Asking advice about "getting into photography" 

............first tell me a little about yourself.

1. Have you read my web pages    http://www.ivan.co.nz/Learn.htm and http://www.ivan.co.nz/Learn2.htm and http://www.ivan.co.nz/Learn4.htm that may answer some of your general questions!

2. Second..... tell me exactly, as to the amount of photographic knowledge you have & how you received it! ( I started off with Nil at 25 years of age)

3. Third in what city of the world are you......the answers could be different for different cultures....

4. Fourth what age group are you........ again the answer is different for a 18 year old to a 54 year old

5. Fifth what is your present occupation and for how long can you support yourself without a income..... again this would influence the advice...

6. What type of photography do you want to do, How old are you, how much money do you have behind you, how much photographic experience, how much business experience, can you keep a set of accounting books, How are you at marketing, advertising etc, is English your natural tongue, Can you sell, do you get on well with people, how many camera formats are you familiar with, what do you know about digital photography, what do you know about Photoshop, can you process B&W, can you process C41 & E6

7. Finally what level of income do you wish to achieve in say five years........ it would help if you said "Money is not important.....Daddy left me $64 Million"  

Write to Ivan

Asking advice about photography in general

• Have you told me enough information about yourself, your knowledge, or your camera for me to be able to give you a informed reply to your question? 

• It is not sufficient to say..."I have been into photography for about 6 years now" or "What would be the best SLR for about $500" you would need to tell me what you mean by "being in photography" or what sort of camera you have now in case I could recommend a upgrade so you could keep your existing lenses.

Write to Ivan

My replies !

1. I will always reply!

2. You will always get straight answers with no hidden agenda's .... I have nothing to sell or product to push!

3. As emails are impersonal, do not read into the answers personal insults, anger, or anything of a like nature... any use by the writer of bold case is to tell you it is important and you must not miss this point.... or you are heading in the wrong direction...

4. If you do not understand some advice I give, ask! ...I can only read minds at five paces 

5. Never feel embarrassed about what you think is a simple question or worry that I will laugh ... if you do not know the answer... ASK! 

6. Always feel you can come back at any time to ask more questions.... you do not learn everything in a few days!

7. Be aware that if you want to earn BIG money you will not do that (under normal circumstances) working a few hours a week and that the more you earn, the more you will have to give up, of your personal life !

8. Finally when you have received all of the information you require.... tell me so and do not leave me wondering!

9. with the modern age of communication Long Distance (and NZ is long distance) telephone call's are relatively cheap, check out what it would cost to call Christchurch NZ from your telephone and if it is within your budget tell me and tell me what times you would be able to call me on what days and I will set up a time to be home for your call, NO I do not need to know your phone number or your address...or now with SKYPE it is super cheap,
10. My Skype Name is <ivanwilbur>
11. I do travel thro Greater Europe from April to September so sometimes because of lack of available internet it may take some time for you to get av reply