[D][G]studios: January 2013

http://www.photographytalk.com/photography-articles/3377-19-ways-to-become-a-hated-photographer

So you decided you want to be a successful photographer. Or maybe you’ve been doing it for a couple of years, but something isn’t adding up and you’re thinking about making some changes, but don’t know which way to go exactly.

Now, the first thing you should acknowledge before starting a photography business isn’t actually what you’re hoping/dreaming. It’s not just taking pretty pictures all day long with a big smile on your face and making big money out of it. Reality check: it doesn’t work that way. Actually the part about the smile is kind of important, but I’ll get to that later.

So, the first think you have to remember is that this is a job that deals with people. If that scares you, well good! I'm not going to mention anything about being a good photographer, per say, in this article. It’s all about the wonderful steps you can take to make sure you’ll be hated. I don’t think anyone really wants to be hated, although just in case, this should be particularly useful to use hate lovers out there. It’s meant to be a list of negative examples that you should avoid, or at least not do so often if you‘ll read them with a knowing smile.

1. Flash your gear and drop numbers
Yes, everyone will be impressed when you pull out your mighty 1Dx with the 70-200mm f 2.8 IS II, and that should be enough! Unfortunately, there are some photographers who lack anything else to make them interesting, so they start handling that gear like they’re at a fashion show and those are the accessories. That, or they start dropping numbers, just so the client or whoever is around knows that they are successful and thus can afford all that expensive gear.

2. Hit on the bridesmaids

The ancient saying “never mix business with pleasure” has been around so long for a reason. Yes, some of the bridesmaids at certain weddings look like they just came off the cover of a Victoria’s Secret catalog and aren’t they a joy for everyone around them? It just gets sad when you see middle-aged photographers, with a beer belly and a slightly bald head trying to make a move on them. I’m not saying it is wrong, after all, who am I to judge, but it’s just unprofessional and it will draw plenty of negative attention, especially from their boyfriends.

3 Shout at your assistant
I don’t care how big of a hot shot photographer you are, if you scream at your assistant, for whatever reason, you might as well hang a board around your neck with the words “Arrogant” and “Insecure” written on it. People will lose respect for you, but if you by any chance are the nervous wreck type, or if you know a photographer like that, advise them to get an assistant that is not physically larger, just in case .

4. Show up late
Whatever the job, you should get there before it starts, before the scheduled time; especially if there is studio equipment and setting up props involved. I’ve heard of wanna-be rock star photographers who would be fashionably late for the sake of so called status. It obviously backfired every time. Be late when invited to a fancy party, not when you’re photographing on someone else’s time and money.

5. Take too much time to set up
Sometimes you need a lot of gear to get the desired outcome from a shoot. As we all know, even with practice, setting up light stands, backgrounds, smoke machines and other such things can take a bit of time. It’s also not the most interesting part about being a photographer. But if you do want to make sure that client never works with you again, all you have to do is take your time. Do everything slowly and at the expense of everyone else’s time or just get an assistant! Canon Rebel T4i | Nikon D7100 | Nikon D800 | Canon 5D Mark III | Nikon D5200 | Sony A99

6. Bad mouth other photographers
If you already got the job, what’s the point of talking trash about another guy or another woman, just because you don’t like them for whatever reason or you hate their crappy photos? If you didn’t get the job, and this is usually where most of the bad mouthing comes from, you won’t do yourself any favors .In fact, you will probably only be labeling yourself as a frustrated, out of work photographer.

7. Bad mouth other people in the industry
Make-up artists, designers, hairstylists, assistants all contribute to a successful shoot. Not all of the people you will work with will be fun and worthy of catching a few drinks with. That doesn’t mean you need to put them in a bad light. Like other talented creatives, some of them can be quite arrogant. And that’s probably what they’re saying about you too.

8. Act like a dictator

If you are an extreme case, than the scene of a photo-shoot is your small country and you are its ruler. That’s fine; just make sure it never leaves your head. Acting all bossy and demanding around models, clients and whoever might be involved in the shoot might get you the attention of some pretty girls who like bad boys, but it will just scare and annoy everyone else.

9. Shut up all the time
This is the opposite end of being a dictator. Silence is indeed golden, just not when people expect you to deliver, or to give directions. Even with an experienced model, you have to give some directions, let alone with a bride and groom. The intelligent, quiet type is awesome, but make sure you are like that on your own time.

10. Ignore deadlines
After a photo shoot, there is usually a deadline for delivering the final, retouched photos. Of course, to some photographers, deadlines are just another thing to say “yes” to in order to get the job. It might take you a bit more than initially anticipated to deliver the final result, but the least you can do is pick up the phone and give a polite heads up.

11. Publish photos without permission or model releases
You might have done a fantastic job on your last project and you want the world to see it, right? That’s totally fine, except your last project might have involved nudity or some crazy ideas that might make your models uncomfortable if the photos were to be shared on , let’s say Facebook. That will surely make them love you and be eager to work with you again.

12. Don’t listen to anyone! Ever!
If you really want to be a pain in the butt for the people you work with, all you have to do is not listen to anyone else but yourself. Hold on to your ideas only and don’t let some background noise, like the art director giving you his ideas, bother you from what you were going to do anyway.

13. Show up wearing the clothes you slept in
Had a long night in the city before the shoot? No problem. As long as the clothes you wore yesterday and slept in aren’t stained with anything suspicious it’s ok to go to work. I’m sure you’ll come off as the talented artist who parties like a rock star, and not as an irresponsible, nonprofessional, camera holding, hung-over person.

14. Accidently lose the photos
Format the card my mistake or forget to back up. Fail proof way of attracting “sympathy” from clients.

15. Leave hateful comments on other photographers’ photos
You have to make sure everyone sees how much you dislike the work of your peers. It’s also a sure way of attracting attention to your flawless portfolio.

16. Be a paparazzo

‘Nuff said.

17. Spam Facebook
Share your albums, every day, multiple times. It will surely draw attention. It might just the kind you’re hoping for.

18. Complain all the time
There is a lotto complain about at a photo-shoot or at an event. From the food, to the weather, the people, you name it. Complaining all the time will surely make you “loveable” like never before.

19. Ignore the client’s needs
So you got a project, you discussed the details with the client, but somewhere along the way you thought of a way to make things more interesting. No problem! Just go ahead with your idea. It’s surely better. They’ll probably love it and not waste a minute being angry with you.

http://www.photographytalk.com/photography-articles/3286-7-little-secrets-that-every-photographer-should-learn

There are many misconceptions about professional photographers and the things they know and do. Many beginning photographers won't figure these out until they've been shooting for awhile themselves. But learning a few secrets ahead of time can save you some hassle. Here are seven things you should know.

1. You Don't Have to Shoot in Manual
One common misconception among many beginning photographers is that professionals only shoot in Manual Mode, and that to use this mode is to be a true photographer. This probably stems from the fact that, in order to get the most out of your camera, you must learn how to use the various manual settings. After all, a professional camera is essential a camera that gives you the most manual control. However, this doesn't mean that everything has to be controlled manually. Many photographers use Aperture Priority Mode and exposure compensation to get the photos they want. In this mode, the camera automatically meters for the scene at hand, but you can tweak this exposure by using exposure compensation.

2. Most Photos Suck
This is pretty straightforward. The majority of your photos won't be good. Doesn't matter if you're just starting out or you've been a professional for years. Most photos just don't work out. In fact, if you think that majority of your photos are good, then you may want to get a second opinion. Although they may have many acceptable to good shots, many photographers are happy with getting one great shot out of a hundred. You have to be a little ruthless when going through your images and choosing which ones to keep. Keeping all your shots will clog up your hard drive quickly with useless photos. Most just aren't worth keeping. Don't be afraid to delete hundreds or thousands of images if they're not worth saving.

3. A Lot Happens in Post
Most professional photographers will tell you that they spend more time editing images than taking them. If you're going to compete with the photographers in today's world, you're going to need some kind of post-processing software, and you're going to have to learn how to use it properly.

4. Not Everything Can be Fixed in Post
As often as post-processing is used, don't use it as a crutch. Many photographers will casually shoot and tell themselves that they can fix any problems in post. While many things can be touched-up and improved in post, not everything can be fixed, and Photoshop won't make a crappy image look good. It can bring out the best look in potentially good images, but can't turn a bad photo into a masterpiece. Get it right in-camera first and you'll save yourself a lot of hassle.

5. Saving Time is Saving Money
Ever notice how big-time photographers have a dozen assistants and a huge studio with a hundred pieces of equipment? All of this is for the purpose of saving time. Instead of setting up the shoot himself, the photographer has an assistant do it. Same for the make-up, wardrobe, props, etc. The photographer could do all this himself, but it would take him three or four times as long. Assuming he's being paid a flat fee, this reduces his pay per hour. So the faster he can do it, the more projects he can book, and the more money he can make.

6. Light is Key, Not Gear
Any professional will tell you that learning about your camera and how to control light is more important than the gear you carry. It doesn't much matter if you have a Nikon D4 if you can't take a decent head shot. However, if you can take great images with your little point-and-shoot, then you're only a camera away from creating great commercial work.

7. Learn About the Business
If you really want to get into the photography business, then you have to learn the business part. In fact, knowing the business side of things can be more helpful than learning the photography side. Regardless of how good your images are, no one is going to buy them if they don't know you exist. Business and marketing are must-knows to being successful in the photography world.