Thought of the Day: Photoshop Alone Does Not Make a Good Photographer

I consider myself a professional when it comes to Photoshop.  I teach Photoshop and develop products that work inside Photoshop.  And yes, occasionally I use Photoshop to fix a problem on a less that perfect photo. Photoshop is a powerful tool for photographers.  But your camera paired with experience are way more important in getting the best results.

By learning to use your camera and your surroundings to their fullest, you can control light, get great composition and have better color in your photos. This is the #1 best way to spend less time in post-processing.  If you find you spend 30 minutes, instead of 3, editing each image, you probably need to figure out why.  It could be lack of Photoshop knowledge, in which case an online Photoshop training class might be in order.  But if you see your exposure is off, colors look bad, objects are growing out of people’s heads, backgrounds are cluttered, etc – you may want to revisit your camera and work on your skills in that department. And even if you feel you have mastered your skills, it cannot hurt to get back to basics every once in a while.

Answer these questions of yourself:

Using just your camera, or other equipment, not in post processing, can you:

• Achieve proper exposure and control of light?

• Get subjects to pop and backgrounds to fall out of focus?

• Identify what times of day to shoot and where to find better light?

• White balance and adjust color temperature in camera?

• Achieve exciting compositions?

• Getting your subject(s) in flattering poses?

• Avoid distracting backgrounds, clutter, and objects that may hit the subject(s) in an odd way?

Sometimes, in an attempt not to rely on Photoshop and other post-processing tools so much, I recommend photographers go out and shooting just for the practice getting the shot and experience.  Take your camera outside without any expectations of coming home and having any use-able photos.  Just practice.  Work on nailing exposure.  Work on setting a custom white balance. Work solely one day on getting better compositions. Work on your creativity.  This is also a great exercise for getting out of a rut!

All the photography forums, photo related books, and photography and Photoshop training in the world will not make you a better photographer if you do not get out and take pictures, make mistakes and then learn from those mistakes so you are more experienced the next time.

What is a Professional Photographer in the Digital Photography Age?

In the age of digital photography, when anyone can go to the nearest discount store and buy an SLR camera and Photoshop or Elements, the lines between professional, amateur and hobbyist photographer are blurring. Years ago, when I was a kid, the definition of a professional photographer was much more obvious. You had the professionals making a living doing photography and the serious amateurs who loved the art of photography.

In the new digital age, where photography and photo editing is at everyone’s fingertips, and darkrooms are almost a thing of the past, everyone can be a photographer (or at least they may think so).  “Professional photographers” are on every corner now, dozens in every town, thousands in every city. As I wrote my article on “Pricing Photography” a few weeks ago, one theme that came up was “if someone is not charging enough, maybe they are a hobbyist.” But can that be?  Can you accept money and just “shoot for fun?”  The two do not necessarily go together, at least not in the United States where the government wants its piece of the action.

So this brings us back to the question, “what is a professional photographer?”

How can we define this term?  By my definition, I am NOT a professional photographer.  I am a hobbyist!  I love taking pictures and I enjoy the art of photography.  BUT I do not make my living shooting photographs for others.  I make my living helping both pro and hobbyist photographers enhance their photos.

To me, a professional photographer is:

• Someone who makes a living taking pictures, or at minimum a portion of their income.
• Someone who has established a legitimate photography business or who is employed by one.
• Someone who pays taxes on their income derived from photography.

Now some gray areas:

• Quality of work: If a photographer’s work is excellent, it does NOT mean they are a pro.  And likewise, if the work is poor, they may be one. I know many people earning a living in photography who shoot horrible photographs and have no editing or retouching skills. And I know some amazing amateurs and hobbyists who have incredible portfolios, but choose not to do photography for a living.
• Business Skills: Some photographers are great business people.  Others are not. Understanding the business and marketing often will separate the unsuccessful from the successful.  And I can tell you with certainty, that sometimes the “best photography” does not come from the most successful professional photographers.
• Pricing: Higher or lower prices do not determine if someone is a professional.  Unfortunately, if someone is a legitimate business, and decides to undercut others, that is their choice.  If someone is extremely high priced, it does not necessarily mean they are the best in the area either.  Sometimes price will mimic skill set and abilities, but often times, it will not.

Remember, just because you love photography or are talented, does NOT mean you need to be a pro. And when you hear someone is a professional, keep in mind that it does not define how good they are at photography or business. It just shows they “set up shop.”

Now it is your turn. Are you a professional photographer?  If so, why do you consider yourself one? If you are not, what title would you give yourself, how would you define your role and why do you feel that way? Feel free to agree or disagree with my opinions. I want to hear yours!

Pricing Photography: How high should you be prices be?

Last week I ran across a photographer online who listed her prices in the sidebar of her blog/website. Her bio indicated that she was a “professional photographer” which of course is often used loosely in 2010. She said she had 5 years of experience shooting weddings, portraits and pets. In my opinion, her work did not appear to compete with many professional photographers I see daily.  Her prices: $60 for all your photos from a portrait photography session on a disk. The print prices were extremely low.  And that fee of $60 included the photo session too.

I not only questioned how this might lower the bar for photography as a whole, but how she could make a living. Then again… maybe she is not earning an income from photography.  She may be doing this as a “hobby” and just want gas money.  She also may not be a legitimate business.  And she may not be paying taxes.  There are so many variables.

I decided to post about this discovery on my Facebook Page thread. And the emotions, opinions and questions stirred. I know pricing is ultra controversial amongst professional photographers.  Some photographers develop their prices based on what they want to make in a year, figuring in expenses, taxes, and other costs. Many photographers start out unsure what to charge. These photographers may pick numbers out of thin air.  Many photographers research what other photographers in their area charge, and build pricing based on those numbers.

I would love to get a dialog going here on the MCP Blog answering these questions in the comment section:

• Do you consider yourself a professional photographer?
• How to you determine your pricing?
• Do you feel you are priced too low? high? or just right?
• Do you price yourself based on others around you?  Based on your experience?  Or based on what you want to earn?
• How does it make you feel when you see someone charging $60 for all photos on a disc, including the photo shoot?