, bad day, bad moment, every camera setting gone wrong, etc.! I took shit from people I should’ve never taken shit from, and I did some things the hard way because I had to learn that way! I took the hard road one too many times and I just don’t have the heart to watch you guys go through the same thing. I want to help! If you have a question, you can always submit it to me via email (jami@jamithompsonphoto.com) or comment below and I’ll be sure to write a blog answering YOUR question! I do however highly recommend investing in a mentoring session.  These sessions are one-on-one and targeted solely on YOU and geared to answer ALL of YOUR questions and to work on bettering your business. You can read about them here!

So– here are the 4 questions I received:

1- What are a few things you wish you had known when you first started in photography?

A FEW?! I could probably list 100+ LOL! But for the sake of time I’ll just list a few! One, I wish I would have really learned how to use my camera completely and learned how to take photo’s the way I always wanted to, versus ‘just winging it’ — I was always so excited to get out there and just do it that I never took the time to fully understand my camera & what it does. I went straight from a starter camera to a professional camera in 2 months! Once I realized my photo’s weren’t turning out the way I wanted them to SOOC, I really took the time to learn how to use my camera and learn how to get my images correct SOOC by accurately adjusting camera settings! Two, I wish I wouldn’t have cared so much what others thought of me and/or my work. It was something I always dwelled on and I FINALLY came to the conclusion about a year ago that there are no rules in this industry. I can do what I want, when I want. I can have my own style of work and people will hire me because they like ME and MY work — and it doesn’t matter what anyone says because its my business that I own — and I get to make my own rules! :) And third, I wish I would have known how to use Lightroom the way I know how to now! Back then I feel like I heavily edited images because I was so uncomfortable with them. Now, I get my images the way I want them SOOC and do very natural and light editing touches to my photo’s.

2- What kind of camera do you use/recommend for a beginner?

Currently I use a Canon Mark II — I’ll be upgrading to the Mark III this year at some point! I started with a Canon Rebel XSI but only had it for 2 months before I realized I wanted to go full time and do this professionally as a career. The Rebel is “designed to appeal to first-time DSLR buyers and enthusiasts” (quote taken directly from a review of the Canon Rebel series) so once I realized it wasn’t truly a professional camera, I upgraded! If starting a business is something you KNOW you want to do, I would recommend buying the professional camera (like a Mark II or III) versus buying a Rebel first. HOWEVER! If you’re really not sure and you just want to learn photography and take nicer pictures than an iPhone, definitely go with a Rebel! The cost difference is literally thousands of dollars!

3- What is your greatest challenge?

Oh this is so easy for me! My greatest challenge is the fact that I am a perfectionist at my job. I always yearn to do more, do better, etc. I will do what I think is my BEST and then a day later think to myself “I should’ve added this pose into this session” or “I should’ve done this, I should’ve done that” UGH! It drives me crazy that I’m like this! I’ve talked to so many other photographer friends though and they all do THE SAME THING! So I don’t feel so crazy, LOL! I think when you’re a photographer, the fact that we have creative minds makes us this way. It’s not anything we can help, but its definitely my greatest challenge that I’m trying to overcome. I don’t think I’ll be very successful in it though ;-) I see it as a good thing to always challenge myself and want more and better for my business!

4- What’s your favorite part of your job or photography?

Easy peasy! I love that I get to be a part of intimate moments in peoples lives. People choose me to capture their wedding day, their proposals, their pregnancy/gender reveals, etc. I get to be a part of it all and I feel so honored and blessed that I get to not only be a part of it, but capture it for them to have these tangible memories of these important moments for their whole life! How important and special is that? Ahh, it literally gives me goosebumps just thinking about it! I honestly, 1000% believe that I have the best job on this earth. I love everything about it — other than doing taxes ;-)

 

If you have a question that wasn’t answered here, comment below/email me and I would be happy to help! XOXO!