StretchLifeVisuals
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Great 1 on 1 : Mastering the Basics: My Deep Dive into Photography, Editing & Pricing
🕑 Added 2025-07-15 15:33:12 +0000 UTC💭 WHY HE GOT INTO PHOTOGRAPHY
Straight up: I needed a creative outlet.
I'm currently pursuing my master's degree and juggling school full-time.
Just moved to Texas — knew nobody, new vibe, new chapter.
Picked up a camera to explore, stay creative, and meet people.
Right now, I’m showing up to local events and building my name one shoot at a time.
“I’m not from here, so this is how I’m learning the city and making connections.”
🎒 GEAR CHAT — WHAT I’M USING & THINKING OF UPGRADING
Camera: Sony A7iii
Lens dilemma: 24-70mm zoom vs 50mm prime
The Breakdown:
LensProsCons50mm (1.8 / 1.4)Affordable, great for portraits, beautiful bokehFixed focal length, less versatile24-70mm (2.8)Super versatile, great for events, street, lifestyleMore expensive, heavier
What he said:
“I always prefer the 50mm for portraits — just love that depth. But the 24-70 gives you range when you don’t know what to expect.”
“If you're on a budget, start with the 50mm. But if you got the funds, knock out the 24-70 now — it's a long-term investment.”
🧾 BIGGEST ISSUE I BROUGHT UP: QUALITY DROP AFTER EXPORT
I told him my edited photos were losing quality once uploaded. My workflow:
Shoot RAW
Use adapter to transfer files to iPhone
Edit on Lightroom Mobile
Upload via Dropbox app
Why that’s a problem:
“Your phone strips file data. You’re not getting the full quality from RAW like you would with a computer.”
FIX:
Use an SD card reader for your laptop
Upload files straight to Lightroom Desktop
Export from there to Dropbox (or even better, use Pixieset)
Bonus gem:
“Phones are good in emergencies — club shoots, sports, fast turnarounds. But for portfolio work? Always go desktop.”
💡 FLASH SETUP: WHAT TO BUY & WHY
Budget: $300–$500
What I currently have: A Godox speedlight
What he recommended:
FlashPriceNotesGodox AD200 ~$300Lightweight, portable, solid power
Godox AD600BM~$500–600Heavier, stronger flash, great for outdoor or studio
Keep the speedlight?✅ “You can’t always bring big flashes inside — that speedlight will save you in tight spots.”
“You can make quick money with that speedlight. Clubs, street portraits, events. Less gear = less stress.”
Extras to add:
S-bracket
Beauty dish (12” recommended) or small softbox
Heavy-duty light stand
Note on beauty dishes vs softboxes:
“If you don’t want to learn feathering and light shaping right now, go softbox. Beauty dish looks great, but takes finesse.”
🎨 EDITING & COLOR GRADING TIPS
This was huge for me — I’ve been stuck trying to get my colors right.
What he said:
“I don’t do anything crazy. I like color to pop — sky, trees, outfits — I boost saturation and tweak skin tones.”
Workflow:
Uses Lightroom’s default presets (no custom ones)
Batches by editing one photo, copying/pasting settings to others
For Photoshop, all retouching is manual — can’t paste skin edits
Favorite style: clean, vibrant, not overly filtered
Color grading rule of thumb:
“You know what skin is supposed to look like. Not yellow. Not pink. Not orange. Trust your eyes.”
💼 BUSINESS & BRANDING GAME
Studio Access
“My homie was leaving Atlanta and had a studio. I took it over. Now it’s mine, month-to-month. Total blessing.”
Getting Into Venues
“You can get into damn near anywhere with a camera if you move right.”
“Say you’re with the venue. Keep your bag tight. Most clubs don’t even ask questions.”
💸 PRICING STRATEGY FOR BEGINNERS
“I didn’t charge at first. I waited till people wanted to pay.”
Beginner pricing tip:
Cap your rate at $100 while learning
Offer free shoots to build portfolio
Focus on getting tags, reposts, word-of-mouth
As inquiries go up, raise your prices in steps
His pricing journey:
Stage Rate Just starting : Free – $50
Beginner growth : $100
Established in market : $350–$650
Premium clients Up to $1,000+
“Now my sweet spot is $650 per shoot. Max I charge is $1K. And people book those every semester.”
🔁 Final Advice: Stay Plugged In
“Don’t just hop on a 1-on-1 and bounce. Go apply this, then come back in a month with updates.”
He encouraged me to document my progress, revisit the community, and keep evolving my setup, pricing, editing, and brand presence.
🧠 Personal Takeaways:
Quality matters — I’m done editing off my phone
50mm is probably my best move right now (budget + quality)
Start small, build value, let my work raise the prices for me
Texas is a growing photography market — I need to show up, shoot, and hashtag smart
Just because it’s “simple” advice doesn’t mean it’s not elite
