Good photography isn’t about rules—it’s about breaking the right ones. From gear obsession to studio size, plenty of myths get in the way of great photography. Here are five common photography myths worth leaving behind.
Myth: Better camera, better photography.
Truth: You don’t need a fancy camera and lens. Good photographers can work with what they’re given and still get amazing shots. Can you do everything with any camera? – No. But you can get unbelievably great photos with just a modern camera phone. When upgrading to more sophisticated equipment, learning the ins and outs of the technology will help you make the most of it’s features, but understanding the fundamentals of light and shadow, focus, and composition will affect your results so much more than what you’re holding in-hand.
Myth: You can’t take great photos in a small space.
Truth: You don’t need a big studio or giant open space to take good photos. You may need to make adjustments to your camera settings and mindset, but you can work with a lot less space than you might think! 3 Quick Tips for taking photos in a small space…
- Consider the space you have as the final frame. Many photographers create a smaller space within their larger studio to control the different elements of the shoot including reflective light/shadow, intimacy, and field of view. Just consider your space ‘limitations’ as if they are building those controls into your set. Your space is doing the work for you!
- Small spaces don’t have a lot of room for fancy lights. Good – your available light(s) will fill a small space more easily than a large space anyway – which means fewer and less powerful lights. If there is a good window in your small space, consider using natural light for your photos. If not, flash, or even a standing lamp or two can provide a lot of ambient light in a small space
- Use your angles. Small spaces give you an excellent opportunity to play with angles, showing more of your subject by raising or lowering the angle of your lens. And I mean that literally, getting down towards the ground, or taking a shot from higher-up, can change the perspective and make a big impact within a smaller space.
Myth: Anything can be fixed in post.
Truth: With the popularity of intelligent image manipulation, a lot of sins can be hidden by auto-adjustments, spot fix, and soften/blur – but it’s not going to fix a poorly constructed or very blurry subject that you wanted in-focus. Taking that into account, be intentional with your photos, but learn to appreciate your fuck-ups. Sometimes a blurred photo, grain, or an accidental drop-shot can bring a unique character or emotion. True story, a friend of mine was trying to take a sultry photo, and accidentally dropped her phone which captured an image on the way down — she wound up with an accidental photo of her butt that we are all envious of. WIN!
Myth: You need to stick to one genre of photography.
Truth: You get good at what you practice. Whether that’s one specific genre or many. If you love a genre of photography that’s new to you and want to try it out, do it! Don’t let the advice of sticking to one category stifle your creativity and fun. You’ll be glad you did.
Myth: Professional photography is overpriced for what you get.
Truth: In the age of the smartphone, it seems like everyone is a photographer – and modern camera phones can capture great images with incredible detail. So why choose to pay for a professional? Have you ever been shocked by the sticker price of a photographer’s services? – The truth is you’re not paying for their fancy camera, or even their time behind that camera – you’re paying for their ability to capture the moment in just the right way and their knowledge of HOW to capture that moment. A lot more goes into a photoshoot than what you see on the surface. While you might be with the photographer for an hour or two, they will spend extra time culling and editing your photos to deliver you the best of the best, so you’ll wind up with stunning photos to take home and keep those memories alive long after the session is over. Something less tangible but significantly more important that will affect every image, every memory, is the years of training, practice, and experience in identifying, capturing, editing, and delivering photos you’ll love.
With that in mind, while your professional photographer deserves to be paid appropriately, it doesn’t have to break the bank. Not every photographer will be within your budget, and that’s ok – finding the right photographer will make a huge difference in how you feel about the experience. Offerings, experience, and style vary greatly, so my advice when searching for a photographer is 1) pick someone who’s style resonates with you, and 2) be as clear as possible about what you’re hoping to get out of the session so your photographer can do their magic and deliver.