Pardon the title- I just wanted to capture your attention, hehe.
Before you continue reading I would like you to be aware of a couple of things:
1. I am looking for a critique of my work.
2. I am not looking for nice compliments, kind words or something to give me a bigger ego than that I sort of already posses.
3. I am looking for your brutal words, honest opinions and support.
And if that's okay with you, then it's okay with me, so read on!
For those who do not know who I am, let me introduce myself.
My name is Stefanie Neves (nev-es, not neevees) and I am a sixteen year old aspiring fashion photographer whose main goal in life is to work for Vogue or Vanity Fair and be just like Annie Leibovitz or Mario Testino (yes. I have gigantic dreams).
If you would like to know anything else, feel free to check my info page on here!
I write this because lately I have been feeling jaded.
I know the life of a photographer is tiresome and difficult to get to, but as of late, I feel as if I've hit a wall and I don't know how to get past it, so I have decided to turn to you, the ever growing and lovely 365 community.
I have always gotten such wonderful feedback from everyone on here, so I hope to achieve this once again.
1. What do you think of my work; honestly. brutal honesty.
Am I capable of being a fashion photographer? Why, why not?
2. How can I improve?
How can I better my photographs, expose myself more, become more recognized? What steps do you suggest I take?
and 3. Tell me about your work.
How do you honestly feel about your personal portfolio? Do you aspire to be a photographer as well? Where can I see more of your work, show me!
I wish I had more time to look at your work. And I hope you don't mind me commenting. Although I've done my share of portraits and weddings, I'm not a true "pro". But in just the few minutes I have tonight, I browsed your 2010 gallery under your "portfolio", and here's what I've noticed in that short time:
1. Your current work is fantastic. By looking at some of your stuff, it's hard to believe you are only 16. Your work has a maturity level to it that you don't see in most teenage photographers. Your style will grow and mature with you, and I would love to see where you are in ten years!
2. Again, all that I saw were excellent, some were "senior-picture-ish" (absolutely nothing wrong with that), and some were more "glamorous" stand-outs. Watch the eyes - make sure your sharpest focus is on the eyes.
3. There was one in your 2010 gallery, #20, that got my attention more than the others. The composition, the eyes, the skin, the look she was giving the camera - all made for a perfect shot.
I really wish I had more time to look and give you more feedback. You and I already follow each other, so I'll make an effort to comment more on yours if you want to hear what I have to say. Like I said, I'm not a pro!
Good luck Stefanie! I believe you'll be very, very successful if you follow this dream!
I don't know a thing about photography so I can't help you there. But in regards to getting yourself out there, contact all your local magazines / newspapers and see if you can get some work for free. Most towns / cities have independent little fashion or music mags, so if you have any friends in bands, offer to shoot them! Even just go on myspace and look up bands or singers in your area and again, offer to shoot them. Use new, clever ideas that you don't see in every magazine or website you read. If I was you I would always have a paper and pen with me, because ideas come to you in the strangest places!
A friend of mine who has a new, but amazing talent in film just got some great exposure when a friend's company brought CKY over to Australia, he went along and filmed their tour. He paid for the whole thing himself. They posted his video on all of their sites that now thousands of people have seen and now know his name.
If you're having trouble finding contacts, leg ups or even just anyone who wants to help, make your OWN little magazine! Invest in some awesome paper, a good printer, find yourself a clever little writer and make a cute mag and hand them out for free! Another friend of mine just prints out her photos on paper, with her website printed on and sticks them up over the city.
With a talent like yours, you have the whole world ahead of you. There are so, so many things you can do to get noticed. Don't give up x
P.S in regards to the making your own magazine thing, this is an old friend's magazine he made. It started out as nothing much, just a bunch of broke dudes with an interest in art, fashion and photography and they managed to make an awesome little mag with a good name for itself on the Gold Coast here in Australia. http://www.myspace.com/claymagazine
Loni-
Don't worry about looking at everything! The fact that you've taken a couple of minutes out of your day to do a quick browse through and a response means the world to me, so I thank you for that.
And I thank you for your words of wisdom, they really do mean a lot to me! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I am always willing to hear more from you, you have such an amazing 365 gallery, it's very inspirational. For someone who isn't "pro", your work definitely seems like it.
Thank you once again!
Vikdaddy-
Just saw it, thank you. Take your time!
Jenna-
That's such a great idea! I know a couple of people who have internships at some local magazines so I definitely will plan on talking to them. Thank you so much for the great ideas and support, I really really appreciate it!
I think you have a really interesting and creative take on fashion photography. I LOVE your 2nd September shot.; very editorial :) You do a lot of beautiful close-up shots framing the face (judging from your 365 album); I would experiment more with long-body shots - getting the model to make interesting shapes, utilising available light in interesting ways, and so on.
I think you definitely have a real gift with people-photography. I look forward to seeing more. :)
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1. Your current work is fantastic. By looking at some of your stuff, it's hard to believe you are only 16. Your work has a maturity level to it that you don't see in most teenage photographers. Your style will grow and mature with you, and I would love to see where you are in ten years!
2. Again, all that I saw were excellent, some were "senior-picture-ish" (absolutely nothing wrong with that), and some were more "glamorous" stand-outs. Watch the eyes - make sure your sharpest focus is on the eyes.
3. There was one in your 2010 gallery, #20, that got my attention more than the others. The composition, the eyes, the skin, the look she was giving the camera - all made for a perfect shot.
I really wish I had more time to look and give you more feedback. You and I already follow each other, so I'll make an effort to comment more on yours if you want to hear what I have to say. Like I said, I'm not a pro!
Good luck Stefanie! I believe you'll be very, very successful if you follow this dream!
A friend of mine who has a new, but amazing talent in film just got some great exposure when a friend's company brought CKY over to Australia, he went along and filmed their tour. He paid for the whole thing himself. They posted his video on all of their sites that now thousands of people have seen and now know his name.
If you're having trouble finding contacts, leg ups or even just anyone who wants to help, make your OWN little magazine! Invest in some awesome paper, a good printer, find yourself a clever little writer and make a cute mag and hand them out for free! Another friend of mine just prints out her photos on paper, with her website printed on and sticks them up over the city.
With a talent like yours, you have the whole world ahead of you. There are so, so many things you can do to get noticed. Don't give up x
:)
http://www.myspace.com/claymagazine
Just a bit of motivation for you :)
Don't worry about looking at everything! The fact that you've taken a couple of minutes out of your day to do a quick browse through and a response means the world to me, so I thank you for that.
And I thank you for your words of wisdom, they really do mean a lot to me! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I am always willing to hear more from you, you have such an amazing 365 gallery, it's very inspirational. For someone who isn't "pro", your work definitely seems like it.
Thank you once again!
Vikdaddy-
Just saw it, thank you. Take your time!
Jenna-
That's such a great idea! I know a couple of people who have internships at some local magazines so I definitely will plan on talking to them. Thank you so much for the great ideas and support, I really really appreciate it!
I think you definitely have a real gift with people-photography. I look forward to seeing more. :)
(I also love love love your bokeh shots too. :D)