I'm strongly considering starting a part-time career in plant photography.
Any experience in this area?
Any hints/tips etc?
I don't have any training in the field. I am still using an old fashioned 35mm film camera. Would those be a disadvantage?
I have contacted a few photo libraries to see if I can sell them some of my photos. Any experience dealing with these?
there is a book called "the freelance photographer's market handbook" which comes out annually and lists all the possible places to sell photos to and their requirements, worth a look if you haven't already. it includes agencies, magazines, card and calander companies and everything else.
35mm is normally fine but i think transparencies are better than print film.
not something i've ever tried myself but best of luck
Jo
Hi Aqui, thought about doing the same myself. I did see advertised on the RHS site a short 1 day course for garden photography. I think they are very popular, nearest to me I think would be Rosemoor. Would be interested in finding out more. Never considered my photo's good enough to sell to a photo library but who knows. I think you would be better of using slide film or digital today. Slide film if you have never used it much can be a real pain. Exposure's need to be very accurate, hence the advantage of digital. You can take lots of copies of the same photo at different exposures, just delete the ones you don't want. Slides get it wrong and it could be very expensive.
I'm fortunate to have a variety of cameras including medium format (6x7 negatives) but I still prefer my digital camera. A must is a sturdy tripod, will improve sharpness and depth of field considerably.
I will be following this thread with interest.
DD
Goodness, this thread has reminded me that I used to take photos of my Dad's cacti when they flowered and I've probably still got the pictures somewhere :o
I was only a teenager when I used to do that.
I just had a basic 35mm SLR camera. I've always been more at home with those, and it took me a long time to get used to my digital camera :( I'm the world's worst technophobe, and still feel more comfortable with a 'normal' camera :-\
I'd be very interested to hear how you get on too, Aqui. Good luck. :)
Good luck Aqui, wish you all the best, library is a good place to get any books .you may need then when you find one you really like you can go and buy it. ;D
Just found this website. Gives you an introduction.
http://www.gardenseeker.com/AYNTK_Plant_Photography.htm
Hope this is of info.
Another one for you Aqui. This is obviously the sort of thing you are looking towards. Hope it is of interest
http://www.markbolton.co.uk/services.htm
Aqui it sounds like a fantastic career, all the best of luck to you. :)
Thanks all.
after talking about it with Mr Aqui, I've decided to create an album of my best photos, so I have a bit of a portfolio. (and most of the photos are still in their packets, so I really must sort them out one day, if I get a moment out of the garden!)
I shall check out those websites DD.
I don't think I'd ever want to do it full time, but if it's successful, I'd like to be able to reduce the hours worked on my main job and spend more time snapping away out in the country.
Bunny - I know what you mean about digital cameras. I love my SLR camera. I like having to change lenses, rather than flicking switches. But most of all I do not like the quality, detail and texture of digital images. They are too detailed. A picture should look like a picture of the thing, rather than the thing itself!
Hi Aqui, why not have the best of both worlds. Depending on what slr you own, see about buying a digital back. Dont need to buy new, secondhand with warranty would be a cheaper alternative.
What slr do you own ?( hope you dont mind me asking)
I have a canon film camera and a digital camera(EOS5 and EOS10D). Both slr, interchangable lenses. I think a must is a macro lens as well. Looking into that at the moment
;)
DD - I have a Canon EOS 500. I've got macro extensions (three of differing thickness, that can be combined in any way - really worth their weight in gold! Can't remember what make they are, or price, but I've had them about 12 years!)
I didn't know you could get digital backs. MIGHT look into prices.
Hi Aqui, I think the three rings you are referring to are extension tubes. You place the lens on the end of one or more of them to allow you to focus closer. I was meaning a true macro lens that would give you life size reproduction I.E 1:1.
When I say digital backs, I mean digital body. Canon have just brought out a new digital SLR the EOS350D. The body I have is now out of date, they have brought out the newer Eos20D. So bargains can be bought out there. Extra advantage of digital is you can easily change the Asa rating between photo's not films. If say you went into a dark overgrown area, didn't really want to use flash, you can uprate the Asa up to 3200Asa(max), just for 1 or 2 shots. Then go out in full sun light and reduce it back down to 100 Asa again. Saves having different speed films for different scenarios. Another usefull feature is the histogram, give you the light dispersion of the photograph from white to black pixels. If you overexpose the photo a quick check on this will confirm the mistake, rather than when you get home and process the film. ;) picture 350d about £635 with 18-55mm lens.
Dirk - you might be selling me on digital...
now who's got a spare £600 for me?
Quote from: aquilegia on June 02, 2005, 13:43:28
Dirk - you might be selling me on digital...
now who's got a spare £600 for me?
Shop around the net
I have the older 300D and love it to bits. Cost the proverbial limbs but when you can get really close shots, check them and fiddle exposures... instantly...
;D ;D
moonbells
This is something I have thought about from time to time as well, though haven't yet done much about it - so would be interested to hear how you get on.
From what I have read on the subject, you will need slides or digital photos - definitely not prints. As well as photo libraries it's worth contacting relevant magazines, eg. RHS, HDRA, Plantlife publications; also things like travel magazines which just want nice pics of things which will attract people to an area. Things like cards & calendars involve a lot more outlay on your part, with no guarantee you will make any profit, so I'd go for agencies & magazines to start with.
As far as training is concerned, if you're not already a member of a camera club it might be worth joining one - if you can find a local one of reasonable size (& it's anything like mine :)) you will find lots of enthusiastic amateurs, some very experienced, maybe a few semi-professionals - they may well give you some good ideas & advice, & it will be much cheaper than doing a training course. They would also help you choose your best shots for your portfolio, & may well have a library from which you can borrow relevant books. There is a directory of local camera clubs on http://www.cameraclubs.co.uk/
As far as buying a digital camera is concerned, I'm in the process of trying to choose one myself, & I think you can get a decent one (4 or 5 megapixels) for £200-£300 - & even a top of the range 8 megapixel one for around £500. For recommendations check out http://www.imaging-resource.com/ - (an American site so not sure all cameras mentioned will be available in UK) run by a camera enthusiast, with lots of useful reviews - I found the Dave's Picks section very helpful.
Aqui, I'd love to see some of your pictures if you can get them onto digital. :)
Just for Jesse, and anyone else who's interested, I have some of last year's photos scanned in at http://groups.msn.com/a4all/aquisphotos.msnw
Just for anyones info. Details from http://www.warehouseexpress.com/
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Hi there. I'm not the serious photographer in the family, my OH is. From what he has done & looked at from professional plant photographers like Clive Nichols I think you mayneed to consider setting up a website with your portpholio as then potential clients have easier access to what you have done. In fact look at Clive Nicholls book Photographing Plants & Gardens. Lots of good advice + a section at the end on selling you photos. Good luck.
Aqui, those photos are lovely. I especially like the one of the frog sitting on the baked mud and all the close up shots of the flowers. Thanks for sharing them here, and good luck, I really hope you make a go of this, it sounds like a lovely part time job. :)