p.2 #1 · How Do You Deal With the Fact Most People Can't Tell a Good Photo From a Bad One?
Just like most photographers treat their camera like a gun scope, aiming at a target, that's how most people see.
They look through the photograph at what's being rendered. 95% of people will never consider what's going on on the edges or in the background. Most people don't know high contrast from low and what that does. HDR? It just looks "cool" Most people won't recognize a gesture or metaphor from a classic painting.
That's why after 8 years of photography schooling I've mostly done other things for money. Now, having been bit by the gig economy, after 20+ years of having to answer to no one photographically speaking, I have to get out there and hustle some extra money again. I now set my expectations of clients front and center and swallow the rest, happy to give them what they want.
p.2 #4 · How Do You Deal With the Fact Most People Can't Tell a Good Photo From a Bad One?
PureMichigan wrote:
I'd agree and add on a little something I have observed over doing this for couple-plus decades...
Often a photographer with more skill (or at least they think so) may swoop in and take some pictures of a youth or high school team and think that the parents will sing Hallelujah, throw roses at their feet and anoint them as the second coming of Ansel Adams.
What I've often found is a very human response -- people may appreciate the professional photos, but they often LOVE the Mom or Dad who was on the other side of the court or in the stands who has taken pictures of these kids every game since 5th grade. They are part of the family. Maybe it's not great stuff -- but grandmas love it. And they value the work that the parent puts in game-after-game over some random guy in a vest with a monopod and Hoodman loupe.
That random guy is not going to be there for the Class D junior varsity girls high school basketball game on February 8th when the snow is blowing and it's -8 in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
But that Mom or Dad with the Nikon and the kit lens is.
I think that's great. That's the way it should be....Show more →
Good post. I agree with you. I take photos of my daughter's track and cross country. The team uses them for the end-of-year slideshow and the coach will share them with parents who want them. I have media credentials from the local paper who will use a couple of dozen shots a year for sports stories. The kids love to see their picture in the paper.
p.2 #5 · How Do You Deal With the Fact Most People Can't Tell a Good Photo From a Bad One?
PureMichigan wrote:
I'd agree and add on a little something I have observed over doing this for couple-plus decades...
Often a photographer with more skill (or at least they think so) may swoop in and take some pictures of a youth or high school team and think that the parents will sing Hallelujah, throw roses at their feet and anoint them as the second coming of Ansel Adams.
What I've often found is a very human response -- people may appreciate the professional photos, but they often LOVE the Mom or Dad who was on the other side of the court or in the stands who has taken pictures of these kids every game since 5th grade. They are part of the family. Maybe it's not great stuff -- but grandmas love it. And they value the work that the parent puts in game-after-game over some random guy in a vest with a monopod and Hoodman loupe.
That random guy is not going to be there for the Class D junior varsity girls high school basketball game on February 8th when the snow is blowing and it's -8 in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
But that Mom or Dad with the Nikon and the kit lens is.
I think that's great. That's the way it should be....Show more →
Hehehehehe...yeah..that's so true. Parents and fans would settle for meh photos. When the real McCoy shows up, they will see the difference, is literally night and day. I mean..when the photos are that good, they will show without any exposition from the artists. I don't mean to offend anyone but is not a bad thing that we are overwhelmed with meh photos. It makes the pro to standout more.....
p.2 #6 · How Do You Deal With the Fact Most People Can't Tell a Good Photo From a Bad One?
Although, sometimes the local photographer, be it a parent or whatever, will capture some of the "behind the scenes" shots that a pro who is just there to make a buck would not consider capturing and these are sometimes the ones that the kids and parents really love.
p.2 #7 · How Do You Deal With the Fact Most People Can't Tell a Good Photo From a Bad One?
Sorry, late to the party. I can only offer my observations and methods.
Observations: Parents, just want photos of their kids to put on Facebook, instagram, Snapchat, Tinder, whatever. Even if it is the back of their Jersey and their number. They really don’t care about the composition etc. I shoot/shot for one HS and one of the parents is a portrait photographer and mentions how much she loves the photos of her son (and the ones she picks out are meh at best in my mind).
Methods, I really just shoot for me now. I shoot for the composition, framing I want. Makes me happier. And I started doing that after the observation above😂
p.2 #8 · How Do You Deal With the Fact Most People Can't Tell a Good Photo From a Bad One?
Long past are the days where it has been a lucrative endeavor to deal with photographing high school sports. Way too many parents with cameras, not to mention cell phones. Most of them do not know what a good sports photograph is, nor do they care. I took the position a number of years ago to 'give back/support the community' by providing coverage of the local high school soccer teams. Photos I take and present on a website dedicated for them are of my choosing. Family and the kids are free to use as they see fit.
Those that know, understand I do shoot sports professionally but for me, this sideline effort provides the opportunity to enjoy my passion without the headaches. JMTC
p.2 #9 · How Do You Deal With the Fact Most People Can't Tell a Good Photo From a Bad One?
TooManyShots wrote:
Hehehehehe...yeah..that's so true. Parents and fans would settle for meh photos. When the real McCoy shows up, they will see the difference, is literally night and day. I mean..when the photos are that good, they will show without any exposition from the artists. I don't mean to offend anyone but is not a bad thing that we are overwhelmed with meh photos. It makes the pro to standout more.....
Not sure how I missed this, but this comment is SPOT on!
p.2 #10 · How Do You Deal With the Fact Most People Can't Tell a Good Photo From a Bad One?
I owned a T n I photography business for about 5 years and i shot sports for our local newspaper for 2 years. The only thing in sports photography that is profitable is baseball team and individuals. The parents buy everything regardless how good the photo is. Everything else not nearly a profitable. We had been asked to do action many times. We never made a profit from action and we were good. We sold the action shots in many different ways. We have printed them out and sold them, put them on our website. Even made special photoshop templates, still no profit. I have learned the only photography that makes money is the photography i don't want to do. I love sports photography and totally appreciate what it takes, time wise and financially with the gear. Now i just do it for fun and shoot my family and friends with gear that the pros use. Its funny when i tell my friends that the photo i took of them cost $10,000.
p.2 #11 · How Do You Deal With the Fact Most People Can't Tell a Good Photo From a Bad One?
Your experience parallels mine, and from what I have read, that of many on this forum.
There seem to be three kinds of photographers here, all with different models and motivations:
1) The Professionals – for lack of a better definition, those who make their primary income through photography and for whom sports is a percentage.
2) The Semi-Professionals– those who make a supplemental income through photography and for whom sports is a percentage.
3) The Enthusiasts – People who love sports photography and for whom money is not a central part of the equation.
Some enthusiasts want to be professionals. I am a former professional (photojournalist) who, by virtue of having a good job outside of the industry, now has the luxury of being primarily an enthusiast.
I would not have it any other way.
I do not want to do T&I, weddings, senior work, etc … but we all know that‘s where the money is. The motivation to do action sports photography and the motivation to make money are both virtuous. But given demand – as evidenced by the comments here and in most other threads -- they are often conflicting motivations. If what you love to do is not commercially viable, then you can either stop doing it or simply take the commercial aspect out of the equation.
There is no right answer. Everyone finds their path. For me, the right path was to accept the responsibility as an “artist” to fund my own interests and to essentially remove the conflict between art and commerce. In this sense, I’m like any other hobbyist. The fly fisherman doesn’t expect an ROI in his reels and rods. Nor the golfer his clubs or green fees. If someone wants to buy images – well, that’s great. But I’m not pushing it. I just donate the money to Special Olympics.
I found that middle ground between enthusiast and semi-professional to be a difficult space to occupy with compromises on all fronts. It wasn’t good for my soul … or wallet.
p.2 #12 · How Do You Deal With the Fact Most People Can't Tell a Good Photo From a Bad One?
PureMichigan wrote:
Your experience parallels mine, and from what I have read, that of many on this forum.
There seem to be three kinds of photographers here, all with different models and motivations:
1) The Professionals – for lack of a better definition, those who make their primary income through photography and for whom sports is a percentage.
2) The Semi-Professionals– those who make a supplemental income through photography and for whom sports is a percentage.
3) The Enthusiasts – People who love sports photography and for whom money is not a central part of the equation.
Some enthusiasts want to be professionals. I am a former professional (photojournalist) who, by virtue of having a good job outside of the industry, now has the luxury of being primarily an enthusiast.
I would not have it any other way.
I do not want to do T&I, weddings, senior work, etc … but we all know that‘s where the money is. The motivation to do action sports photography and the motivation to make money are both virtuous. But given demand – as evidenced by the comments here and in most other threads -- they are often conflicting motivations. If what you love to do is not commercially viable, then you can either stop doing it or simply take the commercial aspect out of the equation.
There is no right answer. Everyone finds their path. For me, the right path was to accept the responsibility as an “artist” to fund my own interests and to essentially remove the conflict between art and commerce. In this sense, I’m like any other hobbyist. The fly fisherman doesn’t expect an ROI in his reels and rods. Nor the golfer his clubs or green fees. If someone wants to buy images – well, that’s great. But I’m not pushing it. I just donate the money to Special Olympics.
I found that middle ground between enthusiast and semi-professional to be a difficult space to occupy with compromises on all fronts. It wasn’t good for my soul … or wallet.
