I am a lazy photographer

I am a lazy photographer

I don’t like to work hard, just work smart

It has taken me a lot of time, energy, thinking and pre-planning to get images I ( and my clients) are happy with, without having to work at it.

I don’t like to have to think too hard when I  am shooting.

This requires that I know my equipment, and that I have a plan for what I want to do.

It also means that I have got things set up so that I can react Quickly and with confidence to changes and be able to make artistic decisions.  I would rather spend 5 minutes before the start of the session setting up a few lights I “may” need, then having to have people wait while I make changes during a session

Important shoots are not the place to try new gear. As Bruce MacNeil says “dance with the one who brung ya”

I want to spend as little Time in front of the computer as Possible.

I am a photographer, not a retoucher    This means I want to get it right in camera. Lighting, pose, clothing, hair makeup should be how I want it before I press the shutter so I don’t have to fix it in post. If there is a “problem” that I see that will be easier to fix in post then on set… then I will let it go.

I want to be a photographer not a camera operator

This means that I need to spend the time practicing with my gear ( and building my craftsmanship) so that I can let my artistic brain work and not have to be consumed with the technical details.

The techniques I use on a session should be instinctive to me. To reach this point I have to practice.

I also have tried to think about ” what if”.

What if this lens fails… Switch to that one.

What if this body fails… Use my back up…

What If my pocket wizards fail… Trigger optically

Batteries Die… grab the back-ups

Not only have I thought of the what Ifs. I have tested them so I know they work.

It would be impossible to think about all the things that could fail but knowing what to do when critical pieces of equipment take the day off can help you easily work through the minor issues. ( I hope you are observant enough to notice I said when and not if)

I like to take care of my tools. 

That’s what my photography gear is… Tools.  I keep my gear clean, and maintained but I don’t coddle it. If something doesn’t work right on one shoot I know why before I work with it on the next shoot .

I check my equipment before the shoot. I would rather ponder over why something isn’t working with a cup of tea the night before, then sweating and tearing my ( too

little) hair out with models , client and sundry other people looking on

I don’t like using more lights then needed.

Every light you add doubles your complexity and halves your creativity. If the set requires it I will use multiple lights( my record so far is 9) But I am happier using 1 or 2 then 4 or more. I just have to know what I want and how to achieve it

I know I am not the worlds best photographer ( and never will be….I am sure he is on Model Mayhem forums).

So I don’t waste time and energy competing to be “the best”. I take that time to learn how to be better then I am, and help others become better.

I find I learn by discussing ideas with others.

The quickest way to learn new and better ways of doing things is to listen to what others have to say and help other learn what you know.

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