So to say I’m excited about tonights LIVE mentoring class is an uderstatment! I’m thrilled to have so many of you join us and can’t wait for us all to learn together.
So I also wanted to go on record to say “I BLEW IT” yep…I did! I did exaclty what I have been dovoted NOT to do.
Yesterday there was an image that was going around FB that was of a newborn that was posed improperly! There is no doubt that it was not safe for that little baby…and to me no amount of saying “the parents were right there” would make that so, but I posted it on my FB page as a way of “instructing” and I’m so sorry I did! I took part in an all out war on a photographer who just didn’t know any better.
Those of you who know me, know that I have always been one who want to help those who are new photographers…..I never want to hurt anyone! And even though I didn’t publish her name or her page, I went about things in a way that I shouldn’t have! I became part of the ugly side of this industry! And I’m truly sorry for anyone I hurt!
That being said: I want to take a moment to get on my perverbial soapbox! I am so frustrated with our industry that we can’t seem to enjoy simple clean images anymore! A baby on a black cloth is “just not creative enough” or a babe in mom’s arms is not good enough. We have pushed these new photographers to a place where they don’t need to be. We have told them in so many words and messages that unless you can get a sleeping baby pose with their hands under their head, you are not a good photographer! Hog WASH!!!
Instead we should be sharing with them that unless you have sharp images or unless you have clean editing or right compositions or great exposure, then you are not a photographer. Our message is wrong! I’m saddened by our industry!
Yes, I feel the crunch of every other day a new photographer popping up! Yes, I sometimes roll my eyes when I see what people are posting on FB and calling themselves a pro….Yes I too wondered on Christmas day how many new photographers were born at recieving their new DSLR camera BUT as an industry unless we encourage, are honest, and educate those new photographers we are just doing ourselves more harm! (that’s where I blew it yesterday)
I am so not the best photographer, I am continually amazed at those around me. Just today I was looking at some wonderful images done by a photographer who was just starting her portfolio building! She does AMAZING work , but she has taken the time to study, to prepare herself, to educate her self about business and photography and she will be on her way soon and doing circles around me! I LOVE that!
For those of you who are just starting out….please make sure you know what you are getting into. This is a hard business with a saturated industry and at times it can be very mean….yesterday case in point! There are established photographers who are very upset with the quality of work out there and the shoot and burn mentalitlity. You need to do something to change that…you have that power…you can educate yourself (more than just blog reading) you can invest in good equipment, you can learn photoshop, you can have a buisness plan, you can learn about design elements, you can charge for your work..all these things will help our industry as a whole. Someone once told me that the best way to silence your critics is success!
So strive to be that!…don’t try to be like “so and so” ….strive to be YOU! work really hard….I know so many of you can do this! As always, if there is anyway I can help, please let me know!
Teaching Thursday was different than most, but I just spoke from what was on my heart!























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