Gis a Job...

Isn’t it weird how so many non-professional photographers (and non-photographers) think that because we now use digital cameras that somehow we are no longer actually skilled professionals using our judgement and that by some miracle of science the camera takes the pictures for us?

Whilst out in France (I was actually doing a wedding) I had the brides mother come up to me at one point and said,

“ I did not realise that there was so much work involved, I thought you just took the picture and it was all done.”

Whilst I was glad that the hours of editing I was doing whilst at this three-day wedding so that images could be made available online by the evening of the third day, was at least acknowledged, I still can’t understand how this perception persists.

Perhaps I can. Do remember in the seventies/ early eighties the Olympus adverts where David Bailey was seen waving an Olympus trip around, and the nice people from Olympus Publicity told us how this fifty quid compact could now do the same thing as a fully fledged and kitted up thirty year in the business professional? That was probably the start.

During the early eighties young sales assistants in Jessops would tell you how the Pentax ME Super, the best selling camera of its type (at the time), with its buttons would gave you the skills of Don McCullen. Maybe they didn’t actually say this but certainly I listened to more than one line of patter where this was definitely inferred.

It’s still happening today. Digital apparently if the adverts are to be believed remove all need for skill from the photographic process. Apparently one just sits the CaNikPenSonCason on the table, fill it with battery and low and behold ones photo album is completed, without the need for human intervention

On my return from France I arrived to an e-mail from a would be professional,

“I am looking at making money from photography as I'm sick of the ******, anyway I have some images on my own site http://www1.clikpic.com/******* feel free to have a look and any constructive comments would be welcome.”

In the nicest possible way I translated this as:

“My own job is boring, yours sounds really easy to do, and I don’t want to have to work hard form my money anymore.”

I get correspondence like this regularly, I am sure many Pro’s do. If only I could explain in a few sentences how much effort actually goes into running an even moderately successful photographic business, without seemingly like a cynically, bitter, twisted person.

I answered my would-be professional photographer, probably a bit harsher than was fair, but I did proffer some helpful advice along with pointing out some of the real-world realities.

Photography is no easier now than in the time of Fox Talbot. As for digital imaging the only thing this has changed is the processing, - and it is more involved now than it has ever been.


© Pete Jenkins
www.petejenkins.co.uk
www.photographerspro.eu/pete_jenkins/ www.onlinepictureproof.com/petejenkins