Of course you can choose to take my advice or skip it. Chances are you’ve already asked one of these questions and will again. Any photographer is used to getting these questions and probably already has a gracious answer memorized. If you’d like to avoid making a photographer slightly cringe or just want some insight into the common cringeworthy questions, please read on…
If you are a photographer in any capacity, chances are you deal with the same repetitive questions and comments from non-photographers when your photography comes up in discussions. It gets old, despite it usually being well-meaning. I know that it is whiny and nitpicky, but quite frankly I wish these questions could just mostly go away.
Do You Shoot Weddings?
This is almost always the first question I get from people when I tell them I am a photographer.
Instead just take the time to find out what type of work the photographer actually does. Resist the urge to jump right into asking if they do weddings. Wedding photographers are a specialty. It is apparently big news to some non-photographers, but there are genres and careers of photography out there that do not involve shooting weddings. Not every photographer wants to photograph weddings. Lots never, ever, ever want to ever photograph a wedding. Ever. Instead just ask what type of photography they do.
You Should Try [Fill in the Blank] Photography!
Ok so it’s not in the form of a question but it still belongs on this list. One of the other things that I get almost every time these types of conversations happen (and one that gets under my skin the most), is the non-photographer trying to give me photography advice. They like to recommend types of sessions that they think would be popular, even with no insight into the market in my location, what I may enjoy doing, or what my skill set is.
I get that these people are well-meaning and just trying to help. But, you don't ask a divorce lawyer if they have tried copyright law? Would you ask a High School Science teacher if they have thought about teaching College English? And yet, photographers are frequently asked if they have tried any number of genres outside their field of expertise or enjoyment just because people thing all photography is the same. It isn’t.
You’re a Photographer, will YOU take the photo?
This one is usually in the context of birthday parties, social gatherings, vacations or special trips, and it still happens way too often. Once again, at the core, this comment comes down to an individual not taking the time to consider what type of photography you may actually do or enjoy.
While yes, I do take images on trips, I am not there to take loads of professional images of the rest of my group having fun on vacation. You are welcome to hand me your phone for the occasional snapshot, but don't expect too much more than that.
In the same vein, it is all too common to have group shots happen and be told that I should take the photograph because I'm a photographer.
Taking a spontaneous group shot with a cellphone is absolutely not the same thing as me posing a group and taking an image with my camera, but this seems to be misunderstood. While the composition could be marginally better than if a non-photographer was to take it, I am not going to be treating a moment like that as a professional shoot and thus, the results will not be anything special. I'm happy to do it (within reason), but let's keep expectations realistic.
What Camera Do You Have? It Takes Such Good Photos!
To a certain extent, gear matters. But, there is also a lot of skill and creativity that goes into taking strong photographs.
Would you tell a chef, your pots and pans make really great food!? Absolutely not!!!! A camera is a tool that is used and does not control if a photo is good or not, same as a great pot/pan does not guarantee a great tasting dish.
So, when people quickly ask this question after seeing a few of my images (or even before seeing my photos), it rubs me the wrong way. I have spent a lot of time, money, and effort getting to where I am today, and having that work distilled down to just having a nice camera can be frustrating.
(Fill in the Blank Name) has a nice camera, and would do the same for half the price. Would you match that?
First, let’s compare apples to apples. Is their quality, product, service, etc the same? If you like ____ photographer, and they are at the price you want, feel free to hire them. No photographer wants to change their prices to match someone else that probably is not even covering their costs of doing business and probably won’t be in the business much longer if they are not charging enough. There’s more to a photography business than ‘snapping’ a button.
Would Chanel cut their cost because Walmart sells a similar handbag for a fraction of the cost? Nope. If someone called you in your industry would you cut your price to match someone else that you know doesn’t deliver the quality/service/product the same as what you do? Doubt it.
If you still want to go with someone else that is cheaper that’s your choice!….& You might be back later! I’ve had people come back to me after hiring someone at a lower price point because they didn’t get what they really wanted. And then you’re out additional time and money.
What are some common frustrating questions that you get in your industry or in your life? Rant away in the comments!