"ooh, doesnt that camera take good photos"

[andya700]

As basic amateurs see me driving a golf ball 290+ they ask about my equipment (ooeerr missus) and I let them try my clubs but I dont bend the shaft or give them the one with bad loft/lie etc to see them fail.......

Be proud they are seeing you as the expert and you can enlighten them about how difficult it really is without making them feel small...........
Just my opinion but its the bigger men who show respect to anyone

I was selling a couple of golf clubs a while ago, and a guy down the range had seen me hitting shots with them. So, I let him hit a few balls with them. Unfortunately he did not get on with them, and turned to me and said "I don't know how you hit these mate, they are rubbish!"

I was talking to a neighbour, about taking portrait shots - families and the like, and he just said "Well now you have an expensive digital camera you have no excuses. You can take as many shots as you like, and get them back on a disk the same day"

Only one person has said that they like my piccies, rather than say the camera is good - which may well be a damning indictment on my lack of skill

 

[goldenlight]

And yet, those who are very good at their jobs (i'm not saying superior - as I think we all still want to learn - and I don't want to sound "better" than anyone else) tend to keep quiet about it. I certainly don't boast about my employers, and nor do a number of other guys who are pro togs here...I'm thinking of Scottcampbell, The_Bionic_Dan, Andy*, Rovers_Andy, purpleclouds, Edtog etc.

You don't see many people saying "I work for XXXX, therefore I have a right to speak down to you". There is this element of people wanting to seem superior to other people, and it does extend into real life...I take great pride in speaking to other guys at small events and helping out. The other week I was out at the American Football and one of the players girlfriends had been given his D300 to use to get some shots to send back home...and she was way out of her depth. Do you think I a) belittled her to such an extent that she thought all pro togs are "anchors" or b) helped her out so she could get some decent shots? The other photographer there had already been asked and had given the reply of "why have you got it if you don't know how to use it?".

Incidentally, I never get "ooh that camera takes good pics" I get "oooh, are you from Sky TV or BBC"

That's what I like to hear, James, you're obviously one of the good guys - and helping her probably made you feel good too!

 

[goldenlight]

Just a thought, if it upsets anyone when their camera is complimented rather than themselves why don't they switch to Olympus? It's far more satisfying when someone says, "Wow, how do you manage to take such good pictures with that heap of carp?"

 

[dazzajl]

Don't they say "who do you think you are, David Bailey?"

 

[goldenlight]

Don't they say "who do you think you are, David Bailey?"

Ha ha! I used to get that about 30 yeras ago with my OM1, but haven't heard it for a long time. I'm not sure he's the household name he once was.

 

[Dino f]

Don't they say "who do you think you are, David Bailey?"

I still get that. I usually reply "No, bathing daily, how about you?" they normally walk off quietly. I wouldnt mind if they said Bob Carlos Clarke

 

[Richard King]

Its kinda annoying. I had one on Sat "how many shots have you got left on that thing, I have a huge memory card, and have over 200!"

Answer
"2897"
"2896"

Whats more anoying is when some knob with a the latest D3 and some lens that will work well at the olympics shooting track runners in the dark at half a mile says, "Oh you are only shooting with a ...."

A. "well I am at a wedding mate, would you just hold this reflector"

all the gear, no idea

 

[Richard King]

oh there was the one (half cut lowlife at a wedidng)...

"so you are a photographer, ewww posh.... whats it like to be rich, and drive a flash car"

Probrably the same turd wanting a tog for 199

 

[jamesb84]

That's what I like to hear, James, you're obviously one of the good guys - and helping her probably made you feel good too!

You'll make me blush!

I'm sure there's plenty of guys who would criticise me for helping out other people as they feel it threatens their business...but you can't stop other people...and if they want help they just have to ask.

So I get to watch premier league football every week for free, and get paid to photograph it...doesn't make me any less approachable.

 

[jamesoliverstone]

wow, what an interesting read. If your stressing yourselves out over such little things when on a job you must be a nervous wreck all the time! I tend to be focused more about the job in hand than people making comments!

I get comments all the time about my gear but I am always curteous and helpful with my replies... in fact, 2 people that have been really interested in what I was doing and shooting with ended up as clients of mine on one-to-one training so you may all want to stop trying to belittle your own potential customers

 

[HornetSting]

John and James, at least someone thinks like me. If I had over heard the tog talking to the girl like that after she asked for help I would have personally told him that he was an 'anchor'.

James has hit the nail on the head, just think how many people you could lose by trying to belittle people, or if nothing else than making yourself look unapproachable and an idiot.

 

[jinky]

Yes I`m with you. I`ve had pros I`ve watched / been around at events give me really useful advice and encouragement and at the limited jobs I have doen I try to do the same. I`ve been covering events for a youth charity locally and one or two of the young peopel have been emailing asking how to get into photography professionally (if only I knew how to make a living out of it ) but I`ve given what tips I can. I`ve had people say nice camera and just take it as a chat - people are nervous when cameras are about at events sometimes and it`s a good ice breaker to talk however banal / simplistic it might seem to you within your knowledge. Only once have I had someone at a job say "is that all you have - you could have borrowed my D90" when shooting with my D80 before getting my D700. Whilst I did reply - well it`s what you do with them really the better put down was a workmate of his who said take no heed he`s a prat and a crap photographer which made others laugh and the guy disappear.

 

[jamesb84]

... I`ve had people say nice camera and just take it as a chat - people are nervous when cameras are about at events sometimes and it`s a good ice breaker to talk however banal / simplistic it might seem to you within your knowledge...

Actually, even the pro's do that...especially if you're in unfamiliar territory (new ground/new sport/dont recognise any of the other togs in the wire room).

Usually "is that the..." or "have you tried the..." is a good ice-breaker for togs, you build up good relationships that way.

It never hurts to be approachable, it makes your life/hobby/job so much more pleasant.