10 Things Photographers Should NOT Do

We usually see photography tips on the things we should be doing, so I thought it would be interesting to turn it around and look at the things photographers should not be doing.

The items in my list are not comprehensive by any means, but I find them to be fairly important with regard to most photographers out there. And of course, these are only suggestions and opinions… so don't get too twisted up about them.

I got the idea for this title and article from a post at Daily Blog Tips called “10 Things Bloggers Should NOT Do“. Also worth a read for my fellow bloggers.

1. DON'T EXPECT RESULTS OVERNIGHT

Learning photography takes time — and that goes for the artistic and technical aspects. Sure, you might be artistically and/or technically inclined, but you probably won't have galleries begging for your photos a month after you pick up your first camera. The process of learning photography and developing a personal style can take years (or even a lifetime). Just keep at it and you should start to notice improvements in your work as the months turn to years.

2. DON'T LUST FOR NEW GEAR

New gear is exciting, isn't it? Bigger better cameras, faster lenses, filters, tripods, flashes, bags, etc. Don't get me wrong — it's fine to get excited over this stuff. But don't make it your life's goal to constantly buy the next best thing on the market. My advice is to buy new gear when you need it rather than when you want it. You'll know that you need something when you repeatedly find yourself missing opportunities (or even paying jobs) due to a lack of some feature or piece of equipment.

3. DON'T BE AFRAID TO FAIL

This one goes for anything in life — failure leads to success, improvement, and learning. You might screw up one or two shots from time to time, but you'll remember those mistakes next time you head out (and hopefully you won't make them again).

4. DON'T GET COCKY

Whether it's seemingly justified or not, nobody really likes a cocky bastard. So you sold a print, got into a gallery exhibit, got featured on some big website, etc — that's great, but don't let it go to your head. Don't talk down to other photographers or put yourself on a pedestal. If you do, it's only going to drive people away.

5. DON'T IGNORE THE CRITICS

If you share your photos anywhere on the web, you've probably had unsolicited critiques. Of course, you're more than welcome to ignore them, but it usually doesn't hurt to read them and think about it. You might just learn something or improve a photo. But, keep in mind that not all advice is good advice.

6. DON'T MAKE IT COMPLICATED

Photography is relatively simple on the technical side. Too many times, I've seen new photographers get hung up worrying about modes and settings when they really don't need to. As you continue to shoot and educate yourself, you'll pick up the technical stuff quite easily. Besides, if you worry too much about the technical side, you're more likely to miss shots entirely.

7. DON'T STEAL IDEAS

This goes for any form of creative expression. You see what I did at the top of this article? I gave credit where credit is due because I borrowed an idea and turned it into something of my own. Same thing for photos — if you borrow a concept from another photographer, make sure you give them credit. And look at it this way — if you inspired others to create new things, wouldn't you like it if they gave you recognition for that?

8. DON'T NEGLECT YOUR GEAR

Cameras and other photographic equipment can be delicate at times. With the cost of cameras and lenses today, it's worthwhile to take care of them. Try not to bang it around on things, drop it, get it wet, etc. And keep your gear clean if you want it to last — lens elements and sensors in particular.

9. DON'T IGNORE “THE RULES”

The rule of thirds, symmetry, leading lines, perspective, background, depth of field, framing, crop, and so on. You've probably come across some of the basic rules of photography either on the web or in a book. Then you also see advice out there saying “break the rules”. So what's the answer? Follow them? Break them? Here's the thing… there's a major difference between breaking the rules on accident and breaking the rules on purpose. It's called intent, and that's what separates the good from the bad. So learn the rules, then learn how to break them.

10. DON'T STOP LEARNING

Probably the worse thing a photographer (or any hobbyist/professional) can do is stop learning. There is a ton of stuff to learn about photography and art in general, and the flow of new information only increases as technology advances. So always be open to learning new things — even if you think you know it all!

What other things do you think photographers should not do? Are you guilty of any on my list?