Not a real photographer

[Da5id]

I manage and shoot for a chain photography studio. I recently had a client come in whome I had shot some beautiful photograph's of her child remark, "Well, I don't know about that price; we pay that much for her *real* photographer."

Define to me real.

I deal with the very same things as a freelance photographer. Sometimes worse. I hold a camera, I control lights, I interact and bust my ass with my clients. Sometimes I give away beautiful work for nothing (Would you like some information on our studio? Here's a coupon for a free 8 x 10.) I often deal with people who wouldn't know artwork from a hole in their head.

Maybe I'm a bit uppity because I'm not pulling 2k+ from each and every shoot. I've had my days, mind you. Perhaps it's because I'm not pocketing that money. Does that make me fake? Is it because I work in a mall? Does that make me illegitimate?

Photography is in the heart. Professional photography is in the check; sometimes I want to slap people.

[zebulus]

Do you work for one of the photo places in the woodlands mall?

[CaptainTom]

Slapping clients would not be profitable (except to them), but it sure would make for a much more enjoyable profession.

As for "real photographer"........people say things that they don't realize are hurtful, because it's "all about them" and they don't really care about anyone else.
I've had full time photojournalists say that they were the only 'real photographers'.. heck, JohnStovall thinks he's the only real photographer.

[photonewb]

Originally Posted by Da5id

I manage and shoot for a chain photography studio. .

perhaps it's the perception that these chains could hire a trained monkey to push the shutter button and get the same images. This isn't a knock on you, but more that it seems there isn't always a requirement for understanding of what is being done and why.

Heck the more I learn about photography, the more I realize that our last "studio" session for family photos at one of these chains was an absolute disaster, and might as well have been highway robbery

[Cajungaltx]

Originally Posted by photonewb

Heck the more I learn about photography, the more I realize that our last "studio" session for family photos at one of these chains was an absolute disaster, and might as well have been highway robbery

This was, quite honestly, the entire reason I picked up a camera a few years ago and taught myself. I went to TWO photography studios to get photos of my 10 year old, and brand new baby girl... she was just a couple weeks old.

The first studio I went to had a greasy-headed 16 year old girl doing the session...who spent 20 minutes taking photos...and told us to come back in 30....then to come back in another 30.... then... 'we'll post them for you to look at online'.

The photo's were crap.

So we stopped by (on our way out) at a 2nd studio...staff was WAY better (they were clean!)...but they still didn't know what they were doing (now that I know, I know that, so I can say it, lol).

I've got rather crappy photos of my girls... compared to the work I'm capable of NOW, which isn't even close to the work I've seen from some of you....If only I knew then... lol...

Are they all like that? I'm sure they aren't... I had a great session a few years ago (when my 10 year old was 5 or 6 I think) at the same studio with the greasy headed kid... which is why I went BACK to that locaiton. I spent over 500 on prints (that was ALOT for me!)... they did a fantastic job...which was why I went back.

[toverman]

You have a job as a professional photographer, now you just have to grow a thick skin like a professional photographer! Try not to take the comments personally. Seems like the comment wasn't about your work or the quality, but rather the fact she was expecting a deal. She probably really liked your work and was disappointed it wasn't "cheap."

[crackhead]

Just tell the woman to go use her *real* photographer then. End of story.

[janikphoto]

Did you show her your Pulitzer and the war wounds you sustained from covering our troops in Iraq?

[Da5id]

Originally Posted by janikphoto

Did you show her your Pulitzer and the war wounds you sustained from covering our troops in Iraq?

Yes.

[mooshu2]

Just like Katy, I started out the same way five years ago.

I think all of us get that comments here and there. I get it from my relatives all the time, "you are a photographer?" Yes, for the thousand times. When people say that to me, I don't pay attention and let my pics speak for me.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

David pull out the old 8x10 Graflex, some wet plates and some flash powder and shoot with that. THEN CHARGE HER $500 per pic (no matter if the kid is making a stupid face) and see if she thinks your a REAL PHOTOGRAPHER.

BTW we all know that there are only like 10 REAL PHOTOGRAPHERS out there in the whole world and the rest of us are a bunch of chimping button pushers who hold our breathes and really hope everything works out right.

BTW I saw "3 professional photographers" Sat and between the 3 of them they couldn't get anything straight but thier client seemed to be happy and that is what counts. One example was that they could have moved the subject 6 ft over out of shade and turned them about 20 degrees and the results would have been so much better but I just stayed in the background and kept my mouth pretty much shut. BTW one of the PROS tried to shoot with his LENS CAP ON!

[Flea77]

Originally Posted by DEMDeepEllumMusic

the rest of us are a bunch of chimping button pushers who hold our breathes and really hope everything works out right.

Now wait just one dang minute, I resemble that remark!

Allan

[Imagebuffet]

I'm a real photographer. I hire models to pose for me. I would say more, but this is the open forum.

[ka5txl]

David,

With over 30 years of retail experiance all I can say us try and grow a little thicker skin. You will have an occasional customer that are so clueless that wouldn't know what a good photo is if it hit her in the head. Of course she might have been trying to push your buttons to see if she got a better deal

[C!LLY]

I worked at Sears Portrait studio for a while and had similar problems. I just told the people that if they wanted a real photographer then they should have looked one up and not walked in on tuesday afternoon with a screaming kid and expect perfection.

no I didnt really say that, but I wanted to a few times.