Seldom discussed, but maybe most important photography tip
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 8. 07. 2024
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"Gear doesn't matter". Yeah, yeah, yeah. We get it. But what DOES matter? What matters MOST in the journey toward becoming a photographer? In this video, I'll posit what I think it is.
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I've been taking one of your on line photography courses and I am really enjoying it and learning to think differently about taking images. I would encourage your followers to check it out! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us and keep doing videos!
Wow. Thanks for that review Heidi!
@@AndrewGoodCamera where can I get info on your classes?
You, sir, are an inspiration.
CZcams photographers always talk about gear, gear, gear, and more gear. Always doing something out of the ordinary while trying to pose that as "their normal lives".
They talk about lenses, gears, "how-tos" but never the mindset; never the process; never the journey.
And it irks me because a lot of new photographers will find them and will think that "oh, I need that gear, I need that location, I need that..." which they really don't.
Our love, mindset, and attitude towards photography and its process should be discussed more; we as a community should talk about the process more than "at 100% zoom it's kinda blurry" or "my trip to xyz".
While I was in the hospital this week, I connected with one of my nurses on my first day who mentioned he enjoys photography. I had him show me some of his photos and what he is doing. He is learning and growing. He knows what his next lens purchase is. We had a great conversation. I woke up the next morning and on my status board my nurse wrote in big letters on the board, âI am a photographer.â He knew the power of those words. This phrase was a source of conversation all week with health care staff as they came in and out of my room. This is spot on. I remember the time I decided that I wanted to move from taking photos to becoming a photographer.
That is so cool!
Also, I hope you're doing better!
I will be in touch!
Where ya from? I'm a Nurse who likes photography, hope your feeling better. Cheers.
You nailed it with your last sentence, thank you! It's all about growing into the identity as a photographer.
Another very thoughtful contribution to our community, Andrew! đđ»
thank you, my friend
@@AndrewGoodCamera , you and Hugh Brownstone are two of my favorites. Thank you both for your work and for sharing it on-line.
100% agree Andrew - exactly the way to approach it.
My first 8 weddings were done with EXACTLY that mantra in my head.
Top advice.
that rembrandt lightning is spot on andrew
Itâs like youâre speaking directly to me. When I walk around the street, I tend to have this âaw shucks, Iâm just a guy who doesnât know what heâs doing, donât mind meâ type attitude.
Are.. are you me?
I do that, but in the woods. Or next to a waterfall.
I was in the same exact situation as your students (except that I took photos on the street waaay before the pandemic started). I saw a group of four old men talking with each other while their elbows were propped up on some tall rock formation, thought it looked interesting, but only hurriedly took two or three quick shots of them (and their backs were turned towards me) to avoid being "caught" by them instead of walking around to gain a better visual perspective and finding a better composition. That was the first (and only, so far, but will do more post-pandemic) time I tried street photography, and I remember feeling quite shy and intrusive and almost reluctant to put the camera up to my eye to take photos of people I thought looked interesting. - This video of yours is something I, alongside many others, needed to hear. Chase Jarvis actually says something similar in his book Creative Calling. He says (non-verbatim) that you don't need a business card or anything like that to identify as a photographer. Once you take a photo with your camera, you already are a photographer. And that's something a lot of us really need to absorb and internalize. Anyway, all this to say thank you for this, as always, thoughtfully made video!
I love that. Thanks for sharing
This is so relatable..Iâm about to go on my first client shoot next week and my wife keeps telling me that I need to get over my fear and take control- I am the photographer.
Thank you so much for this video Andrew!
Best of luck!
'Gear Doesn't Matter'...well, bad gear sure as hell does. Gear that gets in the way, equipment that frustrates and makes you conscious of its limitations - all these distract from creating images. So hell yes, gear matters. Excellent content as always. What matters most is, as you state - mindset. An additional criteria of what 'matters' - is knowing when NOT to shoot. Not every experience needs to be an image. Sometimes you just need to live without the camera. Be present with your loved ones. Common amongst inexperienced photographers is the inability to put the camera down. Always be a good person first; don't sacrifice being a good person for capturing an image. Life's too short to be an ass hiding behind some glass.
you're right of course. maybe I didn't explain my position very well. gear does and does not matter in extremely obvious times, and largely the "argument" doesn't exist. most people seem fairly rational about why and when. I'm just tired of hearing "arguments" about it when I don't think you'll find that people disagree. and yet people shout about it all the time. and yes, state if mind matters more.
As a writer of a multi-blog and the primary photographer by default, I concur with the mantra of write or take pictures with abandon and then edit or critique them when the time comes to use them.
Long time listener, first time caller.
Thank you I needed to hear that. Itâs not something I didnât already know, and the reality is I already know all the âbasicsâ. I frequently âseeâ the shot I want to take it.
I also recently have felt âstuckâ photographically, because Iâm afraid of pushing out of my comfort zone.
Thank you for the reminder that I need to push beyond my limits, and that my limits arenât photography skills or post-processing, itâs confidence.
So good hearing also about the mental process a novice, wanting to reach the next level, has to go through. Thanks for sharing your throughs!
I got into photography like 1 year ago and had a borrowed entry level DSLR, so did a friend of mine. We were asked by a friend of ours this year if we could help them with the wedding photos. I think the responsibility and the pressure to get good shots in the moment made me overcome the fear of standing in the center of the wedding with a camera on my face, I just wasnât thinking about it. So maybe just throwing yourself in there is the best way to learn and realize that you actually can become a âreal photographerâ if you just do it.
I'm at the stage, three years in, when the confidence is finally coming in and I believe it's from realizing (just reviewed and culled my entire Lr library) how much I have internalized as muscle memory - knowing my equipment well, awareness of light sources, checking the corners when composing, framing and sub-framing, creating depth with layers, slowing things down, editing tastefully, projecting calm with subjects, etc.
These are all things someone could have listed and explained to me in one day when I started, sure, but it took shooting thousands of pictures for it to become second-hand.
I have watched a few videos with photographer Dan Milner recently where he stressed it took him 14 years to find "his" composition, and that meaningful long-term documentary work takes the better part of a decade. It's somewhat comforting knowing there's so much room to grow, something to tackle, and there will pretty much always will be with photography, artistically and philosophically.
Lately Iâve been trying to remember why I ever wanted to take pictures in the first place. Thanks for the pep talk.
I really appreciate this video. No matter how often Iâm told I do great work, I tend to feel just as you described. That feeling holds me in place, when I could be taking steps forward. I will remember what youâve said the next time that doubt creeps into my mind. Thank you.
That's great to hear. I really do hope it helps. All thebest
Great reminder. Iâve been doing photography for fun with a ârealâ camera for about a year now and always shy away when people call me a photographer because I donât feel that at all. Iâve tried to get in that mindset and it is indeed helpful
Glad it was helpful Brian!
I actually felt the imposter syndrome just yesterday. I wanted to shoot a promo video for my coach to help him re-opening his gym after the lockdown and there were more people there than I was expecting. I got this sinking feeling in my stomach because Iâm not an actual videographer Iâm a photographer but I just told myself, "Just use your photography skills, find the angles, composition and lighting and youâll be fine."
Within 10 minutes I was feeling way more confident and the video turned out great.
I believe in You. You did good. Keep working.
@@JonathanAkosah đđŸ
You are so right! Often you doubt yourself and stand in your own way. But here is maybe a way to look at it (this helped me) :
if a friend asks you, to take pictures at his wedding (even if you are only a second shooter), he wants YOU to be a photographer. So go out and be one. You have the official "go" from the 2 most important people of the day!
I needed to hear this today. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
The much needed philosophy! Very well thought of and conveyed. Thanks đ
An extremely thoughtful and eloquent piece Andrew. I have been comfortable calling myself a photographer for some time now, but I still remember clearly when I wasnât. This piece really brought that feeling back to me. It makes me pleased by the thought of how far I have come and humbled by the thought of how far I have to go. Thank you.
Awesome. Thanks for sharing your experience
This video reminds me of the time when I was taking photos of a soccer game for the first time for the high school newspaper in my sophomore year. Stepping out of the Fan Zone and standing near the goal post to get a shot with a camera, I find myself being so self conscious and feeling like I am pretending to be a photographer. But I stuck to that role and by the time I was a photo editor of the school newspaper, I felt quite comfortable stepping up and out of the crowd.
Now I am not nearly qualified or active as a photographer but only a basic level hobbyist, but I never hesitate to step up and get up close to take a shot when there are opportunities. :) And that certainly helps me get better shots.
Love it
Since enlisting in the USArmy as a 'Still Photographic Specialists' in 1985, I've largely defined myself as a Professional Photographer. (tm) Even when I put my GIBill gained Marketing Degree to work and took a break from FULL TIME photography in the 90s to wear Brooks Bros. Armor and a red silk noose every weekday, I still shot weddings and portraits on the weekends.
For a good number of those years I taught an Adult Ed course in the basics of the Exposure Triangle, believing firmly that the fundamentals of ISO (then ASA), Shutter Speed and Aperture were the most crucial skills a 'photographer' could possess.
Since then we've got AutoISO, stunningly accurate 3D Matrix Metering and instant algorithms that compare the metering of any given scene to tens of thousands of scenes stored as data in the camera instantly choosing the best (average) Exposure for that particular scene...add that to a crazy high ISO availability which gets more and more usable with each passing day and the greatly expanded Dynamic Range available in camera and to us in post...technology has pretty much made the necessity to master the Exposure Triangle unnecessary to achieving a properly exposed image.
For far too many years, I let my fragile ego express itself and unfairly derided 'point and shoot' as the exclusive realm of amateurs and really lazy professionals. This was foolish. Today, we are in an environment where POINT (composition...choosing what the camera sees) and Shoot (decisive moment...choosing when the camera captures the actual scene) are the most important skills that any photographer should develop if they want to improve their results.
I still think it is still important to KNOW the details of the Exposure Triangle for those few times where you want to 'break the rules' to get something beyond the 'average' that full auto is capable of, but most of the time, what we Point at and when we push the button to Shoot is going to be a far more determining factor of the quality of our final image. Point and shoot has yet to be mastered by any affordable AI that I know of available in camera. (Yet.) ;)
Now...lets discuss this ridiculous notion that 36X24 is somehow 'Full Frame' pinnacle of photographic perfection...while 24X15 is a lesser quality 'Cropped Sensor' (instead of being it's own 'full frame format'.) :)
Thank you for saying this, in all honesty, this video makes me want to take more pictures in the streets.
That was a very sweet message. You and your slack group are very encouraging and driven. A lot of positivity in this community.
Thanks! Glad to hear that
Great video, thank you for putting this in words. I just made the realisation the other day that when walking around my small town I am no longer embarrassed to have people see me crouching down in the street to get the right angle or spending 10 minutes staring at a parking lot because a color scheme caught my eye and I'm trying to figure out if there's a picture there. I am starting to feel like a photographer, I want the shot and I want it right. I haven't translated this confidence yet to approaching people though, work in progress.
Thanks for this positive content! I'm going to own it that I love that i'm a photographer / videographer and i'm going to own it more!
I know imposter syndrome well and have recently been struggling again with it while doing street photography. Despite having found my way through *that* feeling and *those* thoughts numerous times in different fields, I still found this really liberating. Thanks.
Street photography, If I see one more black and white photograph (Arty) of
someone walking along the street looking at their phone Iâll scream.
Haha. I've literally used this quote in my course on why street photography gets a bad wrap. :)
Everyone feels like an imposter at their job among colleagues. Same with hobbies, like pulling out a camera at a party or event. I just get in my zone and I donât care what people think. Wether Iâm the self appointed event/party photographer or paid to be there. I perform in order to deliver great images which means youâll have to walk in front of people to get the shot and you canât always be stealthy. You have to also promote yourself wherever you go, so if someone asks you to send them photos hand them your business card and ask them to email you can have their information to send them email. This way you can add them to your email list for potential future business because everyone needs photography/video work. Photography is not my full time gig. I do it as a hobby first and side hustle second. Even the hospital I work at has hired me to do doctor talking head videos and head shots. Thatâs because I let everyone know âIâm a photographerâ.
I literally had a conversation with my boyfriend today that I dont need to defy myself as anyone , nor as photographer eather. However, i think you are absolutely right, I was wrong and I think this is where all my lack of confidence, undesisiveness and slow prosess towards this new career was coming from. I didnt trully believe that I could be a good photographer, I was afraid to call myself one, how could I , I know so little about photography. Anyway, thank you so much my Friend :)
Very glad you found it helpful! All the best
We ought to change the statement from "Gear doesn't matter" to "Brand doesn't matter".
Good point. Brand is more a personal taste, gear dictates what you can do and what you canât do. All the named brands have gears that a photographer needs.
Or if you really want to go full zen how about "Photography doesn't matter". Ok, I'll see myself out. Must admit I'm getting fed up with youtubers with their Leica M6's trying to be 'expert' by virtue of havng more cash than sense. I'm sure they are nice cameras but you can can the same results with a hell of a lot less - it's not 1955 anymore.
it is refreshing to hear of my own ideas or opinions, many of which i keep to myself, to be articulated when you talk about the philosophy-of-art in your videos. This idea struck me when i was reading about lenses on the website of a photographer - whom i will not name - stressing their well-known opinion that gear does not matter. Here is another perspective about this: in the past with analog photography image quality, distortion, sharpness, was all-over-the-map in lenses. Culturally it was not common to see consistent image quality. What i mean is, people in society generally did not expect a consistent quality of images with X amount of dynamic range, superior lenses with uncompromising MTF specifications, 0.01% or less distortion, no vignetting, and all the other best characteristics that define image quality in the ideal sense. But, today our eyes (yes, now we are speaking of eyeballs in society as a whole!) are used to seeing such high-quality images. Sony revolutionizing IQ with their BSI CMOS technology, commonly seeing 61+ megapixel resolution, superior dynamic range, flourine and GI nano-coating, 5 ED elements, etc. Those images may have been able to pay the bills for the photographer in the 80s, but we as consumers of images are used to seeing better results commonly. So my question to make sense of all this for you is this: how long will it take for the average person to expect a certain level of image quality which will definitely mean that your gear does matter based on whether it can deliver that quality or not?
We're already well past what we need for the way the average person consumes photo content. We were already sufficient with the Canon 5d original for 99.9% of what the average expensive camera buyer is using them for. Unless you crop heavily or unless you're shooting in crazy high dynamic range situations without a tripod. But even if it did matter, I think you're slightly missing my point. Gear matters in the sense that, of course you need the right tools for the job. What doesn't matter is having the top of line greatest or a certain brand. And all of it will always matter less than an operator. There is no argument about that. But yet we keep repeating it as if someone disagrees.
I just canât thank you enough, Iâm a 51years old actor/director trying to believe I can become a real photographer and find myself struggling with the thought, Iâve planted the seed and your words have been todays water.
Your a photographer when you canât go more than a few days without picking up a camera to see, really see things as they are!
This is was very powerful and helpful for me. Thank you for taking the time to create and share this Andrew
Glad it was helpful!
I think I can relate to your friend. In this day of cell phones I'm the only person who actually buys a device that has the sole purpose of taking pictures. It's odd. It's unusual. It's out of place. And it implies that I actually can use this dedicated device to surpass everyone else who just uses their phone. I'm plagued by my failures. To me they are reminders that I'm not a real photographer. It's hard when this is just a hobby to justify the failures and to take yourself seriously when Instagram is flooded with really good cell phone photos. As a result I do find myself paralyzed by feeling as a poser and not a capable photographer. If I'm at a party my friends click their cell phones and immediately post good results while I'm crossing my fingers looking at my LCD hoping I got a decent shot of the exact same scene. I do think validation is the key. I just started posting to Instagram and I have to say it really amazes me when I get a like for a photo of my dog from someone I've never met. But then I look at a photo of a pro of his dog and realize how poor my skills are. I'm still in the battle stage of whether or not I can call myself legit I guess.
Oh man. Instagram is the worst place to look for validation. It rewards easily accessible photos, which may have value, but ignores photos that have depth and ask people to think
@@AndrewGoodCamera You actually just gave me a different idea. I should probably look into other apps/sites where I can just get feedback on photos. I think what I need as an amateur is feedback more than validation.
@@NinjaMonkeyPrime I just downloaded flickr. I believe in You. Keep working. Keep shooting. Keep. Learning. Shoot for You first and foremost. Never forget why you started. Have fun :) if ya ever wanna have some feedback my instagram is @mtruproductions, just respond here so I remember ya. Good luck.
To echo many of the other commenters here - great video, thanks very much. I am working on shedding "the fear" out in the streets.
THIS. Absolutely this. I'm a professional commercial artist and looking back, I made the decision that I was an artist incredibly early - maybe 11 or 12. Once that decision was made, it was a case of building the skills so I could walk the walk as well as talking the talk. The funny thing is, I've been an enthusiast photographer for about 35 years, but somehow I've never really made that same decision to "be" a photographer, and I can see it holding back my work. Yet, after all that time shooting with all kinds of film and digital gear, the skills gap between what I am and what I aspire to be is vastly narrower than it was for me when I decided I was an artist...
What a powerful message, thank you. I'm one of those shy types who takes quick, hopefully unseen photo's of people on the streets, and my photography reflects this speed. But I'm never, ever wanting to take an unflattering or embarrassing photo of someone, I just want to document a moment in time. I'm going to approach this with more confidence going forward.
That's great to hear Paula! Best wishes to you
Itâs funny, my first time shooting street I wasnât really bothered by the fear of being spotted (or fear in general).
But, after watching myriads of videos of people (and commenters) talking about their fear of being âcaughtâ and ethical quandaries, I started feeling more timid about it...
*AND THEN* I stumbled across one of your videos where you simply state something to the effect of âI just donât care if people see me taking pictures of themâ
...and that timidness I was feeling, vanished.
Sure, make sure you are ethically compliant (with yourself and subjects), and then who tf cares if you are seen? âItâs no business of mine what another person thinks of meâ
I use a telephoto lens to take street photography because I always take photos from my motorbike (I live in Vietnam). Sometimes I get someone asking what I was doing, but they are friendly about it.
@@thegrayyernaut I spend a couple months out of every year in Vietnam, and I really love taking pictures there. It's amazing how warm and receptive people are two people taking photos compared to my home in the US.
I, as a person with a neurological disorder causing a hand tremmor, have definitely improved my work by improving my gear. Recently an upgrade to the latest in the Fuji sensors have increased my capture rate due to a faster shutter speed being able to be used at the same iso range / f-stop. I almost went with a GR III for the IBIS, but the X100V has been really great.
Great video Andrew! Really interesting to think about how important it is the way we perceive ourselves in the process of taking photographs. I never really thought about it, but I do relate to that experience when youÂŽre just going out taking pictures for the first few times and you say "IÂŽm not a photographer, IÂŽm just taking pictures"... and how down the road something clicks and you start saying "I am a photographer" and somehow, the whole process is different. Keep up the good work!
A much needed boost for me today. Iâm also reminded about how we must fail to become good. So much of the time I canât figure out where I went wrong or why I didnât like what I did until reviewing my work. It is just part of the process.
Tremendous advice and had a profound effect on me. Having just started out, I will take my X100V that much closer and click that shutter button that much more.
This is really insightful, Andrew. As someone who has previously dismissed the idea of being a "creative" person, photography has been super important for me in challenging that self-perception. That said, I think this has made it all the more difficult for me to make that conscious decision that I am a photographer. So thanks so much for sharing your thoughts on this and for managing to give a nuanced appraisal of the role of gear (not easily done). Great work and really helpful to the community!
Great one! Excellent advice. Thank you.
So much truth and wisdom, youâre a good teacher. Iâve been walking through grocery stores with my camera and nobody bats an eye.
Thanks!
Superb video/message. Thank you.
Words of wisdom, Andrew. Needed to hear that. Stay safe!
Valid points right here, since the pandemic when I'm waiting in a long line I tend to do hip shots. The confidence in skill is there for me but the biggest difference right now is the hesitation due to potential confrontation. It's not like I can leave the line after a shot or two but yeah after watching this I should feel more confident that I should not hesitate and just own it again. It's an important time in history that I would like to capture more of and if someone says that I should delete a photo, then I'll just delete it if they're not okay with it. Great video!
THANK YOU for making this video. 100% agree.
I feel the one way gear might matter, but certainly not the most important thing, is how it makes you feel, and how you interact with it. For example good ergonomics, solid grip so you feel confident taking photos, or maybe a smaller camera to encourage you to take it out with you more, that sort of thing. But that's very subjective and and isn't about having newest camera or other gear or a particular brand, just whatever suits you.
Thank you so much, this was so encouraging.
Excellent reflection. More important than gear is having and listening to your videos, they have always been and continue to be a "tool" to achieve good results in photography. Thank you!!!!
Great vlog, personally as an âamateur â it made made me think a lot about the whole process of getting a good shot.
Basically I need to think more thatâŠ. I am NOT an amateur⊠I am Photographer! đđ đž
As to the best of my recollection, the gear doesn't matter mantra started, or at least I think was born when Henri Cartier-Bresson in a interview, I think with Charlie Rose, as stated that he, HBC didn't care much for the camera, and that painting and pencil work was his passion for the expression of art, point being, Henri Cartier-Bresson made his point, a valid one I concur, that the camera is only one tool in the box of artistic expression. Since then, when everybody and their grandma began, but not because of, the explosive practice of taking pictures and thus the commercial recognition of iconic manufacturers moved from film to digital, making the technical process easier, or more accessible. In the period of Bresson, Doisneau, Kertesz, Brassai, they didn't have the money, or cared about cluttering their lives with, "What lens do I need now? " Syndrome, or nouveau-ly known as, "GAS", Gear acquisition Syndrome. The thing is, in general, Photographers have always been fickled about their quest for the best picture impact. The rare cases of the masters that I cited, most others have challenged their pocket book for the, "Edge", That little difference between them and the others. What drives this? I've thought about it many times and I'm thinking, presently, that its what the Photographer can't control, which is the need for etherialism. "Etherialism? " My point being that there is and will never be a moment, or scene that when, "live," will never measure up to what we think we saw and how it translated to a Photograph. We're a mess!
Good points
Interestingly ( or not ) i have this when shooting in my local area...Wherever i'm living....yet jumping on a bus/train or flying abroad any fear is gone and i'll shoot like a pro without any hesitancy whatsoever...Shooting locally now is my latest challenge.
Very true. Never heard this in other videos (and I have watched many ...). Thanks for sharing!
Taking only one shot because of feeling uncomfortable sure sounds familiar to me! You make some great points here. First on the "gear doesn't matter" thing, I just don't get why that becomes a talking point or an argument. At some point when you master skills you can benefit from better equipment. And frankly some people can afford to indulge in their profession or their hobby so why judge them if they want gear reviews or want to spend their money? But the point about the journey is what resonates with me. I do call myself a photographer, but not a good one. I don't mean I am a *bad* photographer, just that I have so much more to learn and to master. Some of that is the mechanics of taking better pictures (including mastering the camera), some is a better eye and anticipation for a good image, and some is the confidence to take the picture even when people are looking at you. I love that I see so much of the journey ahead of me.
Well said
Amateur-intermediate Photographer, ya could say
I'm currently in school for photojournalism and I mostly just followed you for the fuji reviews. this was your best video yet. Kudos sir!
Wow this is so true. Thank you Andrew.
Welcome!
Yep, feel this constantly. Wish I heard this prior to shooting my first wedding, haha. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so on point...great topic man!
Thanks, my friend!
Story of my life. It's only been recently that I've started to face these insecurities and accept that "I am a Photographer." Funny how 3 years of paid photo/video work for happy clients didn't feel like enough of a qualification. Thanks for sharing this message Andrew. Really appreciate you taking the time to address these types of topics (even when you sneak them into a gear review). The Photographic CZcams community seems to be full of gear and tutorials but very little philosophy and mentorship. Keep up the great work
Thank you. This is a great piece I really need.
....the Audio-level is PERFECT now!!!! Thank you very much! Stephan
I think the proof is in the consistency and gain of our photo journey.
I first called myself a photographer in 1980 when I was first published in Bay Area newspapers for my freelance photojournalism, images I shot relevant to news of the day, sports, etc with my FE and a couple primes, processing and printing in a basic darkroom closet all night so I can submit prints to editors. I was 17 at the time and ambitious... since then I have gone back and forth with this "photographer" title as I don't do it for an income or intensely practice as much as I did back then.
I still shoot enthusiastically and have great gear backed with 40+ years of knowledge but I feel weird telling people I am a "Photographer" if they ask.
Defining and attaching that title of Photographer is a slippery slope to me, one I think can only be manifested by others looking at your work and/or the time you put into it on a daily basis.
Perhaps I am an "Ex or Part Time" Photographer that is currently a Serious Enthusiast photo shooter with No Real Direction.
If golfing is one of my greatest loves and passions, but no one pays me to do it, I have no problem saying "I am a golfer." I dont understand why photography is any different. It's not like a doctor or lawyer.
@@AndrewGoodCamera I think you missed my point.
It's not about making money at it. It's about intent, the passion to shoot consistently, continuing to build by constant practice and the time I put in behind the lens and in my processing... so my definition of the word perhaps is different.
Great thought, thank you.
Really nicely said.
Great vid and I love the way you communicate.
This is an application of the ABC model commonly used in Cognitive Therapy (CBT) where A is for Antecedents, ie what was it that put you in a situation of taking photographs of people/places/buildings/nature etc. B is Belief which is the most important and C is for consequences. If your belief Is 'I am a photographer' you feel more confident, less anxious, secure and (abridged version here) as a result (Consequently) you are more likely to perform to the the best of your ability. If on the other hand the belief is 'I am not a photographer' that sets up a negative chain of events, that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy and can become a downwards spiralling vicious circle. That being said, even the best, most confident people can have crippling moments of self doubt and intense anxiety and they may need to re-ground themselves to get back the positive thoughts that can sometimes be overwhelmed by the negative.
Wow awesome! Thanks for sharing some scientific backing. Makes me feel less like an imposter myself. ;)
Great work, I really enjoyed this video and feel inspired! Going to dig up some old photographs and share with friends and family now :)
Don't look at yourself as an intruder and don't bother spending energy on thinking negative thoughts! Think about the positives that comes from you putting in the effort. What value you actually bring, may it be a birthday party or a family gathering. When you look back on it, you're glad someone captured these moments!
well said
You may know, that in Germany we have a very intricate system to teach/learn vocational jobs. Photography can be regarded as one. It's a 3-year apprenticeship with approx three quarters assisting a master of photography (that's actually a regulated professional title here, requiring additional school) with his/her work and one quarter apprentice school. Only masters of photography (what is regarded to be equivalent to a bachelors degree) with their own professional studio are allowed to train such apprentices. In the last century, this training also made you some sort of chemist, today you will also become some sort of IT-specialist. A different way to become a photographer is to study photography at a college or university with a bachelor degree.
You can call yourself a photographer, but you can't somehow imply that you had formal training if you hadn't. And if you call yourself a photographer, with very few exceptions you have to register yourself in your town's official roll of craftsmen - and pay yearly fees to your chamber of craftsmen.
So, in my country calling yourself a photographer is something serious. You can't decide if you call yourself a photographer or not when offer photography services or workshops. As soon as you call yourself a photographer, you consequently will have to register and will be taxed appropriately. That's nothing arbitrary to just put on a business card.
Other people may call you a photographer, though, just because you use fancy gear or like to photograph landscapes or your family. You yourself can't, at least publicly, without quite serious consequences.
Photography made sense to be regulated by a licensing system when you had to be as much a chemist as you did an artist. But those days are long gone. Something as arbitrary as art has no need to be regulated. In the digital age it falls on the consumer to hire the photographer and evaluate their legitimacy themselves. But you and the country of Germany are welcome to your opinions.
@@AndrewGoodCamera That is not a matter of opinion, it's a different understanding of labor and social security systems. There is actually a line drawn here between art and craftsmanship. You can state that you are not a photographer but a photo artist. However, as soon as you are taking commissions or offering workshops, doing anything photographic what was ordered by a third party before you do it, you are no longer regarded an artist, but a craftsman. That's the law here.
As a photographer, you can only maintain the artist status (which is quite favorable financially) when your income solely comes from selling prints, which where made without being previously ordered. There are some other exceptions (e.g. photojournalists), but normally, when you publicly call yourself a photographer you need to register at the chamber for craftsmen and pay yearly fees and register a taxable business. Being regarded as an artist comes with another boon, though: As an artist you need to register at the social security system for artists and provide monthly payments for health insurance to it. In Germany, it is illegal to not have health insurance, even for artists (what, in the big picture - and for many Americans totally alien and out of grasp - is actually a very good thing).
That does not mean that you can't do photos at a wedding or making portraits without calling yourself a photographer or an artist. Everybody is allowed to do this, they just can't offer these services publicly. If you get paid for it, you should make sure that the local tax office does not learn of that - that would be regarded illicit work or black labor, what is a crime here.
This is why I follow & subscribe to you guys. This is why I registered for the Zero to Hero workshops. I appreciate you guys and I really appreciate this perspective... so much!
Wow. Thanks for your kind words Shawn
You make some great points Andrew and someoneâs mindset can play a major part of the decision to call yourself a photographer. That said, I think these days another definition exists whereby someone isnât what Iâd define as a âphotographerâ in the traditional sense, but is more of a content producer. What I mean by this is someone who maybe isnât the most perfect when it comes to composition, or exposure even, yet still produces something deemed artistic and instagramable (is that a word) to his/her audiences. They gain confidence to go out and produce content that in their circles is seen as âpro-qualityâ yet more traditional photographers would see it as just another filter junky. Maybe we canât squeeze people into the old definitions anymore and need to re-evaluate the criteria of what a photographer is! Just my ramble and first thoughts. Thanks again for sharing, stay safe đđ·
So good. Great message Exactly what i need right now! :)
Thank you for that. Imposter syndrome is absolutely my stumbling block.
So good! Thanks for the reminder that our attitude and personal point of view as a great impact on how we approach what we do. When I started listing
"Photographer" first on my LinkedIn profile was the point where I feel like my photography got stronger and more interesting. We each have to claim this title lean in to it at the right point for us.
Absolutely!
Great points made here, very relatable âš
Exactly what was going on in my mind! Great video.
Good thoughts to keep in mind!
Thank you for this video I can relate to it a lot!
Glad it was helpful!
I really liked the message!!!
Very interesting tips
Really interesting take-- when I talk about gear, my attitude is it doesn't really matter what you shoot on. Whatever makes you happy, you should on. If that's a car-priced Leica, or a beat up Pentax. Do you, no one should be able to tell you what to shoot on or what not to shoot on ;) But I do think there's something to the idea of a camera that inspires you to shoot more. (I feel like you and I chatted about this in the past lol) But the second part of this vid- the idea of when you consider yourself a photographer. That is suuuuuch an interesting question.
Nice vid ... A lot of sense spoken ... I would agree and say the number one 'problem' for newbies when it comes to photographing an event or something specific when asked, is self doubt ... That is from both a technical and final result angle .... Are the images ok - will the client/friend/family member be satisfied etc .. have faith in your ability and go about it with confidence .... These images POP !! (I hope đ„Ž) ...
This is great, just what I needed :)
Glad to hear it!
Great video! Photography is an art, the tools an artist uses does influence his/her inspiration. That is why people spend a fortune to buy a Leica, or settles with a Panasonic in Leicaâs skin. I have a Leica film range finder that sits in a display case, but I do feel more inspirational using a range finder like digital camera with silver lens. Lol
Well said!
Great video, this might be your best one yet.
Thanks, my friend
Nice video!!! Thanks for the inspiration!!!
You're welcome!
This happened to my buddy Seldom.
May seem like a little thing, but putting this video out was a really big deal. Thanks man!
you're welcome! Thanks for the comment
Like your stuff Andrew, thanks. Maybe it is not so much the reviewers who push the latest and the greatest gear - although some do - but somehow less experienced photographers do tend to believe that they need the best camera out there. I think that starting or intermediate photographers will see more improvement if they would spend 50% of their budget on a camera and the rest on improving their (PP) skills, courses, books, etc.
I stumbled across your channel today as Iâve been researching a new camera purchase. I really like you videos and your presentation style. I subscribed. I certainly can related to not considering myself as a photographer, as a Iâve casually used a Nikon D5000 over the last 10 years for occasionally family/travel photos, but Iâm now considering getting more serious and increasing my knowledge/skills. Iâm Also considering a Fuji XT-4 with 16-80 kit setup.
Thanks! I needed to hear that :)
Welcome!
Very interesting video.
I am not, nor will I ever be a professional photographer. I'm a professional, but in the area of B2B.
As far as photography goes, I'm an amateur (art) photographer. I take photos because I like it, and I do it for me - never for someone else. I did that once years ago during an evening lecture, equipped with a cheap, outdated digital semi compact camera. Quietly moving around a lecture hall with 500+ people attending, trying not to disturb, but with an obligation to get some shots of the lecturer as well as of the audience for the university website/Facebook page.
A very uncomfortable evening for me, and the results weren't stellar, but good enough for the intended use.
What I really prefer is to shoot analogue photos of everything but people.
Basically, I work to live, and I live to do photography (when I'm not working)...
And yeah, I have some kind of (film) camera in my bag, when I'm at work, because I AM a photographer - just doing it my way.
Very cool. It's good to know who you are as a photographer. Took me a long time to figure out what did and did not help me feel my creative best.