No kidding, there we were, the WHO declared pandemic a couple of days ago, people were buying up all the toilet paper, everyone is coming undone. Meanwhile, we here at Nostalgic Vanity Photography kept our cool.
Despite the super cool list of vague topics I could blog on, I decided to be on the nose and talk about Toxic behaviors we as photographers exhibit, and my opinions on them. I know there are plenty of articles out there like this, but I don’t read most of them, and I believe that my ideas on what is toxic, or what to do can be done if anything. Let us dive right in.
Competing at all times, no matter the setting
Two photographers go to the same event. Neither is getting paid. Neither is there as a photographer. Everyone is welcome and everyone wants to take photos. Cool. As a photographer you will most likely make great photos. However, you then start getting hassled by another photographer who has spotted your camera that is above average, or has seen you taking more photos. They start getting in your shots, they start telling you how to take your shots, they start ragging on your gear, they follow you like they are glued to your can. Every community has this person, and they are competing. It may be you. If you know a lot of photographers, and you don’t know one of these, you are either very fortunate…or it might be you. Do not be this person. Take your own photos. Enjoy them. There is nothing better than getting to shoot with someone who you are vibing with (Erika! Robert! Josh!), but nothing will kill it faster than this person forgetting that they came to enjoy the event. You are just making the new people feel out of place.
I try to make sure that when I offer advice, it was asked for, or it was the conversation we were having. If I am commenting on gear, I try to make sure I am admiring the gear, looking at you Charlie when you showed up with your amazing Rolleiflex yard sale find! I love to share, and I feel like sometimes I might share so much it comes off as overbearing. Consider this my apology if I have done this to you.
Where should you compete? If you are a professional, compete for business. Be the best, get the customers, but make sure you earn them and keep the trust with them. If you are not trying to get paid, but you are trying get published, same deal. Get it.
The one who thinks their money matters
There are two photographers at an event. The event is for artists, and money is tight most places. Everyone here is a volunteer. They are there for the art, a good time, and for the awesome selection of subjects available. I mean its free, but the work must be done. Three or four hours in, a local pro shows up, free, same as the rest. Despite you and your friends having worked this event all day, they come in, take one look around and set up their light stand and strobe directly in a line where you are shooting. Every time you turn around there they are, some piece of gear in the path and you being left with the leavings. One of the hobbyists calls it a day and heads out.
Why does this happen? They believe they can. They believe that their lighting costing more than your camera gives it pride of place. If they had a contract there, fine. Give them the space the even signed them for. However, if that is not the case, if they are just throwing their expensive gear around, look out for yourself. Letting them get away with it will not do anything except encourage them. It sucks that it seems like you constantly have to stake a claim, but that is the way it is sometimes.
Now, if you read this and you do stand up for yourself, make sure you are the model of courtesy when it comes to not walking through shots at events. Otherwise someone will call you out next.
The person with more money and gear than sense…
This sounds a lot like the last one, but they are not quite the same. Sure they have a lot of the same stripes, but here is the difference. The person in the last one, probably produces a class A photograph 9 times out of 10 because they are in fact a very good photographer, and they know it. This one has no sense, little to no understanding of the fundamentals, and zero courtesy. I have met plenty of them, but here is my favorite.
We are in a class/party hosted by a pro. She serves drinks, lets five people buy a ticket, gets a MUA and a model, and teaches something. The model has three set ups, we each photograph each set up for about ten minutes. It is fast paced, but if done right, more than enough shooting. Thirty minutes total private shooting time is amazing. Then there is the guy who in between his turns, tells the others out there why their gear isn’t as good as his, what they should buy. He told me that I needed to get the new version of my camera…and then named the generation that mine had replaced. Yes. I am not joking. His camera shoots at around 40 megapixels, double the rest of us. However, he keeps getting bogged down because he could shoot twice and then his camera needed a minute. He had bought the cheapest (slowest) memory card he could and could not figure out why his camera had to process for a bit after a couple of shots. Keep in mind, it was a small studio, he could have used half his resolutions, thus getting to shoot faster, and still had resolution to spare. So, he does this for a while, grumbling that he is getting maybe 20 shots in his ten minutes. Then, shocker, his memory card filled up during his second turn. He decided on the spot that he would go dump it and then return during my time. I told him absolutely not. I payed to shoot my time and I would be shooting my time. He was super angry. When he became belligerent, I recommended he use the time to read up on memory cards and read write speed…low blow…I know. I did not let him shoot during my time.
Unfortunately there is not much to do here. This person is probably like this in other places: “Here is why my car is great, why it was always my exes fault, why you need to buy clothes like mine…and he where are you going???” Just do not be this person. They like to buy stuff, not make photos. I met a kid once with a 10 year old camera and he was stoked to have one that good. His mother is a photographer and the kid was just excited to get to shoot with a new person. I was very afraid I was stepping on her toes by showing him how I do things, but she was super cool, and it was awesome to share, to see someone make something with their camera, seeing possibilities not limits!
I do not want you to think I am all doom and gloom. I went to this same event later, and a pro who had been doing this literally since before I was born came for the first time. We talked shop, we talked the event, we shot, we had a beer. Later this person wrote me to apologize. They thought that due to me normally taking the most photos here and sharing them–an incorrect perception, I had only been to the most recent one before that, but I saturated the feeds after–they were afraid they had stepped on me. No way! It is not my event, but to be that courteous and humble?? That is the photographer I want to be in thirty years.
Why did I write this one? Because we are currently in a pandemic, and it seems everyone is out for themselves again. Panic buying, hoarding, people without a clue sharing advice. Knock it off. Check on your neighbor. Wash your hands. Do not panic buy, it hurts people in poverty. Wash your hands. Get a few days worth, maybe a week, but knock off the crazy panic buying. Wash your hands. Listen to experts. Wash your hands. Shut up if you do not know anything. Wash your hands. It is getting a little ugly folks. Help each other, do what needs to be done. We will get through it.
Homework: document your life during this time, even if it does not change one little bit. You’ll be glad you did.
Brandon Bledsoe
Nostalgic Vanity Photography
931-436-4105
http://www.nostalgicvanityphotography.com
@nostalgic_vanity
Nostalgic Vanity Photography 