No doubt, a lot of creatives tend to be quite introverted, and that can make it difficult when you are a photographer and need to be able to work with and direct people. If that is something you struggle with, check out this fantastic video essay that discusses being a photographer as an introvert.
Coming to you from David Bergman with Adorama TV, this excellent video essay discusses the issue of being an introverted photographer. Certainly, there are genres in which you do not need to worry about being an introvert, such as landscape or product photography, but there are others (such as wedding work) that demand a high degree of extraversion. You might be surprised, but a lot of the best wedding photographers and portraitists I know are actually quite introverted. They simply know how to "turn it on" when it comes time to work, and they are just as successful as anyone else, though they do find the work more mentally exhausting due to all the excess social interaction. Nonetheless, the point is that even if you are an introvert, if you are passionate about photography, you can absolutely be a photographer. Check out the video above for Bergman's full thoughts.
We should distinguish between "introverted", "shy" and "socially anxious" and the whole spectrum in between. If you are just introverted, you can turn it on whenever you need. It may just not be your preference.
If you are shy or have social anxiety, however, it can get much harder.
Truly spoken like a non-introvert.
I'm an introvert, a rather extreme case, in fact. I didn't choose to be like this, it's just the way I am, and I'm perfectly comfortable with it. And I certainly can't turn it on or off.
As a photographer, I generally don't like shooting people. It's all landscapes and architecture and some street photography for me.
"introverted", "shy" and "socially anxious" are not on a spectrum. They are qualitatively different. So, you're right, we should distinguish between them and not assume they're different degrees of the same thing.
I am moderately introverted, but not at all shy or socially anxious.
Introvert here. I definitely can turn it on or not depending on what I want out of the situation. I just don't care for many people, lots just rub me the wrong way. Put me on a shoot of any kind and I will definitely take complete charge of the set. If I'm not on a shoot, or situation where I feel I want something out of the situation, I'll turn into a wall flower if I have to be there, or just not be there at all. I prefer solitude and my own company.
Pretty much the same for me. Before I turned to full time photography, I was an ad agency creative for over 25 years, and it was very similar. It took me awhile, but I realised, as an introvert who hated talking or interacting with people beyond the absolute minimum necessary, I needed to switch modes to present work to clients and direct photo and film shoots, and to eventually lead a team. Even as a photographer, people are what most interest me, and street photography remains a hobby outside of my professional work, so yes, for sure, being an introvert is no barrier to being a photographer. You just need to deal with it as you would any other hurdle. Too short? Stand on a box. Too fat? Start working out. Introvert? Learn to control it.
Also an introvert and shoot macro in studio and landscape. No people or public street photographs.
Enjoy walking in the woods and camping alone.
Same here except for macro. Nothing I like better than wandering alone with my camera. Being an introvert is fine by me. Missus says I am in my happy place when out with my camera.
Some things come naturally. Others don't. Exposure calculations, color theory, effective composition - these come only with extensive study for most folks. Learning to effectively interact with portrait subjects was just one more realm of study in my development as a moderately introverted photographer who shoots events and corporate portraits. It took a lot of practice, but many of my subjects and clients comment on how enjoyable and fun they find their experience with me. It helps that I have confidence in my mastery of the technical aspects of my work, so I can relax and not feel compelled to "perform", knowing that good photos will come if I relax and think of it as play.
I'm generally very socially awkward, shy, and at times quite introverted. That said, I feel the most at ease with myself and others when I have my camera in hand during a photo shoot (but NOT if I'm photographing events or parties, which are extremely uncomfortable jobs for me). During a portrait shoot I feel that I'm able to be my best self and all of my introverted tendencies seem to go away for that period of time. It's energizing in the moment and for a little while afterward, but it's inevitable that I'll have a significant crash at the end of that day and will need time to recover afterwards. I rarely even have the energy to edit photos for a couple of days after a photo shoot.
Yep, same here. I need recovery time after dealing with people. They drain me.
This is an aspect of introversion that many non-introverts don't understand. Social interaction can be fatiguing. If you've ever tried to carry on a conversation for a few hours in a language with which you're not fluent, you may have an inkling of what that fatigue feels like. I have two toddlers, and after half a day with them constantly demanding my attention, I need to lie down mid-afternoon for a nap. I'm simply out of gas.
This is one of the reasons why I prefer photographing corporate events rather than weddings - I'm there as an observer, not a participant.
Same with me.
Introversion is not a handicap. Introverts are merely people who are satisfied by their own company and never actually need to be around others to be happy.
Social adeptness is not an inevitable trait of extroversion and social awkwardness is not an inevitable trait of introversion. Everyone has to learn to be socially adept. It's something one learns to turn on and turn off. It's a learned skill. An extrovert--a person who truly needs the company of others to be happy--can also be socially awkward (and it's a very pitiful thing to see a person who is socially awkward but can't bear to be alone).
The difference is that introverts who have learned to be socially adept will still prefer their "me time" to being with others.
A social handicap--a genuine inability to learn and practice social adeptness even for short amounts of time--is something beyond being merely introverted. That person may need professional help.
"Introverts are merely people who are satisfied by their own company"
More than this, introverts tend to get more stimulation from within, such that outside stimulation - and too much social interaction makes this unavoidable - makes us uncomfortable, much as most folks are made so by noise that's louder than they like.
The point is, being an introvert is not a handicap, nor is being an introvert an excuse for refusing to become socially adept, even if it's exhausting over a long time period.
Being unable to breathe water doesn't prevent a person from learning to swim.
I tried to draw a distinction between being "satisfied with their own company" and being less dependent on external stimulation in an effort to make clear that introversion is not narcissism.
Okay, I see that point.
I just want to share my experience on this. Purely anecdotal, of course. I might consider myself as being non-extravert, it's in my nature and it's also synchronized with my style of work. I do mostly weddings & events in a candid, documentary "fly-on-the-wall" style. Unless I have to step in of course. From experience and from feedback, I can tell that couples appreciate my calm demeanour and that this vibe radiates to them as well. As mentioned before, when I hold a camera, I have no stage freight whatsoever. I stood on stages taking photos in front of tens of thousands of people, but I would hate to give a speech in front of a room with hundred people.
One day I was a guest at a wedding and everybody could tell where and who was the photographer, from every corner of the event location. He was loud, he was talking to people, he was shouting. Apparently he was the senior photographer of the village. He knew people, people started talking to him etc.... Occasionally he took a posed group photo. All while a young woman, twenty something, took actual photos of the event, guest, details etc... Probably an intern or a student of his. I could also feel that the people of the village hired him because that's what everybody does and it might be unpopular to pick another photographer. You know, village politics.
When I got home, I actually checked out his work and I can objectively say it was very average. But I could see how and why his business was doing well. He concentrated on the people, while assistants actually take most of the images.
My point being, as in almost all jobs, your social skills are half of the work. If not more. You could be an average photographer, but act with the confidence of being the best in town and get a huge amount of assignments and be the first one people think off. You can be a an excellent photographer, but lack the skills to spread your name and connect with potential clients at every occasion. And everything in between. Leaning to being introvert can be an advantage and a disadvantage, depending on the situation and assignment.
Hey! Why not start with something simple?
I am an introvert, and since most of my photographic life has been as a landscape photographer, it hasn’t been a problem. However, owing to burn out, and a personal situation, I gravitated to portrait photography some eight years ago. I only work with models who know how to pose as I loathe directing people.
why i only do this as a hobby and wont branch out into taking photos of people