Going to stop and wait

[kat]

Break time. I came home from my winter family shoot crying..literally.

Within 10 mins of the shoot I had the father say out that anyone can shoot photos with a dslr, just press the button. That I had them in the wrong places and lighting. "I have a SLR, with many lenses and extentions with lots of fabulous shots" he said.

To be honest, I felt like telling him to do the shots himself and leave.

I was that upset..I had no clue what was up or down..ended up just switching to auto after 30 mins and saying **** it in my head.

I'm not ready for this. Time for a darn break :cry-an: :wall-an: :mad:

[Mad Aussie]

What a dickhead. You should definitely have told him to go get .... and left. I would have.

[Mad Aussie]

Hey Kat ... you can take what he said as worth listening to ... OR you could listen to people who actually know what they are talking about.

An arrogant and ignorant, outdated 'wanna be' who can't take his own photos for his family (I bet you could) OR people like you find here, who know what a DSLR is and how to use one!

Other people in your town love your work. You won a contest right? You even had a photo ripped off by someone else for a contest. There are plenty of views of your work and, until now, they've all been telling you that you DO know what you are doing behind your camera, for the shots you take on at the very least!

Man I'd LOVE to see some of this guys work!!

Not all Canadians are polite, sensitive people with a clue!

[kat]

Thanks MA...ha ha..and now to look over the shots..some good ones..most with highlights..but right now I just don't give a hoot.

I told them to bring things, wear warm clothes..nothing I said was adhered to.

As the moments trickled on I could hear the failure coming..lol.

I just don't think I have the personality (not the word I'm looking for but the best I can't come up with) to do these types of shoots. That or wait till I have the set up and you come in and sit your ass down while I shoot.

I guess I just hoped a bit too much this morning for this shoot. Had it all figured out and boy did that backfire.

[casil403]

To be honest, I felt like telling him to do the shots himself and leave.


That's exactly what i would have done Kat...and exactly what you should go back and do if you are indeed going back. Tell him that you won't accept rude behavior form people and that you are quite offended by his obnoxious comments... and just leave.
Who needs s*it like that! :mad:

[casil403]

Oh and exactly what MA said too!
If you say that stuff to him you will make his jaw drop to the floor and embarrass him right in front of his family... Be assertive girl and stand up for yourself!!!! I can almost guarantee he will also apologize to you also. I;'ve dealt with morons like him a million times! :highfive:

[Mad Aussie]

I think that's Kat's problem. She doesn't have a strong personality in terms of conflict, assertiveness, ... she's a quiet achiever in other peoples company.

I wouldn't even show/supply these photos to this guy now. I'd make him beg if he wanted them. What do you care Kat? You're leaving soon. It's not like you are going to have face him or his family again. You do what YOU want this time ;)

Here's an exercise for you ...

Make a fist and hold it up away but in front of your face with your palm facing you, knuckles pointed outwards.
Now, take the 2nd finger from your thumb (that's the long one ;) ) and straighten it up.
Make gentle, but obvious flick motions with it.
Once you have that done pat ... remember it for next time you see him ;)

[kat]

Bwahahahahah.. I got a laugh on now! :P

[Mad Aussie]

Bwahahahahah.. I got a laugh on now! :P
:evil2: ;)

[Iguanasan]

Wow! I'm sorry to hear that. Obviously, he was not the one who wanted you to do the shooting. It's pretty crappy for him to do that, regardless. Unfortunately, it's a**holes like him that make Canadian's look bad. Good luck with whatever you do about it.

[Mad Aussie]

In the end the best course of action might be to just walk away from this one and not bother with it. No point letting one rude person upset your day/week :)

[crystalb]

:eek: Personally I would have done the same thing as you did Kat. I would have been super pi$$ed off, but not have let it show because that is exactly what that rude b@stard was looking for - A Reaction.
We have a neighbour that is the same way, I just can't believe that some people can live their lives being totally miserable all of the time.

You could always charge him double - Just call it Payback.;)

[kat]

Ha ha. I wish I could just say no and go but his wife..she plays hockey with me and she's a wonderful lady. For her, I didn't do a thing. It was funny going through the photos..you can see her and the two kids smiling and joking and laughing..he's the one that ruins it. That and highlights.. Boo..not to happy with it all.

Funny part..my clouds and snow that was suppose to be there came 10 mins after I was done..not a moment before..oh well. It is what it is.

Here are some of the kids (mom requested BW's as that is her fav)..will post my blown out shots soon!

thanks everyone!


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2610/4198112723_78e4d7b37c_o.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2647/4198866318_5800056ebc_o.jpg http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4198112609_da96d8389b_o.jpg

[Mad Aussie]

Just do what is best for you in this case Kat. If that's deal with the lovely wife and provide the photos to her personally then do it for sure. In the end, you need to walk away feeling right about it.
For me it would have been the finger and get ....d ... for you ... a great learning experience and a friendship maintained.

[kat]

Just do what is best for you in this case Kat. If that's deal with the lovely wife and provide the photos to her personally then do it for sure. In the end, you need to walk away feeling right about it.
For me it would have been the finger and get ....d ... for you ... a great learning experience and a friendship maintained.


I think I will still mention it to her. I don't think he should get away with it all together. I didn't appreciate it and it won't happen again.

[Mad Aussie]

I think that's a good idea.

[Bambi]

you know it is always a sign of ignorance when people start telling you how easy it is. I hear it all the time about riding: all you do is sit there, horse does all the work, why does anyone need lessons, etc etc etc.

You won't be able to change a dickwad like that and if you engage he will only get worse to prove you wrong. sometimes it's better to just ignore and ask them to move away so you can concentrate. Tell him if he wants to supervise the rate is double :evil2:

Husband was probably pissed that she didnt ask him to do it.

so no real solutions just sympathy and the 'I've been there experienced that' comraderie.

I guess every country has their share of asshats.

[Mad Aussie]

Tell him if he wants to supervise the rate is double :evil2:
We used to do exactly that! If someone wanted to help us (in order to lower the costs of us building them something) we'd charge more. Simple fact was that the extra, inexperienced help, added up to us babysitting and it cost us time.


I guess every country has their share of asshats.
Australia doesn't. :rolleyes: Yeh right! :headslap:

[Iguanasan]

I'm not a portrait photographer so I'm not sure what my opinion is worth but all I can say is that if the rest are anywhere near as good as those three you can call it a successful day. Those three are wonderful! :1st:

[Bambi]

Australia doesn't. :rolleyes: Yeh right! :headslap:


present company excluded ;)

[kat]

Thanks Iggy!

OMG..you guys can make me laugh! Thank you!

And to end this..for now I have sent an email to the parents. I think it explained how I felt, sure hope so.

[Mad Aussie]

Well you've done what you feel you needed to so it's up to them to react how they wish now Kat. That should tell you how to precede.

Glad we could amuse you a little :)

[Bambi]

Thanks Iggy!

OMG..you guys can make me laugh! Thank you!

And to end this..for now I have sent an email to the parents. I think it explained how I felt, sure hope so.

YAY Kat, good for you! :clap:

next time just give 'em a cross check..... :evil2:

[JAS_Photo]

Because I do not feel like I am a 'real' photographer, and also because I need the practice and the results may or may not be great, I do portraits for free. Everyone that has been a guinea pig so far has been a good sport and seems happy with their photos.

But at the same time, if you under value your work others may as well. If that guy was paying a photographer big bucks to take the photos chances are he would say nothing.

I know it should not be still happening in this day and age and think it it is less common in the young generation, but women are still devalued by society even and especially in the art world.


Anyway, those three shots you showed us are as good as anything they could have had done by anyone. :) I doubt if the father with all his lenses and self proclaimed know how could have evoked the same expressions from his kids.

[Bambi]

Because I do not feel like I am a 'real' photographer, and also because I need the practice and the results may or may not be great, I do portraits for free. Everyone that has been a guinea pig so far has been a good sport and seems happy with their photos.

But at the same time, if you under value your work others may as well. If that guy was paying a photographer big bucks to take the photos chances are he would say nothing.

I know it should not be still happening in this day and age and think it it is less common in the young generation, but women are still devalued by society even and especially in the art world.


Anyway, those three shots you showed us are as good as anything they could have had done by anyone. :) I doubt if the father with all his lenses and self proclaimed know how could have evoked the same expressions from his kids.

Excellent points Raiven!!! :lightbulb

[Marko]

Hey Kat,

Just wanted to address the part about "not having the personality for this." I've seen amazing shots from you Kat but people subjects and the whole shooting environment is different, much harder for many photographers. way more pressure for sure. a lot has to do with the photographer's own personality and whether they are naturally more introverted or extroverted.

The way to help beat this is with practice, or apprenticing. I know this because I'm not an extrovert by any means at all. However, as you do it more and more, you begin to 'know' what you want and your confidence naturally builds. OR apprentice as a wedding photographer or a portrait photographer's assistant. That experience is gold if anyone is into portraiture.

But this is different than photographing landscapes ....trees and flowers don't have big mouths. Sending good :goodvibes's

[adenough]

You should have passed him the camera and said.."go on then". People like this are not worth your time or thoughts. Move on.

Jim:)

[kat]

It's funny how sometimes you wish you could have your time back. :)

Marko, you've nailed it on the head. I'm such an extreme introvert. There are times it can be quite challenging to do things like this. I have a hard time with conversation unless I know you and even then.

I've started a portfolio so that I can try to find an assistant position once I've made it to the city. I'm not ready yet but would like to be someday!

Thanks all.

[Marko]

I'm a very quiet person myself Kat so I hear you.
I'm glad to hear you will try to assist in the big city :highfive:. It WILL 100% boost your confidence and get you more comfortable shooting people if you do it for a while.

[Mad Aussie]

Marko's advice is good. Chantelle was/is very much the same. But when she moved south she found a women who ran a wedding photography business who wanted to use her so she went along as an assisitent to her and her other photographers. It did her the world of good.

Then, while doing her photography course she was asked about modelling for one of the other classes and she did that too ... again a huge advantage to her.

Our shy one is coming out of her shell!

[DonW]

The nice thing about your style and outdoor family shoots is that there are NO rules. I agree anyone can set up some lights in a studio and take those cheasy Sears photos. Your pics are real and that is what makes them good. Teen age zits, harsh lighting even grubby little ones make for much better pics IMO.

Don