Into the lion's den

[dogsbody]

So, popped over the road today, full of trepidation, to show lady-over-the-road some of my snaps.  Pretty good feedback, I think.  Of the 40 or so photos I showed her, she liked about a third.  And guess what?  Her absolute faves were the James Marsters Words & Music ones - her words "Wow, you've got to do more theatre work, these are great."  The one she liked best of all, I sadly can't show you - it's of a kid and I haven't got release for.  She said, with the right cropping it would be "award-winning".  Oooh!!

The only big bummer was that she wasn't keen on most of my music pictures - I think she's concerned that I'm getting into it just because of my/hubby's background.  That said, I think I'll keep plugging away at the music stuff - it's where I have the most contacts.

Things to do:

• Turn off the auto-focus - I've been relying on it less and less recently, but I've been told to let go completely and be sure that I'm in absolute control of every picture I take.
• Look at every picture upside down.  This one, for instance, looks ok right way up, but if you invert it you realise that the eye is immediately drawn to the guitar, not the guy.
• Crop more, but leave space for people to move into - the right half of this could easily go and none of the impact would be removed.
• Practice taking shots at slow shutter speeds - in theory it's possible to take something clean at 1/30th second without a tripod.  I can only reliably do that at half that speed at the moment - need to get more detached from the world around me and just concentrate on the picture.
• Every picture tells a story - it's naff, I know but if the picture isn't saying anything then what was the point of taking it?

I guess somewhere, in the deepest recess of my heart, I was hoping that she'd say, "Wow, you're god's gift of photography.  I must retire immediately!"  But as it stands, I think I'm pretty pleased.  She's asked to see more stuff as and when I do it and will give me some critique whenever I want it.  Hubby's massively relieved, as he's getting heartily sick of looking at all these damn pictures!

Am going to aim for the BIPP and the MPA qualifications early next year I think.  Both need a portfolio of about 20 photos - each one perfectly exposed, focused and framed.  In the meantime, I need to get marketting like a demon - need to get every person I've ever known to try and get me some work as well as mailshotting all the local theatres/drama schools for some free publicity...

Also on the To Do list, get my office sorted; oh, and am off to meet my new prospective accountant tomorrow - joy