my problem with new portrait photographers. | Beginner photographer mistakes 

That is good advice, don't burn bridges by working with pros that you will want to work with when you are better. I suggest a beginner to visualize a finished image before picking up the camera... and take 1 shot then figure out why it does not look as you imagined. Don't take random shots because one might look close but you do no know why.. Before working with live models,,even if just friend, don't waste their time until your confidence is justified.. Go to a beauty supply house and buy a wig styling head, a good one that has eye and noses contours like a face. practice with that, then add a wig. That is a good way to learn how to apply light to get what you intended. Shoot everything in full manual. Vary the light intensity and direction until you can visualize the result before clicking the shutter. After a few hundred single frames where you get what you intended, invite friends who are patient and get used to directing them in the fewest words, or have them mimic your positions. If you invest in strobes, make sure you master one... Only when you can visualize what you intend before adding a second light source. Strobes are cheaper than ever so even hobbyists can build up a quality studio in a garage. In a large studio space you can control light better than a small space so to reduce the bleed over light bouncing from nearby ceiling and wall, use max sync speed as st\hutter speed then stop down the aperture to drop the exposure to black or very near black so your added lights control the exposure. That makes it much easier since you do not have to factor in ambient light. To get even better practice go to a store that sells displays, mannequins because the might have used one. that are full length with jointed limbs yes, there is a market for used mannequins because some stores want to trade ii existing models to keep poses fresh..If youu live in a moderately large city you can find modeling schools where students get extra credit for experience for free. later you can get experienced models who want to freshen their portfolio trading her time for your prints or files. If you find a few model s who enjoys working with you for trades, and you are efficient...setups and smoothly staying in her flow you can get a lot done very quickly as she flows between poses ever 3-6 seconds. You can really improve your portfolio quickly that was. Find a good but not great pro makeup artist.. A great one only when her higher rate would make a difference. A skilled makeup artist is your best friend. She needed to be used to this type of work not a general MUA, who might be good for street but only knows lighting, color temperature and oil control. A stage MUA is used to the look from the 12th row of seats, but you need one used to being seen at 1-3 feet and light temperature... After a few months of learning seriously, consider publishing your portfolio which for most viewers will be youu only chance to impress them. Even if you twice as good in 4 months, their impression of your work is that earlier version. Models can really impact your reputation..Treat them like they are a star, have the studio looking nice, any dressing room well appointed, nice snacks and be a complete gentleman. Word will travel fast, bad or good. Contrary to Internet lore, your camera is good enough. Because your sharpest work is in the studio so you have control of the background, a 1.2 lens is not needed stopped down, many portraits and fashion images were f/8 or slower and almost any lens is impressive at f/8. A full frame camera is better than crop for this but if you have decent lenses for a crop camera,, itt will be fine.. Outdoors or where you need subject isolation an f/1.8 lens can be low cost and give the isolation you want. Good luck, and have fun.

This is exactly how I feel when people skip over learning what can be done with on-camera flash before jumping into off camera flash. There's so much that can be done with it and it is often overlooked because many RU-vidrs crap all over it. Beginners see that and blindly follow. Great video.

I started out just keeping a camera on me at all times. People would see I had a camera and ask me to take a picture of them. That taught me composition, natural light, reading people’s energy and capturing it in camera. As well as making the most out of any scenario. Nice advice. The only things I don’t do much nowadays is networking and linking up with other photographers. Maybe one day that will change

As a wildlife photographer, I have to agree on most of what you said. I will say though we have absolutely zero control over our lighting and subjects we shoot. Unlike portrait. We can wait hours, or even days in the field and come away with nothing. Overall, great video 👍📸

Anyone can take a photo of a beautiful person, but to take a beautiful photo of a person is a completely different skill set.

Great advice I’m 2 years in photography and still learning the hardest thing I think for most of us new photographers is finding what kind of photography you really want to get into I’m the guy who has kids and we go everywhere to take pictures I learned a lot by trial and error and still learning I haven’t shot a professional model yet but I do wanna try

Great content, I like it when you said shoot your model in their crappy/ugly outfit 1st especially when building rapport. Man that makes sense.

I practiced with like 3 friends when I first started. Picking photogenic people for your portfolio makes a huge difference. After that I was able to work with a couple of pros for a good deal. Then it was smooth sailing because I told them I just started, and they got other pros to help me just because. I was super grateful, and I started booking gigs a few months after that purely from being asked by word of mouth from friends and people they knew. Moving forward, that didn't stop me from shooting for personal learning experience. Reach back and ask models that you worked with and they will more than likely just go with you to shoot some randomness because they also value the experience.

I totally agree! The more we practice, the more confident and competent we become.

Great vid. I learned the Exposure Triangle by shooting inanimate objects. Did that for a couple years. I didn't want to start shooting people until I was VERY comfortable navigating the settings. I'm very big on learning the fundamentals. Like you said, a lot of people want to skip the foundational work and go straight to the glamorous side of things without putting in any work and hope for the best. This is a very awesome vid filled with great insight.

This is super good advice even for professionals/experienced photographers. Gotta remember that every new person you work with doesn't know you and doesn't know what to expect, so you gotta continue to deliver on the day of! Past work doesn't = entitlement during a shoot.

As someone who started off with street and wildlife photography and now shoots portraits and events, I feel that too many young photographers focus on getting clients and likes on social media. The first time I photographed a model at a photo meet, I made her feel comfortable by connecting with her by discussing about footballers (soccer players) from her country and we clicked. I had another friend of mine whom I'm so grateful for who was posing the model and we got amazing results in my first portrait session itself. I have now worked with models from over 15 countries across different continents and it helps when you are culturally aware of something from their country which is not a lazy stereotype. Street and wildlife photography helps you build fundamentals while portrait and event photography helps you connect with people and develop a consistent workflow. And I'm still learning a lot despite doing photography for 8 years and counting.

I agree, a lot of great tips here for newer photographers. I've actually never shot with a professional model and now my day to day clients aren't models so I have no real need to ever shoot with one.

I'm a wildlife and portrait photographer.. feels like i have a camera in my hand 24/7 ... constantly putting in practice, doing "content days" (basically getting models to help me by letting me shoot them) , experimenting almsot everyday ...and so far, its been fantastic! I recently had a model that told me mid shoot that they really appreciated how comfortable i made them feel ...that made my day, by the end of the shoot we were having so much fun It's fun connecting with so many different people and being able to be part of their special moments ...but I have to admit that wildlife is my passion

Thank you my brother, a lot of us needed to hear this. Its facts. I've been shooting for 4yrs but only started practicing and working on my crafts seriously for 1 and 1/2yr and I feel like I am still just getting started, sometimes based on the person I am working with or location. I've been using that trick to use regular people and it really works. Good video great value.

Thank you!!!! I really appreciate you! I needed to hear this and will replay this again.

Excellent advice, Ryan. Your message is real world relevant and accurate. There is no substitute for constant practice and the commitment to learning how to master your equipment and people skills. Owning a nice camera and shooting a pretty subject does not make one a portrait photographer.

Thanks Ryan.Good stuff!

Honestly 2 minutes in and I’ve said this about photographers in my area. They don’t even know the gear they are using. I have a 6 year old and every lens,camera, flash is being used on her first and I go to so many photo walks.

Thank you Ryan. This said it all, especially the learning and passion part.

Thats what's up bro. I started exactly the way you did, practicing my ass out ! I shot my nephew , my sister-in-law and gradually the inexperienced models and very truly , the process was fascinating. Skipping those processes would have been a doom ! Good word bro

Nothing but facts here!!! I tried to get as much practice as I could just learning how to communicate posing and getting people comfortable in front of the camera.

Great content man! Love it!

the tip to use the worst outfit first is priceless, thx so mucho!

Thank you for saying it.

Thanks Ryan, Great Information. I am listening.

Thanks for the very honest video man... we needed that!

I blame RU-vid, IG, social media in general, modern cameras that makes it easy to get a decent exposure, camera marketing, the iPhone and how it created the iPhone way of using the real camera and it's instant satisfaction... I agree with you 100%. With practice you develop your own style and look, your mastery of lighting any situation in portrait photography and not fall for the cookie cutter IG look. I'll put it this way; I have been photographing people for going on 45 years and I am STILL practicing and most of all I am Still Learning, I want to keep improving to this day. Never settle for mediocre or look alike because you and your work will get lost in the crowd and that crowd is getting bigger every day... oh and stop obsessing about what new camera to get because in the end, it's all the same especially if you don't practice and grow.

Awesome talk for the beginners photographers. Great video !

This was helpful. Thank you for this video.

Love this video! Really appreciate you sharing some essential and helpful tips based on your experience. Thank you!

Great advice. Going through the process myself.

Thank you for your honesty and mentorship.👍🏾

Glad I found your video! I'm a Chicago photojournalist and shoot miostl;y with a 24-70mm zoom and 55mm manual macro lens for portrait work...thanks for your tips!

Many thanks, Ryan. Great content.

Great video and advice my bro!

Community is everything, when you start, and even during the levels of professionalism you establish. Initially, you are working on your craft, then gravitating to knowing the business and establishing market value. Great vid my friend.

Good advice again, Ryan. If you can photograph little kids, models are easy. :)

Great video!! I wish I had seen this kind of video a few years ago. I watched soo many youtube videos where "the pros" were saying I needed to buy "this & that" equipment to be the better or best photographer and nothing changed for me, after buying it. I started seeing the difference when I practiced more and attended every meet-up I could. practice, practice practice!! Great video!

So so true Ryan 👍

Thanks so much! This info is so needed and such a blessing to recieve. Im a newer photographer and your right on time for my next move. Respect!

Nice video. Portrait photography I snot about capturing 'beauty'. It about telling a story - who is this person? What's their story? Pointing a camera ate someone do this, Neither does lighting, The skills required are much more subtle

This is such great advice! I started Photography by attending photo-walks and photographing friends and family, the experiences were invaluable!

I did street photography for years, then started doing event photography. I did some low to mid level events when my equipment wasn't at the level it needed to be and when I wasn't at the level I needed to be. I made mistakes, I learned a lot from them and I would never tell a beginner photographer to go straight to the big leagues. Because if you do you're not going to know how to handle the stress of the big events and you're going to crumble, your images will not be good and you'll never be hired again. The same's the way with portraits since I do corporate head shots as well. I'll never forget having to redo a set for two people because I didn't know what I was doing with my lighting. After that it started to become something I pay more and more attention to. I'm not and will never be perfect, but I'm consistently good enough to the point where my 75% good is more than acceptable. You can't instant gratification photography. You have to grind and get good at it because it's a craft and your camera will not do everything for you.

Greatest advice ever heard. I am still learning and consider myself a more intermediate photographer but was once there and yes fully agree noting like actually learning and always room to learn.

Nothing but facts. I really like this video. It needs to be shared and seen by a lot more people!

Great advice

Been saying this for years. Great video!!!

This is so helpful! I’ve been doing photography as a hobby and finally taking the jump for professionally and this is super helpful. Thank you for your advice. I Definitely gained a new perspective and you gained a new follower

Great Advice!!

You took me back to my initial stages of photography. My wife was my only model and I practiced with her for 6 years and learned a lot before I did my first model shoot. Thanks for a great tip : make the model wear the worst outfir first. This I'm gonna remember for the rest of my life. First 15-20 minutes of every shoot with new model is always bad because of our missing vibes. So its a great idea to take pics in the worst dress. Great video bro 👍🏼 😍🤗

Great advice bro! I just started and it’s truly a learning process. 💯

This really touch home

this helped alot thank you for your insight

Appreciate the advice brobro

I have only been doing portraits for about few years..I never have reached out to my local friends because most of them do not care to be in front of the camera. Alex (Liquidvere) one of her tutorials she started out working with friends that you see on her profile today. But one of the things she mentioned that it was better to start off with models from the agencies that are starting out (portfolio) it will allow you to get better at the other stuff while not trying to do everything from photo side/deal with posing. Jon Snip actually did the opposite route where he went straight into shooting models along with his creative work flow..But I do prefer to shoot his style of work with mirrors, lace table cloths, and cookware items.

Well said! This is great advice.

Great advice. I love shooting. I tell other photographers I am not competing with you. I just want to enjoy the journey. Thanks for sharing. So many in this craft don’t have that heart or confidence

This is great tutorial for new portrait photographers. A lot of informations. I would like to watch you when you speak about find a work, service valuation, about find a model and how you pay them etc. Man your channel is dope.

This is a priceless video Ryan

You brought up many important issues that many photographers today neglect. Especially when it comes to not requiring a beautiful model.👍

You just gave a full horse meal compared to a snack. Very powerful information for upcoming photographers. I have been shooting for a few years, but always Learning. You can never learn enough.

What has helped me the most is going to free events...All the practice you want, good connections and no pressure to deliver anything

Great advise here. I've been shooting for almost 50 years. and I still get nervous before a shoot. I've gone through several video training classes on posing, lighting and editing. What I 've found to be most important first is to know your camera backwards and forwards. Try different settings, with different lenses. You can get several good shots just by changing your models hands, a little twist in the waist, etc., while still in the same basic pose and without moving your model's position. Just make sure the light is in the right place as your model moves her body around. There are a number of Photography Facebook groups that share critique pics and share information. Occasionally they will get models to participate in a group shoot. I've been toying around with studio simulation software that mimics' lighting in a studio environment so you can see how it affects your subject(s) in real-time. Keep Shooting!!!

great advice! wish i heard this in 2016 when i first started!

Good job fam

Dropping jewels on them! 💎

YES BRO!!!!!!

When I started out I took photos of my good friends, husband, parents. Even before that I started with self-portraits. I do think people (at least that I know) are out here experimenting, but maybe because I live in a LA so more people are willing to collab and create. Great video and good points though. 🌸✨

I live in south Jersey when I lived in Philly I used to go out the streets and shoot all the time. But I struggle the most with finding other photographer that would want to do the same. Alot of other shooters that I come across think it's competition when it's not . My dream is to go on a photo walk with a group of shooters and enjoy having fun.

Getting the best from what you have to work with is a very rewarding experience. Some really beautiful girls have modeled for me but to leave a girl after a shoot thinking she is far more amazing than she ever thought she was is a very rewarding experience. This also works for figure studies when the girl finds out she is far more shapely than she ever thought she was.

100% agree brother

The most important in photography is recognizing your mistakes and learning from it. If you only have (online) comments saying you are so good, you'll never learn.

I once did a photoshoot of a nice young lady, and I was kinda nervous , especially when her friend decided to randomly come along too. But having her friend come along turned out to be 1 of the tips I give for new photographers now. A nervous model having her crazy friend at the shoot to cheer her on produced some really dope pics for my shoot. And the friend was nice looking too so I ended up getting 2 nice photo shoots in 1 day. You are so right on this video though, practicing your photography skills wit the homies or a homegirl that doesn't expect much is how I got a lil better at my craft as well. Nice vid.

spitting facts!

FACTS!

I agree that it is important for a beginner photographer to learn how to take special portrait photos before thinking they're ready to make it a business. I disagree that models expect the photographer to be at their level of expertise. The key is to have the conversation with the model, being honest, and make it clear that the goal is to learn how to be a better portrait photographer. Many will be fine with this. The rest will probably decline the collaboration. In general, "just try" is a very inefficient way to learn. We seem to be stuck on the myth of "I can just do this" rather than "Who can help me learn how to do this." To learn how to play basketball, to just go to the court and shoot is a recipe for failure, the person will develop poor form and habits. Going to a basketball clinic or camp is much more useful.

You’re right. I would like to do more portraits, but lately I’ve been shooting what’s been available which is my daughter’s swim meets. Like you said, I’ve been shooting a lot for free offering parents on her swim team free photos. Over the last two years I’ve improved a lot and started getting some other swim teams asking me to shoot their swimmers. But I’ve learned a lot more about lighting which I think I can apply the next opportunity I get to do a portrait session. Thanks.

Great video. Spot on with everyone thinking they have to have this super attractive model to get likes, but likes aren't clients and not all clients are going to be super attractive or feel they are attractive. Learn Learn Learn and shoot your everyday people and every body type. It's not just our job to take that incredible photo, but we've gotta learn to interact with different people and posing different body sizes to help keep that model/clients confidence up. This is why I love portraits and even more so moving into boudoir. The beauty of seeing someone nervous about their appearance and then leaving the shoot all smiles makes all the time invested learning worth while.

Awesome advice and yeah, as a new photographer myself, I quickly fell into the trap of making excuses that the most established photographers were only getting the praise and engagement because they worked with beautiful models. That's obviously a destructive mindset one could have. I went back to basics and started practicing on my wife, my sister-in-law, my friends and just took my camera to events where I knew people would be festive and relaxed and just started shooting and that has fueled my growth and confidence. We all want some microwave solution to being great photographers, which is actually counter intuitive because if you love photography, the process is one of the most important parts of it. Art is the combination of skill and time...and most of us don't want to put the time in.

Thank you for this. As a new portrait photographer, this is helpful. New subie here :)

Good video I could’ve used it about five years ago but still an amazing video! Just jokes just jokes, but really appreciate what you doing💯

This video is fantastic! I agree with taking advantage of photo meetups with other photogs and models. We all should step out of your comfort zone too. I did not too long ago and did street photography which is something I don't normally do. My fellow photogs in my local group that are street photographers gave me pointers. It was a great experience. We have started holding peer competitions to push each other.

I practice on my kids and family all the time it’s made my paid shoots so much easier too because it’s like second nature now I don’t have to think much about settings, lighting, gear, etc I can focus solely on posing and the getting the moments that make good portraits

I always tell guys who are interested in trying photography out to always see if they want this to be a hobby or a business because they have to be invested in getting better and be hungry to create excellent images and FAIL at first

7:15 Ha! Good advice for beginners and experienced as well, The reason I shoot them in whatever clothes they arrived in! or I always ask for a t shirt/jean agency look. I get a quick 10-15 frames I'm going to assume are throwaway (sometimes they aren't) test my lights, she gets an idea of what I'm like, Then we go for the first look

Great video

Definitly agree so, this my first year into paid work for portrait photography and I have definitely under delivered a lot in the beginning because I wanted to jump right into paid shoots. Mainly because I was cocky going into it as I had already taught half a year of photography class (the basics) at my highschool. I'm only now really getting images that I'm happy with, but not nearly as much as I wish I do. Even when it's sunset or sunrise I'm still struggling to get amazing photos with using the sun (sun flares, super bright backlit, perfect sunset background). It definitly would have helped if I took my time and started photographing my friends first. During this summer I plan to stop taking bookings and really just get back to the roots of my photography. Without worrying about that I'm getting paid and like you said "I need to deliver something great. I rather make art than just treat it like a job. This is some really solid advice Ryan is giving, if you're new to photography go hit up the streets and bring a friend(s) along with you. Confidence will come with all the experience you'll get from it.

Facts! It’s the assuming that the potential customer will be drawn in due to a halo-effect that would presumably come from shooting an “attractive” model. Though that method can work from a strategic standpoint, I’ve seen many beginner portrait photographers gain a dunning kruger effect after getting the likes and social media traffic of said work with “attractive” model.

Good lessons

I know exactly what you're talking about. I'm a new portrait photographer, and my path is to learn as much as I can. I've watched hours and hours of RU-vid videos to learn posing and lighting and composition as well as camera settings, what lenses to use, etc. And I don't think my photos are bad because I don't have a good looking model, but because I haven't learned enough yet and don't know how to direct the model. But I have a friend who's also a new portrait photographer, and I feel he's thinking that as long as he has interesting and good looking model to shoot, his photos are going to be awesome, and I don't feel he wants to spend the time to learn stuff. For me the learning process is part of the fun!

I was just talking to a good friend of mine that is trying to establish her own brand about we started working together and how we was able to build that chemistry. The conclusion I came up with is that it helped that we was in the same place. We both was working to get our names out there. She gets quality pics, I get much needed practice. My improvements means she benefits.

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽big facts, i need my wife to see this because she’s always asking why I’m trying to take so many photos of her. I think she honestly hates it.

I think newer photographers need to learn how to see qualities in everything vs finding the new face

🔥🔥🔥🔥 #facts

First time i played basketball i scored 50 points. I just kept hitting 'restart' on my controller for 6 years until i finally got good.

Real rap 💯

I've said everything you're saying rn. There's a fetishization of the craft and people have different expectations and are missing out on what builds them as that portrait photographer.

I always treat my models great but because thats what comes with being a professional. The truth though is models and clients everybody will say bad things about you. Make up artists, people who do food styling, so don’t go expecting that people will have chemistry with you and love your work. People’s nature is like that and will let you down. This is the main reason its really really hard to make it in this business. People just want to see you fail. You have to push through all that! Its the toughest part. Also never work with minors even if parents give written permission, save yourself the trouble they are kids and will be a nightmare.

3:48 too bad most photographers and videographers in my area are complete snobs smh