Things That Photographers Often Hear And They Really Hate To Hear Them!

Cameras, cameras, cameras – everywhere you look these days, someone’s using a camera. With millions of people shooting every day, it can be tempting to suggest that now everyone’s a photographer. Which means that professionals have to endure a peculiar set of beliefs and comments coming at them when they’re hired to do a shoot.

Here's a list of few things that photographers often hear and they really hate to hear them, because if the things that people say to photographers are any indication, we are poorly understood. Sometimes I have to keep from slapping myself in the head after hearing certain remarks that come up again and again. Here’s a few of these gems:

 

  • Are you a professional photographer?

  • Your camera takes really nice pictures?

  • What camera do you have?

  • Canon or Nikon?

  • I am just starting to learn. What camera should I buy as my first?

  • I only need few photos taken, is that cheaper?

  • We don’t have much of a budget!

How many photographers have heard that one? I have, many many times. Once again, you can’t turn most of them down because a job is a job… but 80% of the time you’ll give your price and the usual ‘budget’ conversation will follow.

How many photographers have heard that one? I have, many many times. Once again, you can’t turn most of them down because a job is a job… but 80% of the time you’ll give your price and the usual ‘budget’ conversation will follow.

  • Can you make me look good / thin / amazing?

The answer is yes, I can, but only if you look good / thin / amazing without my camera. As of yet, no company has invented a filter to make someone look beautiful.

The answer is yes, I can, but only if you look good / thin / amazing without my camera. As of yet, no company has invented a filter to make someone look beautiful.

  • Can I have all the original photos from the shoot?

  • You’re living the dream!

I think people are kidding when they say this. I don't have any other job. No fixed income. On one hand, it’s indeed a privilege to work in an industry that emphasizes creativity and art. I end up spending a lot of time on my own. And yes, traveling…

I think people are kidding when they say this. I don't have any other job. No fixed income. On one hand, it’s indeed a privilege to work in an industry that emphasizes creativity and art. I end up spending a lot of time on my own. And yes, traveling to interesting locales is sometimes part of the bargain. It’s a hard job, and a fun job, but no less demanding than any other. It's scary. It’s not all glamorous and shiny and easy… no, it’s messy and muddy and cold and shit. 

This list is far from being complete, so if there are any questions you are sick of, please share them with us in the comments!

Hey You! Yes You! DON'T QUIT!

We all do. No matter how set on our paths and our lives we are, we all want to quit every now and then. Because we’re humans, and like I always say — humans are beautiful, but we suck at remembering it. 

That’s not the case. The right path is the one you want to be on. And yeah, you’ll want to quit, but you’ll be just like the rest of us if you go through that. Being an artist, being a creative, being an entrepreneur, it’s about fighting with yourself to keep playing the game when it all feels hopeless.It’s about making one more gamble, and every time, setting your sights on a win, instead of leaving the table.

Just remember 7 things in life!

 

1. There is no “Easy Button”.
 

If there were, everybody would be successful. Anyone who tells you there is is either lying to you or trying to sell you something. Look around, you will see that in action.

If there were, everybody would be successful. Anyone who tells you there is is either lying to you or trying to sell you something. Look around, you will see that in action.

2. Set your bar higher.

Becoming the best you can be takes more work than becoming better than the other guy/gal. Even ‘better’ than them, although I sometimes admit I don’t really know what that means.

Becoming the best you can be takes more work than becoming better than the other guy/gal. Even ‘better’ than them, although I sometimes admit I don’t really know what that means.

3. You are unique.

Find a small, quiet place and think about who YOU are. Finding your style is more about opening up to what you already have than looking outside for inspiration to copy.

Find a small, quiet place and think about who YOU are. Finding your style is more about opening up to what you already have than looking outside for inspiration to copy.

4. Set goals.

Short term, long term, way long term. Make them just out of reach, worth fighting for, and measurable. Write them down… on paper. Read them every Sunday morning… and every time you are feeling a bit creatively cramped.

Short term, long term, way long term. Make them just out of reach, worth fighting for, and measurable. Write them down… on paper. Read them every Sunday morning… and every time you are feeling a bit creatively cramped.

5. Love the word YES!

Be open to new things and opportunities. Take chances. Take risks. Be as cautious as necessary, but no more. We do not move up the mountain by being cautious and timid. Embrace the incredible possibilities that confront us nearly every day… and go g…

Be open to new things and opportunities. Take chances. Take risks. Be as cautious as necessary, but no more. We do not move up the mountain by being cautious and timid. Embrace the incredible possibilities that confront us nearly every day… and go get a few.

6. Learn to say NO!

Do not become a negative person, but know when to call time out. Know when you are being taken advantage of or not being appreciated when the appreciation is ALL you are really looking for. Don’t take crap from anyone. Ever. Stand up for your rights…

Do not become a negative person, but know when to call time out. Know when you are being taken advantage of or not being appreciated when the appreciation is ALL you are really looking for. Don’t take crap from anyone. Ever. Stand up for your rights, your work and your vision. Own it.

7. Learn from every mistake.

Critique the hell out of every mistake. Write the critiques down. Yeah, I tell you to write it down for a reason. Studies have shown that what you learn is retained more than typing it into a computer screen. Don’t argue with me, I know stuff. …

Critique the hell out of every mistake. Write the critiques down. Yeah, I tell you to write it down for a reason. Studies have shown that what you learn is retained more than typing it into a computer screen. Don’t argue with me, I know stuff. The next time you shoot, don’t make that mistake again. And don’t worry, there are a ton of mistakes waiting to be made, so critique and adjust.

I didn’t quit, and I won’t quit, because I’m in love with life. I’m in love with it, with breathing in and out,smelling the world when it rains, I’m in love with the work I do, no matter how hard it gets and how good it might feel to walk away, from time to time. I’m in love with helping people.

I want to quit for most of the same reasons that you do. Because we’re all struggling to make it in a world that often doesn’t listen, waiting for the right hand, or the right moment to play the wrong one. We’re all worried we don’t match up to the ideals and heroes we’ve set ourselves, and there’s a thousand things we’d rather fucking be doing.

But I don’t quit. I don’t quit every single day, when I wake up and I want to.I didn’t quit for 5 years, clicking pictures that very few liked, freaking out in panic attacks and deleting them before I would calm down and start all over again.

If this doesn't work out for you, then the song,"Waiting for my real life to begin", by Colin Hay will surely do!

 

Leave your comments and thoughts below. 

Who are you in love with?

 

You truly fall in love with just 3 people in your life!

 

  • First, you fall in love with your best friend, ruining your friendship forever.

One of the most exciting, but frightening, barriers a friendship faces is when one person falls in love with their best friend. The feelings are so intense, and the fear of revealing them can be paralyzing.

Rejection is always a hard pill to swallow, but when it comes from those you care for its even harder to take. It hurts your ego. You start fighting with them everyday. And it's over. You can never be the same best friends again.

You never expected to fall in love with your best friend, but you're so glad you did.

This will teach you about the fine line between friendship and more. 

  • Second, you fall in love with someone you believe to be perfect.

But again it fails. You realize that people could be cruel and break your heart. You realized that people could stop meaning the sweet things they said to you just yesterday. So when you go into it again, you’re going to keep in mind everything that you’ve learned.

You will learn that no one is perfect, and that you should never be treated as any less than you deserve. 

  • Third, you fall in love with someone that is exactly like you.

The third time you fall in love with someone, you’re going to feel so relieved. When you get your heart broken for the second time, you can’t imagine loving someone else again or having someone else love you. 

The third time you fall in love with someone, you’re going to compare it to your first and second love.

That’s okay.

That’s natural.

It’s going to feel scary at first. Falling in love is sort of like riding a bike though. You never really forget.

The third time will not be the first or the second time. The first time is an insane magical life gift that you can never reclaim. The second is a beautiful memory. But that’s okay. The third time is more real anyway. The third time can involve some amazing love.

This will teach you about who you are, and who you want to be.

And when you're through with all that, you learn that the people who care about you the most are the ones that you hurt, and the ones that hurt you are the ones that you needed the most.

Sometimes its just a convenient word to use. It's easier (for me) to describe what it isn't. Like all language it can be crafted, warped, bent or let go of as required.

You'd know love exists if you felt it, you wouldn't have to take my word for it. You'll know when you can sense it through your senses. After that there is no question if it's learned or not. It's got it's own agenda and does things to you that no one can teach you.

 

So, who are you in love with?

Leave you comments, stories and thoughts below. 

You are the biggest joke on yourself! #StartEnjoyingYourself

I am pretty sure that - literally I am my own best friend. 

I have, deep within, jokes with myself, and the jokes are on me myself. 

Sometimes I laugh out loud and the world thinks I am laughing for no reason. 

But the world doesn't know that I am laughing at myself. 

I am enjoying the Joke On Me.

 

And that's why people's thoughts don't matter to me. 

Their taunts sometimes hurt, sometimes they affect me badly, but not for long. 

Soon I realize I am a joker, and the biggest joke on me is known by none other than me. 

And when you know your bigger joke... Those small people with smaller jokes on you wouldn't matter. 

 

So stop cribbing that you are being ridiculed. Your sensitivity is exciting them to joke more. Start enjoying yourself. You are the biggest joke on yourself... 

 

Leave your comments and thoughts below.