How can i become better?

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liam1234

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Name
Liam
Edit My Images
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Hello
I am just wondering if anyone could have a quick look at the photographs on my website and tell me if there is anything I could do to improve my photography. I.e. an area of photography I should concentrate on or techniques I should use. I am still fairly young and I plan to be a professional photographer in the future. So any help will be greatly appreciated :)

stansfieldphotography.co.uk

I look forward to hearing your thoughts
Thanks a lot
Liam,
 
what type of photography do you enjoy?
stick to what you enjoy shooting and the images will progress
 
To me, it seems as though you are portraying yourself as an 'established' photographer which doesn't really resonate with "I plan to be a professional photographer in the future".

It really depends on why you created your web-site. I more than likely would see the talent but not hire someone who was a pro-tog and studying photography at college IYKWIM?

I'm luke warm on the aerial photography, TBH and really can't get my head round the type of client you would be looking for.

If this was a 'showcase of MY work' as opposed to 'if you want to HIRE me' I would probably perceive the site a little differently.

The site's nice, though I know some find the white on black a little harder to read. You seen to know how to market yourself, but I'm not sure you know who you are marketing to. Spelling and grammar seem OK from a quick glance (and that is more important than you may think) although I would probably re-write some of the text.

'Shane' on the homepage has his ears cut off, although I see they grow back in the gallery - you may want to check that!! ;)

Good for you getting a great start - you'll do well, I am sure.....I couldn't have managed anything like that in my younger (better?) days!!

Best of luck to you!! :)
 
liam1234 said:
... I am still fairly young and I plan to be a professional photographer in the future...
Click to expand...

Your website says you turned pro 2 years ago ;) which means you've been at this longer than I have.

First thing, without meaning to be harsh, I would drop most of the car shots if you're wanting this to be your professional website. They're taken in a car show room, with what looks like little to no set-up. ie you walked in and shot them as they were (correct me if I'm wrong). Which doesn't give that professional a feel. Just a side note, I assume you have permission to offer those shots for sale? (Taken in their business, private land, etc) Don't want you to get into any trouble if you don't.

Another point on your website, I know you weren't asking for it, I can't get a proper look at most of your pics because the print order drop-down box extends over the shot. I'm using Safari as my browser.

Some of your Manchester shots are my favourites on your site. The aerial ones I would say you really need to look at your compositions. Being aerial shots kind of makes them interesting by default, but you still need to concentrate on all the usual photographic stuff.

To improve, just keep shooting. If you want to make a living out of it, then look at what you enjoy doing and what other skills you have. Are you meticulous, and patient, enjoying spending time on things (product photography) are you great with people, good at taking control in a situation? Look at the usual event and people photography, etc.

Besides that, you're studying photography so your classmates and tutors are the best resource you have right now. Make sure you use them to the fullest.
 
You don't study at collage, you study at college. :)

Checking and fixing typos is the first step to making yourself look like you know what you're doing (in any business, not just photography) to potential clients.

I would bump your aeriel photography prices WAY WAY up there, or not mention prices at all and quote on a per job basis. Given that it can cost a couple of grand just to rent a helicopter for a few hours (fortunately last time I shot from a helicopter, it was for an advertisement for the helicopter company itself, so it was their own expense), if you have a serious client contact you, £170 is a little low. But you need to make sure you are able to deliver.

I would probably ditch the guestbook too, perhaps change it to "Testimonials" if you have some satisfied customers & feedback. The term "guestbook" is a little bit "geocities" and amateur.
 
If you are / want to be a commercial photographer who people hire for a specific job, dedicate the website to just your commercial (or commercial looking work). People aren't likely to want to hire you to shoot photos of Blackpool, or anything that they can't do themselves.

And get someone to check your spelling!
 
£210 for a 32x23 gloss print! KIN HELL.

It doesn't look very professional when you use a free templated website, I've seen at least 5 websites near on identical, even with the same coloured text.

If your going on about how good the first to last photographs are, with all due respect it might be worth having decent images on the site. most of the ones posted don't look good, granted it could be web compression but they don't look impressive!

Regards
 
I realise you asked for comments on your tog skills and maybe it's just a personal thing but talking about yourself in the third person is really pretentious and annoying. The sentences aren't structured very will either.

Also, as said, "Liam is 18 years old and currently studying photography at college" and "turned professional at the age of 16" just makes the whole thing sound like a joke. Sorry.

With respect to photography, you need to know what it is you're offering and then give reasons why someone would commission you over any of the other MUCH more experienced pro's out there.

For example, I wouldn't pay for someone to take photo's of a building if they are likely to chop the top off.
 
I agree with Nawty, it's your site say I not we and don't use the third person it doesn't work in your favour. Good luck...
 
I dont usually comment on these type of threads but I have told myself that as a forum I think we need to start and give more C & C, especially on the C & C threads.... thats another story.

Anyway, firstly well done on getting a dedicated website to show off your work up and running. However there are a few things most have already been mentioned regarding spelling mistakes and saying you turned professional at 16 dispite still studying. You have every picture for sale as a limited edition........ how is that limited?

Your Manchester photography is by far your best, I found the arial stuff a bit like you were just snapping and the blackpool stuff pretty bland. I would try and get more pictures up, dont just post everything go out on shots, post your best and ask yourself "would I buy that and hang it on my wall?". If the answer is no, I wouldnt bother posting it.

Your cars are just like showroom pictures as has been said. If you want proper car pictures ul need to hire a beast for a half day and do it that way, take it out side to somewhere you can get a nice setting. Alternatively go to a car meet, plenty of people there will happily let you snap, in return for a few prints.

All in all keep your site and improve on it, you will know by the number of emails or hits your site gets if its working.
 
Im all for constructive criticism, but some comments in this thread have come across very rude. First of all I would like to say well done with your website, it looks great. There are'nt many shots on there at the moment so you really should start working on that. Your flower shots are good and so are your landscape shots (particularly the manchester night shots) but the car ones for me are not all that original and it can be seen that the shots have been taken from inside a showroom and people who love cars like to see them in action.

From the small selection I have seen I think you are best suited to landscape/architechtural photography. I also agree with a few others that you should'nt talk from a third-person perspective on your website. A lot of people would rather read the information comming direct from yourself and it makes the website seem more personal to you.

I would say that you should maybe work a little more on your composition and always aim to fit everything in to avoid cropping later. For example:

blackpool_tower112.jpg


You have cut a little off the top of blackpool tower here. This could have improved if you had of pointed a little higher and removed some of the beach from the bottom left corner. I think the black and white really works for this one though, particularly because blackpool is a gloomy place anyway :lol:
 
blackpool_tower212.jpg


Another one here, but not composition this time. Your horizon does not look very straight here, but this is a simple photoshop fix with the crop tool or rotation tool. It looks like the peir is going slightly uphill if that makes sense. Also, shots with long distance 'small looking' subjects (such as the pier) I would tend to go for either more sky or more land rather than place it in the middle of the shot. I probably would have chose more sky.
 
hey guys,
thanks for the replies, they are really helpful.
I think I am going to get rid of the watermarks as I have had a proper look and they are quiet distracting!
The car photos were really only put up so I had some images on my site, but I am going to car and boat race meeting in a few weeks so I am going to swap them to any good images I get from that. I will post them on a forum so you can tell me what you think :)
The main aim of the website was just to showcase my work but I put them for sale just incase someone wanted to buy them. Theres no harm in trying is there.
The aerial photography was more just for my pleasure but I have a way of getting them quickly and cheap! so the price reflects the quality in my eyes as even I dont think they are the best, but hey, someone might want to pay that for them as it is very cheap.
I think I am going to change it to first person as a lot of people have mentioned this.

I will try my best to improve the site and thankyou for all your help. Maybe one day I will get there ;)

Thanks

Liam
 
If you turned pro 2 years ago how come all the shots I looked at the Exif data for were taken this year?
 
liam1234 said:
hey guys,
I am going to car and boat race meeting in a few weeks so I am going to swap them to any good images I get from that.
Click to expand...


"He will happily photograph a wide range of subjects and will photograph everything perfectly"

Surely every shot you take will be perfect? :lol:

Sorry could not resist :)
 
hey voodoochild529,
Thanks for the advice, it’s really helpful. I think I will take more time when composing the shot and think about the composition a lot more.
I also think landscape is my strongest subject and I love being outdoors so I think I will focus on that a lot more. hopefully overtime i will get better, especially with help like this, so thanks.
liam
 
Just a quick comment on your website - as you are trying to sell from your site - I think you'll find that under the distance selling regulations you must put your full name and address and other contact details on the site. However, in general I don't think your work is up to standard and to give the impression that you are professional is misleading. I think you do need to improve your photography before you make statements like that.
 
I would change the welcome text from this:

WELCOME

Liam Stansfield is a photographer living in the Northwest of England. Liam is 18 years old and currently studying photography at college. He has been taking photographs since the age of 12 and turned professional at the age of 16.

If you would like to commission Liam to do a photo shoot please contact him using the contact form. He will happily photograph a wide range of subjects and will photograph everything perfectly, making the first photo as stunning as the last.
Liam will email you back with an approximate price for the shoot.


Dear Visitors,

I hope you enjoy looking at my work and feel free to ask me any questions about my work or photography in general.

Thank you,
Liam Stansfield

To This:

Welcome to Liam Stansfields photography. We are based in Northwest of England and cover range of different areas including landscapes, aerial shots and portraits. Our aim to be professional throughout our business and promise to make the first photo as stunning as the last. Free feel to use the contact us link so we can answer any questions you may have. Thank you for viewing our website and I hope you enjoy our photos.


Like I said in your first thread, I hate third person. :)
 
Doug said:
If you turned pro 2 years ago how come all the shots I looked at the Exif data for were taken this year?
Click to expand...

That could be due to the fact they were taken this year. The photos I do for my work are on a website and I can’t sell them.

Hey Andy, thanks for that, it does sound good I will have a look at it and see if I can write something similar along those lines.

Hey Phil, this post was about my photographs rather than my website

Thanks
Liam
 
hey
also if anyone on here has a website could you post me a link so i could have a look at your website and work, just so i can see where i am going wrong within my photography.
would be helpful to see how much i have to improve.
thanks
liam
 
voodoochild529 said:
Im all for constructive criticism, but some comments in this thread have come across very rude.
Click to expand...

The pro arena isn't an area to namby around offering false praise or hope.

If Liam wants to develop then pretty much everything that has been said is spot on, take in on the chin and do something about it.

I would say the best thing to do (Liam) is work on your portfolio.
 
hey i dont think any of it is rude, i asked for the advice and criticism, and that is what i have got and it is really helpful, so thanks for all the help

Liam
 
I have a website that you are welcome to look at. But I don't do this professionally. I just put it up there as I get a lot of people asking where they can find my photos at events etc so that makes it easier!

It's not professional. But it is better than nothing. www.Doug-Pinnegar.co.uk
 
thanks Doug, i really like the ones of the cars drifting, you have some really nice shots. im going to a car show in a few weeks so i will have to have a look out for shots like this, i dont think there is any drifting *** :( . Anyway, i think i am going have to work on getting more images, i dont think i have enough really.
thanks for that
 
hey guys,
thanks for the replies, they are really helpful.
I think I am going to get rid of the watermarks as I have had a proper look and they are quiet distracting!
The car photos were really only put up so I had some images on my site, but I am going to car and boat race meeting in a few weeks so I am going to swap them to any good images I get from that. I will post them on a forum so you can tell me what you think :)
The main aim of the website was just to showcase my work but I put them for sale just incase someone wanted to buy them. Theres no harm in trying is there.
The aerial photography was more just for my pleasure but I have a way of getting them quickly and cheap! so the price reflects the quality in my eyes as even I dont think they are the best, but hey, someone might want to pay that for them as it is very cheap.
I think I am going to change it to first person as a lot of people have mentioned this.

I will try my best to improve the site and thankyou for all your help. Maybe one day I will get there ;)

Thanks

Liam
 
Just want to say, Liam, well done for taking all the comments the way they were intended. It makes a very welcome change 'round these parts.

Hopefully you can put them to practice, and you'll only improve.

Keep shooting, and good luck. :)

As you asked for websites, feel free to take a look around mine. I've only been working properly for about 12-18 months, but I'm doing OK.
 
Liam, you don't necessarily have to stop putting watermarks on, once you've put them on, just reduce the opacity of them so that they are visible, but not obtrusive. Have a look round my site for some examples, and let me know if you need any help with how to do it.
 
liam1234 said:
hey i dont think any of it is rude, i asked for the advice and criticism, and that is what i have got and it is really helpful, so thanks for all the help

Liam
Click to expand...

:clap: Spot on, very well taken.:thumbs:
We are all trying to help and it's refreshing to find someone asking for advice and criticism who actually wants advice and criticism. I have already posted some comments in your other thread as I've only just found this one.

With your attitude and willingness to learn, you will go far.:)
 
I've had a look at your site and I want you to take this as constructive critism and not rudeness, but there is nothing on your site which even remotely makes you come across as professional.

You need to get a lot of work done.

First of all its not obvious what you do, or what type of photography you want to do. I don't see a single shot that looks like it was commercially shot for a client. They all come across as something you've shot for yourself. Which I'm very much guessing you have.

There are hardly any images on your site either.

Lets just say for example I wanted a landscape photographer, then I want to see a photographer who is capable of that, and doesn't just have two locations. I want to see 20+, 30 or more locations. All stunning images.

You are studying at college, so the best advice I can give you is to stick with that, keep learning, keep shooting.

Paul
www.photographybyriddell.co.uk
 
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