Do you prefer to take photos alone or in company?

retrogamer1990

retrogamer1990

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What the title says really, do you usually prefer to shoot with or without other photographers?
I'm always up for discussing gear and techniques with my (photographically inclined) mates but when the time comes to go out shooting with others I don't enjoy it as much. I feel pressured for time, or sometimes I feel like i'm taking shots that are too similar to someone else's. I find actually going out and taking photos to be a refreshingly solitary activity.

What do you guys like to do?
 
Unfortunately, ive never actually experienced taking photos in company, mainly because I dont have any photographically minded friends.

I do find that I am at my most relaxed when I am out on my own at 4am with my camera and tripod :D:cuckoo:
 
retrogamer1990 said:
I find actually going out and taking photos to be a refreshingly solitary activity.
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Same here, the idea of going out shooting with other photographers is very alien to me. I've probably spent more time in the Canon classifieds than I have the Meets forum :lol:
 
I can feel very self conscious and nervous with others around me and am far less likely to take photos than if I am on my own.
 
I like both, and do both in about equal measures. It's always nice to shoot with a friend and then compare shots, because you learn a lot about how other people shoot, and can share tips with one another. And then, on the other hand, shooting alone is fun because you can take as much time as you want and stroll at your own pace.
 
I went on a shoot were there were other photographers (not a TP meet). It was a closed session for photographers only



Most were only interested in taking photos and not discussing anything about what they were using. However they were a friendly bunch I have to say

Generally I go with my manageress as we are both into photography, but once at a Zoo or whatever we split up and meet only for lunch and do a comparison then of what we have taken

Realspeed
 
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I've had bad experiences with "photographic friends" even online. I had a friend of a friend contact me about my photos on facebook.

He kept asking for advice, which i was more than happy to oblige. It was quite flattering. But it started getting silly, he copied some of my photos, almost identical copies actually. Even tried to copy my logo and website at one point.

Safe to say I ended it there, told home where to go.

So for now I prefer todo stuff on my own!
 
Nikon_Nick said:
Unfortunately, ive never actually experienced taking photos in company, mainly because I dont have any photographically minded friends.

I do find that I am at my most relaxed when I am out on my own at 4am with my camera and tripod :D:cuckoo:
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I Just don't have any friends full stop
 
I like to shoot alone, but it isn't always possible...

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For weddings ALWAYS with a 2nd shooter. I can't hack the pressure on my own ;)
 
I do have a shooting buddy - my 16 year old grandson - but we both tend to go all solitary once the viewfinder gets anywhere near the eye. Last week at Monkey World and the Tank Museum we spent ages looking for each other having taken different routes around the places.

We have a competition to see who's taken the most pictures - he usually wins until we start to count the keepers. He is learning fast though :)
 
I shoot alone, that way when I mess up LOL, I only embarrass myself, though I plan to join a local club when it starts in September, as they also do college evenings.
 
I often have my wife with me when I am taking piccies for myself but she has learnt to bring a book as after 30 years together she knows that when I get into it I am oblivious to time, or usually anything else come to that.
 
It's a difficult one for me. I've spent the last year at college in a class of 20 people (who I spent three and a half 9am-4:30pm days with, every week, for the whole year so they're great friends) doing studio shoots and walkaround shoots for our course. I feel a lot of pressure when I'm taking photographs in front of other people - so much so that I spent the majority of my time helping other people on the course (I'm considering the one to ask if they need to know something) rather than doing my own work. I'm quite happy for my friends to take the credit for great photographs I've helped them with to remove the pressure of bad photographs when it doesn't quite go to plan.

That said, I do love going out with a togging buddy so long as they're somebody of a similar skill level to me. If somebody is too much below you in terms of skill you stop pushing yourself, and if they're too much above you, you feel demoralised and rubbish. Being with somebody who takes photos you feel are as good (or as bad) as your own helps give you confidence and bounce ideas off them.
 
I do enjoy the once in a while TP meets but I prefer to be alone most of the time. Or if in a group, everyone should be spread out doing their own thing most of the time and then regrouping once in a while to discuss things :D

One of the main reasons is that I hate when everyone is standing next to each other with almost the same composition...
 
Definitely alone unless it is a class. & I hate taking photos at an event where I am also meant to be a participant!
 
A bit of both really, but mainly with friends as I find more natural candid photo opportunities arise.
My friends have begun to realise that if i've disappeared from the group, i'm probably off somewhere with my zoom lens stalking them!
 
Alone.

Although I did photography at college many moons ago - my enthusiasm for photography remains the subject and whether it be landscapes or wildlife - it's my 'me time' and something I like to do alone.

Nothing worse than somebody who just wants to babble on about boring camera kit in the field - there's a time and a place.
 
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I'm surprised at the number of people that are saying alone, though I guess it depends what your shooting, I do a lot of night stuff so I like to have at least one person to talk to, help with lighting etc, it also adds a element of security...especially when I do the really late night stuff such as star trails and airplane trails :thumbs:

PS TP Meets are great to meet fellow people with the same passion the W&WM Meets seem to be going down well :thumbs:
 
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I work alone I have worked with other but they get upset when they see I'm on such a high level they just feel small lol
 
Both, alone and with other photographers, I like to go out shooting with friends as we have a right good laugh yet take our photography serious, also its good to bounce ideas off people to get their views, and then do it my own way :D
 
Alone. Having other photographers around messes with my creativity. Also when I do meet up with others for shoot, I tend to wander off and shoot on my own, and then meet them back at the bar.

The thing I've noticed is that the toggers who stuck together all end up with pretty much the same photos.
 
Slaphead said:
Alone. Having other photographers around messes with my creativity. Also when I do meet up with others for shoot, I tend to wander off and shoot on my own, and then meet them back at the bar.

The thing I've noticed is that the toggers who stuck together all end up with pretty much the same photos.
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yes I always do my own thing, as well, I dont usually wander off to far though, just find my own shots, rather than just stick close, being with others doesnt mar my creativity,
 
I have no friends, but I'm always up for a meet of photographers, doesn't really bother me who's there but it is nice to be talkin gto another person not just myself for a change!
 
I find going for a walk with my camera alone is a good "break out" time for me and usually chills me out even if I don't come away with any decent shots :lol:

Sometimes I go walking with my fianceé and take my camera along as she doesn't mind hanging around waiting for me to take some photos as she usually likes to see the shots I get.

Never really done the whole group shoot thing but I did go out with a mate once who wanted some pointers which was OK :)
 
Generally I go out on my own as i don't have any friends that like photography. Occasionally though my 13 yr old daughter comes with me ( generally only when I'm doing light painting stuff - she's pretty good at it!) which I enjoy.
 
On my own, but that’s mainly due to lack of photography friends. Mind you if I were to go out with a group I would probably get bored and annoyed. When I go out in the countryside on my own I feel a lot closer to nature and it calms me down, tried to explain it to friends but they couldn’t grasp the concept.
 
I'm generally on my own but whenever possible bring my dad. He is a former commercial and architectural photographer, now enjoys taking snaps on a bridge camera merely for fun, he still has a great eye for a shot though.

It is useful having him around, last week was down on the beach taking a shot and there was plenty of people about, he was able to keep an eye on my gear whilst I got the shot, he was also able to shout a quick warning when a bigger wave that usual was in danger of swamping my rucksack!
 
For me it depends on what I'm shooting. If it's just a wander about then it's quite nice to be with someone else to discuss techniques, or the weather etc, but sometimes it is nice for a bit of peace and quiet just to go for a walk on your todd. That said, if I'm going somewhere to look at some half fallen down building or urban decay, it's quite reassuring to have someone with you!
 
For me, with my friend as we share same interest and help eachother
 
I go out shooting with a mate of mine. Sometimes its good to get ideas off each other but we tend to do our own thing. We both come back with different photo's which is good.

I have been out on myself too, which I also didn't mind as I like peace at times.

But if I'm off up a mountain at the crack of dawn or late in the evening I'd prefer to go with someone else just for the safety factor.
 
I always take my portrait shots on my own - which could be where I'm going fundamentally wrong :lol:

It's never really entered my head to go snapping with other photographers, and the mere thought of it now seems very alien to me. Curiously, the actual taking of photos is quite an insular pleasure, but sharing them afterwards can be equally enjoyable.
 
I'm on my own most of the time, but I like the idea of being in the company of other like-minded photographers..any offers? :p
 
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