I got hired as a photographer...but im kinda bummed

[Jusselin]

Ok so, it pays very well he stared me at $20 per hour with a chance for raises in the future. Im pretty excited about that, being that i am young and really enjoying my start in photography. We do tons of school related photography, such as all the sports pictures, team and individual, as well as yearbook pictures. So we shoot HUNDREDS of kids if not thousands.

Here is the problem, he wont let me shoot in manual, he makes me use my professional gear and he turns it into a freaking point and shoot camera....yeah he makes me shoot in green box...Me no likey green box...its like going to taco bell and then telling every one i had AUTHENTIC Mexican food..its all LIES.....


:-( idk, just needed to share my frustration. I feel like if we put our time into these photos, the parents would be very impressed and we could earn some more outside business.

[arich]

how does he "make" you? What are his reasons for asking that of you?

[Jusselin]

well, there is no "gun" if that is what you are asking, but his rules are "Shoot in Auto"

i took the job because i enjoy photography, but i dont enjoy shooting in green box...the only room for improvement there is composition i guess.

[Nena2007]

My guess is that he doesn't want people who don't know what they are doing, to mess up. At least if you shoot in auto your chances of having poor exposure, or the wrong choice shutter etc, are slimmer. Its a bummer though :( If he would take the time to teach everyone how to shoot properly in maunal, his profits would probably go up :)

[HeatherLou]

There are tons of stuff you can learn from this. You learn posing, composition, how to deal with kids in a fast paced environment, pre-selling and customer service just to name a few. I worked for Wal-Mart for several years, that is sorta the same situation. You don't have much to do with the technical side of the camera, but there are LOTS of other things I learned working there.

[Some Idiot]

be a rebel

[Jusselin]

Originally Posted by Nena2007

My guess is that he doesn't want people who don't know what they are doing, to mess up. At least if you shoot in auto your chances of having poor exposure, or the wrong choice shutter etc, are slimmer. Its a bummer though :( If he would take the time to teach everyone how to shoot properly in maunal, his profits would probably go up :)

your guess is wrong lol, i know more than he does....his camera wasnt focusing right the other day and he asked me what was wrong with it... he bumped the auto focus off so he was shooting in manuel focus...he didnt even notice it until about 25 kids had already had blurry photos.

[Jusselin]

Originally Posted by Heatherlou

There are tons of stuff you can learn from this. You learn posing, composition, how to deal with kids in a fast paced environment, pre-selling and customer service just to name a few. I worked for Wal-Mart for several years, that is sorta the same situation. You don't have much to do with the technical side of the camera, but there are LOTS of other things I learned working there.

i didnt think about it like that heather...thanks for the encouragement. He is no camera pro but his business skillz must be mad lol he landed all the schools we shoot. Maybe i can learn that aspect from him.

[arich]

The frustrating thing is that you aren't going to have consistency across the board in your photos

[texxter]

Maybe this is not the job for you if love photography. Maybe freelancing is better even though the income is more variable.

[XtremePhoto]

Originally Posted by Some Idiot

be a rebel

If you mean be a "rebel" in that he should not do what the man paying him tells him to do, that is not called being a rebel...that is called FIRED. Or at least it would be if you were my employee.

Offering suggestions, ways to improve or constructive ways to change things are all acceptable, blantanly not following the rules laid down by the boss, (even if you don't like them) is not a good thing. Rebelling against the authority that signs your pay check will only put you back looking for another pay check.

I would approach him on your own time and see if you can offer him some advice to improve the situation and work yourself into an even better position.

-G-

[Jusselin]

yeah, lol fired... i have shown him my work and thats why he hired me, i think he is just a taco bell type business....mass produced photos, he doesnt edit anything he sends the SD cards off to a "LAB" (he wont tell me where) and they crop everything and print pictures and mail them back.... i enjoy the money lol.... just wish the duties were more exciting. I can hang in there, its not like its agains my morals or beliefs lol, just not how i would run things.... idk, maybe like heather said i can learn some things.

[texkam]

+1 to Heather^. You obviously believe there are advantages shooting in "manual" mode (I agree). Maybe you eventually will be able to convince him that these advantages will improve his bottom line. Of course this may take time, patience and diplomacy, however depending on how open he is to change you may never feel comfortable trying which is indeed frustrating. Congrats and best of luck.

[janikphoto]

Originally Posted by Jusselin

Here is the problem, he wont let me shoot in manuel...

This just sounds disgusting. I'm assuming you don't actually want to shoot inside Manuel, and if so, I hope it's not the orifice I am thinking of...

[Jusselin]

excuse my spelling, manual