Author Topic: Seeking comments on new website (Read 5522 times)

cybernesco · « **on:** November 24, 2007, 14:44 »

Hello everyone, please visit my new website and tell me what you think.

usefulimage.com

Thank you

Denis Pepin
[email protected]

sharply_done · « **Reply #1 on:** November 24, 2007, 16:00 »

There are far too many images of yourself - one or two should suffice. The only non-self portrait I remember seeing was that of a rather sad looking, possibly homeless, man - not exactly the type of image you should be presenting if you want to cater to any sort of portrait market.

cybernesco · « **Reply #2 on:** November 24, 2007, 16:41 »

Thank you sharply_done, modeling is my next endeavour for 2008 which eventually will replace those of myself. denis

iclick · « **Reply #3 on:** November 24, 2007, 16:52 »

lol pleased to hear it was going to say that as it stands it makes you come over as slightly self obsessed

Good Luck

Sue

hatman12 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 24, 2007, 17:18 »

I like your self portraits - they are well executed and good fun. But yes you need to show other people as well.

Your prices seem incredibly low. How can someone survive charging prices that low?

Be careful because if you charge low prices you will attract 'low price customers'.

cybernesco · « **Reply #5 on:** November 24, 2007, 17:46 »

Thank you hatman12, yes prices are low for now. Wal Mart is 1/2 mile from my home and they have their own in-house photographer with their own studio starting at $14.99 for family portrait. At the moment all of my photographic revenues are from microstock which deal mostly with food, products, animals and various other items. The only people I have are myself, one of my wife and a few homeless people. I guess, the few photos of myself was to demonstrate that I have the ability to do portraits. But I guess for the moment, until I have more people, just a couple of me and one of my wife would suffice. Thank you again. Denis

hatman12 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 24, 2007, 18:39 »

I know nothing about your local community Denis (I am in Australia), but it seems to me that you've got some serious business thinking to do.

Let's assume that the 'life' of a microstock picture is three years. Work out your average monthly income per image for your microstock venture and then multiply that number by 36 (months). That will give you the 'expected asset value' of every picture you add to your microstock collection (on average).

How long does it take to create a microstock picture? For me it's two or three hours (including planning, researching, taking, processing, uploading etc).

Compare your microstock numbers with your quote of $15 for a family portrait.

My guess is that you will be better off spending your time shooting stock.

BTW there are plenty of models who will be delighted to work for TFP. Try ModelMayhem.

cybernesco · « **Reply #7 on:** November 24, 2007, 19:14 »

I understand and as you can see the front page of my website is putting a priority on finding models within my community specifically for stock. Family portrait for the moment is mainly a secondary avenue to gain experience which I may stop doing once I have more models to photograph. This coming Monday I will be putting ads in local papers looking for models and linking it to my website. And yes I know about ModelMayhem. The other day I found over 30 models within Ottawa. I am planning to email them my website address. I hope to visit your country one of these days.
Denis

rjmiz · « **Reply #8 on:** November 24, 2007, 19:26 »

I don't like your self portraits. I think they're "hideous"!
You should spend more time displaying shots of other people.

I learned that lesson myself. I used to post my image on dating websites.
However, I think people (Good looking women) thought I was too vein, and "full of myself".
I never seemed to get any replies to my posts when I displayed my own image.

I started getting replies once I took down the picture of myself though.
I think that's because women are attracted to "Mysterious" men.
I'm still looking for dates though. I can't seem to get very many after the first date.

Take care and heed my advice.
The MIZ

hatman12 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 24, 2007, 19:59 »

Rumour has it that that is one of your better likenesses Miz.....

Denis you need to approach the modelmayhem thing with some caution! Otherwise you'll waste a lot of time....

Here are some tips learned from my own experience (!). Firstly, for my work, excellent teeth and a great smile are really important. If a girl is not smiling or showing her teeth in her MM promotional shots there will be a good reason why - wonky teeth or unattractive smile. I learned this the hard way. If you need great teeth and an infectious smile, only approach those who fit that bill.

Next, avoid all those who are 'happy to do nude for TFP'. There is always a good reason why a girl wants you to photograph her private bits rather than her face........

In fact, for stock, its better to concentrate on those who 'will not do nude under any circumstances'.

Having said all of that, I now have three girls who I work with regularly. I've turned down many. It's important to be really selective.

My approach is to arrange to have a coffee somewhere neutral and public. Ask them to bring a friend. I give them copies of my ID and proof of address; this immediately removes any 'suspicion'. If you don't have any existing work, print out a load of comps from other photographers as examples of what you would like to achieve. After an hour's chat over coffee you will have an idea of whether both of you can 'build a relationship and work together'.

I've found I no longer need a trial session with a model - that's coffee and chat is enough to be able to 'tell'.

It took me eight months to find my three girls. It was very hard time consuming work.

Here's a link to my MM samples....

http://www.modelmayhem.com/pics.php?id=213150

cybernesco · « **Reply #10 on:** November 24, 2007, 20:33 »

Thank you Miz, hideous maybe but they do continuously get me a few dollars a month from microstocks. I do understand your point thought. Believe me I really want to photograph other people. It is only recently that I have been able to provide a studio setting. I just got 4 alienbees strobe lights, one large soft box, umbrellas and stands and other items. Those self-portraits of mine were done with 2000 watts halogen lamps and believe me, no models would have tolerated the time it took and the heat just to get one photo right. Sometimes, in front of those halogen lights I felt like melting away like the guy in your photo. Now, it is a dream come true, it is right every time.

Thank you Hatman12 for your advice, I do plan to approach them with caution. My wife will be involved in screening them as well.

rjmiz · « **Reply #11 on:** November 24, 2007, 22:00 »

All jokes aside cybernesco, have fun, take images of what ever strikes your fancy.
I think you have a great website, and I know you will continue to grow and prosper.

You and I my friend suffer from the same malady: "creativityitous"

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Author Topic: Seeking comments on new website (Read 5522 times)

cybernesco

sharply_done

cybernesco

iclick

hatman12

cybernesco

hatman12

cybernesco

rjmiz

hatman12

cybernesco

rjmiz

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