Is it just me, or...

[Mitchell]

Is it just me, or do the majority of photographers seem to come off as a bit mean?

Example, just called Ritz to ask them a question or two, lady there who answered seemed really impatient, and mean...

Last time I called, I had to call about 3 other stores to ask the same question, and out of those three, I only found one person who was actually patient, and nice about it.

I've also had general conversations with a few photographers, they too seemed extremely impatient and mean.

Anyone else relate or is it just me?

[SusanH1970]

As for the people in the stores - it's retail that'll do that to ya, LOL! I was in retail management for several years and although I wasn't rude to customers, I sure wanted to be at times.

As for photographers in general...well, I don't know about that. I know a great many photographers who are as sweet as can be, and others who are complete jackasses. I also know a great many people who are NOT photographers, and some are sweet as can be, and some are, well, complete jackasses!

[windrider86]

lol, I dont give them a chance. Kill em with kindness and then they have no choice to be nice back!

[Mitchell]

Originally Posted by windrider86

lol, I dont give them a chance. Kill em with kindness and then they have no choice to be nice back!

Haha, me in a nutshell. I'm as nice as can be to people, even when they're not nice to me, I stay nice just to get on their nerves. :P

Reminds me, my Mom's photographer, she's nice, but to me she has this evilish vibe around her, haha....

but then on the other hand, when I was a child.. well, I still am, but when I was a little bit past infancy, my Mom had this photographer friend named Kingsly. Great great man. Polite, and very nice... Great photographer too. He would carry his camera around EVERYWHERE...

Literally, everwhere. Kind of like me now. I just need to buy a battery grip, gear bag, and about 4 more batteries, and chargers! haha...

But it's a simple observation I made... I've gotten the feeling that a lot of photographers are mean and cocky. One knocked me down just to get a shot once, didn't even say sorry, just kept running to get the shot... but then I guess on the other hand, many of them can be as nice as can be. Haha.

[elvenprincessjo]

Originally Posted by Mitchell

One knocked me down just to get a shot once, didn't even say sorry, just kept running to get the shot... but then I guess on the other hand, many of them can be as nice as can be. Haha.

I might knock someone down for a really good shot, too!! Lol. But I am sure I would apologize... After I made sure I got it!

[OsmosisStudios]

That could be a combination of 2 things: Retail, and Snobbishness.

I work retail in the photography field. We do have some people that call in fairly innocently with questions that I do my best to answer nicely, but if you call right after a guy that comes in asking for, and I quote, a "70-100 f/1.4 lens or something". Unfortunately, I tend to lose a bit of patience with questions at that point.

The other factor is snobbishness. Im not saying Ritz in particular is, but I know of a few places that I can feel totally out of place in, even though I know more than the idiot behind the counter simply because of the attitude. There's a shop in town that I visit once a year: to buy speciality film. The only reason is that theyre the only place that stocks it without buying from the US. The attitude, however, is unbearable.

[Mitchell]

I don't like being knocked down... Hurts. A lot. Haha.

Haha, but yeah, I can understand it, but you gotta understand, that type of attitude seriously makes me want to NOT go into their stores...

or in that case associate with those people. :P

[RustySterling]

Well, I've always found other photographers to be quite helpful and collegial. Maybe it has to do with my approach, which usually includes something about my experience. But I really haven't had the experience you had.

Now, if it was in regard to calling a photo shop, like Ritz, you can't make the assumption that whomever you talk to is a "true professional" photographer. That I would always take with a grain of salt. I'd just shrug my shoulders and move on. I can understand not wanting to go into the store. Don't. Find another store.

Of course, that not may be easy, depending upon where you live. I'm lucky that I never have to go into a Ritz because there is a great photo shop in my area with wonderful people, a great selection of equipment, and a reputation that makes them a magnet for miles around. I don't mean just a few miles. I mean doing some serious traveling to get there. And that may be what you might want to consider.

[Quo Fan]

I have a tendency to frighten people. I'm a nice guy, but I still scare people. Most everybody in my dojo is afraid of me. Maybe it's because I wear 4 stripes on my black belt.

I do have a look that can stop people in their tracks. I don't use it often because it would then loose it's effectiveness.

[teedlepeep]

What I have found in my area is that at the two closest Ritz stores there is basically 1 person in the store that is in 'charge" of the DSLR's and all the accessories to them. The closest store to me, that one guy thinks he is God. Unfortunately he does know his stuff, but he's an arse about it big time. Going into that store for me, is like going into a Radio Shack. You only do it as a last resort as the workers as unbearable.

I too, would knock someone down to get a shot. I know I have come close and in conjunction with a haunted house have made a little girl pee her pants. The shots were great and I did apologize