"Everyone has to start somewhere." Support, Positivity & Negativity.

This blog is not about the images taken. Its about what happens behind the camera, and more importantly when 'we' are away from our cameras. 

Image taken in Detroit with a Tilt Shift lens and a texture over top. 

"Everyone has to start somewhere."

We've all been told this, more than once. But its true! I'm so lucky that when I started I somehow already had an eye that was ready and waiting for the camera. I had a natural ability that I really didn't have to try very hard at. Once I got the manual settings down, I was golden.

Having said the above, this didn't mean that I wasn't told by others that I wasn't any good. Before I realized that I was good, I had a lot of someones say that 'I wasn't worth it'. 'That I shouldn't be charging people money.' And that I should 'put the camera down, because really? You'll never make any REAL money off photography.'

I had potential clients tell me I wasn't worth the money. They didn't know that I was taking people shopping. That I spent HOURS with them before the shoot ever happened. That I spent time finding the locations that we shot at to ensure every shoot was individualized so that my clients would feel special. And that not counting the shoot time, I was spending about 10 hours editing their photos. PLUS (during my time in Hawaii) I was GIVING people High Resolution images on a CD. Can you add up how much that is WORTH? But I realized, this isn't about my work or how much I charge. I could charge $10.00, they would have another excuse as to why I wasn't worth it. Its ok, its not meant to be.

Two weeks before I left Hawaii, there was a photographer that I had been watching. I saw potential in her and I wanted to see how she interacted with the clients. She wasn't charging nearly as much as I was and I really wanted to show her how to jump her work to the next level, business wise and with her photography skills. I had all intentions on handing over my entire roster of clients to her. After quite an altercation, she told me that I was an embarrassment to the craft and that if I was a real photographer, I wouldn't be charging anything. (She was implying that I didn't have the passion that she had, that I was only doing it for the money. Which couldn't be farther from the truth!)
                        I was heart broken. This is someone that I had planned on entrusting my baby to. I was at the top of my game in Hawaii and she told me I was an embarrassment? Here's the thing, everyone has their own demons to battle. The problem wasn't me, it didn't have anything to do with my skill or images. It had to do with her lack of security and confidence in her own being/skills. 

My own mother, she has some mental slips from time to time, stated to me that you should put the camera down, because you'll never make any real money. For one, YES... YES I can make real money from my work. And two, you NEVER tell someone to do something for money, and only money. If you are passionate about something, you should always go for it. I don't care if its beating on barrel drums with wrenches... (Hmmmm Blue Man Group got famous from that idea!) I was going to school for Psychology at the time of her stating this. In Michigan, with a Bachelors in Psychology I was looking at around 12.00/hour at best for a full time job. Her statement was ignorant and again, the statement wasn't for me. She has lived her life working a job that she didn't particularly care for but she did it because she was good at it, because she has done it all her life and probably can't understand doing a career out of passion.

 

Two of my Passions: Detroit and Photography

But just because you do something doesn't mean you're passionate about it. Just because you're passionate about something doesn't mean you're good. You do things and practice because you want to be the best and develop that skill. The people that are around you should always be supportive, and when they aren't you say TaTa! There's the door because I don't need that negativity. 

But there is a difference between negativity and having

constructive criticism of your work.

We're all a little sensitive when we start. We're so excited about our new found joy! How could someone not like it?!

     But when the reality comes down and someone says:

• "You know, the composition could be better if you placed the subject over here, instead of bulls eye-ing it."          OR
• "I really like the way the light is coming in on the subject, but I think you missed the action moment by a split second because the models face looks wonky. Can I see the photos before or after? Maybe there's a better one."           Or maybe even
• "I'm just not really a fan of the overall image. I don't understand what you were trying to do here." And they might stop there or they might say "Can you explain it to me?"

DO NOT get upset! They are trying to help you.

What I'm trying to show you is it happens to the best of us. People get down on us, but its doesn't mean that we should be offended (Trust me, sometimes it does, and then you want to wring some necks!) but often not.

Regardless of that, I always try to be supportive of others. As all other photographers should too. My personal view on the matter is, I am supportive of another photographer/ novice until they are rude, disrespectful or catty. Then I shut down. I don't offer help, my time or energy. You can only give so much of yourself before you have nothing more to give. But always try to be supportive. You never know when the person that you thought 'knew nothing about photography' comes around and knows everything about lighting because they used to work in a theater company. And now YOU need THEIR help. If you were rude to them, they probably won't want to help you. If you were supportive of them, they will be more than willing.

Always help each other up, you never know when you will be the one falling down.

Scarlett J

The images are owned by Scarlett Jewel Photography and are NOT to be used anywhere without the permission of Scarlett Jewel Photography.