Everything They Don't Tell You About Photography

In current times, pretty much everyone has a digital camera, and many of those people have a fancy DSLR versions. With so many professional cameras floating around, the idea of what makes a photographer is becoming increasingly blurred. Having spent so much time reading and studying about what makes a photographer, and working in the field in both of my internships, I have decided to make a list of everything they do and don't tell you about photography based upon my own experiences this summer.
The Do's:
-Understand what aperture, exposure, and shutter speed mean and be able to defend your understanding in any situation. There is nothing worse than being in a situation where your photographic knowledge is challenged. Not to mention, understanding these tools will help you to take a better photograph in any situation.
- According to Victor Burgin, a photographer is someone who can "manipulate the physical means of production of photography".  This means more than just knowing how to press a button, but also understanding the meaning behind lighting, editing, background  choices. During my time at ASAP I have learned something I never imagined I would need to know- how to take a good photo of a vegetable. This takes a distinct understanding of how the lighting, angle, and even cropping choices because, despite what you might think, those few blueberries that have effortlessly fallen out of the basket can be the defining factor between an okay and a beautiful photograph.

The Don'ts:
- Don't assume that just because a child is cute candidly, they will be cute in a photograph. Since birth we are instinctively taught to smile whenever a camera is pointed at our faces. This means dropping everything, including that extremely cute inquisitive gaze as the Cy Twombly painting, and giving you a cute, but cheesy smile. Since photojournalism is about capturing a moment, or a story,  a child smiling next to a painting isn't necessarily believable. But don't worry, I've come up with a perfect solution to this problem- pretend to take the photo (or actually take it), and then continue to wait for the moment to happen again. Usually after about 1 click of the camera, the child gets bored and continues with what they are doing.
- Don't forget to ask permission! Having spent the majority of my photography career within the confines of Hanover college, the idea of a release form was foreign and mysterious to me. So when both the Asheville Art Museum and ASAP handing me a stack of forms and told me not to take photos of anyone without getting one of them signed, I was nervous to say the least. It wasn't as bad at the art museum because I could catch people as they were walking in, but ASAP was a different story. Since the majority of my photos are taken at market, I have to stop people during their shopping experience and ask them if they would agree to sign a paper for me. I will admit, the first couple of times I simply avoided taking images of people because I didn't want the awkward interaction, but after asking the first family to sign, I realized it wasn't as bad as I was making it. Now I have perfected the art of tasteful interruption if I do say so myself. This experience has taught me that it ALWAYS better to be safe than sorry, and a lawsuit is never worth one awkward conversation.

There you have it. Remember these few rules and you will be a confident and skilled photographer in no time!