Let me preface this by saying I AM a newbie and have felt a little insulted today and I was wondering if it was something random or pervasive. I was taking photos at a party I was at with my family and a professional photographer was there and told his wife, another pro, that I was a "fauxtographer" and then proceeded to rip my camera and shooting style and pretty much everything else to a pile of sad little shreds. Then I was visiting a Facebook page that is supposed to be pros and amateurs helping each other out and the phrase came up again, in reference to another newbie. I enjoy taking photos and I know that I am not a wonderful photographer and honestly, I don't even really consider myself a photographer, just someone who loves to take photos. But is that the way I am really seen by those who have wielded a cooler camera for longer?
The first 63 replies have been hidden,
Click Here to show all replies. why?
@dmortega Loved that article, rang so many truths, and love that it highlighted the fact that we have so many opportunities this day in age to really do what we want - we just need the drive and the hard work to back it up. :)
I think mostly, pro photographers see the digital revolution a threat to their work and believe me, wedding photographers aren't paid a lot for the amount of work that goes in (if it;s being done properly anyway). There's always going to be some photographer who gets hoity toity about it but if I had let anyone put me down when I first started out where would I be now?! As long as you're not getting in their way or using your flash when they're trying to get a shot then just get on with it and don't worry about him!
I think what happened to you was very unprofessional. What a CAD! I was taking a few shots at my nephews wedding a couple years ago...being careful not to walk into the photographers shot...it was his job to capture the wedding and I didnt want to mess it up..although I wanted to get some shots too. He was VERY accomodating! Later he said...so where can I see your photos...embarrassed I said "uh facebook" LOL
What a terrible person. I have seen folks like that. The last two months in our local camera club I have had the good luck to place in the monthly competition. Now the only prize is bragging rights, but I was very thrilled. Well, last years overall winner didn't compete in either contest but her and her husband made little faces at the winners and in general seem to look down on other lesser photographers. Beats me why anyone would be this way, but they are out there. The best bet is to just keep doing your thing. You are the better person. I'd rather be a good person than a good photographer and in my humble opinion you are both.
@bookcasefrenzy "I was not in the photographer's way at all. he wasn't there to take photos, he was there with his wife as a guest. and I was taking photos of MY KID."
Wow. He's even more of an ass than I originally thought.
@kerfin
I worked in banqueting, what I fail to say is that the whole UK wedding industry is overpriced, I saw about 300 weddings over 6 years and they were being fleeced, by us, by their chair cover hire, by the car hire, by everyone. I know its like that because of the televised media weddings, famous weddings and peoples I-want-that mentality. That said, my brother just got married, he paid £1500 for a woman to work for 2-3 hours, she gave him 10 pics with the chance to buy more. I could have bought all the equipment she used on the day and come away with £100 in my backpocket at the end for that price. I'd call that overpriced - but I suppose you can't make generalisations.
I'm new to photography, but not to jewelry making, and used to moderate on a jewelry forum, where as a newbie I was given tons of advice and support, and the more experience I got, the more I would want to return the favour, and would be more than happy to encourage and support newbies. The photographer sounds like a very sad insecure chap.
I would try to ignore them if possible. As someone else said they must have some insecurities they are dealing with.
I still have a hard time calling myself a photographer. I just consider myself someone who likes taking pictures and I hope others enjoy looking at them. I have no problem sharing information either if someone sees something I shot and wants to know how I did it. After all, most of us learn things from somewhere else, we are not born knowing any of this stuff!
I have been taking classes since 2008 and I probably always will because I feel I have so much more to learn.
@chewyteeth I take 5k of kit to a wedding, then there's the running costs of my car, my time (approx one full week for each wedding because of editing), the time for the pre consultation, all my overheads, tax, insurance, photoshop, computer, other software etc etc. But the main point is... you can't put a price on someone who knows what they're doing on a wedding day. Not to mention the money that went into marketing so you could find said person. It's not about kit, it's about what the photographer creates and you are paying for their art, passion and experience. I agree that some wedding photographers charge over the earth for prints but these days people are savvy to it and check before booking.
Wedding photography is the ONLY lasting thing from your wedding day. It's worth investing in.
I guess its challenging making a living from photography these days, as everyone is a photographer & people who have worked hard, and made large investments of time and money to go pro can feel threatened.
Some of them will choose to respond like caged animals instead of higher beings...and this can feel disappointing. I have had 'friends' who once I became more serious about image production (film & photography) who became subtly or aggressively competitive...I guess that is one side of human nature.
On the flip side - I also know some amazing photographers (e.g. David Wachenfeld/ Triggerfish Images) and filmmakers (including BBC cinematographers) who have been generous & supportive.
My aim is to focus on what I am doing, and spend my time around those who are genuinely supportive and collaborative.
I wish you well.. keep going, and keep focused ;-) on your goals, dreams and interests.
This is funny but has a bit truth in it. http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/7.htm
Being a professional photographer doesn't mean that you are creating anything meaningful or valuable, for me it only means that you make your living by making photos. Nothing more.
I want to believe that being an inspired amateur you have better chance to advance your art than professional photographers do.
@andycoleborn thank you for saying that "werent we all new once" I do feel as though I must be the only person thats ever picked up a camera and had to learn everything from square one (I'm currently on square 2 as I have learned how to turn the camera on:) ) while everyone else picked one up and suddenly became a professional.
@bookcasefrenzy even on my worst day of taking photos I dont consider myself a "fauxtographer" because every photo I take is a real photo...something that is important to me for reasons maybe no one else will understand. There is nothing faux about that. :)
I think it is all about having fun taking photo's and the joy of make photo's you like and try to make the best photo's you can. That is anyway how I make my photo's, for I do it for my hobby so it must be fun to do isn't it?!
i would be offended - at the end of the day even the pros had to start somewhere, like anyone does when they learn - Pro's just deal with it, people have a hobby you should encourage us not bash us - we can't all afford to go to college or scam the system to pay for us to go, and not all of us want to be pro's like you. for us its fun and relaxing
@kerfin
yeah the same arguments i hear, can't put a price on it, its your wedding so its worth it....that's what they say yeah. I mean I'm an amateur, what do I know?
Rude behavior is rude behavior. The best thing to do is walk away from it and realize that, while it speaks very little about your ability, it speaks VOLUMES about their character. 'Nuff said.
Tweet Me on Twitter
Let's Be Friends :-)
Wow. He's even more of an ass than I originally thought.
I worked in banqueting, what I fail to say is that the whole UK wedding industry is overpriced, I saw about 300 weddings over 6 years and they were being fleeced, by us, by their chair cover hire, by the car hire, by everyone. I know its like that because of the televised media weddings, famous weddings and peoples I-want-that mentality. That said, my brother just got married, he paid £1500 for a woman to work for 2-3 hours, she gave him 10 pics with the chance to buy more. I could have bought all the equipment she used on the day and come away with £100 in my backpocket at the end for that price. I'd call that overpriced - but I suppose you can't make generalisations.
I still have a hard time calling myself a photographer. I just consider myself someone who likes taking pictures and I hope others enjoy looking at them. I have no problem sharing information either if someone sees something I shot and wants to know how I did it. After all, most of us learn things from somewhere else, we are not born knowing any of this stuff!
I have been taking classes since 2008 and I probably always will because I feel I have so much more to learn.
Wedding photography is the ONLY lasting thing from your wedding day. It's worth investing in.
Some of them will choose to respond like caged animals instead of higher beings...and this can feel disappointing. I have had 'friends' who once I became more serious about image production (film & photography) who became subtly or aggressively competitive...I guess that is one side of human nature.
On the flip side - I also know some amazing photographers (e.g. David Wachenfeld/ Triggerfish Images) and filmmakers (including BBC cinematographers) who have been generous & supportive.
My aim is to focus on what I am doing, and spend my time around those who are genuinely supportive and collaborative.
I wish you well.. keep going, and keep focused ;-) on your goals, dreams and interests.
Being a professional photographer doesn't mean that you are creating anything meaningful or valuable, for me it only means that you make your living by making photos. Nothing more.
I want to believe that being an inspired amateur you have better chance to advance your art than professional photographers do.
@bookcasefrenzy even on my worst day of taking photos I dont consider myself a "fauxtographer" because every photo I take is a real photo...something that is important to me for reasons maybe no one else will understand. There is nothing faux about that. :)
yeah the same arguments i hear, can't put a price on it, its your wedding so its worth it....that's what they say yeah. I mean I'm an amateur, what do I know?