Photographers who are consistently producing stunning photographs don’t do so because they are lucky, observant, or even more skilled than the average photographer – they do so because they are not being lazy. Are you a lazy photographer?
6 signs you may be a lazy photographer
#1 – You’re lazy about composing your shots
You already know the basic rules of successful composition and you even know the rules for breaking those rules, but if you fail to put these rules into practice with every shot you take, then you’re being a lazy photographer.
Composition is potentially the most important tool you have within your arsenal for creating a powerful image. So it’s vital that when you compose your shots you aren’t being lazy about it, and instead compose with purpose.
To give you an idea of how I go about composing a scene I put together a short video that takes you through some iterations of a recent waterfall shoot. I hope this helps you see how composition is more than just knowing the rules, but it’s about putting them into action in the field, and thinking about the scene as a whole, over the course of a shoot.
#2 – You’ve uttered the words “I’ll fix that in post” as you begin to get frustrated about a scene or subject
Post production is always going to be there for you to use, but when you’re telling yourself that you’ll fix something in post when it could be fixed with another shot in less than ten minutes, then you’re being lazy. Whenever you have the time and ability to change, tweak, or otherwise improve a shot with a little effort you should take it. Otherwise you’ll spend more time fixing mistakes than making your images more powerful.
#3 – You’re full of excuses
Everything from sunrise being too early, to the weather being too cold, to your tripod being too heavy sets you back from someone who’s willing to go the extra mile to make the shot. Stop making excuses and get out and make photos instead.
#4 – You don’t do a proper assessment of the scene you’re photographing
It’s important to spend time to assess how the light is moving through your scene, and what kinds of perspectives and angles will suite your subject best. Rarely is the first idea that pops into your head going to be the best way to photograph a scene, so arrive early, scout out the various subjects and angles, then capture.
#5 – You don’t venture more than a few steps from the parking lot
Simply put – get off the beaten path and discover something that someone else hasn’t.
#6 – You’ve had the thought, “If only I had this camera, or that lens I’d take better photos”
This kind of thinking will put you in debt faster than a gambling addition. Yes upgrading your gear will improve the quality of your images, but they won’t help you take better photographs, only you can do that.
What else?
We’ve all been lazy from time to time and there’s nothing wrong with that, but it is important to know when we’ve been lazy in order to help prevent it from happening in the future. What other lazy photographer traits can you come up with? Comment below!
Please share any experiences where you weren’t lazy and you did get the shot too, give us a little inspiration and reason to get out of our chairs and go shoot.
