DIY Photography

Your one stop shop for everything photo-video

  • News
  • Inspiration
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • DIY
  • Gear
Search

Submit A Story

Why do bad photographers think they’re good?

Apr 10, 2018 by Dunja Djudjic 29 Comments

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Someone has just bought their first “good camera” and immediately started “photography business,” proudly showing off their work which is… well, not really good. You’ve all seen these guys and perhaps asked yourself: why do bad photographers think they’re good? In this video, Jamie Windsor explains why this happens, and why people have so much self-confidence before they really master photography. It’s an interesting video, and I think it will make you look at things differently.

This amount of beginner’s self-esteem can be explained through Dunning–Kruger effect. It’s a cognitive bias when people assess their ability as being higher than it actually is. It often happens that a person perceives oneself as being highly competent in a particular area, even though their skills are still pretty low. As they learn more, their perceived ability drops. Here’s a graph that illustrates it:

Before we proceed, keep in mind that everyone is susceptible to Dunning–Kruger effect to some extent. So, don’t feel bad if you feel like you’ve recognized it within you. As Jamie points out, this initial rush of confidence isn’t necessarily a bad thing. When you’re still at the beginning of your photographic journey it can push you forward and help you explore and learn. As a result, you’ll improve your skills. But if you want to gain a more objective view of your abilities as a photographer, here are some steps you can take.

1. Beware of feeling comfortable

When you start feeling comfortable with your work: challenge yourself. Change something and learn something new, that’s the only way to grow. Don’t let yourself stay in the comfort zone for too long.

2. Learn to let go of old work

Try to forget about your old work and stop getting back to it. Instead, try to build on it and move forward.

3. Ask for feedback and critique

Don’t be afraid to ask for critique and constructive feedback from other photographers. There’s an important point to keep in mind, and Jamie didn’t forget to mention it: the critique that gets to you is probably the most important because you know they’re right.

If you post your work to social media, don’t only rely on “likes.” But on the other hand, don’t listen to the internet “trolls” either. Ask for genuine, honest critique from the photographers you appreciate.

4. Always keep learning

Don’t forget: you’ve never learned everything. Photography is constantly changing, so always keep learning and stay informed.

5. Feeling bad about your old work

It’s important to understand that, if you feel bad about your old work, it means that you’re improving. If today you feel a bit ashamed of the old work you once thought was brilliant – don’t worry, it’s a good sign!

Finally, Jamie adds a few more pieces of advice to keep you down to earth and help you grow. Move out of your comfort zone and of fashionable trends. Instead, look at different kinds of photography and expand your views. Also, think about why you’re doing things, not just how to do them. And remember, there’s nothing bad in feeling good about your work, but keep in mind that you should always aim to outgrow yourself.

[Why BAD Photographers THINK They’re Good | Jamie Windsor]

FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Related posts:

Everyone takes bad photos: here’s some inspiration if you feel bad about your work Why do Pros never own the latest and greatest gear (and why their gear is in such bad shape)? Why does bad framing work? Looking beyond the rules of composition Why you should study bad movies to improve your filmmaking

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: bad photographer, good photographer, Jamie Windsor, psychology

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.net

About Dunja Djudjic

Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

« Canon, Elinchrom and Profoto rumoured pulling out of Photokina – Elinchrom first to confirm
$35 superzoom lens on a smartphone: is it even worth buying? »

Submit A Story

Get our FREE Lighting Book

DIYP lighting book cover

* download requires newsletter signup
DIYPhotography

Recent Comments

Free Resources

Advanced lighting book

Recent Posts

  • Don’t buy a Z8 directly from Nikon, customers say
  • YouTube is killing off “Stories” to focus on Shorts and Live
  • Four ways to shoot epic stop motion hyperlapse with a smartphone gimbal
  • Canon reported to be working on a “zoomable” teleconverter
  • NASA release dazzling new images from combined telescopes

Udi Tirosh: from diyphotography.netUdi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.

Alex Baker: from diyphotography.netAlex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

David Williams: from diyphotography.netDave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

John Aldred: from diyphotography.netJohn Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.netDunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

Copyright © DIYPhotography 2006 - 2023 | About | Contact | Advertise | Write for DIYP | Full Disclosure | Privacy Policy