Photographers Who Need to Slow it Down a Little

"Some people think that as soon as you plant a tree, it must bear fruit. 
We must allow it to grow a bit."
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra

It's time for so many of you to simply stop rushing the process. You know when you start to focus your camera whether or not you have the skills to create a spectacular image. So, if your concept of great photographs is still half-baked, then slow it down and practice, practice, practice.

You're rushing your education as if you can cram for the final exam, make the grades and move on. Imaging is an art form and there's no way to speed things up except to keep shooting, experimenting and building your expertise. At the same time, some of you think you can bluff your way through being a responsible business owner as well.

I apologize for this sounding a little like a rant this morning. It's too long a topic for just a blog post, but here are some random thoughts on the subject.

• If you don't know the answer to something, don't be afraid to say to a client, "I'm sorry I don't know, but I'll get right back to you." Stop trying to bluff your way through an answer. Seriously, many of you sound like a rerun of Welcome Back Cotter - "What was the Revolutionary War?" Answer - "It was a war about a revolution."  

• Be honest when you've made a mistake. The respect from your clients will grow from you finding a solution and each time you solve a problem you'll gain a little more confidence. 

• Don't show work that's over your head. Many of you think that if you stand over an instructor's shoulder and shoot behind them in a workshop you have the right to call the finished results your image. Sorry, if Matthew Jordan Smith was teaching and standing in front of you - it's his shot not yours, no matter who clicked the shutter! Not until you can repeatedly reproduce the image, a week later by yourself, can you call the technique yours.

• Take the time to appreciate the process of growing as an artist. It can't be rushed - there is no crash course in establishing creativity and your role as an artist. I remember a quote from years ago, that I'll have to paraphrase.  The purpose of dancing is to enjoy the steps along the way, not to get to a destination on the dance floor!

Here's the bottom line - Just slow it down. If you're on a scenic drive you don't want to be doing 75 mph! Enjoy the scenery. Get to know the people you meet along the way. Look at images from artists who set the trends. Buy a magazine and just look at the pictures. 

You've chosen to be an artist in what I believe is one of the most incredible career fields in the world. You don't need to fly over the speed bumps!

Illustration Credit: © tang90246 - Fotolia.com