Apr 07 2010

Moving Forward with the Truth

I had no idea where my previous post would go, “Truth in our Industry“. Just that thought alone has gone in so many directions now with stuff all over the place. Understand, this blog is only run by me, moderated by me, written (so far) by me. I too have a business to run and a family to take care of. I let all the posts go up without moderation since I knew I would not have the time to approve every comment and I wanted everyone to have a place to voice their honest opinions. I am excited that we kind of blew the lid off of things, so many have been frustrated for so long, but now that the lid is off, let’s keep the discussion going in the right direction and the truth.

Why I shut down the previous post, “Truth in our Industry“, is that it started becoming less productive and less about the true talk of photography, more about the personal attacks. The personal attacks have detracted from the value of the dialogue that this blog was originally started for. We are part of a buyer beware society, so many of you do have opinions of workshops and or products. Looking past all the negativity that has been said, there has been a lot of positive that has come out in the past 2 weeks. Let’s keep the positive going. Many of you have found your voice in seeking the Truth, the truth shall set you free, and it has for all of you.

In moving forward, I want everyone to know that I am going to keep the conversation open and I am not going to edit anything you have to say if you feel you still have to vent or call someone out. The only thing I want all to know is to keep it professional and a respectful position, on the up and up, so to speak. I invite all of you to write in all the positive that you have taken from the previous post in these past 2 weeks. I am a small voice like yours and my heart is in this to improve our industry.

I’m not a grumpy, I care. I care about how my industry is perceived. I care about our art. Its not all about the money. Its a passion, a passion that I have been working on for over 25 years now. So whether you are a “newbie” or a “veteran” of this industry, let’s show how much we care about photography and keep the art alive. I want everyone to learn, I welcome new people in our industry, just learn and respect all the hard work those before us have done.

From author John of Salisbury in 1159. “We are like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants. We see more, and things that are more distant, than they did, not because our sight is superior or because we are taller than they, but because they raise us up, and by their great stature add to ours.”

Posted in Truth in our Industry

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Paul Eaton - April 7, 2010 - 3:14 pm

Carlos I’ve been watching whats been happening and although I don’t like how some of the “calling out” has been done I think the whole movement itself has been long overdue.

Jim Collins has made some good posts as well on his blog http://lifenotes-justuff.blogspot.com/2010/04/hows-this-for-transparency.html

I think we can turn a lot of this negative into a positive. If people take the criticism and use it to turn their “empty calorie” workshops into meaningful ones they might regain their reputations. As Gary Fong has said “do a free workshop” which I think they will need to do now that the truth is out if they want people to attend their events. WPPI 2011 is gonna be very interesting to sat the least!
-Paul

Jeff Sipper - April 7, 2010 - 3:26 pm

I watched the “Truth in our Industry” post go from a few people coming forward with honest, insightful responses to a downward spiral of vitriol, and namecalling. I’m glad there is an open forum for people to express how they feel!

I guess there has been a lot of pent-up anger in a lot of people. I can understand that, but to make change, it should be kept positive. People will listen, if you talk to them. As soon as you start yelling, people tune out.

Just Max - April 7, 2010 - 3:42 pm

Paul

So the answer is to start teaching substance in workshops now?

Regain your reputation by doing what you were supposed to be doing in the first place?

Give some stuff away first and then go back to making money, fake it till you make it?

Gary Fong went onto to advise a few of the photovendors to get a PR firm because a PR firm can fix their image, really? A PR Firm?

How about we don’t have anything to do with the WPPI and we start looking elsewhere for our ideas and workshops.

matt shumate - April 7, 2010 - 4:05 pm

It’s good to see that a few of the companies who are on the edges of the criticism are taking it upon themselves to be more transparent about their relationships with photographers/other businesses. Should have been done far earlier. If a company only comes half clean with their transparency notices, they should be shunned.

Next up should be WPPI. While I enjoyed this year’s event, it seems like a ton of the photographers/companies who are being criticized were very heavily promoted there.

I’m a newbie, and while I was fascinated by the ‘rockstars’ for a little while, I’m so thankful I found local mentors & online communities who actually are trying to give back, not just pad their bank accounts.

I look forward to the day when I’ve been doing this long enough to offer the same to others.

Stephen Karlisch - April 7, 2010 - 5:23 pm

The wedding industry will never change unless people stop thinking of themselves as just “wedding photographers” and start to think of themselves as Professional Photographers.
I’ve never seen this kind of negativity in the editorial, commercial, or art world of photography. Why weddings? Are we all easy targets for some clever few to prey on our insecurities, with false hope of fame and riches? Maybe. Need to change the “dream” first. Focus on growth, both artistically, and technically, and have the nerve to keep pushing even when times are tough and the outlook on our profession looks bleak. As several have said, “there is no magic bullet.”
WPPI needs a serious overhaul, what a joke that has turned into. If you want to learn about photography save your money and go to PhotoPlus in New York.
And stop going to the “rockstars” blogs and $99 sales seminars. That will change the landscape pretty quick.

Tasha - April 7, 2010 - 6:18 pm

i know Gary Fong created a website.. but here is one that has already been in place for awhile..and has quite a few reviews in place..
http://www.photogvendors.com/

Just Max - April 7, 2010 - 6:37 pm

Paul Eaton sir…
My wife woke up and said I sound like a big fat angry mean bear; my comment was in no way directed at you or anyone in particular. We have clients bring up a disappointment all the time; they express a letdown in the whole process of booking the wedding. A lot of clients feel like the industry as a whole from flower vendors to photographers are taking advantage of them. None of this is directed at us as we still grind out everything by hand but the overall impression they seem to have of the wedding industry is not favorable to the people who work in it.
Take for example, what I call the western storefront. The slick blog and over sharpened images. 20+ amazing photos that look fantastic in exotic locals painstakingly set up and hand crafted to sell the photographer. The client expects the end result to look like what they have purchased. What they have purchased is the storefront we display. Cut to 6 weeks 6 months later and the 800 shoot-don’t-edit, images arrive and the client is left with a bad taste in their mouth. I read one photographers blog and apparently he will edit in camera and that his workflow was down to less than an hour.
I am proud to be a wedding photographer and I would like to remain proud of my chosen profession.

tami - April 8, 2010 - 7:09 am

i know there was a lot of venting going on – and i think it helped. a lot of it needed to be said, and i am glad it is out there, finally. if only a few people had felt this way, the topic would have died a lot sooner!

i can’t help but wonder what changes will be made, if any? when the fury dies will this all just go away? there are no ‘regulators’ so to speak so in all honesty, i think this was all moot. in a month or two when wedding season is in full run, we will all be too busy to care nor will we have time. i hope i am wrong. : ))

Paul Eaton - April 8, 2010 - 10:25 am

Max I cannot disagree with you. I tried to post a little optimism on here but I can also be a realist. Here’s what I think of your questions:
So the answer is to start teaching substance in workshops now?

Regain your reputation by doing what you were supposed to be doing in the first place?
Yes, now more than ever a workshop better provide substance or you are going to be called out in an open forum such as this. Put out or get out should be the new motto for speakers/teachers etc.

Give some stuff away first and then go back to making money, fake it till you make it?
I think it’s the opposite of fake it till you make it. I’m not a workshop attendee but if I were I would want proof a workshop has substance. Where do we get this? I think if someone were to give a workshop for free more people would go, the only thing you have to lose is your time, and if these people come away happy, then they should tell others. This being a good referral group for said workshop. However I think Julia’s POV needs expanding here where we have to be careful about paid endorsements being put on blogs as if they were genuine and not paid.

Gary Fong went onto to advise a few of the photovendors to get a PR firm because a PR firm can fix their image, really? A PR Firm?
God I hope he’s kidding. PR firms do work magic though. Look at Michael Jackson, a PR firm made us all forget he was a prescription drug addict, baby dangling, molester and think he was the king of pop upon his death.

How about we don’t have anything to do with the WPPI and we start looking elsewhere for our ideas and workshops.
I and most of my friends use WPPI for an excuse. The excuse being a way to meet up with all our long distance friends (even meet new ones) drink, party all night and roll out of bed at 2pm to walk the floor and buy more junk I don’t really need. COUGH pocketwizards COUGH

David N. Beasley Jr. - July 29, 2010 - 7:21 pm

Newbee

Hey Carlos, I want to take a few minutes and thank you for creating the new Blog entitled “True Photo Talk”. I learned about it yesterday via a friend who thought my most recent Blog post was inspired by it but I had no idea this blog even existed.

I have been reading the comments out there and have gone through many emotions as a result based on my newness in the industry and where I’d like to take my career. I want to thank you for creating the dialogue, answering questions I’ve had over the last 12 months. I applaud the time and energy you put into your work and instruction which has really made a difference for me with my learning curve.

As I dissected the DVD, your passion and willingness to share with others came through loud and clear and I think that’s what it’s all about including walking away with very happy clients. I also applaud you for not overpricing the DVD, which you could have easily done and people would have paid it. I have to also commend you for “moving on” from the Blog post that got so many comments. I think the direction on the Blog is creating some awesome dialogue among photographers which I believe was your original intent. I have a small list of photographers that I admire not just because of their work but also because of their heart for people and you are on that list of three. I admire each of you for very different reason but each if you have a strong sense of genuiness in your approach to your work and dealing with people. It’s where I am headed with my work and business and I want to thank you for your LEADERSHIP in creating the dialogue and setting a positive example for the rest of us.

God bless,

David