Photography Advice

Why You Can’t Please Everyone: Lessons from a Photoshoot

/ Adam Scott / Leave a comment

Hey there, fellow creatives! Adam Scott here, and today I wanted to share with you a recent experience I had during a photoshoot for a t-shirt company. I was hired to photograph their t-shirts and we went over all the details, talked about models, and reviewed all the requirements. Everything was set, and I was ready to go.

The day of the photoshoot was fabulous. The models were great, the lighting was perfect, and honestly, the photos came out amazing. I was confident that the client would be thrilled with the results.

But, as they say, sometimes things don’t go as planned. The client didn’t like the photos and gave me a 1-star review on my delivery. At first, I have to admit, it really bugged me. I put so much effort into the shoot and felt like I had done everything right. So why didn’t they like the photos?

But after some thought, I realized that you can’t please everyone. Just because someone doesn’t like your work doesn’t mean your work is bad. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and as creatives, we have to accept that not everyone will love our work.

What’s important is that we do our best and at the end of the day, we are proud of our own work. We shouldn’t let negative feedback bring us down or make us doubt ourselves. Instead, we should use it as an opportunity to learn and grow.

Of course, that doesn’t mean we should ignore feedback altogether. It’s important to listen to constructive criticism and use it to improve our skills and work. But at the same time, we shouldn’t let it affect our confidence or stop us from creating.

So, my fellow creatives, let’s remember to always do our best and be proud of our own work. Let’s embrace feedback, both positive and negative, and use it as an opportunity to learn and grow. And let’s keep creating, because at the end of the day, that’s what we love to do.

The Social Media Blues: A Photographer’s Journey Through the Numbers Game

/ Adam Scott / Leave a comment

As a photographer, I’ve always had a keen eye for capturing moments and telling stories through my lens. And let me tell you, it’s a real hoot and a half when those stories end up on social media. I mean, who wouldn’t want to share their incredible photography skills with the world, right? That’s like asking a dad if he wants to tell a dad joke. The answer is always yes!

But let’s be real here, the social media aspect of photography can be a real pain in the camera. I mean, I’ve been building my online presence for years now. I was an early adopter of social media, back when it was cool and hip. I posted quality images and reels that I thought people would love. I even added a touch of humor, like a good dad joke, to keep things light and entertaining. But despite the fact that I have almost 3000 followers, I still only get maybe 15-20 likes on a post and hardly ever get any comments. It’s frustrating, and I honestly feel like I’m shouting into the void.

But here’s the real kicker, I know that I shouldn’t get caught up in the numbers game of social media. I mean, it’s like the old saying goes, “Why did the scarecrow win an award?” Because he was outstanding in his field! See what I did there?

Anyway, back to the point. I shouldn’t measure my success as a photographer based on the number of likes or comments that I receive. That’s like judging a book by its cover. But let’s be honest, it’s hard not to. I mean, who doesn’t want a little validation for their hard work?

So, to all my fellow photographers out there, don’t get discouraged. Keep snapping those pictures and telling those stories. And remember, social media is just one platform for sharing your work. Your true success as a photographer lies in your passion, creativity, and the memories that you capture. And maybe a good dad joke or two, because laughter is the best lens cleaner!

Coco Beach FL pier February 2023

Mastering the Art of Nude Photography: 5 Essential Tips

/ Adam Scott / Leave a comment

Last year I had dinner with a friend and renowned photographer. His work has long been an inspiration to me, and I even have several of his pieces displayed in my home. Over dinner, he shared a memorable story about a photoshoot he did with two models/actresses.

The models, during the shoot, proposed to switch things up and do some artistic nudes for the project. To my friend’s surprise, they began undressing before he could even process the situation. He had never photographed nude models before and felt intimidated, so he excused himself for a quick break and turned to Google for guidance, typing in “How to Shoot Nude Models”. Despite his lack of experience, he excelled and produced a stunning piece of art that now hangs in my home as a gift from him.

This story got me thinking about my own journey in shooting nude photography. My first attempt was with a digital camera and my first wife as the model. We were novice and the results were less than satisfactory. Many years later, I encountered another surprise during a Christmas boudoir shoot when the model suddenly stripped without warning.

Shooting nudes can be a challenge, and that’s why I’d like to share some tips for aspiring photographers who want to take on the task.

  1. Communication is Key

The first and most important tip for shooting nude photography is to have an open and honest conversation with your model before the shoot. Discuss their comfort level, limits, and expectations to ensure that you are both on the same page. This not only helps to create a positive and safe environment for the shoot, but it also establishes trust and respect between you and your model. Further during the shoot check in with your model often. Ask them if they are ok with direction of the shoot, poses, etc. and above all make sure that your model feels safe enough to express discomfort, or ask for a change in direction. If a model “suffers in silence” you have failed as a photographer by not creating a safe place for the model to express themselves.

  1. Respect your Model

Nude photography is not just about capturing images of a naked body, it’s about capturing the beauty, grace, and dignity of the human form. Therefore, it’s important to always treat your model with respect and professionalism. This means avoiding inappropriate comments or gestures, and ensuring that the model’s privacy and dignity are protected both during and after the shoot. I will NEVER do a boudoir or nude shoot alone, and neither should the model. I always encourage a model to bring a friend with them to the shoot for safety, and I also let them know that I will have a female friend joining us for the shoot as well. Safety should be your #1 priority for both yourself and model.

  1. Lighting Matters

Lighting is an essential element in any type of photography, and it’s even more important in nude photography. Experiment with different lighting setups to find the right balance between light and shadow that flatters your model’s body and captures the mood and emotion you’re trying to convey. Good lighting can make all the difference in creating beautiful and tasteful images.

  1. Get Creative with Posing

When it comes to posing, the possibilities are endless. Work with your model to find poses that are comfortable and flattering, and that convey the mood and emotion you’re trying to capture. Keep in mind that the model’s safety should always come first, so avoid any positions that could put them in an uncomfortable or painful position. Encourage your model to express themselves through their pose and don’t be afraid to try new and creative things.

  1. Mindful Post-Processing

When editing your photos, it’s important to be mindful of the model’s privacy and dignity. Avoid excessive retouching or manipulation that could change the natural look and form of their body. Instead, focus on enhancing the lighting, contrast, and color to bring out the beauty of the images you’ve captured. Remember, your goal is to create beautiful and tasteful images that both you and your model can be proud of.

Shooting nude photography requires a lot of respect, communication, and professionalism. By following these tips, you can create a positive and safe environment for your model, capture beautiful and tasteful photographs, and grow as a photographer in the process. So, go ahead and try shooting nudes, you might just surprise yourself with the results!

A beautiful model posing in a lush green park with a confident and natural smile, showcasing her stunning figure and unique personality.

A Lifetime of Star Gazing: My Journey from Childhood Curiosity to Adult Passion in Space Photography

/ Adam Scott / Leave a comment

As a child, I was captivated by the beauty of the night sky. My father, who was a Scout Master, would take me on camping trips and hikes, and I spent many nights gazing up at the stars. I remember memorizing constellations, learning about the phases of the moon, and even convincing my parents to buy me a telescope in the shape of a space shuttle. It was a small telescope, but it opened up a whole new world for me. I could see craters on the moon, and even the rings of Saturn. I was in awe of the vastness of space and the endless possibilities that it held.

As I grew older, my passion for the night sky and space never wavered. I spent my teenage years reading books about space and astronomy, and even joined the local astronomy club. I was fascinated by the different galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters that I saw through the club’s telescopes. The more I learned, the more I wanted to know.

Fast forward to adulthood, and my passion for the night sky has only grown stronger. I now own a camera with powerful zoom lenses, and I spend hours taking photos of the moon. I have learned how to capture the beauty of the night sky through long-exposure photography, and it has become my hobby.

Space photography, night sky, rocket launch, constellations, Milky Way galaxy, Northern Lights, meteor shower, satellites, space debris, long-exposure photography, tips for capturing the perfect space shot

So, when my family invited me to join them for the SpaceX Heavy Rocket launch, I jumped at the opportunity. I was excited but also nervous, as I had never photographed a rocket launch before. I knew that the rocket would be moving at incredible speeds and that I would have less than a minute to get the perfect shot. I searched for tips online on how to photograph a rocket launch, but most of the advice was generic and not very useful.

So, I decided to rely on my own experience and figured out the settings that worked best for me. And, when the rocket took off, I was ready, taking pictures as if my life depended on it. I had to be quick to capture the rocket at different stages of the launch, from the initial lift-off to the separation of the boosters. And, to my surprise, I think I did a pretty good job.

I can’t help but think of the little kid I used to be, lying in a clearing and staring up at the stars. I wish he could see the cool space shots I get to take today. It would have made him so happy.

My love for the night sky and space has been a constant in my life, and I am grateful for the opportunities that I have had to capture the beauty of the cosmos through my camera. I hope that my photos will inspire others to look up at the night sky and marvel at its wonder. Photography has allowed me to combine my love for space and my passion for photography, and I can’t wait for the next opportunity to capture the beauty of the night sky. If you have a passion for space and photography, I encourage you to give it a try, you won’t regret it. The night sky is a never-ending source of inspiration, and the possibilities are endless.

Space photography, night sky, rocket launch, constellations, Milky Way galaxy, Northern Lights, meteor shower, satellites, space debris, long-exposure photography, tips for capturing the perfect space shot

5 Pieces of Advice for Photographers

/ Adam Scott / Leave a comment

I am going, to be honest…Usually, lists like these make my eyes roll. Generally speaking, these kinds of lists are beyond generic, and usually not very helpful to anyone reading them. So hopefully, I will be able to make this list better than most of the lists you will find out on the internet today.

Learning how to be a photographer is hard, and for so many, myself included, we had to learn on our own without any kind of teacher or mentor. The process can be super painful as you try to create, all the while comparing your level 1 photo to a level 50 photographer. I get it, I was there once.

So here are a couple of tips and ideas that might make the process easier.

  1. Experiment with different angles, lighting, and composition to capture unique and interesting photos.
    • OK, I know…I am starting out this list with a “DUH” sort of tip, but hear me out. When I started learning the art of photography I took all my photos the same way…Standing up, camera to my eyes. It took me a while to figure out that most of my subjects were shorter than I was, me being 6′, and so many of my photos had this sort of looking down angle to them. The day I put two and two together was sort of a facepalm kind of day.
    • The lesson of it all was to learn to take photos from different angles. With different angles came learning how to light photos differently, learning that lead to new creative ideas, etc.
    • Every time you try to shoot differently you learn something new.
  2. Keep a photography journal to track your progress and make notes on techniques you want to try.
    • If you take only one thing from this article take this one. KEEP TRACK OF EVERYTHING! I have been shooting for 12 years and I still keep a journal, writing down the details from every single shoot. What did I learn, what did I try new, what worked, what didn’t work, what do I want to try next time, etc. WRITE IT ALL DOWN!
  3. The best equipment you can buy is the one you can afford.
    • This one is going to be really hard for some of you to understand. You do NOT need the latest and greatest camera gear in order to be a great photographer. I know great photographers who shoot on cameras 20 years old and use light fixtures they bought at Home Depot. You do NOT need to go broke buying the latest camera, lights, gear bags, ND filters, Macbooks, and more.
    • The best camera is the one you can afford and know how to use. I often encourage new photographers looking to purchase a camera to start out taking photos on their phones. Learn the art of composition and lighting 1st then upgrade to something inexpensive like the Canon M50. I shot for years on an old Canon Rebel before I upgraded to a Canon M50, and it was only in 2020 that I purchased my Sony A7iii.
    • Better gear does NOT make you a better photographer, but learning the art of photography through trial, hard work, and practice does!
  4. If you are taking photos you are a photographer.
    • Please do not listen to anyone telling you that “You are only a real photographer if you do __________” There is so much of this on the internet. Some people claim that you are only a photographer if you shoot manually, or only shoot film, or never do this, or only do that. It’s all elitist noise and should be ignored.
    • When I 1st started learning how to photograph shooting in full manual scared me. I didn’t know what I was doing and so I shot on Aperture Priority Mode for like a year. I kept track of my shoots, learned settings, and wrote it all down in my journal. Eventually, I felt comfortable shooting in full manual. Did the fact that I wasn’t shooting manually make me less of a photographer…NO! It meant that I was a photographer who was currently learning, and anyone who says otherwise is a snob!
  5. Fail! Fail some more! Fail often!
    • OK, this last one is going to be really hard for some of you, but listen closely. You HAVE to fail in order to become a great photographer. You won’t be perfect at it right out of the gate. You won’t be perfect after a year of practice. You won’t be perfect at it even after 10,000 hours of practice.
    • Photography is a journey that will NEVER end. There is no finish line, there is no end goal. There will ALWAYS be things and ways you can improve at and on.
    • So take this journey slowly. There is no rush. There is no right way to learn, and no hurry to get anywhere. Just shoot, fail, shoot again, and learn. Every time you pick up your camera try something new, learn something new. If you do that you will be well on your way to becoming a great photographer!
Recently Taken outside the SpaceX Launch site in Florida.

How I Started Taking Self Portraits

/ Adam Scott / Leave a comment

The year 2020, which was only 3 years ago, but for many of us still seems like yesterday, and was crazy year. The world dealt with a global pandemic that sparked lock downs, security measures, travel bans, and 6.63 million deaths. It was, to say the least, a rough time for Planet Earth and it’s human inhabitant’s.

I myself being one of those inhabitants, was looking for a project to focus my anxious and nervous energy on, and for some reason decided to study self portrait photography. My reasoning was, it was something that did not require me to leave the house, and it was something that would be a big challenge for me, because at this point in time I did NOT like having my own photograph taken. So I thought perhaps that it would both help me learn new skills as a photographer and work on my self confidence as well. I was right on both counts.

The very first thing that I learned about self portraits is a truth that applies to every single person who stands in front of a cameras lens. Whatever flaw you see in yourself, no one else sees it. Read that again and think about it carefully. I am serious when I tell you, whatever imperfection you obsess over, and ask photographers to cover, erase, change, or hide, no one…else…see it!

As human beings we have a body, and they all come in different shapes, colors, sizes, and models. That is one of the simple truths of being born, but for some strange reason society is always fussing about the latest and greatest “trend” that often focuses on some sort of unattainable body standard. For example when I was in high school it was all about women being pencil thin, and today a curvy women is more desirable. Bottom line, stop listening to trends, because trends are and always will be a passing fad. Embrace who you are and stop obsessing over some perceived flaw.

Let me give you another example…In 2004 I was serving a mission in California. My fellow service partner and I had been invited over to a families home for dinner, and after we were all fed the daughter of the family asked if she could play a violin solo, and get my advice on her performance. She knew from conversation that I had played the Viola since I was in the 5th grade and wanted my “expert” opinion.

She played her piece beautifully, and made only one, simple mistake. How do I know she made a mistake? Because as soon as she made that mistake she scrunched up her face, pursed her lips and said “sorry!” and then continued on with the music. Afterwards she put her instrument down and immediately offered an apology again for missing a note. I pointed out to her that the music was beautiful, it was obvious that she had worked hard and practiced the piece for many hours in order to play such a complicated work of music, but despite all of that work and her accomplishment, she focused on the single missed note. I mentioned to her that if she had not made a face, apologized…twice…and drawn my attention to the flaw I probably would not have even noticed, and would have just enjoyed the music as the beautiful number it was due to the dedication and hard work that she had committed to it.

It was the fact that she was pointing out the flaw that I even noticed it at all! This is true for photography as well. Whatever flaw you see in the photo, is often not seen by others unless you point it out. I have to remember this myself as both a model and photographer, and it has served me very well, when I remember to heed my own advice.

Moving on, almost 3 years ago to the date, I took my very first self portrait on my Canon EOS M50. It was a simple portrait, just me wearing my blue light glasses, sitting in front of my black Yule tree. Nothing special, but it was the start of what has so far been a 3 year journey. In the last 3 years I have taken dozens of self portraits, and I am pleased with the body of work I have collected so far, but what excites me even more is the years to come and seeing my self portraits evolve and change over the years.

I was not planning on this when I started the study of self portraits but for the last 3 years I have taken the same self portrait each year, always wearing my glasses, always sitting in front of the tree. Each photo unique. Each photos representing a new year and a new opportunity for adventure.

I have no idea what 2023 will have in store for me, but I know there will be many self portraits in my future as the tradition continues…

Advice For Beginner Photographers

/ Adam Scott / Leave a comment

Last weekend I was asked if I had any advice for beginner photographers. To be honest I am always a little surprised when someone wants my advice because despite the fact that I have been taking pictures for 11 years I still feel like an amateur. And depending on who you ask you will get several different answers, because everyone has a different path and everyone’s experience will be different. For example when I first started learning the art of photography 11 years ago someone told me how important it was to read the manual for the camera you were shooting on. I did as the person suggested and learned…wait for it…nothing! It was a big fat giant waste of time. Why? Because reading a technical manual for a camera was not my learning style, and no matter how important it was for someone else it was never going to be how I learned something.

So that being said I can only offer you limited advice. It might work for you…It might not. If it doesn’t work for you don’t get discourage you might need to try learning a different way. Hey for all I know you might learn a lot by reading the cameras manual.

When it comes to taking good pictures I think a good starting place would be to consume as much photography work as you can get your hands on. I was an avid reader of National Geographic since I was around 8 years old and loved the photos inside…still do as a matter of fact. One of the first photography books I remember reading and studying was Life.Love.Beauty by Keegan Allen. His story telling along with his beautiful images really helped me understand what photography really was. I was obsessed with Tumblr (still am) and would spend many enjoyable hours scrolling through the beautiful images on it’s platform. I followed photographers on social media. Photographers like Denny Llic and Annie Leibovitz and studied their photos trying to understand how they created the images they did, and then with my camera in hand would go out and try to recreate their images using my own props, models, and lights.

That last part is really the biggest piece of advice I can offer. Go out and practice. Shoot everyday! Make mistakes, screw up, reset and try it again. If you only get 1 really good shot in 1000 go out and take more photos till you get 1 good shot in every 100. The ONLY way you will ever get better is to go out and DO. The more pictures you take the better you will become.

I am a much better photographer today then I was 11 years ago. I have no idea how many photos I have taken in 11 years but it HAS to be in the hundreds of thousands. In another 11 years I will have taken even more images and I will be a better photographer because of it.

I know what kind of photographer I want to be in 11 years. That future me is out there, and he is counting on me now to do the work, make the mistakes, and learn the lessons I need to learn in order to become him. I very much don’t want to let him down, and I doubt you don’t want to let the future version of you down either.

So pick up your camera or cell phone and go out and start taking pictures. Your future self will thank you for it.

Don’t believe me? These are some of the images I took 11 years ago. Look at these images and then look at my photography today and tell me you don’t see improvement. We only improve things that we practice and photography takes a lot of practice.

The Return of Tumblr

/ Adam Scott / Leave a comment

It is possible you may have not heard the news, so let me be the first to tell you about the return of Tumblr! There was a time in my life that if someone wanted to get to know me, and I mean really get to know me, I would just tell them to visit my Tumblr account. Spending 10-15 scanning and browsing through my page would tell them more about who I was then a few hours of conversation. Tumblr was the one place where I felt I could be 100% myself. I did not have to worry about what anyone thought about me. I was not posting for followers, likes, or an algorithm. I was just posting for me.

Because Tumblr is largely a site of interpretation using pictures, the written word, and GIFs different people would find different meaning in a single image. Because of that Tumblr actually helped me discover parts of myself that I had buried, hid from, or just plain ignored. I would see an image, or piece of poetry, a GIF set, or something else and I would have to ask myself, why does this speak to me? Why am I feeling something, and what does this feeling even mean? And considering I started using Tumblr at a time of great self discovery and change I consider what Tumblr did for me a blessing.

I also credit Tumblr for helping me develop my personal style when it came to photography. See when I started using Tumblr I had not yet started photography, but I had a deep love of pictures and images. I was drawn to very specific images, and I loved how certain photographers could make everyday objects and items seem extraordinary.

They say if you want to become a writer you need to read great writing. If you want to be a musician you need to listen to great music, and if you want to be a photographer become a student of great images. Well that is exactly what I did. I immersed myself in photographs and image content. I collected and rebloged every beautiful image I came across and all the while I was developing a style, and I didn’t even know it.

By the time I picked up my first camera I had a private folder of images I had saved from Tumblr that I wanted to try and recreate, but with my own vision and skills, and I went about doing so with a passion.

I was living in Olympia WA at the time and there was absolutely no shortage of beautiful places to photograph. I wasn’t a great photographer, I was brand new, shooting in aperture priority mode with the aperture wide open. I felt like a fraud, and not like a “real” photographer most days, but looking back on some of the images I took I can see the influences Tumblr had on me. I can see how the hours spent scrolling impacted me, and helped mold my sense of style and taste.

They were not the best pictures, none of them were ever edited, and I don’t think I was even shooting in RAW at the time, but I look back on these images and I am proud of Adam 11 years ago. He didn’t quit, and because of his efforts and the efforts he made for the next 11 years I am the person and photographer I am today.

So thank you to him, and thank you to Tumblr for being that safe space so many years ago. I hope, with the return of Tumblr, that it will once again be that safe space for people to discover themselves, just like I did so many years ago.

Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. If you have any thoughts leave a comment down below. Also if you would like VIP access to some of my photography, prints, and thoughts don’t forget that I have a Patreon you can sign up for. However, if Patreon is not your favorite feel free to follow me on Instagram or Twitter.

Photographers Get No Credit

/ Adam Scott / Leave a comment

I have been thinking on this subject a lot recently. Partly because I had an interesting experience with this, but the reality is Photographers get no credit for the images and work we create. I’m not really sure why, to be honest, because so many other creative artists get credit for their work, why not photographers?

Let me explain a little about what happened to be recently, and I want to be clear, some of this is my fault, and I know and recognize that.

A few months ago my wife got a gig working as a Special Effects Makeup Artist on the set of a small independent movie. She was very excited because the film was being produced specifically for an upcoming film festival. A few days before the film was to start shooting a call went out from those in charge of the film asking if anyone knew a photographer who could shoot behind the scenes shots. Of course Leslie suggested me and showed the producers my work, which they were delighted by and asked her to speak to me about being on set. I of course agreed, but was surprised that I was never contacted directly. Like ever.

The first day of filming arrived and I had still not heard a word from anyone on set. I had no idea what the producers, director, or anyone else for that matter was looking for. So I shot an email to the director asking a series of questions.

  • What kind of photographs did he want?
  • What is the turn around time?
  • How many images did he expect?

When he got back to me his answers were all very vague, but the bottom line was he wanted BTS shots, movie poster shots, group photos, etc.

Now this is the part that is my fault. I agreed to what he was asking for and did not have him sign any kind of agreement.

  • Lesson Learned – Folks if you are doing work as a photographer always and I mean ALWAYS have your client sign an agreement!

This is why they say experience is the best teacher, but more on that later.

So I showed up, had full and complete access to the set and took some pretty amazing shots including BTS, a very cool movie poster image, and a lot of great images of the cast and crew.

Now one thing I forgot to mention. The film festival that this movie was being shot for had one single requirement, everyone who worked on set could not get paid. So everyone from the Director down to the actors were doing this for free. Which, to be honest, I thought was a very cool challenge.

Making films takes a lot of people with a lot of skills. Skills that are usually expensive. So for a producer and director to convince all these people to come together and offer their services free of charge was a monumental feat in and of itself.

Now, fast forward a few days after filming had wrapped. I had taken over 6000 images on set and had a lot of photos to work though, but despite all of that I had managed to find 20 images that I had pulled and edited right away. One of them was the Movie poster image…

These are some of the images without all the movie information included, because I am not trashing on the movie, its actors, director, or producers. To be honest working with this cast was a pleasure and I would do it again in a heart beat. This is just a personal rant about how little credit Photographers seem to get.

What surprised me, and what I personally have been struggling with since is this…A few days later someone from the film was attending a conference where they were a guest. As a guest they were selling headshots and posters, and I noticed that one of the images from above was included.

Now this is where not having a contract comes in, and why experience is the best teacher. I had never said the cast and crew couldn’t use the image. I had no contract requiring the cast and crew to purchase the image and/or rights to the image. But it has bothered me ever since that someone used an image that I created and designed, to make money and profit, without my consent or permission.

But the truth of the matter is this happens all the time! Photographers, who put a great deal of effort into creating, designing, editing, and printing their images get almost no recognition for their work. Think of your favorite movie poster…who took the picture or pictures to make that image? Think of your favorite picture…do you know the photographers name that took it?

What I can’t figure out is this, do photographers get little credit because we created this reality? Every year I see photographers offering discounts, package deals, holiday specials, and very very cheap photo sessions. Did we the photographers create a market where our skills and services are just not seen as valuable? And if we did how do we reclaim our worth and change public perception?

I don’t really have any answers for that, but it is certainly a question to consider. If you have any thoughts leave a comment down below. Also if you would like VIP access to some of my photography, prints, and thoughts don’t forget that I have a Patreon you can sign up for. However, if Patreon is not your favorite feel free to follow me on Instagram or Twitter.

How Photographs Are Made

/ Adam Scott / Leave a comment
Taken at prometheus esoterica

Have you ever wondered how photographs are made? I am not talking about how they are developed, albeit that is a fascinating subject. I am talking about how photographers create photographs.

Artists of all kinds have this incredible ability to see something in their minds. An image is known only to them, and through their own talent, creativity, dedication, and hard work turn that simple mental image into reality.

When I first started learning the art of photography I started out by reading a TON of books, combing through photo collections, and I had an ungodly amount of Pinterest idea boards. Every once in a while I would pick out an image I really liked and go try to recreate that image. (9 times out of 10 my 1st, 2nd, and even 3rd attempt would go terribly awry. The photos would look NOTHING like the image I had drawn inspiration from. But every single time I tried the photo would get a little bit better, and I would learn a little bit more.

Eventually, I stopped looking at images on Pinterest, bc my own mind was coming up with great ideas all on its own. The process was the same though…try…fail..try again…learn. We get better through failure, and if there is one thing I am actually good at it’s failing up.

Sir Erin – Taken 2021 during a photoshoot

Thanks for stopping by. I would love to hear what you think about all this. Feel free to leave a comment or reach out on Instagram, Twitter, Patreon, or Vero.