Last week, I introduced you to some ‘rules’ I’ve found floating around the photography community that moms do not need to follow. Did you miss these common myths? Catch up on Part I of our 2 part series right HERE.
I took Brielle to the park this weekend. Our little neighborhood tot lot has this huge plastic hippo that this girl is infatuated with, so we end up there to visit him most weekends these days. Unfortunately on this particular Saturday we were greeted with a drab, dreary, icky fall morning and I wasn’t really in the mood to make the trek up there. But as soon as Brie proclaimed “Hoppo! Hoppo!” in her bouncy, bubbly, high-pitched little voice my spirits were lifted and off we went.
Before we left I decided on a whim to grab my DSLR.
I don’t do that enough anymore.
A reader commented last week with the photography ‘rule’ she absolutely loves: “The best camera is the one you have with you”.
I guess that phrase stuck.
Most days the camera I have with me is my iPhone, which I do LOVE and embrace.
But, on this particular day I decided that camera I’d have with me was the big fancy one, because it’s been feeling neglected in my world.
What camera do you have on you today?
If you don’t yet have a DSLR, you are struggling or frustrated with DSLR you do have, or you’ve been neglecting your camera altogether, not to fear! I’ve got even more myths for you this week that should help you feel a bit better about your place in the world of photography and what you can and should be doing with your camera!
Myth #4: The bigger the camera the better your photos
Not true. There actually IS one major benefit I have found from investing in a bigger camera. That was being able to take clearer pictures in low light photos without a flash. They say a camera really is only half as good as the momtographer behind it. If you don’t know how to work your camera and use the light to your advantage, no matter how big and bad your camera may be, you’re still going to struggle to take decent photos. I’m a firm believer in celebrating with an upgrade as you learn more and only if finances allow for it. I can tell you each time I’ve upgraded my equipment it’s been because I knew I had more to learn and I was being limited by the equipment I already owned.
Myth #5: If you have a DSLR you need to get rid of that kit lens, pronto
No way Jose! I do absolutely believe that if you can afford it, you should invest in a 35mm or 50mm prime lens (one that does not zoom). The clarity of that lens and it’s ability to handle low light is well worth the cost. But, for the longest time I only had my 35mm lens and a kit lens that zoomed from 18mm-70mm. For me that kit lens was my lifeline when I needed the ability to zoom into kids at a sporting event or zoom out to capture a wide angle of a room setup for a birthday party. You should embrace and learn to use your kit lens. It’s absolutely possible to take gorgeous pro quality portraits (including that blurry background we all want to achieve) using your kit lens too.
Myth #6: RAW files are better than JPEG
If you don’t know what a RAW file is, take a deep breath. It’s ok. In plain English it’s a super large file size that will take up a whole lot of room on your computer’s hard drive. The benefit? It does allow you some extra leeway in recovering a bad photo that was take too dark or too light. But that’s if the dark and light is just slight. Again a bad photo is a bad photo and can’t be recovered no matter how much we try to edit it. When I had a children and families pro business I did shoot RAW images of my clients, just in case I needed to tweak them later in editing. But as a momtographer taking my family snapshots, I’d rather shoot in JPEG and save the extra space on my computer for more and more images of my precious kiddo.
Myth #7: You need to learn manual mode to be a good photographer
Confession time. I don’t always shoot in manual mode. Sometimes the lighting is constantly changing and I don’t want to play with my camera settings on the fly. Sometimes I’m feeling lazy. Sometimes I just don’t care. Although I don’t switch back to full AUTO mode anymore ever, I do LOVE Aperture Priority mode. That’s typically where I default back to when I’m having a day where I just don’t have the mental capacity to deal with Manual Mode and all it’s settings. However, don’t let this myth excuse you from ever mastering the big “M”. There is a whole new level of confidence and control that comes from being able to manipulate your camera fully in manual mode.
Myth #8: Once you feel confident in your skills you’ll never need to hire a professional again
I thought becoming a professional photographer would mean I’d save ALL this money because I wouldn’t need to hire someone to take my family photos for me. The truth is, now that I know how to create beautiful images I want them for my own home that much more. Even though I have the technical know-how to take beautiful images, I am hardly ever in them! Now, I make it a point each year to schedule a photo session for my entire family with a photographer I know and trust and respect. These days I have a whole new appreciation for photography as an art and as a career and it’s important to me that our family owns images that include all of us.
I think as moms it’s SO important that we are supported and nurtured as we are learning to cultivate and capture our memories, not be weighed down by a laundry list of rules and myths that make us feel like we’re doing it all wrong.
Your turn — time to leave me a note in the comments. Tell me:
Are these myths ones you have heard before? Have they made you feel overwhelmed in the past? Are there other myths you have been told that you thought of after reading these?
Last week’s conversation in the blog comments was incredible and I hope to hear from lots more of you this week. And, if this post has resonated with you on some level and you know another mama who would benefit from bending the photography ‘rules’, won’t you do her a favor and share this article? Click one of the buttons below to Facebook, tweet, pin or email it right along. xo.
