Tag Archives: creative

Don’t Fall Into This Trap With Your Photography

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Today’s photography tip isn’t so much a photography tip, as it is a life tip. Consider it a Public Service Announcement. I feel compelled to share it with you today, because I want to make sure that you’re starting your year off on the right foot and not getting too wrapped up in things that ultimately don’t make your photography any better.

During workshops, on forums and via email correspondence, I see some photographers who focus so hard on the extremely technical aspects of this craft, and they often end up confusing themselves and making it harder for them to open their minds and find their creative vision.

Magazines, camera forums and many blogs (certainly not mine, though!), are full of articles which lead you to believe that certain technical aspects of your digital sensor will determine whether your camera is capable of making great photos.

Naturally, some people read these articles and fall into the endless pit of speculation and worry that their camera might not produce the same high quality imagery as some other camera. It becomes an endless, and sometimes hopeless cycle, and sadly it does noone any good, except the magazines and blogs who get the clicks.

You know what I’m going to say next, don’t you?

It isn’t the camera that makes the pictures great, it’s you.

The truth is that when we’re talking modern DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, EVERY SINGLE CAMERA ON THE MARKET has a great sensor and EVERY SINGLE CAMERA ON THE MARKET has the tools that will let you take wonderful, beautiful, visually captivating imagery that will wow you and your viewers.

And, I GUARANTEE, with near 100% certainty, that if your capture an amazing moment in gorgeous light with compelling compositional techniques, NO ONE ON EARTH will care if it has a little bit of noise, and NO ONE ON EARTH will speculate how it might be improved ever so slightly if you had shot it on a camera with a bigger sensor. And if they do, then they aren’t the right people with whom you should be sharing your awesome, heartfelt imagery.

Sure, some cameras will show a remarkably slight variance in noise when shooting in low light, and some cameras will render detail with slightly more resolution and edge sharpness when you zoom in and view all the pixels at 100%.

But your viewers won’t do that. And they won’t care. And neither should you. 

The bottom line is that if you love using your camera, if it makes you WANT to go take pictures, if you have fun when you shoot and you like your imagery, then that’s all that really matters. Worrying about the extremely technical stuff that doesn’t really matter in the end only takes away from your enjoyment of the process. It certainly won’t make you a “better” or more creatively fulfilled photographer.

Don’t fall into that trap. Don’t become a statistic on some overly technical camera forum, and for pete’s sake, don’t worry about the stuff that doesn’t matter. In fact, don’t worry at all.

Just go outside with your camera, enjoy the fresh air, look at stuff, take pictures of things you like and let the process fill you with unending joy. 

That’s what matters. 

If you need another reminder, then read this post. It might even make you laugh.

Creative Ideas Don’t Live At Your Desk

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Ryan Miller backcountry skiing, Cameron Pass, Colorado

Sometimes you sit there at your desk, mousing and pounding away on the keyboard, writing blog posts, editing images, surfing the web, tweeting, reading Facebook and generally racking your brain about how to improve your photography.

How do I know you do that? Because I do it too.

However, that’s not where creative ideas come from. They don’t live at your desk, They live out there in the world, hiding in all the places where you love to be, and in the places where you’ve never been before.

They’re out there waiting for your to come find them, and the only way to discover them is to get away from your desk and go outside, where you’ll feel the wind on your face and the sun on your back.

So, next time you feel bogged down with your creativity, just get up and head into the outdoors. Go take a walk, get on the bike, or clip into a pair of skis. Don’t even take your camera. Just take your empty, tired brain, and I promise you, by the end of your little excursion, it will be full of new ideas and creative inspiration again.

5 Reasons Why You Should Become a Professional Photographer

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In my recent blog post about the stock photo industry, I painted an honest, but somewhat discouraging analysis of the current state of things. It’s true that these days, with shrinking editorial and advertising budgets and market saturation of imagery, photographers face enormous challenges in their quest towards finding success.

However, it’s not like the rest of the economy is doing so well either. Millions of people have lost their jobs in the past few years, and rather than slug it out in the unemployment line, many people have decided to shift course and pursue careers that are built around their own creative passions.

They’ve simply decided that life is too short not to be their own boss and follow their dream, whether that dream is owning a restaurant, writing a book or becoming a freelance photographer. Maybe you’re one of those people. Fifteen years ago, I was that person.

With this in mind, I’ll put aside the talk of how hard it is to become a pro photographer for awhile and end the week on a more positive note. I’ll tell you why you should follow your dream and pursue a career in photography. Even though it’s a tough business, it’s actually a very exciting time to be a photographer, especially if you can make it work as a career.

I think that one of the most most admirable things you can do is to strike out on your own and pursue a highly creative endeavor. I applaud and encourage anyone who chooses to do so. After all, I followed my own dream and found success, why shouldn’t you? It’s your life and you should make it what you want.

1. It’s cool to believe in yourself

Believing in yourself is not only a prerequisite for success in business, it’s the most important ingredient for happiness and fulfillment in your life. No matter what you aspire to, it all begins when you say, “I can do that.” That phrase is what drives the world of innovation and creativity. People look up to those with the confidence to try new things, and when you take that leap into the great unknown of self employment, you not only lay a path for your own success, you inspire others around you as well. In that way, we all fuel each other through our own courage and inspiration. Chase Jarvis put it right on the money when he said “Take a Chance” on his own blog this week.

2. The technology is awesome

Camera and digital imaging technology these days is simply amazing. Software programs like Photoshop, Lightroom and Aperture offer unbelievable editing, processing and image sharing capabilities to the pro photographer that were unimaginable a few years ago. Plus, the high end DSLR cameras, lighting gear and other pro level gear that’s available these days make your every day tasks so much more productive and enthralling. Not that you have to be a pro to use that stuff, you just don’t have to justify owning it all. And…

3. You can write off all your toys and travel

Buy a new camera? Write if off. Buy the latest version of Photoshop? Write if off. Take your wife away to that lodge in the mountains? Write if off, as long as you spend your time shooting stock. Spend the weekend tromping around the National Park? Write off the gas and travel expenses. Buy that new 27″ iMac? Oh yea, write it off, baby! I think you get the idea.

4. There is an enormous appetite for imagery in our world

When it comes to opportunities for finding work, the world is a much bigger place now than it ever was. Plus, with social media and online networking booming in recent years, the possibilities for connecting with possible new clients are virtually endless. No matter what kind of photography you do, there are customers who want and need those types of images. I’m not saying that it will be easy to reach them, but they’re out there and the only limitation to you finding them are your own efforts and creativity.

5. Nothing beats working for yourself

Whenever I hear people complain about the interpersonal struggles and red tape that they have to deal with at work, it reassures me that I made the right call to be self employed. When you work for yourself, you don’t have to punch the clock, waste hours of your life sitting in traffic, navigate office politics, worry about your next review or try to squeeze in all your errands on your lunch break with everyone else. Instead, you create your own schedule, which gives you the flexibility to make time to do more things that you love. You can take a day off whenever you want and go play outside, get things done, spend time with your family and friends or pursue other interests. Or, you can work overtime and love it, because it’s your baby. When you’re your own boss, EVERY day is your own.

There. I said it. Now go give it some serious thought. If you’re interested reading what it actually takes to do photography as a career check out my, How to Become a Pro Photographer eBook. It answers many of the questions that you probably have about how to turn your photo hobby into a career or a money making venture.

My Review of Camera+, a Great New Photo App for iPhone

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Following up on my recent post about using my iPhone for more creative photography, I wrote a review of the new iPhone photo app, Camera+. Created by Canadian photographer and media producer Lisa Bettany and Taptaptap, Camera+ offers a number … Continue reading →