{photography Experience

Photography Experience

Does photography experience really matter in today’s world of pictures taking? With almost 5 billion people on Earth owing a cell phone, that means there are many people with the ability to take photographs. For the majority of photographs, the quality of image from the phone is just fine.  These photo’s capture the moment, the fun, the excitement.  They are easy to share and are conversation pieces for the moment.  They are not really meant to capture a scene from a professional level of detail, they they do provide what many people want out of a photograph.  A memory.

However, the transition from a memory on a phone camera to creating an image that sells a product to mass consumers or helps “sell” yourself on dating websites requires knowledge of more than how to push a button.  A detailed understanding of how light and shadow interact and all those buttons on a DSLR camera now take on more meaning.  You have to get to know your camera beyond to the automatic setting.

{photography Experience

Photography services have never ever been in such high demand.  Dating sites, business cards, LinkedIn, wen sites, product catalogs, etc. all require descent photographs to sell either a product or an individual.  This is where the selfie breaks down and the professional photographer steps in.  But just how much experience is required to capture the portrait that will get you more dates or sell more shoes on-line or make you want to buy fries with that burger?  And how much should you pay for that service?  Why would you pay me $ 199 for a set of 6 pictures when you can go to the local “big box” store and get the family photo’s for $ 39?  That can be a hard sell.  Certainly, looking at a portfolio of various photographers and seeing something you like is the way most people do it.  They see a style and lighting and and expression and fall in love with an image and they want something like that for themselves.  I agree with that style of choosing a photographer.  If the photographer is close by, or at the other end of the city, the photographer’s ability to shoot when you require are other factors.  Is the photographer insured in case he blows the fuses in your house or breaks the coffee table while on site. Is your photographer background checked.  All good questions and in the end, nobody asks about experience because if they see an image they like, they figure the photographer can do the job you want.  You have seen the proof in their portfolio.

One statement I read in many posting of people looking for a photographer is the phrase ” student photographer wanted.  Opportunity to gain experience”  I am not sure what the poster is looking for.  Either they figure anybody can take a picture and are willing to take a student with no experience and hope the pictures will work out or….. they want free pictures and are not concerned about quality.

Here is an exert from an advertisement for a “big Box” portrait studio advertising to hire a photographer for their portrait studio:

“Requirements: Candidates are mature, reliable, responsible; enjoy working with children and fast paced environment , are experienced in retail sales , having creative mind, multi tasking skills, basic mathematics skill. Candidate must be available to work on weekends. Experience preferred but will train. Local candidates only.”

Notice that last line, experience preferred, but will train.  This portrait studio seems to feel that experience in retail sales ( up-selling ) is more important than photography skills when it comes to their photography products. It seems no matter where you look, the experience level of the photographer does not really seem to enter into the decision factor when choosing a photographer.

Well, I am here to tell you to start asking for experience of your photographer.  For event photography, you want someone who can think quickly to changing lighting and shooting conditions.  Product photography, you need consistency.  Start including experience in your list of questions.  When you do, you will start to see the value of photographic education, experience when costing out your photographer.

Reliability and consistency.  These 2 attributes come from experience and with experience comes peace if mind.  Your photo-shoot should be an enjoyable experience.  So, start asking in integrating the experience level into your decision making when looking for a photographer.  When you do, all the other factors will fall into place.

Rp

2 thoughts on “Is Experience necessary?”

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