Photography as it applies to me

That's me. 

I’m not the best photographer in the business. In fact, I’m not even in the business as a business; it’s a passion that I share with my clients. Photography is a lot like art. It’s an extension of my creative self. Sure, I could be making a lot of money doing this full-time. But once it becomes a job, it loses something for me. I like to collaborate with my clients and come up with ideas that tell their story with my camera – in no less than one thousand words.

Anyone can take a picture. Not everyone can capture a moment in a way that makes it more than a just a picture of a person, family or place. If you get a chance to look through photographer portfolios online, take note of your response to their work. Really good photographs elicit an emotional response. Did you smile? Feel sad? Want to touch? Laugh? Cry? 

It’s what I strive for in both my portraits and experimental concept shoots. But I don’t set up a shot just to do that; I just know if I can look at an image and see more than just an image, I’m happy.  That's not to say it's a complete success all the time. 

Old school Nikon! 

When I look back at my digital progression, and occasional regression, of work, I can see I’ve come a long way from the Nikon CoolPix point and shoot camera with the flip screen. My first ‘real’ camera was a Minolta film camera I eventually passed on to my little brother. I think that anyone who wants to be a better photographer should learn using a film camera first. It will force you to learn to take a technically good picture so when you switch to digital, you’re not relying on Photoshop as a Band-Aid for bad lighting and composition.

If you’re not a Photoshop Wizard, that almost never ends well. I am a Photoshop Wizard and I can tell you, it’s not a cure-all for bad technical skill. Just because you own it, doesn’t mean you have to use it; just like owning six studio lights doesn’t mean you have to use all of them at the same time. Moderation is a good term to learn. 

I was not good at film and it took me a long time to learn what I was doing. A really long time. I concluded that I did not, in fact, know enough about what I was doing at the time. When I bought my first DSLR, a Canon Digital Rebel, what little I had learned about film was tossed out in lieu of instant gratification, less cost and the comfort of knowing I could fix anything in post - digitally. False confidence – GAINED.

Until I shot my first wedding. FAIL.

My first camera, the Digital Rebel. 

That was a humbling experience. Out of 200 digital photos, I might have been able to salvage 25 using Photoshop. Luckily, I had shot two rolls of film and all of those came out decent, but I had decided to shoot all the important stuff digitally.

I might have cried. But it was then that I decided I should learn to consistently take good pictures regardless of what format, digital or film, I was using. Photoshop and Lightroom should be an option, not a necessity. Photography is as much about skill as it is about creativity. Unless you’re either one of my brothers, in which case, you’re just gifted and talented in one-upping your sister with tech knowledge. But I digress.

It may have set me back, but starting over was the best decision. From square one, I learned how to take a picture. A good picture. Digital retouching is awesome, but after spending too many hours in front of a computer, editing hundreds of pictures in post, it was a great feeling to know if I handed a CD to a client right after a shoot, the photos were print-ready. Minus the test shots.

Canon 20D - what I use now.
Photo courtesy www.KenRockwell.com

It is also amazing to have free time.

What had misled me in the beginning, as far as my work is concerned, was the positive feedback. No one critiqued my work as being terrible or even mediocre so I thought I had it all figured out. I had to take a step back and fail a few times to see it for myself. I don’t consider myself to be the best, but I’m also still learning new things all the time and stepping out of the “box of conformity.”

That means, while it’s nice to look at someone else’s work as a learning point, don’t try to copy their style. Have your own. If your work looks like everyone else’s, what is there to set you apart? I learned that the hard way. 

My biggest mentors are my brothers and other photographers. I learned most of what I know from some of the best in the business working as a model and, between them and my two brothers, figured out technical issues as they arose. My only real advice to give anyone who picks up a camera either as a business venture or a hobby is to learn to shoot so that you don’t need Photoshop, and find your own niche and style.

There is no formula to your success other than the one you come up with for yourself. Having all the best equipment won't do anything for you if you don't know how to use it. Photoshop should be an option, not a necessity. None or all of this may apply to you. Good luck. 

(Editor's note: All you sensitive photographer-types out there reading this thinking none of this applies to everyone: don't be an asshole. My blog = my story. However, for a small fee, I will tell your story, too. I'll even post it on my blog. Deal?)