Why I Don't Need to Be Your Photographer

In the oversaturated market of photography, there are plenty professionals to chose from.

When I first started photography, I was like many of the new photographers out there. My husband surprised me with a beautiful Canon Rebel T1i for my birthday when I was expecting my first child. All of my wildest dreams came true! As soon as I had this fancy new camera, I was going to be A PHOTOGRAPHER!

My close family and friends were great supporters during that time period. My sister even pulled out her old wedding dress to let me practice! I felt excited for this new adventure I was going to give a go at. I decided to post my work on the internet.

Some positive feedback starting rolling in from my Facebook friends online. Woo hoo! And then something absolutely terrible happened. SOMEONE DIDN'T LIKE MY PHOTOS. To this friend, my pictures were too magenta, and others were too blown out (aka there was too much white in the photo). Not only did she not like my photos, she sent me a message telling me to QUIT photography.

Now, I have known this person my whole life. I absolutely love her. She is one of the most talented photographers I have ever met. She also gave me the best gift anyone could ever give me. If you want me to work 100% into overdrive at something, please tell me to quit. Tell me I can't do it.

The second gift she gave me was the experience of negative feedback. It is easy to do whatever it is you do when everyone is happy and supportive. However, when the tables turn and the pitchforks are brought out into the abyss of the internet, the way you react, in my opinion, shows your true passion and tenacity.

So... was I going to quit?! I can't deny I wasn't thrown aback by her messages. I wasn't charging people for pictures. I was doing all of this for free. So why did I need to quit? Every online tutorial I had taken said, "the way to be a photographer was to practice." If that was so, why was this individual not seeing that I was just practicing???

And then a wonderful life changing message came into my inbox. A girl from my high school who was also learning photography offered to meet me and show me some of the things she had learned. We met at the Union Station in Ogden, Utah, and talked for maybe 30 minutes between work and college classes. This changed my whole perspective. I learned more in 30 minutes from a very talented amateur than a any other tutorial, or the educated photographer giving me negative feedback. And why?!

Community over competition.

Photography is first and foremost art. And you know what's funny about that? Art is largely liked or disliked due to opinion. There are skills to learn, techniques to employ. But at the end of the day, the most skilled painters my be 100% disliked due to the taste of their consumers. And what if my consumers don't like my art?!!!

My photography is my art of capturing the person as naturally and beautifully as possible. Some may not like my style, and THAT IS OK! I am not doing photography for anyone else besides me. Sure, I want to make other people happy and satisfied with the product I provide. I am continually learning, improving, taking classes online, learning techniques to improve my systems, etc. But at the end of the day, I don't need to be the right photographer for everyone. I just need to be the right photographer for the people who like my art.

I can't express to my friend what an impact that small act of community did for me as an individual and photographer. I have since upgraded my equipment, taken thousands of photos, and improved in my skills and technique. She showed me how to be supportive to the photographers around me. When I see another community members work, or see friends get photos done from someone else, I AM HAPPY FOR THEM! I can 100% support my fellow photographers in their art, because it's different than mine. Those photographers may be the right fit for you.

So in the world of online comparisons, are we going to chose to tear people down, or take them under our metaphorical wings of love and teaching. The next time I see a photographer posting, learning, and improving, I will give them a world wide webbed high five, pat on the back, and a sense of belonging.

True passion leaves no room for jealously or ridicule- simply community over competition.