Holiday pictures

A relaxing way to spend the afternoon

I have recently returned from a trip to Jamaica to stay with family.
I thought about taking my DSRL. But decided to take a bridge camera instead. For a few reasons. The DSLR is bulky and heavy. And people tend to get a bit intimidated when it's a family trip and out comes the "big camera" as it's called. In a more formal setting. Like the recent studio session it's okay. Everyone expects and is prepared to be photographed. But around the house or family trips. Everyone just stiffens up.
The Bridge camera is okay in good conditions. It's customisable and flexible to an extent. I take it with me cycling. Pretty much all of the pictures from my biking adventures are taken with it. But I miss my main camera. It's slow. Slow to turn on and be ready to shoot. Slow to capture the picture after the shutter button is pressed. But the worst part is the wait for it to save the picture to the card. Even with a fast one it just takes too long. When taking a family portrait, I realise someone blinked. Everyone starts getting bored while they wait for me to take another shot. If I have been using the DSLR a lot and go back to this one. It really frustrates.

I'll use this post to show the other, travel photography style shots I took. I wanted to show a flavour of my trip. Not just beaches and palm trees.
There is ackee and sugar cane. I have eaten a lot of ackee. But only from a can. In Jamaica it was growing in the garden. From a can it doesn't have much flavour. But fresh, wow, it is a whole different taste. Then there is the beer. Red Stripe. Sitting on the veranda drinking Red Stripe in 28 degrees and sunny weather. Whilst listening to Heart FM on internet radio. It's freezing cold at home. It can't be beaten. With only the dogs barking at people walking too close to the fence disturbing the peace.

I just took it really easy for the two weeks. So I didn't take a lot of pictures. But the ones I did take have some thought behind them. I hope it shows. Let me know what you think.

This visit got me thinking about a career in family holiday portraiture. How good would it be travelling the world photographing a family's holiday? I had it all planed. The contract would say how many hours a day I would follow them around. How much time I would spend each day processing the days pictures. And how many they should expect after the holiday. Just think of all the great places I would see.

But then the two weeks we're up and it was back to work.

ocho rios bauxite mine used to film some scenes from Dr No

Ackee growing in the garden

Ackee and sugar cane

And the guard dogs, taking it easy

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A change of career.

There are many ways to make a living from photography. 

I have wondered what it would be like being a travel photographer. At first glance it seems very glamorous. Traveling the world, at someone else's expense. Visiting great places and staying at nice hotels. 

But it is more likely not that easy. Like any photography career. It will be difficult to break into.

I at first tried to get a foothold in motorsport. But it was not to be. I worked with a pro photographer, and for a while was the pro, providing pictures for an Autograss club. But gradually more people assumed I should provide pictures for free. I wasn't intent on making a living from it. Just to cover some of my expenses incurred attending the events. I started thinking that they didn't really value my pictures. Once it became clear that was the case it took some of the enjoyment out of it. Then a mechanic started taking pictures and giving them away. 

The pro photographer I worked with didn't have enough extra work to give me regular opportunities. The work I did gave a valuable incite into making a living. Anticipating what the client wants. And it gave me access to areas of race tracks I wouldn't have normally had. So it was a very good experience. I did get a few pictures in the Autograss magazine, but mainstream magazine publications and commissions eluded me.

Landscape photography appears to be very speculative. And for me too much of a risk. I know I could produce pictures in my spare time. I'm just not sure how to get the business of selling prints started.

Over the past few years my portraiture portfolio has improved a great deal and I have developed a style of my own. But it's the move to selling my time and knowledge that I am having trouble with. 

There is wedding photography of course. I'll need to gain experience and a portfolio. But it is a stressful job. You only get one chance to get it right. 

And like everything I do. I wouldn't commit to a photo shoot or wedding commission if I didn't think I could do it.  I know some would say yes and worry about how to deliver later.  But not me.  

Maybe that's the problem, I'm not a risk taker. And I would need to be for a change in career.

This post isn't meant to sound like I'm complaining or think I am owed a living from photography. I applaud anyone who has made the change I am thinking about. 

This year I will keep building my portfolio and experience but focus more on marketing what I can deliver for people.

I enjoy photography.  Should I risk changing that in an attempt to make a living?

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Calendar

The idea started at the beginning of the year. I mentioned it in my last blog. I want two things for my photography in 2017.

A purpose and a new way to display my work.

A calendar will give me both.

I'm have now started planning and contacting models.

I don't want to have only one or two locations or models. So it will take a few sessions.

I'm using Pinterest to gather pictures of outfits and posing ideas. I'll share them with the models. We can discuss what they have available that fits the theme.

It's a good way to ensure there are no misunderstandings.

I have some ideas for locations. But this time I can't rely on scouting the area as the shoot progresses. This worked before because I knew the areas. This time around I won't have been there with the intention of completing a photo shoot. I want to ensure the area is as I remember it. A visit beforehand will be needed. I could also take some pictures, use them for a montage on the back of the calendars. Display them in a scrap book style. Or to look like a scattered pile of polaroids.

Of course I also want more opportunities like the family photo shoot a while back.

If I keep posting my thoughts on this blog and the results of my photography on Facebook, twitter etc. They might come me way.

Why not add your address to my mailing list. You'll be informed about future posts. Follow me on twitter. 

Please checkout my website and facebook page. And leave a comment about this post. I would really appreciate your thoughts on this or any blog post.

For more of my work, go to my Facebook page.

and 

Website