Q and As

Here is a list of questions that I get a lot. I mentor out of town photographers and some out of state. I get a lot of questions almost every day.
So here are some of the more frequently asked questions.

1. Q. How long does it take to learn photography because I want to quit my job and open a studio?

A. Well, I actually studied photography for about 9 years before I ever accepted a paying job from anyone. I thought it was very important to really know what I was doing before I called myself a PRO.

2. Q. Where did you get your training?
A. I studied photography my Senior year in high School, and took classes at Odessa College for 2 semesters from an excellent instructor (STEVE GOFF). then took 1 semester at Amarillo College and worked for a busy studio in Amarillo. Then transfered to Texas Tech Universtiy Health Sciences in Lubbock and worked for a professional color lab.
I then worked as a Newspaper Staff Photojournalist for a Texas newspaper in Central Texas, where I gained a lot of experience and learned how to work in various situations and with a demanding schedule deadline daily.
Then completed a 3 year correspondence course from the New York Institute of Photography while lving overseas in Japan.
Then I moved to Wichita Falls and attended numerous advanced courses (around the state at seminars and conventions) in portraiture, lighting, composition, posing, lighting ratios, exposure, optics and lens perspectives etc.

I opened my first studio in July of 1996 on Brook Avenue in Wichita Falls. I was open 6 days a week for 5 years and then relocated to the country club area on Harrison and was open 5 days a week. In those 10 years I photographed upwards of 500 weddings in a 10 year span.

I pursued more continuing education courses in all over the country and still continue to attend workshops all over from Las Vegas to Washington DC.

3. Q. Does a photographer have to have a degree to know what they are doing?
A. I believe so, but Im in the minority nowdays. I dont mean any offense but I find its more and more true these days. Todays younger generations is used to Instant Gratification and are impatient. They dont want to take the time to learn their craft. The advent of digital cameras have also made photography Cool and everyone wants to be a photographer now days.

Some are naturally gifted and can take shortcuts, but others could use the formal education. (Some dont know an F-stop from a BUS STOP. hee hee)

(By the way, one of my first Mentors- Mr. Lemons told me that he first opened a studio in the 70s and after a short time realized he needed much more training. He and his wife relocated to Santa Barbara California, where he studied at the prestigious and expensive BROOKS INSTITUE of PHOTOGRAPHY. His wife worked as a chuch secretary and he worked as a Church Janitor. They lived in a tiny room and went into debt for his education.

They returned to Nocona after a few years and hard earned knowledge of the technical aspects of professional photography.
I cant tell you how much I admire his determination and his dedication to the craft of Professional Photography. It was quite an sacrifice for him and his wife, but they made it and it showed in his work.

4. Q. What kind of camera is best to take good pictures?
A. This is a difficult question to answer. It varies. Do you want to take good snap shots of your children? Or are you into photographing fast action sports? Or do you want to take high resolution images of landscapes for enlarging and displaying? Its almost impossible to answer that question. I usually recommend a good SLR, I prefer Canon, but Nikon has an impressive line of SLRs. I miss my Medium Format cameras and may start using them again for fun. Nothing beats the clarity and I miss the smell of Dektol!

(Side note here: I have a friend who has a beautiful kitchen complete with industrial grade Appliances. A VIKING 6 burner Gas stove, Huge Stainless steel refrigerator, Wine cellar, but Im afraid that does not make her a CHEF. (Sorry Kendra! I love you regardless! :0) She will admit it too.) Its more about your training than your equipment. As one of my instructors used to say "Its whats between your ears that matters."

5. Q. I took some good pictures of Yosemite National Park while on vacation, do you think i could sell them to a magazine?
A. What you are speaking of is called STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY and trust me, there are thousands of photographers who shoot Stock images for a living. Just enjoy your images, enlarge them and frame them for your home, or put into albums, this is a tough market to break into.
Just enjoy them, thats the real reward.

6. Q. My sister got married and hired our uncle to shoot the wedding photos and they turned out pretty good, how do you justify your prices and why do wedding photographers charge so much?

A. Now, this is a touchy subject for me. I hope I dont sound rude. I mean well here. You cannot even begin to compare a pro and an amatuers photography. They are different. If you are on a tight budget and cant afford a pro, then thats one matter. But I have seen some brides spend a small fortune on the catering at a wedding ($50-100.00 a plate!) and try to skimp on the most important part of the wedding!
Your portraits are all that last and you should hire a pro to avoid a disaster. Believe me, Ive had brides in tears in my studio wishing they would of hired a pro instead of a relative or well meaning friend who got nothing satisfactory. Watch the "Peoples Court", you'll see it time and time again. Ive had only 2 mishaps in all these years and they were minor. I also have indemnification insurance incase anything was to go wrong. Its of the utmost importance to have it. I know for sure that Joe Rogers Photography has this insurance too.

7. Q. If I wanted to go pro, how would you recommend I do it?

A. I seriously recommend a formal education which takes several years to learn the basics of photography. It takes time to master the elements of exposure, lighting, camera functions etc.

8. Q. What degree do you have?

A. I hold a Master of Photography Degree, Im also a Certified Professional Photographer and hold the Photographic Craftsman Degree from the PPA. I also have 2 Texas degrees , the Associate and Full Fellowship Degrees.

9. Q. What flash do you recommend?

A. Are you talking about on camera flash? I use many brands including Metz, Sunpak, Quantum, etc. But I think you should use natural light as often as possible. Artifical light is unnatural looking and can wash out your subjects. Unless you are well versed in studio portraiture, lighting rations, exposure, etc and want to use Professional lighting.

10. Q. Whats a good price to pay for a wedding photographer?

A. It depends upon the area of the country you live in, and the skills and talent of the photographer. I know several photographers whose prices begin at $10,000 and one who charges $100,0000.00! I also know some good ones in The Dallas Metro area who begin at about $1,500.-$6,000.00
I still think its the most important professional you will hire for your wedding day.
Currently if I am not available, I am recomend Joe Rogers Photography &"Something New." No offense to all the others out there (there are a lot of photographers these days, and more every year.) There are a couple more on my list who I am feeling more confident about each year, but arnt totally quite there in my opinion yet. I always think "would I want this photographer shooting my daughters wedding? And if the answer is MAYBE? , I dont recommend them. Even though they are super nice people.


11. Q. Do you use film or are you a Digital shooter?

A. I used Medium Format cameras and 35mm SLRs until 2000. Then I converted to fully digital and taught other pros how to make the jump to digital. We are 100% digital and plan to remain that way.

12. Q. Do you give private lessons?

A. I do give private lessons on a personal case by case basis, when I have free time. It usually consists of 6 clock hours of time spread out over the course of 3 weeks.
I also teach other pros at a day rate of $900 for one day and $1500 for 2 days , plus travel. I also do phone consultations at $50 per half hour.
I give advice on everything from studio design, digital workflow, marketing, employee organzation and goal setting. My favorite part is studio design.

13. Q. I saw your name in a Professional magazine, do you write articles?

A. Yes I write for several publications. My favorite is the Texas PPA Magazine. I love to share knowledge with other pros and as I said before I teach one on one, during slow periods.

14. Q. What made you want to become a photographer?

A. When I was a little girl my dad worked for a Newspaper and I was on the front page at the age of 8 (The Lubbock Avalanche Journal) and ever since Ive loved it. I enjoyed watching the photographers work and loved those old big cameras. Then there was an awesome photographer in my town of Plainview Texas. Mr. Bill Weaks. Im proud to call him my friend and he is amazing. He was my true inspiration to become a PORTRAIT Photographer.

15. Q.What makes you unhappy about photography?

A. People who Copy me. Its sad they dont have original ideas for themselves. I work hard to come up with original ideas and I dont think its flattery to copy. I think its JUST LAZY.

16.Q. What makes you happy about photography?
I love the creative process and getting to know people. Im an artist at heart (like my dad) I love colors and composition and strong graphics. Also, I have made a lot of friendships in this business. I get so many Christmas cards from Past clients that there isnt room to display them all. That means so much to me.

I also treasure the friendships with other pros. I recently had car trouble in the middle of nowhere (between Brownfield and Plains TX) and I called a photographer who let me park my daughters car at her house for a week. Now what business can you have a friend in every city in the state?

And lastly, over the past 11 years Ive employed exactly 41 employees. I dont know how many students Ive put through College (one is a Dr. now!) and I love hearing from them. They are all over the country and like family to me. Of course there are a few that left on bad terms, but that was their loss. :0)
Im dedicated to this craft and its my lifes work. I wouldnt trade it for anything. I wrote a paper in high school that I was going to be a Flight Attendant or a Photographer or BOTH. I still love to travel and shoot. Its my passion. Thanks for listening....

Thats all I have time for right now, you can send me your questions at PDixie@sw.rr.com You can read the article about me that was featured in the Texas magazine by going to http://photographybydixie.com/magazine.html