How I see the world differently since switching from amateur to professional photographer

August 11, 2017 by Phillip Haumesser 27 Comments

About two years ago, I used to go about my usual everyday life like most people do, not noticing all of the beauty around me. After I picked up a camera and started taking photos of my kids, I started to see the world in a whole new way. Once you start to see it, you can’t unsee it.

I started to notice how light affected things, and how looking at something from a different perspective could change the whole scene. The whole world seems to be trying to tell us a story in the most beautiful and colorful display. It’s like watching a movie, but it’s all around us, and we’re living it.

After becoming a photographer, I slowed down from this crazy fast paced world and started to appreciate the masterpieces that were before my very eyes. This was a life changing experience for me!

I want everyone to have this same experience. So I created a free photography course for anyone who wants to give it a shot. I show you how you can do this with a cheap camera and cheap lens. I’ve even used my cell phone when I didn’t have my camera with me.

About the Author

Phillip Haumesser is a self taught photographer based in a rural area of Missouri. He began teaching himself photography when his wife told him she wanted better photos of the kids. He has now ventured out to photograph weddings, engagements, newborns, maternity, family and seniors, but Phillip’s passion is still taking photos of his kids. You can find out more about Phillip on his website, and follow his work on Facebook and Instagram. This article was also published here and shared with permission.

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George Pavlov

So, the professional has low viewpoint, open apperture, color profile presets, and vignetting?
- Dan Allbeury
  
  Correct. Lightroomed the hell out of them. As he shouldve to make them pop… 😉
- Alexandre Bettencourt
  
  It seems to me the professional has more technique and a sharper eye for detail. It boils down to that.
Brandon Leow

The only difference I see is that before the shots had no bokeh, and now it has… 😂

It all comes down to perspective and creativity.
Dave Cooley

What a ridiculous headline…
Alexius Lim

Damn! time for me to be a “professional”
Reynardt Badenhorst

I wish I could se the World now Photoshopped 😛
Duncan Knifton

so true….
Photography opens up the mind to the world, and you do start seeing it differently….
Laurent Roy

A 2 years newbee photographer giving photography courses !?!? 😂😂😂😂
- Petko Popadiyski
  
  he is self taught, thats why! natural talant 🙂
Kevin Travers

While I appreciate the intent behind this post … vignettes and color filters aren’t going to make you a pro or change your view of the world. I recommend spending a few dozen hours in a dark room inhaling some fixer and learning the way photography really works. And please … PLEASE … stop using Papyrus!
- Alexandre Bettencourt
  
  I don’t think anybody cares what any photographer does or uses to accomplish the final look only he or she has in mind. If you’re focused on that, you’re sadly missing the point of photography in general.
- Kevin Travers
  
  I agree. The end result is the only thing that matters. Be creative. Be passionate. Shoot and shoot and shoot more. It’s all good in the end. Good point, Alexandre Bettencourt.
Alexandre Bettencourt

I don’t understand why there’s so much criticism around this post. The minute I opened the link, it seemed pretty obvious to me. Everybody’s so focused (no pun intended) on what he did to the pictures, they missed the bigger picture (I’m not even trying here): when you develop all these tools in your tool bag, be it better gear or a sharper eye for detail, your work will naturally evolve. The examples shown are a perfect example of what the average Joe will shoot versus what a more skilled photographer will do. It’s actually a fine example. Whether you agree with the headline or not, it’s proof of growth and I personally can latch on to these as an example of how I began to see the world too after honing my skills. It’s a great article.
- Sumit
  
  Agree, the author does make his point, but to some extent he invited this criticism by making all of the examples nearly the same.
- Chris Chinnock
  
  Agreed! The headline is bloody stupid as is the reference to being a ‘professional’
  (whatever that means these days) but it’s a good example of the difference that photographic technique and understanding of composition, posing of subjects and processing (albeit slightly overcooked for my taste) can make to your images. those who see the processing as the only difference could probably use a photography class themselves!
Stuart Greig

Put the lightroom away.
AsianReaper

Is the photographer offering workshops yet
- Petko Popadiyski
  
  yes, if you check on his webpage – 850$
Jimmy Harris

Ha! That’s exactly what I was thinking! Though, to be fair, it’s all portraits of children, which explains why he’d make those aesthetic choices. Well, the low viewpoint and open apertures anyway. As for the color choices and vignetting… To each his own.

But I do get the point and think the article shares a good message or two. Photography is about capturing the light, not shooting the scene. There’s more going on in the world than what we initially register on the surface. And once you’ve trained your mind to see the beauty in the mundane, you really do develop more of an appreciation for all of the hidden joys in life. And if you can extend that metaphor further, you might just realize that happiness itself isn’t an experience, but a state of being.
Hert Niks

Mobile vs DSLR with a decent lens.
Chris Hutcheson

I think it’s less a question of being a “professional” and more having a better perspective (so to speak) on composition – where to shoot from, how close/far, lighting, white balance and post processing. I don’t know that I would’ve gone with some of what he’s chosen to do here, but it’s his call for his purposes. Certainly felt that the latter images told a better story than the originals.
Yann Philippe

1.4 lens and overkill youtube-learnt photoshop skills. No real “new view”
Dan Walker

So now he sees everything with a vignette?
catlett

There are hoards of photographers who don’t charge and have better vision, technique and processing skills than hoards of photographers who do charge. It is ludicrous to think that charging for the result magically transforms vision, technique and processing. Professional isn’t a skill level. It is a choice of whether to monetize or not.

In any case hyper saturation, hue shift to yellow making for unnatural looking vegetation and over the top vignetting aren’t traits of advanced photographers whether they charge or not. It is a personal preference the author chose that most others don’t. Congrats on learning to change your angle of view though. Must be doing wonders for your quads.
cbenci

I’m guessing the amateur made an appearance and used that font for the captions on the photos.

That’s a joke BTW.
catlett

Aside from the goofy “professional” part of this article, this link nails the editing choices perfectly https://fstoppers.com/originals/three-editing-mistakes-new-photographers-often-make-192516