ℕ𝕖𝕨 𝕐𝕖𝕒𝕣 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕤𝕥 𝕆𝕗 ℂ𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕕𝕠𝕨𝕟: 𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕀 𝕎𝕚𝕤𝕙 ℙ𝕙𝕠𝕥𝕠𝕘𝕣𝕒𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕎𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕𝕟’𝕥 𝕊𝕒𝕪

I see a lot of humorous memes going around about what ‘photographers hate when you say…’ may it be ‘this camera takes great pictures’, ‘you can take 10 years off on post process, right?’, or ‘he can’t come to the shoot, can you add his face later?’.

Not wrong. We’re missing an angle though. And since it is the New Year, and everyone seems to be adding their own twist on it, I will jump on that spirit bandwagon and post a ‘worst of countdown of what I wish photographers wouldn’t say’. (#ItsNotVentingOrIsIt #FreeNewYearInspirations)

#𝟝: '𝕀 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 𝕥𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕒𝕝 𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥, 𝕚𝕥’𝕤 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖 𝕘𝕖𝕟𝕦𝕚𝕟𝕖'

It is and it’s not. It is a style and a beautiful one at that. But it can only be so, if you know how to execute all kinds of light and choose natural regardless. The truth is, most of us are afraid of studio lighting. I was. It is daunting at first, but I promise you, it is worth the effort of learning. I discovered my portrait power when I decided to face the Flash. No, not the superhero one, the other one. And I never looked back. I’m still learning with workshops and testing and practice, and every step I take in that direction is a beneficial one.

#𝟜: '𝕀 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕗𝕚𝕩 𝕚𝕥 𝕚𝕟 𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕥'

I was often guilty of that one in the early days, until I learned a valuable lesson. Take your time before and during the shoot to set yourself up (to shoot and to success). Don’t feel bad about explaining to your client why you are doing so. You will always be better of getting a solid image in camera, rather than bank on post cover up. 

#𝟛: '𝕀 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕒 𝕥𝕠𝕡𝕟𝕠𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕔𝕖𝕝𝕝𝕡𝕙𝕠𝕟𝕖, 𝕀 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕓𝕖 𝕒 𝕡𝕙𝕠𝕥𝕠𝕘𝕣𝕒𝕡𝕙𝕖𝕣. 𝕊𝕖𝕖𝕞𝕤 𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕪 𝕖𝕟𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙'

Forgive my straightforwardness but adding ‘photography’ after a last name, does not make the photographer. After a decade, I still hesitate using the word myself. Cellphone photography and editing apps with an easy trigger on over-saturated sunsets and Hollywood filters does NOT make the photographer. Don’t get me wrong, they’re great and have many wonderful purposes. I use mine on vacation all the time. For certain #socials features as well. They are a fun way to learn the basics of photography and composition too, sending a keen aficionado on a solid learning track. In a few unfortunate cases though… I’ve heard professional photographers take serious offense at some posted work called ‘photography’. And I can’t blame them. To the risk of sounding condescending, photography is an art and a science. Both involve a learning curve, and demand skills that reach beyond smartphones and cheap app effects and filters. The good news, however, is that it is open to all who appreciate beauty in all things and is willing to put in the work. Just take it easy on the filters (asking for a friend).

#𝟚: '𝕄𝕪 𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖𝕤 𝕨𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕓𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕚𝕗 𝕀 𝕙𝕒𝕕 𝕒 𝕓𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕔𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕣𝕒'

Yes and no. Like I said, cellphones can only get you so far. However, gear lust is vicious. We all have it at one point or another. We all drool in front of the upgrade. And there will always be another upgrade. But one of the greatest lessons, yet most frustrating, I was ever given is to stick to your gear until you outgrow it. The gear DOES NOT make the photographer. Which may sound like the opposite point I made in #3 about the cellphones. Bear with me. The day you decide to pick up tennis, you don’t go buy Venus Williams’s racquet. You get your basic racquet, the sneakers in your closet and off you go. There are stages to every apprenticeship. You have to master the tool at every one of them. Slowly master your skills and understand why you need the upgrade. Don’t skip ahead.

#𝟙: '𝕀 𝕕𝕠𝕟’𝕥 𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕖 𝕡𝕖𝕠𝕡𝕝𝕖, 𝕚𝕥’𝕤 𝕟𝕠𝕥 𝕞𝕪 𝕛𝕠𝕓'

Probably one of the things I've heard that made me jump out of my skin the most this year.

Photography is about one thing and one thing only, seeing the light.

Portrait photography is about two, ꜱᴇᴇɪɴɢ ʟɪɢʜᴛ and ꜱᴇᴇɪɴɢ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ. It is nothing BUT your job to pose your subject in their best light to shine their best selves. In the same way that you would set a product in its best way, to give it marketing/sale success. Posing is an art of directing and psychology. It starts the moment your subject walks in the set. Posing tells a story, flatters the person in front of the camera, helps them feel comfortable, creates life and dynamics on a still image, and it is the foundation of a portrait composition.

Every new year offers a fresh outlook and building opportunities.

Happy new step forward everyone.