What would you do?

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Mark-Anthony

Mark-Anthony

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Hi All

First off...if there are any typing errors, please excuse me. I have a new phone and fat fingers haha.

Bit of a personal dilema.

I started photography in 2010, Just shooting anything & everything with a little Nikon bridge camera. After enjoying the creative side to it, I decided to buy a dslr. 6 years on, after plenty of body and lens upgrades I'm now here...2016. I have completed roughly 35 weddings, and other photogeaphy projects for many happy customers.

As good as my progression may sound, the last two years have been a nightmare for me.

First off, I was attacked by a vicar at a wedding. If you didn't read that post, it's available here...

https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/advice-needed-what-would-you-do.603178/

A week before that, I was followed all day around a wedding by a 'family friend' of the groom. Not only did he copy rhe exact same shots as me, he then posted them on social media within hours of the wedding for everyone to see which made my images less 'wow' and more 'I've seen that image off'..... let's call him dennis!

That was september 2015.

After a few months of no photography, other than holiday snaps from my travels, I had another thing bothering me in the world of photography.

I had a friend who I've known for years and years. Nice chap, somone you could depend on in any situation. He got a dslr and (as a newbie) he asked me to help him with the basics.

Me being me, I helped him with what style of photo he wanted to capture, and started to blow his mind by teaching him what manual mode could do.

Now, roughly 3 years later...i find myself struggling to even speak to him, as he seems to have taken all my ideas, locations from previous shoots (which i kept private) and copied me on every lens, body purchase etc etc.

Now here's my dilema. Since all of this has happened, I've really lost the love of photography. I used to love seeing peoples faces when they produce great images from my advice, as i felt a sense of pride that i had taught them that. Now, however, i feel that this lad has taken the michael out of me and cut me short.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all up for people doing well and wish him every success if he chooses to continue. What I don't like is that my only hobby I enjoyed for half a decade has now left me wanting to sell all my fx gear and just pretend I never even started.

Has anyone been in a situation similar?

I really don't know what to do...

I started off taking my camera with me daily. Now, i find that I take my camera out my bag once a month if that. It's a waste of nearly 3k in camera equipment I feel.

Genuine answers welcome

Many thanks for reading
 
Whilst I'm sorry that you've met some people who've been proper arseholes, you've not done yourself many favours.

As we constantly tell people who want to start a business 'it's not about the photography, it's about you'. Whilst the vicar was a w****r, you could have spotted his mood sooner and dealt with it better.

Whilst your 'mate' has taken advantage, why couldn't you read this before it was too late?

The bottom line... We can't control how others behave, we can only control how we react to it. You can choose not to allow this to spoil your life, or you can dust yourself off, re evaluate and move on.

Good luck with it.
 
Mark

You can't control what other people do. Just yourself. Kind of following on from Phil's suggestion, why don't you take things in a different direction with your photography?

It's not clear to me whether it's still a hobby or whether it's profession... if the latter then I've misunderstood and ignore what I'm going to say.

Try macro. Try landscapes. Try commercial/product shots. In fact, try everything where you're shooting on your own, in your own time and fitting into the other constraints of your life.

It sounds to me as if the issue here is other people getting in the way of what you're doing... so take them out of the picture (so to speak)!

But, if you don't love it and can't get back to loving it then there's no point forcing it. It's just a hobby and hobbies are supposed to be fun...
 
I will add, I went through a period of 'no photography' in the mid 90's following my first disastrous attempt at pro photography. It might not be what you want to hear now. But my life didn't change for the worse, it was just different, I did a massive DIY project and socialised.

When I came back to photography (completely naturally) the world had moved on and my photography took a new direction. I'm seriously considering as I get older, what I might do next, but as with all change, it's not about what I'm leaving behind, it'll be about a positive move forward.

Many human beings have a tendency to 'move away from' rather than a sensible planned 'move towards', you just have to look at the fallout of Thursday to see that at work.
 
The vicar incident would have bothered me for all of an hour - after that hour it'd be my new best funny story from a Wedding. It was in 2015 and its now mid 2016 - FFS drop it as an issue or, as Phil is suggesting, you're not cut out for it

People needing advice will always seek it and copy from those willing to give it. I've had the same with people asking about what camera I use or what lens then they go buy it, or even the more expensive one I suggested if they had the money (buying the best makes photography easier as you lose gear as an excuse). Did I sulk about it? Nope - I started charging for it and teaching is now an active, fun and profitable side of my business

Again re Phil - its all about attitude. You're defo sounding like a "Glass half empty and no way to ever fill it" kinda guy at the mo. Deal with that aspect and you'll either bounce back after a period of shouting FK'em a lot, or you'll give up

Only you can make the changes either way

And in my final reference to Phil... Good luck with it :)

Dave
 
Damn, I wish people wouldn't get huffy and remove opening posts.
Makes a thread impossible to interpret. :mad:
 
viv1969 said:
Damn, I wish people wouldn't get huffy and remove opening posts.
Makes a thread impossible to interpret. :mad:
Click to expand...

I'm really surprised, there was nothing in the opening that suggested he had a bat & ball, or that he'd run off sulking with it :D

And we've hardly been unkind - oh well

Dave
 
viv1969 said:
Damn, I wish people wouldn't get huffy and remove opening posts.
Makes a thread impossible to interpret. :mad:
Click to expand...

yes, we dislike when people do that...

we often also quote the entire post just to ensure it stays in the thread somewhere...

Little_duke said:
Hi All

First off...if there are any typing errors, please excuse me. I have a new phone and fat fingers haha.

Bit of a personal dilema.

I started photography in 2010, Just shooting anything & everything with a little Nikon bridge camera. After enjoying the creative side to it, I decided to buy a dslr. 6 years on, after plenty of body and lens upgrades I'm now here...2016. I have completed roughly 35 weddings, and other photogeaphy projects for many happy customers.

As good as my progression may sound, the last two years have been a nightmare for me.

First off, I was attacked by a vicar at a wedding. If you didn't read that post, it's available here...

https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/advice-needed-what-would-you-do.603178/

A week before that, I was followed all day around a wedding by a 'family friend' of the groom. Not only did he copy rhe exact same shots as me, he then posted them on social media within hours of the wedding for everyone to see which made my images less 'wow' and more 'I've seen that image off'..... let's call him dennis!

That was september 2015.

After a few months of no photography, other than holiday snaps from my travels, I had another thing bothering me in the world of photography.

I had a friend who I've known for years and years. Nice chap, somone you could depend on in any situation. He got a dslr and (as a newbie) he asked me to help him with the basics.

Me being me, I helped him with what style of photo he wanted to capture, and started to blow his mind by teaching him what manual mode could do.

Now, roughly 3 years later...i find myself struggling to even speak to him, as he seems to have taken all my ideas, locations from previous shoots (which i kept private) and copied me on every lens, body purchase etc etc.

Now here's my dilema. Since all of this has happened, I've really lost the love of photography. I used to love seeing peoples faces when they produce great images from my advice, as i felt a sense of pride that i had taught them that. Now, however, i feel that this lad has taken the michael out of me and cut me short.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all up for people doing well and wish him every success if he chooses to continue. What I don't like is that my only hobby I enjoyed for half a decade has now left me wanting to sell all my fx gear and just pretend I never even started.

Has anyone been in a situation similar?

I really don't know what to do...

I started off taking my camera with me daily. Now, i find that I take my camera out my bag once a month if that. It's a waste of nearly 3k in camera equipment I feel.

Genuine answers welcome

Many thanks for reading
Click to expand...



and if they remove it again, we keep on reverting it, and giving them longer and longer suspensions - so, please keep an eye on the thread folks and let us know if it disappears again.
 
Last edited:
DG Phototraining said:
I hoped I was gee-ing him up to make a positive decision, to forget the crap and move on

Seems that didn't work :(

Watch the Classifieds (if & when he comes back) there's bound to be some bargains in there soon

Dave
Click to expand...
Snap :confused:
 
I'd get over what has gone before and try something completely different.

The Vicar incident wasn't good but it was a long time ago and you've done far more work where this sort of thing didn't happen. I don't think it is typical and there are a couple of things you can do differently to try to avoid it happening in future.

If you don't want to talk to your previous friend then don't. Tbh though, reading between the lines I think you don't like the fact you were once the one to be 'blowing his mind' and now he's striking out successfully on his own. So you showed him all your tips, told him where the great locations are and no doubt recommended the kit that you chose for yourself. What did you think was going to happen? What has he taken that you didn't offer?
 
pjm1 said:
Try macro. Try landscapes. Try commercial/product shots. In fact, try everything where you're shooting on your own, in your own time and fitting into the other constraints of your life.
Click to expand...

I did this, and it really helped and I found myself drawn more to close-up/Macro. I also enjoy taking photos of animals and street shots. I wide variety but that is what I tend to stick too, mainly Macro.
 
Little_duke said:
As good as my progression may sound, the last two years have been a nightmare for me.

First off, I was attacked by a vicar at a wedding. If you didn't read that post, it's available here...

A week before that, I was followed all day around a wedding by a 'family friend' of the groom.

Now, roughly 3 years later...i find myself struggling to even speak to him, as he seems to have taken all my ideas, locations from previous shoots (which i kept private) and copied me on every lens, body purchase etc etc.
Click to expand...

I've had to come back to this thread to check whether I had read it correctly... because it has been niggling at me all day. I just need to say that the above three events do not in any way constitute two years of 'nightmare'. If these are the only things you have to be concerned about you are a very lucky person indeed.
 
Little_duke said:
That was september 2015.

***snip***

Now, roughly 3 years later...i find myself struggling to even speak to him, as he seems to have taken all my ideas, locations from previous shoots (which i kept private) and copied me on every lens, body purchase etc etc.
Click to expand...

Maths. Its not computing here...
 
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