These days everyone is a photographer
I’m writing this post in Central Park (the one in Banff, not New York). I’m loving it here, especially since I’m not doing any markets this year. You’d think (at least I did, last summer) that the tourists would buy lots of local art pictures here, but most of them are more interested in snapping selfies from their selfie sticks. That invention is arguably the biggest statement you could possibly make about being a “fauxtographer“: someone who pretends to be a photographer but really has no clue what they’re doing.
“These days everyone is a photographer”
Someone told me that last year, right here at the Farmers Market. In a way, it’s true. You could run to Costco and about $599 or so later you call yourself a photographer. Shoot one or two weddings for 500 bucks and you’ve made your business investment back in one evening. Soon-to-be-married couples beware! I’ve been asked to reshoot weddings after the actual day, so the couple “at least has something”, even though it was a few weeks later. Everyone is a photographer? I wish that were true.
It takes practise and a lot of years of experience to be able to call yourself a photographer – and just like with anything else some are just better at it than others. It takes time to discover and develop your personal style of photography, and what camera you have has very little to do with it.
If you’d like to learn more about what it takes to be a photographer, whether as a pro or if you just want to better your vacation photography skills, apply today for my seven week online photography course in which I share many of the secrets I’ve used myself. Because in photography, there is no competition. Just a lot of practice, and learning from each other. Have fun!