|
|
|
|
It is not my goal to present a course in basic photography, as there are many sites and publications that do that quite well--why re-invent the wheel? At the same time, I know from reading my e-mail box that many people are still confused about various aspects, so I will work to provide explanations and answers to the questions that come in.
I have been "into" photography for several years at various levels. My father shared a darkroom with a neighbor, and took pictures of about everything. That got me hooked. During college, I had a part-time job that including producing narrated slide presentations; I was also a photographer for the local volunteer fire department. Since that time, I have worked (sometimes as supervisor) in a custom lab, as a portrait photographer, done weddings and commercial work, and sold professional photographic and graphic arts supplies.
For anyone thinking they'd like to be a pro, I suggest, think again. I did alright--but professional photography requires more than just wanting to be a professional and being good at photography. You have to be a good salesperson and business operator. I didn't really care for either of those aspects, so I went back to school and became a hobbyist again. The other side of professional photography is that there's a lot of work to be found in related fields. But you still need to know enough about business to either work well in an organization (if you work for someone else), or, if you work for yourself, enough to keep your own books (difficult) or to know how to hire a good business manager.
The name "Photography on a Shoe String Budget" is used with the permission of Peter Maurath, who originated the series "Modeling on a Shoe String Budget" in the TAMR Hotbox, the publication of the Teen Association of Model Railroaders. Most of these articles are revised (sometimes combined) from columns I wrote for the Hotbox. It's been a long time since I was that age, but sharing with and teaching younger hobbyists is an important part of any venture, and also the best way to keep your enthusiasm going.
If you have any suggestions or comments, please feel free to send them to me using the e-mail banner on the home page, and let me know if I may include them at the site.
