As a follow up of mine article on the best advice for becoming an expert, I thought it would be interesting to find out the worst advice we’ve ever received as photographers. As Oscar Wilde wrote, “one might consider always imparting good advice. That is the only thing that can be done about it. It is never of any use to itself.” So, what is the worst photography advice you’ve ever received?
Jeffrey Garriock: Pro Bono is really valuable
Photographer and videographer Jeffrey Garriock (Who do I work with? The Adventures of G as a photography instructor) was quick to point out the worst advice he ever received: “don’t do anything for free.” Although Garriock advocates the value of photography, he maintains that there is always a time and place to work for free. Garriock told me he did some great work for NGOs when no money changed hands. What else do you do when you believe in the work being done and really don’t have any money to spend? Relatedly, these experiences gave Garriock incredible opportunities to shoot the kind of stories he wanted to be a part of. The experience he gained during these professional filming sessions in turn improved his marketability when a related paying job came along. Professional photography has helped Garriock work and connect with like-minded people, helping to amplify certain voices and improve his skills in ways he might not otherwise have been able to.
Michelle Valberg: Don’t rest on your laurels
Michelle Valberg, Nikon ambassador and accomplished wildlife photographer, was once told that if you achieve success within the first five years, you are guaranteed long-term success. Today, Valberg would be the first to point out that sustained success in photography requires unwavering dedication, adaptability, and the ability to navigate an ever-changing industry. The drive towards success should not be limited to a specific time frame but should instead be viewed as a continuous journey of growth and evolution. Ultimately, it is your total body of work that will determine your photography success, not your first win.
John and Veronica Park: Story Over Gear
For wedding photographers John and Veronica Park, the ubiquitous narrative and constant online marketing suggesting that the newest and most advanced equipment is a prerequisite for exemplary work is the worst advice they’ve ever received. Contrary to this belief, while modern tools can streamline processes or speed up tasks, they are not necessary to achieve excellence. The park has sole discretion in updating its equipment. They only choose to upgrade when the new device addresses specific requirements or delivers significant enough efficiency gains to significantly benefit their workflow.
Trevor Sherwin: There are no shortcuts/One size does not fit all
Trevor Sherwin of boudoir studio Provocative images told me that listening to the general approach from the people selling you marketing solutions was definitely the worst advice he’d ever heard. Sure, you can buy a little success, but rarely do those plans work out the way you want. There’s a whole ecosystem out there that knows that photographers will buy into some kind of get-rich-quick solution. Of course, there are some situations where this works, but for the rest, it’s bad advice that will take you away from the task of building your business uniquely and sustainably.
Aris Apostolopoulos: Looking beyond the Golden Hour
Aris ApostolopoulosAnother photography guide I work with at G’s adventures, was quick to point out a very common piece of advice as the worst advice he’s ever received: “the best light for landscape photography is during the golden hour.” For Apostolopoulos, this limits photographers too much. For example, if you want to convey a sense of drama with your images, Apostolopoulos suggests that it’s probably better to take photos at midday in bright light, creating high contrast between shadows and highlights. Everything doesn’t have to be gold.
Relatedly, Apostolopoulos also learned that the best portrait lighting comes from a softbox. Again, it depends on what you are trying to achieve. You have to choose between the soft light of a softbox or the harsh light of a direct flash depending on the mood you want to convey.
Apostolopoulos wants to make it clear that there is no “best light” in photography, but there is best light in relation to what you want to achieve.
Esteban Toro: Put your name behind your values
Early in his career, travel photographer and Sony Ambassador, Esteban Toro being told that it doesn’t matter much if you identify with a brand. If you are asked to represent a brand, you should jump at the opportunity for exposure and pay. To Toro, this was terrible advice that he was glad he didn’t act on. Instead, Toro chose to represent a camera manufacturer that was not very well known at the time. If he had followed this advice and started representing another famous brand that did not align with his values, his career would have been completely different. For Toro, the lesson is clear: stay true to yourself and only represent companies that align with your values.
Mike Gere: There’s probably no such thing as bad advice
I work with Mike Gere In Northern border adventure as a photography guide. Gere also ran Jasper’s photo tour. We had plenty of time to chat in the evening as we waited for the northern lights to appear and perform for our guests. Gere gave me a slightly different answer which I would like to conclude. Gere explained that he couldn’t think of any truly bad advice.
There is nothing Gere has been taught or said that he regrets learning. Even bad advice taught him a lesson. Gere sees himself as a collection of instructions he learned from the good advice he received as well as the lessons he learned from the bad advice and mistakes of others.
I am the collection of other people’s lessons and mistakes.
The trick is knowing which advice to take at face value and which advice to learn without taking action. It is a special skill to recognize which advice you should not take too far as your companion.
How about you? What’s the worst advice you’ve ever received?
All images provided by and credited to trusted photographers. Main image provided by Jeffrey Garriock.
