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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> No seriously - we are all pretty awesome...
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 12/23/2009 04:43:41 PM · #26
I got asked to shoot everything at work and even to shoot the Christmas party after I retired. Got asked to shoot a wedding. Then another wedding. A friend of mine (my biggest fan, actually) was so delighted with a copy of my *award winning* photo of the Eiffel tower that she asked for two more and is going to pay me in Starbucks bucks... Ain't that cool? :-)
 12/23/2009 04:51:06 PM · #27
Originally posted by Citadel:
I always believed that if a 5 was an average shot then the average DPC'er was above average given that the site average is 5.5


thanks for depressing me even more...
 12/23/2009 05:07:06 PM · #28
Originally posted by Melethia:
I got asked to shoot everything at work and even to shoot the Christmas party after I retired. Got asked to shoot a wedding. Then another wedding. A friend of mine (my biggest fan, actually) was so delighted with a copy of my *award winning* photo of the Eiffel tower that she asked for two more and is going to pay me in Starbucks bucks... Ain't that cool? :-)


I'm your biggest fan Deb! LOL! And yes, that is cool!
 12/23/2009 05:57:47 PM · #29
Originally posted by gwe21:
I was going to put a post on Facebook one day titled "everyone thinks they are photographers"

I know some people that call themselves photog's but they dont even know what RAW format means or rule of thirds for that matter.


I like the quote that goes something like... "Just because you own a Nikon doesn't make you a photographer, it makes you a Nikon owner".

I am not a professional. I do enjoy taking pictures as a hobby and I research constantly to try to improve. This site is a great place to see people with real talent. It amazes me at the people out there on Facebook who try to pass themselves off as talented professional photographers when their work obviously demonstrates differently. The fact that they don't even make an effort to learn the basics is just mind boggling to me.
 12/23/2009 06:04:00 PM · #30
*does a double-take on the OP*

Have to agree with most that this place really raises the bar for our own self-assessment on a continuing basis.
 12/23/2009 07:44:48 PM · #31
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
*does a double-take on the OP*

Have to agree with most that this place really raises the bar for our own self-assessment on a continuing basis.


Subject title to change in the new year to

"No seriously - I am pretty awesome - you guys suck"..

I'm just in a good place at the moment.. ;)

Merry Christmas!
 12/23/2009 07:49:46 PM · #32
Originally posted by Simms:
I'm just in a good place at the moment.. ;)

Hot tub? Brothel?

LOL - good to hear, Mark. Happy Holidays from those of us who suck. :-)
 12/23/2009 07:51:12 PM · #33
Originally posted by Art Roflmao:
Originally posted by Simms:
I'm just in a good place at the moment.. ;)

Hot tub? Brothel?

LOL - good to hear, Mark. Happy Holidays from those of us who suck. :-)


A Hot tub in a brothel actually.

Merry Christmas to you and yours and God bless us, everyone!
 12/23/2009 08:11:04 PM · #34
Dear Lordy Lordy Simms , has Hell frozen over, A happy post!!!!!!!??????????????!!!!!!! =)

I have to say though, you are a wonderful wedding photographer, I look at some of your images and am stunned. You really have 'it'

12/23/2009 08:41:26 PM · #35
Thanks Mark. It's good to see you are in a good mood. Even with my 5.29 DPC average, I seem to shoot a lot of photos that people think are just "wow" shots. I certainly owe a lot of my skills to being here at DPC.
12/23/2009 10:54:35 PM · #36
Dontcha love it when folks assume it's the camera? :)

Seriously, I commend you on a fantastic post. I agree. It's not until someone else comments on my stuff that I look at it with new eyes.
 12/23/2009 11:11:09 PM · #37
Originally posted by TCGuru:
Dontcha love it when folks assume it's the camera? :)

Seriously, I commend you on a fantastic post. I agree. It's not until someone else comments on my stuff that I look at it with new eyes.


And what Wonderful Eyes they are. 6-;
 12/24/2009 07:09:07 AM · #38
Originally posted by TCGuru:
Dontcha love it when folks assume it's the camera?

Oh, how I love it. Biggest compliment anyone could make...
 12/24/2009 07:13:54 AM · #39
Originally posted by Melethia:
I got asked to shoot everything at work and even to shoot the Christmas party after I retired. Got asked to shoot a wedding. Then another wedding. A friend of mine (my biggest fan, actually) was so delighted with a copy of my *award winning* photo of the Eiffel tower that she asked for two more and is going to pay me in Starbucks bucks... Ain't that cool? :-)


I get asked to shoot everything myself, but I don't think it's cool. I hate it. The last thing I want to be doing is spending all my time shooting idiot 'events' for everyone in my life, and then dealing with all THEIR friends thinking I'm the best photographer in the world and can I please do shoots for their kids, and THEIR friends, et al etc and so on.

I just like taking pictures when I want to. I wish people could understand that. If I hear "you have so much talent, why don't you do this for a living?" one more time, I'm going to hang myself with the camera strap.
 12/24/2009 07:58:45 AM · #40
Originally posted by K10DGuy:
... If I hear "you have so much talent, why don't you do this for a living?" one more time, I'm going to hang myself with the camera strap.


...and if you get it in writing, does that count too. Have I ever told you that "you have so much talent, why don't you do this for a living?"

Kidding of course :O)

Have a wonderful Christmas and may the New Year be filled with Health, Wealth and Happiness.

Ray
 12/24/2009 08:11:15 AM · #41
Originally posted by AJSullivan:
Hey if you can support a family with a camera, youre a photographer in my book, good at it or not.


Not necessarily, you're just someone with a really big camera - and probably a broken one too unless it is a really lightweight family. :op
 12/24/2009 08:16:34 AM · #42
Originally posted by K10DGuy:
I get asked to shoot everything myself, but I don't think it's cool. I hate it. The last thing I want to be doing is spending all my time shooting idiot 'events' for everyone in my life, and then dealing with all THEIR friends thinking I'm the best photographer in the world and can I please do shoots for their kids, and THEIR friends, et al etc and so on.

I just like taking pictures when I want to. I wish people could understand that. If I hear "you have so much talent, why don't you do this for a living?" one more time, I'm going to hang myself with the camera strap.

Well, you *could* always just see it as the supremem compliment that it is, and thank the people......and then decline the offer.

Hey, there's people here that don't realize what's involved in trying to get a photography business going and how ugly and competitive it is......why would the general public? Of course, if you really want to stop it, you could just start relating to them all the pitfalls and steps necessary to do it (in a monotone, of course) 'til their eyes glaze over and they're trying to escape....8>)
 12/24/2009 08:25:01 AM · #43
Originally posted by TCGuru:
It's not until someone else comments on my stuff that I look at it with new eyes.

That's why I like side challenges better than the regular ones......

Less slice-'n-dice!....LOL!!!
 12/24/2009 01:06:41 PM · #44
Originally posted by Simms:
...and I just think we take it for granted.

Recently I have been getting down about some of my wedding stuff - its all very nice etc, but not really kicking it - or so I thought. But recently I have been invited to become friends with some of my clients on Facebook, and as a result (and due to Facebooks` new privacy options) I get to see their friends photos that they took at weddings where I was the pro - its only then you realise just how much better `our` work is. (snip) . . (snip) . . here on DPChallenge, we are spoilt for high quality photography, so much so that it has become the norm


This is so true - I took some candid prom pictures for my daughter and her friends, and thought they were ok - until I saw the other shots taken on the day on Facebook . . I know few of them would claim to be photogs - but it would be nice if there was at least a nod towards the quality, clarity, composition, lighting or colour . . Probably enough to say that many of my 'ok' shots are now peoples profile image :- )

Further to that i also looked recently on Model Mayhem for models in my area (just out of curiosity) - and was likewise shocked at how poor many of their portfolio images were ! Heck I'm no expert but I could do a whole lot better than many of the shots I saw.

So you're right - we live in our own happy bubble and lose track of what so many people see as 'normal'.

Message edited by author 2009-12-25 02:34:56.
 12/24/2009 01:16:24 PM · #45
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
Hey, there's people here that don't realize what's involved in trying to get a photography business going and how ugly and competitive it is......why would the general public?

Is there any business worth being in that does not have heavy competition?
 12/24/2009 02:01:02 PM · #46
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
Hey, there's people here that don't realize what's involved in trying to get a photography business going and how ugly and competitive it is......why would the general public?


Is there any business worth being in that does not have heavy competition?


Philanthropist ?
 12/24/2009 02:24:41 PM · #47
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
Hey, there's people here that don't realize what's involved in trying to get a photography business going and how ugly and competitive it is......why would the general public?

Is there any business worth being in that does not have heavy competition?


Monkey burner?
Headlice counter?
Toe jam taste tester?
Dingleberry remover?

In my book, all worth being in and hardly any competition.
 12/24/2009 02:51:53 PM · #48


My sister in law is a pro photographer, and besides more talent, I think a major difference between us is her ability to make happen what she wants to make happen, when she needs it. To me that defines a professional. I can hack around, waste incredible amounts of time and not end up with anything. It doesn't matter. On the other hand, a pro needs to come up with a usable product all the time, at will. That's were the true skills matter. I think that's when all those annoying technical things come into play.

12/24/2009 05:44:51 PM · #49
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
Hey, there's people here that don't realize what's involved in trying to get a photography business going and how ugly and competitive it is......why would the general public?

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
Is there any business worth being in that does not have heavy competition?

There are many.

There are all kinds of specialty businesses that have little or no competition that are hardly even considered work to many of those who ply their trade.

I was a British car specialist for the better part of four decades, and trust me, if you're good at it, and honest, there is no competition. There's pretty much more work out there than you can handle.

People of serious skill, who take pride in their workmanship, who are willing to take the extra effort to become involved, and have the hatural skill, in any of a number of different and unique vocations can find themselves virtually without competition.

As far as something like photography goes, the problem is that there are too many self-proclaimed pros out there that have to be weeded through to find the good ones. That was my basic reference to the ugly and competititve nature of the business. I know good photographers that are lousy businessmen, and I know good businessmen that are lousy photographers.

When I decided to open my own business, I was tossed up. I have been blessed with a nearly photographic mind, and an almost clairvoyant sense of what's wrong with mechanical things, so I wasn't locked into any specific marque when it came to my ability to repair and restore cars. My expertise, and interest lay in '60s muscle cars, and '50s-'80s British cars. Any halfwit that could take a 396 out of a Chevy wagon and stuff it into a '68 Malibu was a muscle car expert, yet when it came to British cars, for some reason people thought that being able to fix them was akin to being a Haitian Voodoo doctor. So it was an easy choice to decide on a specialty as a mainstay, and I got to pick and choose the customers for whom I would do a total and complete job on the occasional muscle car.

I actually looked at one point at what was involved in starting a photography business, and the amount of talent, money, and really hard work necessary just wasn't worth it to me, and that's not really even taking the competitive nature of the business into consideration. You have to know how to manage too many things to make it worthwhile unless you're willing to make a serious full time commitment to it, and truth be told, nobody that hasn't run a business has any clue what that means. It's not a 9-to-5, five days a week thing, you will not have any life other than your business for a couple of years 'til you get it going, and you still will need some strokes of good fortune here and there.......it isn't only the result of hard work and determination, you will have to fall into some good paying jobs, and you'll need good word of mouth to perpetuate the business.

Also, I am nowhere nearly skilled enough to make money as a photographer.......8>)

That's why I will keep my day job and be a photographer by choice & passion.
 12/25/2009 12:14:48 PM · #50
Originally posted by Simms:
...and I just think we take it for granted.

Recently I have been getting down about some of my wedding stuff - its all very nice etc, but not really kicking it - or so I thought. But recently I have been invited to become friends with some of my clients on Facebook, and as a result (and due to Facebooks` new privacy options) I get to see their friends photos that they took at weddings where I was the pro - its only then you realise just how much better `our` work is. Going back to the photos I took at the same wedding is now a joy! So I posted some shots on their wall (or whatever its called, I don`t do much facebooking) and the guests etc are going nuts, they love them - with a few comments of "Wow, you must have an amazing camera" which I have let pass for customer relations purposes.
It got me thinking though - just why I had a `low five minutes` regarding the quality of my work? - then I realised that its because here on DPChallenge, we are spoilt for high quality photography, so much so that it has become the norm, and if we see exceptionally good shots elsewhere they dont have the same impact. But to Joe public - our work in here at DPC its pretty fricking awesome.

So, a kind of upbeat forum posting from me... it must be Christmas, normal service will resume in the New Year.


Annnnnd if it means any more.. your one of the best of the best ;p
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