Does anyone find it really hard to pick your own favs?

[Mosephus]

I'm trying to pick my 10 best shots, and I just can't seem to choose anything. I'm not sure if that is a good or bad thing . I have plenty that I like alot, I'm just pretty hard on myself and can't seem to pick.

Anyone have the same problem and have any advice?

[carrbowl]

just post them...someone will pick them to death and point out all your errors...then the errors will bother you enough you won't like any of them !!!! sad...but true for me!!

[duronboy]

Every single photoshoot I do for someone else I experience this same dilemma. I might pick one or two that I like that they like, but inevitably, a shot that I don't really care for but included just to have more variety is picked.

Globally, looking at all my pictures I've ever taken, I pick favs by seeing which images reflect something I learned being applied for the first time. Generally, they're not the best images. But, they rekindle that joy for learning. So, picking 'personal favorites' and 'best' are very different things. I suspect that if you're looking for your best images, you need to have a qualified person other than yourself look at them. Posting on the internet is a way, but if you know a professional personally, ask them a favor.

[Mosephus]

Yes, that was going to be my next question. I would much rather have someone else choose. I'll choose some pictures and make a 500px collections to be rated.

[KJ Smith]

Part of being a photographer is being able to edit your own work.

I have no issue narrowing mine down to one.

But it is not necessarily the one others like the most.....


I have no issue editing other photogs down either... but not necessarily to their favorite either.....

[Ernst-Ulrich Schafer]

I always do a hard edit and have no problems picking the best one, just gut feelings!!!

[duronboy]

Originally Posted by KJ Smith

Part of being a photographer is being able to edit your own work.

I've always felt this way. I read an article about Joe Mcnally. In one of the paragraphs Joe mentioned not being able to tell which his keepers were, and having to talk to a retoucher about editing his photographs. I was really let down and confused by this. Granted, there are people who can edit photographs like nobody's business. Credit still goes to the photographer for the most important askpects of the photograph, but I believe that touch at the end should belong to the originator of the piece. Then again, some of those editors haven't a clue how to use a camera or pose people. And, some old-school photographers such as Joe claim to not know how to edit photographs. It's a shame for each of those people's talant to go to waste, and it does make me feel better knowing that I still do all my own(as shabby as it is!).

A few months ago, my task was to photograph a group of 30+ girlscout counselors(incredibly fun job!). There was one who had this crazy, bleachblond hair, and they wanted me to photoshop that hair onto all of the counselors! Ugh. That was one task I outsourced.

[carrbowl]

I was being sarcastic when I said that, but it might help you learn the good the bad and the ugly with your photos. I would say if you are having issues narrowing them down, you are either taking too many or you aren't critiquing them well enough. Either way, I would say you can learn from the forum by posting a few of them every now and then. Or just find a good photographer that could help you. Good luck!!

[Mosephus]

I don't really have a problem finding the best out of a shoot, just have a problem with choosing every picture I've ever taken.

[Mosephus]

Here is a link to my 500px account, I filled it it with some of my favorites.

500px / Nathan Rickaway

[Dobick]

here is a suggestion to start -- you have 2 very similar ones of your dog, (happy lab, goofy lab) which one of those do you like the most? you have 3 of the 86 toyota up against a wall -- which one of the three do you like the most? 2 motion blur of your dog... same thing there.

Surely you have opinions on all of those that I pointed out. I know that you think, "but I like something about each of them." Make the hard choice and cull.

[iCe]

I like to pick my favorite, stick it in with some not so favorites, then put the favorite anywhere in the string but first, post them here, and gather opinions. If everyone hates them then you're either an artist or suck at photography. You decide

[Mosephus]

Originally Posted by Dobick

here is a suggestion to start -- you have 2 very similar ones of your dog, (happy lab, goofy lab) which one of those do you like the most? you have 3 of the 86 toyota up against a wall -- which one of the three do you like the most? 2 motion blur of your dog... same thing there.

Surely you have opinions on all of those that I pointed out. I know that you think, "but I like something about each of them." Make the hard choice and cull.

I agree with you to be honest, although I really like the two black and whites, they are not my best. I just like them as a pair since they tell a story or explain a personality as a pair.

Feel free to go to my link above and rate a few.

[Mosephus]

Anyone care to rate a few or comment on a few?

500px / Nathan Rickaway

[Dobick]

Originally Posted by Mosephus

I agree with you to be honest, although I really like the two black and whites, they are not my best. I just like them as a pair since they tell a story or explain a personality as a pair.

Feel free to go to my link above and rate a few.

Right here is your answer

"They are not my best"

Then get rid of them.

As for telling a story/showing personality, that sounds like an excuse to keep photos that you are emotionally invested in, instead of what you truly believe to be good photos.

Neither myself or anyone else can truly come up with what you want to say with your photography.

Asking me to help you pick is equivalent to asking me to tell your story. Only you can do that.