Comments on: Fstoppers’ Own Rebecca Britt’s Fantastic Craigslist Rant

By: Penelope Lolohea

Penelope Lolohea — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:40:00 +0000

It’s like you took my thoughts, and made them awesome! I am nowhere near the photographer I want to be, but I’m working towards getting there. Sans snark, this list has a lot of the standards I want to do business by. With the exception of Instagram; I use it all the time, although I only use it for my personal life. :)

Thanks for the laughs!

By: And I Care Cuz?

And I Care Cuz? — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 02:24:00 +0000

I support all Photographers or people who takes photos , being that it’s professional or just as a hobby, everyone feels talented in their own way! i try not to put anybody down (UNLESS IT’S CALLED FOR)! i don’t know if any of you guys are familiar with EMILY SOTO but she does AMAZING work! hell she had a picture frame in one of her work and it look DAMN good! check it out Rebecca!
https://www.facebook.com/EmilySotoFashionPhotographer. when i first read this blog, i thought to myself dang this girl must do top notch ish… but when i looked at your work i thought to myself what 10k equipment did you waste your money on, because i know some great photographers who didn’t spent CLOSE to that amount! i know people with a Nikon d5000 who pictures look waayyyy better than yours. don’t get me wrong your photo’s are nice but your no
https://www.facebook.com/Edztheartist.
#POW!

AND IF ANY ONE OF YOU WANT TO CHEW MY HEAD OFF FOR WRITING THIS FEEL FREE IN 5 4 3 2 1…..GO!

By: Gotham

Gotham — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 04:05:00 +0000

This is hilarious.
Rebecca, you have handled yourself graciously on some of these posts that must have been challenging.
The people who were so angry that they had to take to the comment board with nastiness, why do you believe her post was aimed at you? Take a better look at yourself. Take a deep breath, have a glass of wine and remember… this wasn’t aimed at you, because you are a professional who stands by your work and your equipment and who produces the quality that you charge for. Right.?

Side note, I guess I don’t get a name on this forum. Hi, I am Amber

By: Rebecca Britt

Rebecca Britt — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 22:02:00 +0000

Seriously??? Wow.

By: Rob S

Rob S — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 15:09:00 +0000

To me M is for complex strobe work only. I spend 99% of the time parked in A because that is what I want to control. Shooting in M only is a bit of snobbery that is like using an analog phone. When ever someone mocks a technological solution I ask them what it would be like in reverse. If you offered an all manual camera to someone who had only known the various “computer assisted” modes which would they take?

By: Rob S

Rob S — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 14:55:00 +0000

As satire, I thin you hit the mark well. If at all serious, I think you got a B:

Expensive equipment does not make you a “professional.” My full time profession is the Profession of Arms and I can tell you that there are plenty armies in the world with billions in weapons but not one professional soldier. While I do not consider myself a “professional” photographer what I produce is done in a professional manner – despite my modest expenditures. I sell pictures every day taken with equipment that would likely not pass your “test.”

One of the biggest issues in the photo trade in my opinion is the lack of a path to professionalization. Doctors, lawyers even mechanics have known and accepted paths to being called professionals. Plumbers, electricians and carpenters have licensing requirements. And along with gates to pass there are methods for disciplining and sanctioning those who fail to maintain professional standards. Photography has none of this. Im not sure if it ever could because of the mixture of art and trade involved but the lack of professionalization is and will remain a problem.

As for not using Craigslist to advertise, I think thats a bit of snobbery and a miss opportunity. First off, its free. The worst thing that can happen is that you spend an hour and never get a single client. On the other hand you might get some clients from CL. And you might get referrals. I know that when I was a young soldier with about $100 a month in disposable income I took note of the businesses who treated me well even if they knew I couldnt afford their services. See in the military you literally “wear” your paycheck for all to see in the form of your rank. Merchants in military towns are experts at calculating exactly what each rank is worth. The smart ones recognize that while you may not be able to afford them today, you might soon. Or you might have friends more senior to you who you could refer.

I think you hit the nail on the head when you talked about a backup plan and legal matters. Going back to professionalization, those are the things that I think set professionals apart. Digital cameras have gotten to the point that ANY DSLR made in the last 4 years can produce a professional image. ANY. But what sets the professional apart is being prepared and equipped for the unexpected. Sun suddenly so bright everyone has shadows on their faces? I have a flash for that. Or a diffuser. And I can get the shot the first or at worst second time, not spray and pray. Group suddenly three times the expected size? I have a wide lens because the room didnt get any larger and I cant back up more. And so on. 99% of us can get beautiful images in perfect light. The true professionals can get beautiful images in ANY light. Joe McNally isnt great because he has a bizzillion Nikon strobes. He is great because he can “see” light most of us cant and make light most of us cant imagine.

Good luck and good shooting.

By: Rob S

Rob S — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 14:12:00 +0000

Hmmm…not understanding that at all. Why not cover all the bases? For someone like me whose full time profession is the military CL is invaluable. If its not online, it doesnt exist to me. Between a good google search, CL search and service specific sites like Greatschools.net we can find the things we need in a new home from anywhere in the world. I picked the realtor who bought my house from while in Afghanistan and yes, I checked CL. It was not my only source or even primary one but I wanted someone who was as comfortable with working online as I was and the fact that she knew and understood the role for CL was a big factor.

By: Rob S

Rob S — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 14:03:00 +0000

Viveza 2 is one of the best tools that (it seems) no one knows about.

By: Rudy Mack

Rudy Mack — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 13:45:00 +0000

You forgot to promise not to commit suicide. I know someone who had to visit the photographer’s widow and sift thru negatives so they could go somewhere else and have prints made.

By: jorge moro

jorge moro — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 18:55:00 +0000

Oh. I read this trash. I guess I’ll have to return the 7500.00 US I just collected from shooting a destination wedding in Old San Juan. Hmm. The bride and groom love my work. I did have some shot through the “frame” and some very soft focus corners intentionally. However, I do get to know my brides and groom BEFORE I do anything like that just to make sure they will be ok with that. Even if they are not, i still do that for myself. So, maybe your clientele in the backwoods of Kansas don’t appreciate that but many brides do. I’m just saying… And just as a footnote I’ve been shooting weddings on and off since 1985 with medium format film and since 2002 digital. Who the F*ck are you to dictate to anyone what they can/should/shouldn’t do? Do you think that you are all that? Please… And shame on the rest of you for reading this crap, even if some of it is humorous. We are all affected by the person who just bought a digital camera, has been told they are good, and decide to pursue a “career” in screwing up someone’s special day. Maybe some of you are guilty of such? I wonder….