When the pro's are helpful (in real life!)

[candidrachel]

Went to photography club last night and unbeknown to me the best photographer in our town is a member. Eeek! I spotted him at the back and felt sooooo intimidated. In the pecking order of quality photos I'd be a 1 and he'd be a 10 iykwim and I'm not putting myself down, just being realistic.

Anyway, he did a presentation on Environmental Portraiture (families) that is what I want to specialize in and I was blown away. He made it look so easy and then he did a photoshop demonstration again making it look so easy! No faffing about, just really simple stuff that made huge differences.

I had a quiet word with myself like "stop feeling intimidated and find out how HE can help ME" so I went up to him in the break and asked all sorts of questions and he was sooooo helpful explaining how he deals with tricky lighting issues for instance. He wasn't condescending or patronising at all.

Yet again I have come away from camera club inspired!

[SusanH1970]

That's great, Rachel! I've come to find that most photographers are extremely helpful and more than willing to help others out. When I first started out, my friend Vinnie (auto-focus is his user name here on DPS) was kind enough to come to my house and tutor me on the basics for four hours! I've also become very friendly with a lot of the DPS photographers that I admire and have bugged them to insanity with my incessant questions - and y'all know who you are, thanks to each and every one of you!

To anyone that's just starting out, finding a mentor that's willing to help you out is one of the best things you can do.

[candidrachel]

Your right Susan most photographers are helpful and go out of their way to help you but you need open your mouth to ask first! I was speaking to someone last night, who heard from someone else that I'm interested in various lighting off camera flash, how to use reflectors proficiently etc and he is a member of the British Institute of Professional Photographers and has some information that I may be interested in his car and that he has some other sfuff at home that he was thinking of chucking out but will pass on to me next week! I was so greatful, anything that'll help me in my quest to learn.

Susan - here are some tips on photographing chidren from the pro Phil Evan's blog

Taking Better Photos of Children

[ZannieGirl49]

That's great Rachel! I still haven't joined the local photography club but your post makes me think that I should do it sooner than later. The one experience I have with a pro is when I took a photography class with a pro as the instructor. What I found was that he had absolutely no ego, he was SO happy to just be making images and helping us enjoy it too. Thanks for the story, maybe I'll venture out even more now!

[candidrachel]

One thing that really struck me was that "Once upon a time" he wasn't as good as he is today. I remember chatting to a friend donkey's years ago about who did our wedding photos and she said that she didn't like hers and doesn't get the album out much and I asked her why and she showed me and they were ok but it was the little attention to details that kind of spoint the shots eg there was a washing line in one of the shots with someone's smalls hanging up. Nowadays of course you can clone it out!

Today he is sought after, won gold awards and his weddings get booked well in advance!

It proves that the more experience you encounter the better you become.

[ZannieGirl49]

Originally Posted by candidrachel

One thing that really struck me was that "Once upon a time" he wasn't as good as he is today. I remember chatting to a friend donkey's years ago about who did our wedding photos and she said that she didn't like hers and doesn't get the album out much and I asked her why and she showed me and they were ok but it was the little attention to details that kind of spoint the shots eg there was a washing line in one of the shots with someone's smalls hanging up. Nowadays of course you can clone it out!

Today he is sought after, won gold awards and his weddings get booked well in advance!

It proves that the more experience you encounter the better you become.

Your last line is so true! I've been really down on myself lately about my photography but an exercise a few days ago made me feel better. I'm going to a wave photography seminar in a few months and we're required to bring our ten best images to review. I sat down with a friend and looked through my entire Flickr account to make a first pass at the task. As we got farther and farther back I realized how much better I am today than I was a year ago. It was a total eye opener. Now I still feel like I have a long way to go, but if I keep going out and shooting and reading and learning I'll get better.

[windrider86]

Always remember that it doesnt matter what you do, who you are, how famous you are - people are still just people

[BCampbell]

Originally Posted by candidrachel

I had a quiet word with myself like "stop feeling intimidated and find out how HE can help ME" so I went up to him in the break and asked all sorts of questions and he was sooooo helpful explaining how he deals with tricky lighting issues for instance. He wasn't condescending or patronising at all.

I've had this experience more than once, and it's always been true that in the real world, people seem to be way nicer than on the Internet.

In some cases I've had pros come up to me when I wasn't even carrying a camera and ask if I shoot, who knows how they can tell. I've been invited to check out galleries and studios and never, ever been treated like an idiot for asking questions.

Basically the opposite of what happens in forums.

It's a good reason to once in a while put down the Internet and go outside.