 Lynsey Lund |
Flood of Photographers Has anyone else noticed the number of photographers creeping up and up and up as DSLRs become more affordable and in the hands of so many more people? It seems that every third or fourth person I talk to you fancies themself a “photographer” because they have the camera that can adjust their depth of field and their shutter speed. Don't take that as a rant, I love that more people can experience the joy and creativity and pleasure I get from photography. But how do you go about differentiating yourself? So many people are choosing to take their own photographs because they are able to get some of those elements with their equipment...without really understanding how aperture affects the image, or shutter speed, or how they work together...without understanding anything about backlighting or shadows etc. I am finding in my area that so many of these people are falling into the "Wal-Mart" category of photographers...where they are hiring themselves out for weddings etc. for cheap, because they get a "good enough" result. But when this happens, I have yet to find someone who LOVES the photos they receive, and often some discomfort of expressing their preferences and needs and dissatisfactions because they are choosing to hire friends. How do you go about positioning yourself to gain some of those potential customers back? To looking for a photographer instead of someone that takes pretty good photos? I definitely believe that equipment does not make a photographer and am just unsure of how to appeal to those customers, as they seem to be growing in number. Is it a pointless or uphill battle to try to appeal to those to which “good enough” is all they seek, instead of amazing and stunning? In which case, how do you go about finding those people that are looking for a photographer and not a picture taker? Any tips and advice appreciated!! **I apologize if I am re-asking....my searching skills for the archives seem to have taken a dive...
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
You pretty much answered most of your own questions. You differentiate yourself by marketing yourself as not being in the "wal mart" catergory, if you are really able to do that. Camera's get more and more automatic with exposure and focusing, and people get more and more self absorbed with taking credit for something they claim they did. But new cameras can only do so much, and there's no substitute for a good idea.
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Bob Cammarata |
Photography (and Photographers) have been re-defined. Learn to live with it and be happy. (...or take up golf.)
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- Carlton Ward Contact Carlton Ward Carlton Ward's Gallery |
I want to make the best images I can for myself. To remember all the places & people & my life as it goes and I want my images to look as beautiful as I can. Its my art and if anyone likes it, thats great - but it is not my motivation. I have done plenty of weddings & portrait shoots and have all the strobes & equipment to do this (mostly for friends or events I am associated with) but again, I have no desire to make a living at this. I even sell a few photos from time to time and a couple of times my work has been published but it is not something I have pursued. As I have gotten better, people have sought me out and I have the option of choosing if I want to shoot a wedding or a portrait sitting and can price myself as I want (realistic pricing but not selling myself short) because I am not in competition with anyone. So many of the people you see with the latest DSLRs are probably similar to me but can now afford to own better quality equipment. I hear the new 4G iPhones can capture beautiful images and even do video. A recent episode of House was shot with a 5D Mark II so the whole photography/video world is changing quickly. Imagine where we will be 5 years from now... Understanding lighting, exposure, composition & the ability of using software (Photoshop) will always separate the pro from the casual user, so keep learning and practicing and getting better and create your own unique style - this will get you more attention & business in the long run. my .02 Love in Light, Carlton
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Thom Schoeller |
Re: Lynsey, LOL, my younger sister in conversation told me just the other day something pretty funny which backs up what you wrote. A childhood friend of hers has a bit on an eclectic mom. She dabbles in about anything and everything, and according to "mom" she's basically a pro at all she dabbles in. Apparently she purchased a new point and shoot camera (pro equipment to her) and a book on photography and began shooting the sun setting through the branches from her front stoop. (hand held of course). She surprised my sister with a "post card" she plans to market of the attempted silhouette. My 'Sis is no stranger to photography, she assist me on photoshoots, helps out at art fairs selling my prints and is a competent ameteur 'tog. She knows quality when she see it, so to try and pass off "professional" photography to her was, well...... "Moms" daughter was present, and apparently quite embarrased.
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- Irene Colling Contact Irene Colling Irene Colling's Gallery |
With the proliferation of digital cameras everyone has become a photographer. I've never attempted to sell any of my photos and I would never consider the risk of taking wedding photos but I do enjoy taking the best photos I can and I work toward improving my photography skills. The only real difference between a professional and amateur photographer is income. As soon a person earns money by taking pictures that person becomes a professional. There is no standard for quality and no test for skill to be considered professional. In every profession there are two types of customers. Those who are satisfied with the cheapest option available and those desire quality. Professional carpenters, plumbers, sign painters etc. have the same competition with amateurs. (The difference is that wedding photography etc cannot be redone or repaired after the fact.) When I was young I worked as a mural artist. I was constantly asked to paint unimportant little things that the customer wanted done cheaply. They would say "It doesn't have to be very good." or "It's just for my basement wall so you don't have to make it real nice." I thought comments like that were really stupid because why would I sign my name to artwork that was not up to my standards. What they really meant was "I want something cheap." Your job, as a skilled professional, is to uphold quality and not compromise your own standards. Your work will speak for itself and some advertising to educate potential customers will attract the right kind of clients.
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- Irene Colling Contact Irene Colling Irene Colling's Gallery |
It is also important to remember that not everyone can afford the expense of a skilled photographer. I see no justification to deny thrifty couples wedding photos if a high quality photographer is not in their budget. But there are certainly many couples who desire good, creative and high quality photos.
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doug Nelson |
We live in a nation of posers. Who needs a 4WD safari truck to go to the grocery store? Do you want to stand out as a photographer who looks as if you know what you're doing? Of course, the ultimate proof is in the quality of your work, not just on-screen jpg's, but prints. Whatever you do, weddings, wildlife, travel, children, portraits - be good at what you do.
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- Dennis Flanagan Contact Dennis Flanagan Dennis Flanagan's Gallery |
Great response Irene.
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Kathryn Wesserling |
Just a more light-hearted perspective... Owning $2000 worth of cookware does not make you a Food Network Chef! lollll You need a combination of Heart, Soul, Knowledge, and Experience to reach those levels. So it is with photography, and the honesty to admit the level of your talent.
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Bob Cammarata |
This may be true Kathy but it's not a fair analogy. The technology of cookware hasn't evolved to the point where our pots and pans are actually telling us when to stir, flip, season, or crank up the heat. (...at least not yet.) Hopefully someday in our future, some enterprizing young genius will invent "Saute Mode", "Auto-Braize"...or perhaps "Season-right" cookware. Then we'll all be Master Chefs and can give Flay and Emeril a run for their money. (...I can hardly wait.)
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Kathryn Wesserling |
Fair point, Bob. I realized after posting it that the original argument was "the better the equipment, the better the pictures." (Like, as in "I could take pictures as good as you if I had an expensive camera like yours!" Betcha if I had a grill like Bobby, I'd be a world-class chef, too! lolll
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Dan W. Dooley |
Actually I suspect that there has been a "dumbing down", so to speak, of the art. With the advent of convenient cell phone cameras to compete with cameras which really do something, the bulk of the population has moved to the quick and easy and all but forgotten about quality. I've noticed that on social sites such as Facebook. I thought it would be an interesting place to show off some of my fun photos from holiday trips, nature outings, etc. to family and friends. So I build up galleries of images and at best, someone will "Like" a particular photo. Now my feelings aren't hurt, but I do find it curious because at the same time, everyone is posting (via mobile upload)dull, dark, poorly focused and other wise pictures which a few years ago would not have been worthy of the simplistic of point and shoot 35mm cameras. Now they post the cell phone images and those tend to be the standard of acceptance. No one comments in the negative "who is that in the picture? I can't make it out" and no one seems even aware of the reduced visual appeal. I suspect that the coming of this technology has dulled the expectations of the average person (I know I'm broadly generalizing but you get the point) to where they neither know nor care for visual excellence. Just my thoughts and observations. :-) Dan,
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Lynn R. Powers |
The best way to beat the competition is to select up to 20 of your best images, not necessarily your favorites, and enlarge, mount and matte them so people can see what you are capable of doing. If you cannot afford this at least put them into a portfolio for them to see. Once people see the difference between the snapshot and a photograph they will come running to you. Remember that only 1 of 20 people that are now claiming to be a "professional photographer" will not even be taking photos in five years. Instead 19 of them will be saying, "I was a professional photographer once but there was no money in it." If you are doing it for the money forget about it because this is an area where you do it for the love of photography. Today the average pro photographer makes around $50,000 or less. That is after all expenses and taxes have been paid. There is a reason potential photographers are told not to quit their day job. Now go out there an prove to the people that you are a photographer and not just a snapshooter.
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- Carolyn M. Fletcher  Contact Carolyn M. Fletcher Carolyn M. Fletcher's Gallery |
Also keep in mind that everyone doesn't want to be a "professional"..Many of us just love our favorite subjects and want everybody to share our joy in capturing them. While I enjoy the contest, I have no illusions that I'm anywhere near as good as many of the others on BP. Nor do I want or need a great camera..I use the low end Canon DSLR and kit lenses and a point and shoot as a second camera. I would never shoot a wedding or even anyone's family photos..(at least not anyone who would expect me to be great) I'll probably be on BP til I die and really have no interest even in other sites. This place has everything I want and I appreciate it for what it has allowed me to learn. I have also noticed people coming into the QnA with questions like "what lens should I use to shoot a wedding"..I would think common sense would tell a person that if they have to ask that question, they don't need to be shooting any weddings. But then, we don't all have common sense, do we?
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- Dennis Flanagan Contact Dennis Flanagan Dennis Flanagan's Gallery |
It's a bit elitist to consider ourselves as photographers and downplay those using point and shoots or cell phone cameras. If you go into someone's house and look through the old family photo albums with them, I bet the photos that invoke the most emotion are the old Kodak instamatic snapshots. They are the ones that chronicled life and the emotions that go with them. I am cocky enough to think I take better photos than that and humble enough to feel pangs of envy that my formal portrait or "perfect" landscape can't hold a candle to those memories. Shoot for your own satisfaction and let the rest take care of yourself. If you're in it for the money and are not competing with in your own opinion lessor photographers you may need to evaluate what your doing.
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Meghan Gonski |
Wow lots of great responses here on this thread. Dan Dooley, I hear you! I am always amazed at the types of photos people will find acceptable to post on their facebook. I remember growing up going to WalMart with my Mom. She looked at her roll of photos before she bought them and would toss lots of prints that would probably be posted on FB in this age. I've come to realize now with all the gadgets that for the average person, the photo is not the prize, it's the memory that that photo invokes. They might not be able to see much in the photo but they will in their head. And that's why people keep those photos.
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David B. Spooner |
my 2 cents worth...I do what I do because I love the ability to capture a moment in time or something truly beautiful or tell a photographic story. I am definitlely not a professional photographer and probably never will be. I do however try to take the best photo I possibly can and may even sell a few down the road at some local arts/crafts venues. Photography for me has become a passion and a source of pride when I accomplish what I envisioned and I continue to learn to be better so I guess having said all that I do consider myself a photographer. That's all I have to say about that. Have a blessed day!
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David B. Spooner |
my 2 cents worth...I do what I do because I love the ability to capture a moment in time or something truly beautiful or tell a photographic story. I am definitlely not a professional photographer and probably never will be. I do however try to take the best photo I possibly can and may even sell a few down the road at some local arts/crafts venues. Photography for me has become a passion and a source of pride when I accomplish what I envisioned and I continue to learn to be better so I guess having said all that I do consider myself a photographer. That's all I have to say about that. Have a blessed day!
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