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What Does A Photographer Look Like?
If you've ever seen a pic of me (there's one in my gallery) you'll see why i'm writing this. Often when i approach someone about shooting, or meeting them for a shoot, one of the first things that they say is "you don't look like a photographer." What is a photographer supposed to look like? Am I supposed to wear all black with a red baret, dark sunglasses, smoke cigs, spout crappy poetry under my breath that stinks from overpriced coffee? My problem (I believe) is that I look younger than I am, i'm aloof and carefree for the most part, and not to toot my own horn, but i'm a decent looking guy in good condition. Maybe the TV stigma of some fat bald middle aged man loaded with photography gear is what comes to mind with people when they think "photographer." What's your views on this? Jun 10 05 09:28 pm Link this is already a thread with pages and pages of answers Jun 10 05 09:31 pm Link *redfaced* didn't know that. Jun 10 05 09:31 pm Link I wake up every morning and put on my multi-pocketed khaki vest and worn denim ballcap. Jun 10 05 09:32 pm Link The beauty of being a photographer is that you dont nessarily have to put yourself in front of the camera. Jun 10 05 11:10 pm Link I am just rolling reading this cause I get that all the time. I am not sure what they mean when they say that though. I think the description of the multi-pocket khaki vest fits, but what else........... Jun 10 05 11:17 pm Link See Eric's "how to become a creepy photographer" thread. Excellent ideas within! Jun 10 05 11:18 pm Link 'they' all look alike to me... Jun 10 05 11:30 pm Link Posted by Lapis: be afraid, be very afraid. Jun 10 05 11:58 pm Link Posted by Lapis: please dont say that...i know some fairly unattractive photographers...i need to have some hope things aren't that bad... Jun 11 05 08:10 am Link Karl... I'm afraid. Judging guys looks, are we, Doug? lol Jun 11 05 08:11 am Link What is a photographer supposed to look like? Have you tried using a cheesy fake French accent as well? Jun 11 05 09:03 am Link Posted by Ed Remington: What is a photographer supposed to look like? Have you tried using a cheesy fake French accent as well? eh? Jun 11 05 12:46 pm Link Hi Karl. Rub my tummy. Jun 11 05 12:47 pm Link Posted by Monsante Bey: LOL! Yep. Jun 11 05 12:56 pm Link Posted by Jack D Trute: *pats your tummy* Jun 11 05 12:58 pm Link Jun 11 05 01:04 pm Link Posted by BlacklistVisual: hahahah Jun 11 05 01:10 pm Link while we're on this subject; what does everyone think of young photographers? i'm 21, and ive noticed that even the youngest glamour photographers are in their late-20's/early-30's...with years of experience, of course. now is it just because you shot stills/nature/etc before you got into glamour? or were you really shooting fashion/glamour for all those years? Jun 11 05 01:14 pm Link Posted by Cicada: i have been shooting since i am 17 years old..while i did some artistic work with models, i didn't concentrate on model photography until about two years ago. i have seen a couple of young photographers suggest that they aren't "some creepy old photographer"..they palyed up the fact that they were young and way cooler then the older guys..but their pictures were crap..and that is ultimately what you will be judged on..not your age, but your skills.. Jun 11 05 01:36 pm Link Posted by Doug Swinskey: Posted by Cicada: i have been shooting since i am 17 years old..while i did some artistic work with models, i didn't concentrate on model photography until about two years ago. i have seen a couple of young photographers suggest that they aren't "some creepy old photographer"..they palyed up the fact that they were young and way cooler then the older guys..but their pictures were crap..and that is ultimately what you will be judged on..not your age, but your skills.. Wow, what an arrogant post. Jun 11 05 01:43 pm Link Posted by Michael Sloane: was there something inaccurate with my observations and advice? do you have better advice that sounds less arrogant? Jun 11 05 01:47 pm Link Haha, this post caught my eye right away. This is my boyfriend, aka Infinite Lux, # 4738. When I first saw his picture, I was like, I can't believe I'm working with this guy...but his stuff is actually pretty good! For some reason, I try to stay away from the younger photographers, because if someone is closer to my age, it just makes things that much more uncomfortable. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/ … lexgun.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/ … 011_11.jpg Dangit, I tried to post these and I couldn't figure it out >_ Jun 11 05 01:59 pm Link Posted by Lemi: Why??? Jun 11 05 02:34 pm Link Posted by Monsante Bey: Posted by Lemi: Why??? In my experience, yes, a lot of it is. There was a photographer that wanted to work with me who was about 26, and engaged. He invited me up to check out him and his fiance's gallery and the whole time, he was flirting with me in front of her, trying to get me to stay the night, since I live about an hour away >_< Yea, his fiancee did not look too happy. As far as I know...they're not together anymore. Jun 11 05 02:37 pm Link Posted by Cicada: I think the reason you don't see too many younger photographers is simply because it takes time to Jun 11 05 03:02 pm Link Posted by Lemi: Posted by Monsante Bey: Posted by Lemi: Why??? In my experience, yes, a lot of it is. There was a photographer that wanted to work with me who was about 26, and engaged. He invited me up to check out him and his fiance's gallery and the whole time, he was flirting with me in front of her, trying to get me to stay the night, since I live about an hour away >_< Yea, his fiancee did not look too happy. As far as I know...they're not together anymore. So, just one experience? Jun 11 05 04:05 pm Link Posted by Monsante Bey: Posted by Lemi: Posted by Monsante Bey: Posted by Lemi: Why??? In my experience, yes, a lot of it is. There was a photographer that wanted to work with me who was about 26, and engaged. He invited me up to check out him and his fiance's gallery and the whole time, he was flirting with me in front of her, trying to get me to stay the night, since I live about an hour away >_< Yea, his fiancee did not look too happy. As far as I know...they're not together anymore. So, just one experience? No, it wasn't just one experience, but that one takes the cake. Especially after I found out he had an Asian fetish. Younger photographers tend to think that I'll want to hang out with them afterwards or they'll want to take me on a date or something, and it's hard to draw the line when someone is around the same age as you. But hey, eveyrone has to start somewhere, right? Jun 11 05 04:25 pm Link Posted by Lemi: Posted by Monsante Bey: Posted by Lemi: Posted by Monsante Bey: Posted by Lemi: Sounds like your string of bad luck. I woulodnt say this is true of all photographers, just maybe the ones yer hooking up with. In my experience, yes, a lot of it is. There was a photographer that wanted to work with me who was about 26, and engaged. He invited me up to check out him and his fiance's gallery and the whole time, he was flirting with me in front of her, trying to get me to stay the night, since I live about an hour away >_< Yea, his fiancee did not look too happy. As far as I know...they're not together anymore. So, just one experience? No, it wasn't just one experience, but that one takes the cake. Especially after I found out he had an Asian fetish. Younger photographers tend to think that I'll want to hang out with them afterwards or they'll want to take me on a date or something, and it's hard to draw the line when someone is around the same age as you. But hey, eveyrone has to start somewhere, right? Maybe just a string of bad luck, I wouldnt say all photographers are like that, maybe just the ones you are hooking up with. Also if more than half your portfolio is nudes, then I'd imagine maybe the younger photographers arnt going to be as professional about their approach with you. Jun 11 05 05:26 pm Link Cicada: I usually prefer older people in general. I find I relate better to people 10 or more years older than I am in general, not just photographers. I do very rarely encounter photographers who are younger than I am (NYC IS the mecca for recent RIT grads, after all), but I mostly work with photographers on their personal work, and the younger guys are typically focused on getting their career off the ground and building a marketable book with agency girls. Jun 11 05 05:38 pm Link Posted by BlacklistVisual: Posted by Cicada: I think the reason you don't see too many younger photographers is simply because it takes time to interesting, I used to tuter in the darkroom when I was in college. I was a 3rd/4th year student and about 34. I had a girl ask me to show her the shortcuts for making a good print quickly like I could do. She was determined that I knew some trick to get don'e with my prints so quickly and she really didn't seem interested in "learning" the craft. I looked her straight in the eye and imparted these words of wisdom "go back to your enlarger and print this image a thousand times, then you will begin to understand what you need to do to become more precise and faster." I've found that this philosphy holds true for and part of any craft and if you love it, it is well worth the effort. Jun 11 05 06:34 pm Link Well Lemi, one way to counteract that is to "rave" about your boyfriend, even if you don't have one. That normally puts younger guys back in professional mode. Jun 11 05 06:34 pm Link P.S. I've been at it since about 93 if you count school... Jun 11 05 06:36 pm Link Posted by Monsante Bey: It's a shame a model has to resort to using reverse or crooked psychology in order to get a professional point across when simple, blunt and firm English communication coupled with a serious poker face should do the trick. Jun 11 05 06:43 pm Link Posted by Joe K. Perez: Posted by Monsante Bey: It's a shame a model has to resort to using reverse or crooked psychology in order to get a professional point across when simple, blunt and firm English communication coupled with a serious poker face should do the trick. Ohh Darn Joe and I was so hoping we had a future. *eveil grin* Jun 11 05 06:45 pm Link Posted by Monsante Bey: It's not just Photographers. Take my experience in the I.T. world. I got the same treatment from the mainframe guys back in 1990. One hiring manager flat out told me, "Hm, I just can't picture you sitting behind a terminal programming COBOL". Jun 11 05 06:46 pm Link Posted by Joe K. Perez: So, you want to do it here in the hallway? Jun 11 05 06:47 pm Link Posted by Monsante Bey: Posted by Joe K. Perez: So, you want to do it here in the hallway? LOL Jun 11 05 06:48 pm Link Posted by Lemi: Posted by Monsante Bey: Posted by Lemi: Posted by Monsante Bey: Posted by Lemi: Why??? In my experience, yes, a lot of it is. There was a photographer that wanted to work with me who was about 26, and engaged. He invited me up to check out him and his fiance's gallery and the whole time, he was flirting with me in front of her, trying to get me to stay the night, since I live about an hour away >_< Yea, his fiancee did not look too happy. As far as I know...they're not together anymore. So, just one experience? No, it wasn't just one experience, but that one takes the cake. Especially after I found out he had an Asian fetish. Younger photographers tend to think that I'll want to hang out with them afterwards or they'll want to take me on a date or something, and it's hard to draw the line when someone is around the same age as you. But hey, eveyrone has to start somewhere, right? Relating your experience with this guy to his age is absolutely absurd... you think he's gonna be any less of a wierdo when he's 40?!? Jun 11 05 08:40 pm Link Well there are two looks: The digital photographer: Short, but unkept hair, needs a bath, cig and a bit over weight (also under 30) The "Real Photographer": Long unkept hair, thin, nervous and keeps checking pockets in their bush jacket, red nose from drinking, stains from Polaroids on their hands and wearing their Rolex Exploer ll..... Real photographers do not wear barets unless they shoot glam. and then they are not real photographers anyway Jun 11 05 09:10 pm Link |