Am I just ranting?

[w9ctm]

OK, I hope the title is not actually correct. But, in case it is, I apologize.

I am not going near the amatuer vs. semi-pro vs. professional photographer thing. Maybe it's just symantics but, if you specialize in something within the field of photography, would that not mean that your main thrust would be "X"? Although you may also do "Y" and "Z" as needed or additionally requested, if you specialize in "X", that is where your main concentration is, and that takes precedence over other things. Also, you may have received specific training for "X" photography and you really enjoy capturing images of "X", and due to that, this is your specialization.

Where I am going with this is simply, how do you.... let me backup. I viewed the website of a photographer that I thought was very creative, had pretty decent images online and had a good looking website. Then I made the mistake of reading their 'about me' section. In that section, was the line, and I quote, "I specialize in Maternity, Newborns, Children, Seniors,Families and weddings." end quote.
How do you specialize in so many things? Doesn't this person just do photography? I am missing the specialization. What do they specialize in?

Am I going off the deep end, or does a firm grasp of the Engish language and appreciation of the definition of words or phrases not really make any difference anymore? Am I being too much of a purist?

Thoughts?

[revjvegas]

Your a purist.
They're marketing.


Just a thought.
:-)


Oh, and to add...I totally see your point. Not disagreeing there.

[texkam]

Maternity, Newborns, Children, Seniors,Families and weddings.

As opposed to sports, commercial (product), wildlife, photojournalism, etc. Relax. : )

[Tsladaritz]

They are being specific in the term of 'portraits'.

1. They may have been in biz a long time and truly be very good at all of that. At this time a lot of talent is being more specific in ads and in trying to draw in clients. Especially since everyone has an uncle John with a camera 'who will do their photos for free'.

2. They may be a newer one who is mediocre at best and just out there trying to 'make money'. They may be 'okay' at many things rather than very good at a few....until they have more experience.

3. They may live in an area where they started out very good at one or two things, but to thrive in biz, they had to expand. Kind of like the vet who does not specialize in equine and will see the goats, the pigs, the cows, the dogs and cats. He knows something about all of it, but he is an expert at horses. (I use that example because we have that in our area)

4. Last but not least, it may be a mom/dad with camera thing. I see those cropping up all the time. I know a few and bite my tongue. They will shoot a wedding and burn a cd for $500 and at least half the photos will be overexposed, blurry, and really bad. But people buy it because they 'got a bargain'. I have had a few of their 'clients' turn up frustrated because they can't get back that day and now have a disc of bad photos. I have had a few come in for 'retake of senior photos' so they can get some better ones. It happens.

[pbyd]

When asked what kind of photography I do, my answer is
"If I did with my body what I do with my camera, they would have a name for me"
Just kidding, my website does not say that I do everything the images show I try.
Wayne
Photography by Design

[Flores]

Wayne, that's very poetic!

[TxTowman]

the vet thing is a good comparison. in dallas there are many vets who specialize. In comanche they all do everything, even though they have their specialties within the group. And the horse people mostly go to the horse guy, but bring the dogs and cats to him also.
I used to be a horse people, but no longer. And I use the horse vet because He is Good, knows Me, and has that calming demeanor so that My vicious Chihuahua does not get traumatized by an occasional visit .

[BenE]

Originally Posted by w9ctm

================
In that section, was the line, and I quote, "I specialize in Maternity, Newborns, Children, Seniors,Families and weddings." end quote.
How do you specialize in so many things? Doesn't this person just do photography? I am missing the specialization. What do they specialize in?

=========== Am I being too much of a purist?

Thoughts?

So you are saying that a photographer cannot, or should not, say they specialize in 6 different types?

Seems you first ask how he can specialize in so many things, then you indicate he is just a photographer and should not claim to specialize in anything except photography?

He left out (in no particular order): sports, model portfolios, industrial, commercial, business/publicity, underwater, landscapes, small product, fashion, wildlife, medical, aerial, fine art, forensic, still life.

No doubt he left out all those because he had no expertise in them, and does not want to make a claim that he is a specialist in those categories.

I never loose any sleep over what others claim to specialize in.

[w9ctm]

Originally Posted by BenE

So you are saying that a photographer cannot, or should not, say they specialize in 6 different types?

Seems you first ask how he can specialize in so many things, then you indicate he is just a photographer and should not claim to specialize in anything except photography?

He left out (in no particular order): sports, model portfolios, industrial, commercial, business/publicity, underwater, landscapes, small product, fashion, wildlife, medical, aerial, fine art, forensic, still life.

No doubt he left out all those because he had no expertise in them, and does not want to make a claim that he is a specialist in those categories.

I never loose any sleep over what others claim to specialize in.

I guess most are missing my point. If you "specialize" in something, that is what you do. For example, if I specialized in architectural photography, I wouldn't waste my time with portrait photography because i specialize in architectural. Not saying that I couldn't do portrait, but my thrust, my concentration is in architectural photography.
I don't understand how you can possibly specialize in 6 or 7 different areas.

I did not mean that this person was 'just' a photographer, but was meaning to concentrate on the idea that this individual 'specialized' in several different areas.

from merriam-websters.com, Definition of SPECIALIZE
to concentrate one's efforts in a special activity, field, or practice
2: to undergo specialization; especially : to change adaptively
See specialize defined for English-language learners »
Examples of SPECIALIZE
Some carpenters do a wide range of jobs, while others specialize.


That is where I was going with my thought. I simply wondered if I was honing in on something that the world doesn't care about anymore, if I was just being anal about something that just doesn't matter anymore... I can remember when a statement like that would have been ripped apart by anyone that studied the English language and it's proper use. Yeras ago I shared a studio with a Journalism professor/part-time photographer. He went nuts on this kind of stuff. He used to always correct me when I mispoke...

[SCone]

My specialty is non-specific......

[ldelacruz]

It means they don't do macro!

Let me ask you this. What if it said they specialize in on location, natural light photography? What would that mean to you? What would a potential client think? Where's Thomas when you need him?

[Flea77]

It all depends on how you look at it, one could for example argue that they specialize in "photographing people", just like you specialize in "photographing buildings". I could also argue that you are too broad, I mean architectural? So you take pictures of commercial buildings, homes, libraries, farms, bridges, dams, etc? How is that specialized?!?!?! See what I mean?

We each define our fields, it is not up to others to define how broad or narrow our field is.

Allan

[jkderby]

Why does it matter what they say?

[rhoffart]

Thanks for the post ... sometimes we overlook the simplest things ... like maybe your focus is too large. Made me think about it.

[BenE]

You asked these questions:

Am I just ranting?
Am I going off the deep end
Am I being too much of a purist?
if I was just being anal about something that just doesn't matter anymore.

I look to Shakespeare for the answer..... "Yes to all those questions, Claudio".