58 Interesting Facts About Being a Photographer

About: Skai the Photographer

Welcome to my world of interesting photography experiences. I'm Skai Chan and I've been passionately capturing moments since around 2012. Specialising in portraiture, events, and interior and real estate photography, my journey began humbly, working with friends and aspiring models. These early experiences allowed me to hone my craft, eventually progressing to working with diverse clients. This journey not only helped me upgrade my equipment but also enriched my life with countless fascinating stories.

Read on to find out about the interesting facts about being a photographer in Singapore.

Facts about Photography

General Photography Facts

Photography equipment and accessories are expensive.
Photography equipment is heavy and bulky, making it difficult to carry around. This includes lighting equipment like strobes, softboxes and light stands.
Photographers who are too soft tend to be taken for granted.
Every photographer has limited time and can only take up a few photoshoots monthly unless he outsources part of the project, such as post-production.
Freelance photographers need to be proficient in various skills, including composition, lighting, editing and even marketing.
The field of photography is ever-evolving with new techniques, software and equipment, requiring photographers to continuously update their knowledge and skills.
Photographers frequently work with diverse clients in various locations, providing them with rich cultural experiences and insights.
There is no "cheaper, better, faster" in photography. High-quality photographs require greater skill, better equipment, and more time and effort, hence they are more expensive.
While clients have their preferences and budgets, photographers have their choices too. It depends on how desperate the photographer is.
Photography can be physically demanding, involving long hours of standing, carrying heavy equipment and sometimes even climbing to get the perfect shot.
Photographers often face ethical decisions, such as respecting privacy, obtaining proper consent and accurately representing subjects and events.
No matter how low a photographer charges, some clients will always think the rate is too high. When I was new to commercial photography and testing demand at low rates, many clients skipped me for even cheaper services.
Any verbal or digital agreement is considered a contract, which some clients may deny the validity of after changing their minds.
During discussions and on their websites, photographers are usually strict about their packages and rules because many clients take them for granted. Eventually, some photographers go the extra mile to offer additional help.
Just as female models fear being taken advantage of, male photographers have their own set of fears. The industry can be fraught with misunderstandings and misplaced intentions, creating a need for clear communication and professional boundaries.
Photoshoots can be used to judge people. The way individuals conduct themselves during a shoot, their level of preparedness and their interactions with the photographer can reveal much about their professionalism, attitude and reliability.

Facts about Marketing

Most freelance photographers spend more time on marketing than actual photography, which is necessarily.
Some photographers may not be as skilled as they seem. They might showcase portfolios from shoots with celebrities or big brands, but many of these projects could have been done for free or at low rates. If quoting market rates, they might have lost the opportunities.
Some popular photographers aren't necessarily skilled ones. They could be spending much of their time providing free services to popular influencers or models, thus showcasing many photos. In reality, they might not be getting many paying clients.
Most photographers need to share their portfolios to attract new clients, but many lack the resources and time to update them. Nevertheless, I use my IT background to craft my entire website using notepad and keep it promptly updated, spending thousands of hours on it.
To create a diverse and captivating portfolio, photographers often need models. This collaboration is essential for showcasing a range of styles and subjects.
Despite the importance of portfolio diversification, not every photographer has the time to engage in collaborative shoots. The demands of client work often take precedence, leaving limited time for such endeavours.

Facts about Photo Studios

Most photographers don't own a photography studio due to the high rental and maintenance costs. Some focus on on-location or outdoor photography, rendering a studio underutilised.
Most homes can be used to set up makeshift or mini photography studios, especially for headshots or half-body photography.
It can take hours for a photographer to set up a makeshift studio singlehandedly.

Facts about Post-Production

One of the most important and tedious parts of post-production is the culling of photos. Everyone can do it easily and quickly, but an expert will take a long time to make the right choices.
Photo post-production takes longer than the actual photography.
Detailed editing, such as advanced editing with skin retouching, for one portrait photo may take hours.
While clients may be anxious to receive the final photos, photographers are more anxious to deliver them to complete the job and focus on new projects.
When repeatedly going through a huge album of photos, there's always some minor tweaking, such as exposure adjustment, that can be done to improve some of the images.

Facts about Collaboration / TFCD and Models

Interestingly, many female models who request free photoshoots are often wealthier than the photographers. This can create an intriguing paradox where those who can afford professional services opt to seek them for free.
Some models lie to ensure they can get accepted for the collaboration. For example, they may lie about their body measurements.
Most aspiring models are not open-minded and many pretend to be.
When things come for free, people tend to appreciate them less and may take them for granted.
Collaborating with friends doesn't necessarily mean the process will be smooth.
Most people approach photographers to use them without considering how the project benefits the photographers.
Many influencers, bloggers and Instagrammers approach photographers to collaborate for commercial purposes, like advertising sponsored items.
Not everyone who approaches a photographer is serious about photography.
Less physically appealing people aren't necessarily more humble and sensible. In general, they can be more sensitive due to bad experiences.
Most people are nice during the photoshoot but their true colours show afterwards.
No matter how good the photography skill is, the photographer will still be "played out" at times.
Many aspiring models and influencers approach photographers for collaboration but are available only "months later".
Most aspiring models give up their modelling dreams sooner or later, and some may request photographers to remove their photos from the photographers' websites and social media account.
The fastest an aspiring model ever changed her mind about beginning her portfolio was within 24 hours after the collaboration shoot. Despite the involvement of a professional hair and makeup artist and a professional photography session filled with laughter, the model used the free makeover to attend a party afterwards.

Facts about Photography Clients

No matter how hard a bespoke photographer filters clients and models, some black sheep will slip through by pretending to be nice. Consequently, the photographer will eventually face challenging situations caused by these individuals.
No matter how many good people a photographer works with to bring joy, encountering a difficult client can severely affect their life, leading to a long, draining process.
Some clients invite their photographers to private parties as guests after working together.
To most people, professional photographers are "just another photographer"; they often can't distinguish between normal and excellent photographs.
Many clients focus on (low) rates rather than the quality of work.
Not all clients are serious about hiring the photographers they approach. Many clients scout for various quotations, and some are just sourcing at least three quotes to submit to their companies.
Some appreciative and generous clients give tips even before the photography session begins.
Regardless of the extra effort the photographer has put in and how much the client appreciates it, less than half of the clients keep their promise to write a review for the photographer.
Many clients rush photographers to deliver the photos but take days or weeks to download them after delivery.
Most clients dissatisfied with their photographers are those who don't wish to pay extra for additional requests after the shoots. For example, some pay for a package that includes only basic editing and then attempt to get photographers to do advanced editing on some photos for free.

Facts about Photo Quality

On social media, both creative and sexy photographs attract more responses; the latter is much easier to achieve.
As long as the model is attractive, there will be more responses on social media, regardless of the photograph's quality.
Pretty models usually benefit the photographer more because viewers focus on the final results, not the transformation process.
Between a hot, pretty model and a creative model with a reasonable look, the latter can create more interesting work. Besides, there are many hot and pretty models in the market.

You may be interested in:
- Advantages of being a freelance photographer
- Disadvantages of being a photographer
- Photography is a sunset industry
- Ways to insult a professional photographer
- Misconceptions and myths in professional photography
- How can photographers return photographs fast

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