I met an awesome photographer on Saturday. His name was Dave Mathes. Dave spotted me at the Tucson Tattoo Expo which I took the time and effort to get permission to shoot and be on the guest list. Another side note is the guys who showed up with pro gear and did NOT secure permission. Another post.
Dave, though, saw my gear, saw that I was a photographer, and approached me, immediately inviting me in on his scheduled shoot. What? Seriously... I was confused, he wasn't carrying his gear, so I asked if he was the one running the car show. Nope, he said he's just a lowly photographer. That's actually more confusing. He had a shoot set up with a group of models and he's asking if I want to also shoot? Of course I do, the whole reason I went to this expo was to network.
So what's the deal here? Is he so confident in his work that he knows he's going to blow me away and it won't matter? Is he just a great guy? I tell you what, it may well be the former, I've yet to see, but it is -definitely- the latter. Dave was an awesome guy and we talked shop for awhile. Both of us have day jobs and have kind of just accepted that there's no money in photography. His work is great and he is as nice a guy as you could ask for. I learned something from him there, and it is to not be afraid of competition, of sharing with other photogs.
Then I met Rosie. Rosie Johnson is proof that Dave and I are wrong about photography as a career and we just aren't willing to put the effort in. I think I am, but I just haven't done enough. Rosie runs No Regrets Photography and her works is awesome. She charges to shoot models, and she is actually undervaluing herself still, but it's been working for her, since she has no day job. Photography is her life and it shows. This is where I want to be, and I plan to follow her lead, and I will certainly not undercut her.
She voiced some concern to me at the expo that people haven't been willing, lately, to pay her fee, and I think it's bullshit. Something around $250 for her work, and almost guaranteed publication, is completely worth it. More than. And it's what I've been talking about for awhile that is at fault here.
Some people undervalue good photography. Some photographers undervalue their work. Some people aren't even aware of what good photography is. These people, both models and camera operators, are killing the industry. You can't be in this industry if you're not willing to put the work in. But 90% of these button pushers think photography will be easy to get into and doing free work will pave the way. For some, the free work will pave the way, but you can't be offering to work for free doing the things that pros are using to put food on the table. There are certain things that are already saturated and dead. One of which is concert photography. I shoot concerts for free because that's the only way to do it, but I don't shoot portraits or fashion for free because people use that as their bread and butter.
Yeah, you want to shoot hot women so you think the best way is to just do it for free, but it's not. Your photos suck and we can tell you're only doing it to be around these girls. Do yourself a favor and get GOOD at this and charge for good work. Stay out of Rosie's domain unless you're good enough to compete, and then don't undervalue it.
Fuck, people. If you suck, just realize you suck and get the fuck out.
The Dave's and the Rosie's deserve to be here, paid their dues, and you're fucking up the whole industry by watering down the market. More bad and average images out there dull people's senses. Dickheads.
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