You Want That Shot? It's Gonna Cost You.
I'll let you in on a secret.
That is this: Photographers generally don't give up for good reason. Why? They're resilient and they're passionate and some might say downright stubborn.
Well, you've got to be determined if you want that shot and you're not returning to that stunning location anytime soon this side of 2016!
It's quite well known that in life, the most rewarding things never come easy.
You'll have to work hard, take risks and make sacrifices in order to achieve your goals. However, in photography, this applies with much higher magnitude.
Here's Why…
Nowadays, we take loads of photos – no, like loads!
To put that into perspective, some statistics show it was estimated that in 2015 the total number of photos taken will be something around one trillion. That is 12 zeros right there.
AMAZING FACT!
If each photo is printed (as a 4×6 inch) and stitched end to end, the length would be sufficient for 2 round trips to the sun.
How about that?
You, as a photographer, will need to generate photographs that need to stand out from that enormous pool of photographs. And that, my friends, is not an easy task to do.
Photographers Don't Give Up…(Providing They Want To Stand Out From This Huge Crowd)
Here Are 4 Sacrifices and a ton of inspiration coming your way, so grab a seat…
1. The Elements
To be honest, you’ll get dirty, wet, suffer from exhausting heat (plus more) – all that is quite normal. For example, if you want to take some shots during the rain, you can’t expect to remain dry.
You’ll have to go out there in the rain, wind and everything else, and shoot. Over and over again.
This is taking the saying “rinse and repeat” to a very literal level!
Photo by Jesse Wagstaff
If you live in a country like mine, where the summers are hot and dry, and temperatures rise up to 115 degrees easily, with UV factors skyrocketing, you can’t expect not to get a little sun burned.
Things like that are common when shooting out under the sun, especially if you are high up in the mountains, or near water. Brace yourself, apply plenty of UV protection, and head out into the world.
Want some shots in the forest? Yes.
Especially that mysterious mood after rain in the morning, when there is mist all over the place? Yes.
Well, be prepared for mud, and lots of it. It WILL be slippery, you’ll probably fall down a few times, and it will hurt a tad more than a regular fall since you’ll be focused on keeping the camera intact rather than your own body.
Take care in these scenarios, especially if you're alone!
You'd be better off dropping that insured $2,000 beloved camera body than risking your life! Yes, it'll be emotionally painful but just try and use some practical common sense here. Seriously.
I do know some people who'd rather break their neck than have their camera slip off a rock into the unknown…I don't recommend this mindset for one second! We say photographers don't give up, but sometimes you sadly have to accept these things…
Further Learning
Looking for some professional photography secrets? Available nowhere else?
I bet you are, and luckily, you've arrived just in time because we've got tons here.
100% revealed, so you can get on a master your Landscape Photography.
2. The Physical Sacrifices A Photographer Makes
Besides the fact that you’ll be out there in almost every weather condition possible, even in the extreme cases, the toll of physical exertion is quite large too.
You’ll be carrying your gear all the time, so back pain is something that you’ll grow used to, and you'll have to (temporarily) live with it. Your hands will often start failing after shooting for extended periods of time too.
But, despite everything, you’ll find yourself not calling it a day just yet!
Not to mention all the sleepless nights you’ll go through for the sake of that single perfect shot, and all those extremely early mornings hunting down the perfect sunrise.
It's hard in the beginning – but then you somehow grow into it, and a great deal of this becomes “normal”?
3. The Damage To Your Wallet Being A Photographer Has
If you are passionate about photography like most photographers out there, including me, your photography gear will cost more than your car.
Yes, your friends or family will assume you're probably nuts! Driving around in that rust bucket, while carrying thousands of dollars worth of gear up some muddy trail at the crack of dawn….
From the photographer's point of view, the car is just a transportation tool, if it takes you from point A to point B. Is there any other function is should perform, other than to keep you (and your gear) protected from the elements?
It's crazy to think all those
- lenses,
- flashes,
- lights,
- light stands,
- tripods,
- tripod heads,
- scrims,
- modifiers,
- diffusers,
- filters,
- bags, and of course,
- cameras and computers, quickly add up to values higher than whatever you paid for your car, or perhaps even twice as big!
Top Thought!
Photography equipment is really necessary, especially when it enables you to do your job fully, more easily and express yourself creatively. When your wallet starts to gain some weight, you’ll begin to invest in gear that will enable you to do your work faster, but that is always optional.
4. The Ultimate Investment In Photography…Time
They say “Time is Money”. But is it?
I say to photographers, put in the time and the money will eventually follow, especially if you're following your real passion. But spending more time behind the camera does not equally correlate to more earnings – sadly, there ain't a graph showing that! It would be nice, though.
You probably see photographers walking around with the camera all day long, as if it was their smartphone. It's because we're hardcore!
No, but seriously, that's basically part of the job description for many photographers.
The hours you put into your photography will begin to stack up quite fast and you’ll come to realize that you are basically doing photography 24/7. Don't worry, that is normal.
Make no mistake, if you don’t have your camera with you it doesn’t mean that you aren’t doing photography – so do not feel guilty!
When you start photographing on a daily basis your visual perception starts to function quite similarly to the camera: you are framing shots in your mind even though you aren’t photographing.
You’ll be evaluating light all the time, memorizing possible locations (even writing down) for future shoots and so forth.
Summary
Photography is rarely just a job description. For most photographers, photography is a way of life – everything is molded around it and there is nothing wrong with that. Well, except when it goes to extremes.
Photography takes its toll, but at the end of the day, every single bit of it is worth it.
Photographers Don't Give Up (Easily) – Top Takeaways!
- Be prepared for all weather conditions, because you're gonna be in them.
- Allow extra time, because you're ALWAYS going to need it.
- Have your gear insured! Sometimes, accidents happen.
- If you workout, great, if you don't make sure you're physically stretched a little before heading out for a long day or night shoot.
Further Resources
- Learning to Love Rainy Day Photography by Jason D. Little
- 16 Quick & Easy Tips To Keep You Shooting In Spite Of Bad Weather by Tiffany Mueller
- 5 Daily Exercises to Become a Better Photographer by Kent DuFault
- How to Save Dreary Weather Photographs With HDR by Kent DuFault
Further Learning
Looking for some professional photography secrets? Available nowhere else?
I bet you are, and luckily, you've arrived just in time because we've got tons here.
100% revealed, so you can get on a master your Landscape Photography.
1 Comment
Don’t forget driving eight hours one way, not once, but time after time after time, hoping to capture that special view with just the right weather, just the right amount of snow or waves or stands of wheat, and just the right light. Or, like this shot, wading chest deep in a river and braving glacial fed water in order to photograph that waterfall that can only be seen from that angle.