Common Myths and Misconceptions about Photography and Photograhers

I got into photography based on the fact that I love taking photos. Initially, I just started taking photos of landscapes, and later on expanded to doing actual portraits...talk about a big jump!

These days, it seems as if everyone is a photographer. Mommies who have a DSLR, or basically anyone with a camera. Which leads me to my first myth:

Myth 1. Owning a camera makes you a photographer. Absolute myth! Owning a camera makes you a camera owner. If you were to think about it, does putting a band aid on a cut make you a doctor? Heavens no! So then why does owning a camera automatically make you a photographer? It doesn't!

My baby, the Nikon D3000.

Myth 2.  Photographers make a lot of money.
You would be doing VERY well if you had enough clients to spend half of your work week actually shooting 1-hour sessions.  So, that means you’re only earning $35 per hour now.  But wait!  You have to post-process your photos, which takes about 30 minutes for every 1-hour of shooting.  Now you’re making $30 per hour.  Then, you realize that you have to spend time driving to and from the shoot location, which is another 30 minutes.  Now you’re making only $25 per hour.  Oh, and you have to set up the shoot with the client, send proofs, and work on prints.  Oh, and remember that advertising thing?  It takes time, too.  You get the idea.

Quite honestly, it is the rare photographer that can charge $75 for a 1-hour shoot and make it work financially, unless you’re getting the client to pay for individual prints or some other premium.  In my experience, photographers who only get $75 for a one-hour shoot will not end up surviving unless they have low overhead and are extremely efficient in completing other necessary tasks.

Myth 3. Being a photographer allows you to work your own hours. 
Yikes.  No way.   No chance.  Unless “your own hours” means you would like to work almost every weekend and evening, then you’re setting yourself up for failure.  As of right now, and for the foreseeable future, I'll have my day job. Which means Monday - Friday from 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM, I'm not working on photography. I'm counseling students at a community college in West Memphis, AR. Now, do that math. I work Monday - Friday at my "real job" and then spend my Saturday's shooting clients, Sunday's are for editing photos. So when considering asking your photographer for a Wednesday afternoon session, double check that they are available to work those days.

FYI: I pride myself on getting my photos to clients in a timely manner after their session. This means that when I come home from my day job, I immediately start working  on photos. This means that my family, Tater and the Norman, are on the back burner. So if you are thinking of getting into photography because it's easy and an easy way to make money, you are wrong. It's time consuming, but worth it if you are devoted to the craft.

Myth 4.  You need Photoshop to edit/organize photos. This isn't necessarily a myth, but you do need some sort of editing software, but you don't have to spend an absolute fortune on Photoshop. Personally, I enjoy Photoshop Elements. It has a wide range of edits and allows you to manipulate curves, very similar to the full version of Photoshop. If you are not in the market to purchase a photo editing software, there are plenty of free photo editing versions, my favorite free one is Picasa.





A lot more cost effective than the full version!

 

Myth 5.  Your perfectly capable of writing your own contract.  In a word, no. No you are not. If you cannot afford an attorney to help you draft a contract, there are some available online. Some are free, some you have to pay for. Don't be cheap!! This is your business, if you take it seriously, so will everyone else.

Myth 6.  Buying fancy equipment makes you a better photographer. This is a big ole HELL NO! When I first started shooting, I had a simple point and shoot. Then, years later, I moved on to a Nikon Coolpix. It's simple like a point and shoot, but has the various settings similar to a DSLR. Now, I shoot with a Nikon D3000. It's a mid range camera, super affordable, and easy to use.. if you understand camera settings. Buying a DSLR and keeping it in AUTO mode is a waste of your money. If you think that buying a DSLR will make you a better photographer, you are mistaken my dear. Your eye makes you a good photographer. For the longest time, I shot with my Nikon D3000 and the kit lens that came with it! I only recently purchased two other lenses. The reason I waited so long to buy extra lenses? I wanted to make sure I understood the camera, it's settings, and how to use the lenses once purchased.

My lenses. I also have the kit lens, that came with my camera, but it rarely gets used.

I've seen plenty of people who actually have nicer and more expensive equipment than I do. And then I've seen their photos. There is nothing outstanding about them. If you know how to use your equipment, by all means, upgrade and spend the money! If you are unsure, then don't waste money.


Myth 7.  You can avoid learning lighting and buying flash gear by calling yourself a “natural light photographer.”  It always makes me smile and shake my head when I see a photographer’s portfolio and they proudly advertise being a “natural light photographer.”  Whenever I read this phrase, it immediately gets processed in my brain to mean, “I’m either too cheap to buy lighting gear, or I haven’t yet figured out how to do off-camera flash.  Let me be clear, there are some absolutely incredible natural light photographers in the world.  But honestly, that kind of photographer is one in a million.  I love shooting natural light portraits, but there is no way that I would go to a portrait photography session without some type of flash gear. Natural light photography can be beautiful, but don’t let this be an excuse for not having the tools to get the shot.

And the sad thing is, I'm guilty of this. I've never actually said that I was a "natural light photographer," but I've been doing photography for years and only recently purchased my first flash, and learned how to use it! Sad, I know, but I want to be honest with y'all! Remember, the pop up flash on most cameras leave a harsh shadow...buy a flash, and learn to use it!

Myth 9.  If you don’t have enough clients, you can do a giveaway on your Facebook page to get things rolling again. This is my BIGGEST photography pet peeve.
I have probably seen a dozen or more giveaways on Facebook pages for beginning pro photographers.  Not always, but most of the time, it ends up that your Uncle Mortimer, your neighbor Susan, and 10 of your friends are the only people who enter the contest.  Then, you’re stuck doing portraits for your buddies and you never attract any new clients.  This is something I've never done. I'm not interested in gimmicks to get clients. I think that your work should speak for itself. Just like the movie Field of Dreams, "if you build it, they will come."

Giveaways and social media can be great tools, but don’t think you’ll get people pounding down your door just by tossing out a freebie.  Marketing photography takes skill, perseverance, and creativity.

Tip: "Get 100 friends to like my page and I'll donate a session!" Means, "I don't have enough clients, my business is hurting, and I'm desperately begging you to help." I hate to be rude, but it looks desperate. You will NOT see Skelton Photographie doing that. Guaranteed.

Myth 10.  Nobody will notice that your portfolio consists of the same 5 people in every shot. Yes, they will.  They definitely notice, and they will definitely not choose to pay the “new guy” the same as the photographer across town who has 20 years worth of photos in his portfolio.  You aren’t going to pull the wool over their eyes.

Myth 11. I can "fix" photos in Photoshop (any editing software) that didn't turn out how I wanted. Yet another pet peeve. Here's a tip on how to save time on editing photos (since I have two jobs, I need all the help I can get!)...Know your camera settings, and take the photo you want, don't edit or turn a photo into what you wanted straight out of camera (SOOC).  I HATE photos that are over-manipulated. And most the time, you can tell. And it decreases the value of your work and the quality of the photo. Also, when you FINALLY get your settings figured out, don't brag on your Facebook page how "obsessed" you are with this SOOC image...all of your images should be beautiful SOOC.

Myth 12. You need a degree in photography.
 A master's in fine arts is not necessary to create and shoot some excellent photos. To become an advanced photographer all you need to do is learn the basics and pick up a camera and start shooting. You will fail, but it's from the failures that all great photographers have acquired the knowledge and experience to create some truly stunning photography.  When most young people start their college career, they have no idea what they want to do forever. I'm a prime example, I have three, count them 3 degrees from various institutions and NONE of them involve photography! I'm self taught. If you have the time and dedication, learning photography is worth it, and your photos will show it.

Photography is about capturing life as it happens.  Getting great shots is not about software, cameras, or even luck, but rather being in the right place at the right time to catch the moments. Being ready and knowledgeable when the opportunity presents itself will ensure you can be taking the best possible photos you can.