Maybe I'm being too picky. I personally have taken a couple of people's pictures for money. Well, one. One is coming up in a couple of days. And I'm anxious about it, because I have really really high standards. I will not charge someone for mediocre. And I'm not even charging them very much. But a couple of paid photo sessions does not make me a professional photographer anymore than my free blog on Blogger makes me a professional writer or having three kids makes me an expert on childcare.
I have had a "nice" camera for about two years now and there are still things I don't know. I still want more lenses and even dream about upgrading my camera body to a full frame camera that I'd have to save for years to buy. But I'm still learning. I can't imagine starting a business based on two months of owning a camera.
I only consider my pictures above average. Some are pretty good, but for every five good ones there is a dud, and this ratio is only improving with time. And I'm not a photographer anymore than I'm a baker for making too many cookies.
Now look at pictures of my cute bratty kids so you can forget about how judgmental I probably just sounded. And remember, I'm not a photographer.
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3 comments:
Hehehe...this post cracked me up. Mostly because I had the same sentiments a few years back. Photography has ALWAYS interested me...ever since I took a class in middle school. But once photoshop and dSLR's became readily accessible to the general public, we ended up with a surplus of self-taught, under-trained and over-priced photographers. Don't get me wrong...some of those self-taught peeps are pretty good. It was just the thought of photography being the "cool or hip" thing to do that turned me off from it. (I'm such an anti-bandwagon kind of gal.) Now, I'm mostly just glad I didn't take the plunge because...well...let's just say it's not my season to be taking up new hobbies. :)
Ha Jennifer I am totally w/ you! Now you take far better pics than I and I'll be the first to admit I don't know crap about my camera but yes this subject is cracking me up lately. I have aquaintances that are popping up w/ their 'businesses' on FB too and there pics are no better than mine. Just seems its the cool thing to do now, but just like everything else- they won't be successful if they're no good, guess they'll just learn the hard way:)
Under trained and overpriced are my thoughts exactly Janette! I know I have taken pictures for a couple of people, putting me in a tricky spot to be ranting about this, but I'm not out there trying to sell myself as a photographer.
And Amy, what's sad is that even though they're not very good, they still seem to have plenty of people to take pictures of. I just hope that at some point they improve or realize that a vignette doesn't make pictures look better.
I didn't buy my camera to start a business, my reasons are more selfish, I just want pictures of my own kids. So you won't see me out advertising for "Jennifer Kloos" photography anytime soon.
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