photogs

Occasionally someone will be extremely kind enough to write and let me know that some obscure thing I’ve mentioned, either through here, or in direct conversation has helped them out somehow. Either regarding editing style, equipment I use, companies I work with, tips on shooting, or how I keep my body in abnormally sexy condition during those really long road trips.

*flex*

And while I know the logical progression of trying to take over the world of wedding photography is buying a camera, shooting a wedding, and then offering grotesquely overpriced “workshops” to other beginning photographers so you can make a quick buck, that whole idea honestly nauseates me. It’s stupid, shameful, and any hack of a photographer that engages in that practice should have their 70-200 shoved where the sun don’t shine and forced to meditate in a quiet room with Jesh De Rox for a year. (I’m kidding Jesh. I love you.)

If you live within 10 miles of said hack of a photographer engaging in said moneymaking scam of a workshop, you can’t attend. Why? Because obviously you’ll come out of the workshop an exact clone of them, and no one wants to compete with themselves. That’s just common sense. 

Let me pause and ask you a serious question…can you smell the exaggerated amounts of sarcasm and disdain? Because there’s a big, fresh, steaming pile of both in this post.

Here’s a bit of blunt truth for you, so grab your beverage of choice and hang on. Ready? Good.

In regards to technical ability, there is nothing that any photographer alive can show you that you can’t go out and figure out on your own with tons of practice. That said, there are really great workshops for technique, lighting, marketing, running your business, etc. that are worth the price of attending.  But any photographer that’s only been around a few years, promising you some level of rocktastic fabulousicity upon completing their overpriced workshop, only have your money in mind and are quite happy to take it.

And make no mistake, anyone that pulls that whole…” You can’t attend our workshop if you live within X amount of miles from us ” ..is so blatantly insecure about their work, it’s kind of embarrassing.

I’ve been fortunate in meeting some really, really great photographers along the way that answered all kinds of dorky questions I asked, never charged me a dime for it, and are extremely passionate about what they do and about helping the new kids that come along in this field. They’re the people I look up to, respect completely, and can only hope to reach the same level of technical skills they possess someday.

The point in that little rant is this;

If you have any questions about the businesses I work with, locations in my photos, or photography tips, tricks or general info, I absolutely encourage you to ask. If it’s something completely over my head (and there’s a really good chance of that) I’ll find someone that knows and we’ll both learn something. There’s absolutely nothing that I do that you’re unable to do yourself.  It may possibly be something I do that I have no clue how I do it, but we’ll figure it out together. If it’s a really, really hard question, we’ll probably need to meet and discuss it over beers, and I’m ok with that. 

But only if you don’t live within 10 miles of me.