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12/03/2012 10:04:51 AM · #1
this place has REALLY opened my eyes as to what "acceptable" vs. "superb" photography truly is.

after searching through different "photography" services offered in many different areas... it seems that so many people consider themselves "professional".

while I did see a few good photographer sites... most of the work looked very amateur. lots of over exposed shots... so many blown highlight shots... DOF issues... I could go on and on...

it really amazes me that some of these people charge so much when clearly their work doesn't justify $400+ a session.
12/03/2012 10:10:32 AM · #2
Yes there are *fauxtogs* out there. Check out youarenotaphotographer.com. Truly horrifying that people actually charge for the most unbelievable crap.
12/03/2012 10:19:23 AM · #3
Originally posted by snaffles:

Yes there are *fauxtogs* out there. Check out youarenotaphotographer.com. Truly horrifying that people actually charge for the most unbelievable crap.


OMG... I have never seen that site until now.
I pray that some of these are a joke.

really wish they would have left the name so we could check out all their lovely work! :P
12/03/2012 10:33:29 AM · #4
Originally posted by Denielle:

while I did see a few good photographer sites... most of the work looked very amateur. lots of over exposed shots... so many blown highlight shots... DOF issues... I could go on and on...

Funny you mention this -- I was looking just the other night for inspiration to shoot my boys' senior portraits, and thought I'd see what some "professionals" were doing. What I found was anything but inspiring -- lots of awkward poses, tight faces, bad comps or crops -- but more than anything, blown highlights all around the face and head in a lot of cases. These were by people offering "professional services."

12/03/2012 10:37:15 AM · #5
holy shit, that was horrible....lol
12/03/2012 10:44:55 AM · #6
I can't stop looking at that site. just when I think I've seen the worst, the next page proves me wrong!!!
12/03/2012 10:45:58 AM · #7
And I thought my photoshop skills were bad! Seeing these, I feel like a pro!;-)
12/03/2012 10:49:55 AM · #8
They ARE professionals. Professional simply means you make a living from it. The term has nothing to do with quality of work. Some people I know say I am a professional and I tell them I am not, but thanks for the compliment.

I'm just nitpicky about the correct usage of the terminology.
12/03/2012 10:53:49 AM · #9
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

They ARE professionals. Professional simply means you make a living from it. The term has nothing to do with quality of work. Some people I know say I am a professional and I tell them I am not, but thanks for the compliment.

I'm just nitpicky about the correct usage of the terminology.


either way, you get what I meant...
they are awful... perhaps someone should gift them a DPC membership?
12/03/2012 11:03:21 AM · #10
Originally posted by Denielle:

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

They ARE professionals. Professional simply means you make a living from it. The term has nothing to do with quality of work. Some people I know say I am a professional and I tell them I am not, but thanks for the compliment.

I'm just nitpicky about the correct usage of the terminology.


either way, you get what I meant...
they are awful... perhaps someone should gift them a DPC membership?


Clearly, honest feedback isn't likely to go over well.

Then again, "Everything you produce is pure and absolute shit!" isn't easy to swallow.
12/03/2012 11:03:26 AM · #11
This is a controversial topic for a lot of folks.

I hold a license and shoot as part of a business, strictly part time only, and typically only for friends and family members. I have received very small compensation for work, and thus could call myself a pro. Unfortunately in my hometown this has some real drawbacks. With a combination of the economic recession and the fact that I live in a heavy government op town, virtually every single unemployed spouse that has so much as taken a cell-phone picture has decided to "go pro". Sadly, a couple of legitimately good photographers have been run out of business by 50 dollar craigslist ads and the fact that every family has two "photographers" in it at this point. I have taken the tack of telling people I am a Photographic Artist not a Professional Photographer. I love the art of photography and try to engage in that, and if I make some money occasionally, cool. That seems to cool off most people, and oddly enough seems to chill out the "Pro's" who feel I might be competition. . .
12/03/2012 11:21:48 AM · #12
the sad reality is that with a cellphone and some basic photography and post-processing skills, one can easily produce 90% of what gets published on the internet (with the most likely exception of sports and action photos). it's only when it matters or that it has to be available for large print that people find out that equipment and skill does matter; the challenge, though, is the ever-diminishing pool of people that can tell the difference between when it matters and when it doesn't before it's too late.

if you want an idea of what i mean, check this out and be sure to click on each image and zoom in and out. when you consider just what would be necessary for web-only article, well, you get the picture...
12/03/2012 11:58:39 AM · #13
Originally posted by snaffles:

Yes there are *fauxtogs* out there. Check out youarenotaphotographer.com. Truly horrifying that people actually charge for the most unbelievable crap.


a problem i have with that site is that criticism and mockery is often placed on the subjects, not the lack of skill of the photographer.
12/03/2012 11:59:19 AM · #14
There are several "professionals" that aren't really good at the job. One must be selective of his/her inspirations and as part of developing a personal style; take from the images that appeal to you.

Like yourself, i get some inspiration from sites like dpc. Then there's magazines, and really a quick google for the type of image you're going for will show some goods and bads - Id say just trust your own taste and instincts and take from the ones you think are good. Educating yourself and getting critiques never hurts either. With practice, i think the speed at which we get ideas that appeal to our vision, increases.

I think the basics alone seperate you as a photographer from the "bottom barrel pros" out there. Really thats not a market to even aim to compete against imo. If you must compare, you want to look for that top 10% of highly regarded professionals and compare the technique and vision of your work against theirs. That said, i think individual photographs that are excellent to your eye deserve study regardless of photographer.

I m not saying you don't do that or something similar already, its just the thought came to mind when i read the first post.

Message edited by author 2012-12-03 12:01:52.
12/03/2012 12:06:54 PM · #15
Originally posted by mike_311:

Originally posted by snaffles:

Yes there are *fauxtogs* out there. Check out youarenotaphotographer.com. Truly horrifying that people actually charge for the most unbelievable crap.


a problem i have with that site is that criticism and mockery is often placed on the subjects, not the lack of skill of the photographer.


True, there are some dipshits who do pick on the unfortunate subjects. However that's discouraged, and mostly only a small percentage do that. Most of them take a run at the faux responsible.

Only in this day and age would anyone think that simply owning a camera or gawd ferbid, a *professional* camera (aka a dslr) automatically confers upon the owner the magickal ability to produce professional-quality work, without knowing the first thing about photography except how to turn on the camera and turn to the green-camera icon. Oh yeah, and upload every single frickin frame to Facebook for all your followers to ooh and aah over, thus feeding the delusion.

*sigh*

But even comments aside, just looking at the pics posted there will teach people how NOT to shoot and/or pp.
12/03/2012 01:47:34 PM · #16
I only went through the first 30 pages and am proud to announce I didn't see any of mine.

Thank You.
12/03/2012 02:12:18 PM · #17
OMG, look at the BAD selective colouring jobs. lol...really makes our stuff look super professional.

12/03/2012 03:09:08 PM · #18
Originally posted by snaffles:

Yes there are *fauxtogs* out there. Check out youarenotaphotographer.com.

Might be interesting to pick one of these folks for an episode of the "In The Style Of ..." series of challenges ... :-)
12/03/2012 03:28:31 PM · #19
Originally posted by snaffles:

Yes there are *fauxtogs* out there. Check out youarenotaphotographer.com. Truly horrifying that people actually charge for the most unbelievable crap.


Thank you SO much for this link. Everytime I cringe at the blunders I've shot, I will look at this site and rejoice... There actually are folks worse than me :)
12/03/2012 03:32:15 PM · #20
Originally posted by Cory:

Clearly, honest feedback isn't likely to go over well.

+1
12/03/2012 03:36:21 PM · #21
Originally posted by dtremain:

Originally posted by Cory:

Clearly, honest feedback isn't likely to go over well.

+1

I think the next sentence is perhaps more important (and more likely true) and deserves equal time ...
Originally posted by Cory:

Then again, "Everything you produce is pure and absolute shit!" isn't easy to swallow.
12/03/2012 04:07:51 PM · #22
i still dont see a problem with these "fauxtogs"

are they good? clearly not by our standards but if they can get work and get people to pay them, good for them.
12/03/2012 04:22:36 PM · #23
Originally posted by mike_311:

are they good? clearly not by our standards but if they can get work and get people to pay them, good for them.

My thoughts exactly. If you think you're better, put yourself out there and show them how it's done. Otherwise they'll keep padding their bank account while you win gifs. I know which I'd rather have.
12/03/2012 04:29:53 PM · #24
so bandwagonners, how do you know you're not just gloating pedants? haven't you ever looked back at photos of yours from a year or 3 or 5 ago and said, jeez louise, what was I thinking??! what will you think of your current stuff later? what will others think? yes, there but for the grace of dog go i. and sometimes the dog ain't so graceful.
12/03/2012 04:50:39 PM · #25
Did you hafta remind us? Yule is coming.

Message edited by author 2012-12-03 16:51:27.
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