Rachael
Feb, 24, 2022, the day I realized I was doing everything wrong in photography. I used flash, the pros used sunlight. I would explain poses for models to hold, the pros were capturing genuine moments. I heavily edited my photos, the pros did almost zero editing. I was chasing the latest $6000 digital camera that could shoot 250,000 images, the pros were using $500 vintage 1970’s rangefinders and shooting on rolls of 35mm film with 36 shots each. I shot for cool instagram photos and the pros shot for major brands and private sales. I was doing everything wrong..
This day changed everything.
Sample, first page
Chapter 1
Unsung Elements
Fuck you. Did that evoke an emotion and or grab your attention? Good, that’s our first lesson. Does your photo invoke an emotion? Can it relate to and captivate the audience? Just pointing and shooting your cute friends at the beach in artificial poses, will likely not move an audience or win any awards. Lesson number one: emotion.
And why are you dragging your friends around to pose for your camera? Are you just having fun, wanting cool instagram photos? Or are you vying for the attention of major brands while trying to win art competitions and selling prints in art galleries? There’s no right or wrong answer, you don’t have to be a fancy pants artist, but why are you doing this? That’s lesson number two, purpose.
Tell me a story. If a photo is worth a thousand words then you better hope there’s something worth being said in that frame. Third lesson: what’re you trying to tell your viewer?
Last but not least, a coveted secret from hundreds or thousands of years: the golden ratio. You’ve heard of it before but it’s on the unsung list for two reasons. First, not enough photographers are using it. Second, the ones who are, don’t talk about it, because it is a secret.
Let’s recap, does your photo evoke an emotion for a purpose that tells a story and has hidden mathematics that trick the viewers brain into falling in love? If yes, then go return this book, you’re already a legend and i’d like you to email me for collaborations. If not, then congratulations, you’re already one big step closer to being an artist, instead of a random dslr owner and a “dm for rates” in your instagram bio. If that’s you, go delete that immediately, you’ll thank me later.
Let’s break these unsung elements down starting with emotion..