Am I the only one that gets annoyed at this?

[George Fairbairn]

Ok....normally, I don't really get annoyed at much, and I always try to encourage other photographers and give them feedback and critiques and what not....but today I am annoyed.   I have this "friend" on facebook that sort of kind of does photography.  To put it bluntly...she is horrible.  Lots of what looks like on camera flash, poor exposures, and bad compositions.  Like I said, I always try to give her tips and advice and that sort of thing.  But, today her status update is about how she is doing a shoot for a rather large publication.  This is what annoys....how does someone who's images would probably be U's, get a commission like this.  My ultimate goal is to do editorial stuff for things like Kerrang, Q, and magazines in general.  I feel that, even though I have an L, my stuff is still some way away from even thinking about that.

I hope this doesn't make me sound like a douche!!  I am easily annoyed lately cause I have had the worst last 7 days possible....wife lost her job, her car s*** the bed, and yesterday (£500 later) we find out one of our dogs (only 7) has lung and liver cancer.  Not that that has much bearing on this...but I also needed to vent that as well.   

[Francis Pullen]

George, worry not. You're images are 1st class and I'm sure when your 'friend' submits hers for publication, the editorial team may well think again, if her standards are as you say. You may not think your work is ready for publication, but hey, why not give it a shot. You may be surprised.

Sorry to hear about your other life difficulties. You have my best wishes, and I know what that means as I have also had a family bereavement to deal with this past week. Life does suck sometimes!

Chin up young man, you,re better than you think! 

[Graeme Hutchison]

George,

sadly this could well be a case of who you know and not what you can do.

If this person knows the picture editor or someone at the publication then it will be an easy route for her.

[Kevin Mullins]

I agree with Francis George.  Your work is Top Notch.  As mentioned, I'm sure she won't get past the editorial team.

Good luck with the rest of your issues.  And I hope it makes you feel marginally better that I laughed when you said "douche".  Only Americans right? 

Good luck mate,

-Kev

[Dinendra Haria]

I have recently come across this and one thing I say to anyone is "don't run before you can walk" and that's what she is doing.

Hope all works out well for you.

Best wishes

Dinendra

[Chris Seals]

Hi George, Sounds like a bit of a time of it at the moment.  Sorry to hear about the wife's job, but mine faced the same in June 2010 and it's tough out there at the moment.  Sorry also to hear about the dog, always a difficult one at any time.  As for the car.....I think we have all been there at some time.  I just had to change mine before the repair bills started to spiral, but having owned it for just 6 years (a now 8 year old car) I had to take a depreciation hit of £25K!!!

As far as commissions are concerned, it can be very much who you know and being in the right place at the right time to get that foot in the door.  It sounds like this lady may have got a foot in the door and is being given a chance on a small job, but any picture editor worth their salt is not going to give a critical job to an untested photographer and if her work is as bad as you say, it sounds unlikely that she will get published for some time yet, nor be getting any repeat bookings.
Your band shoots are cracking and appear to be receiving the professionals recognition they deserve.  Keep faith, keep knocking on doors and finally the right person will answer.  Have a chat on your MMoS as he may have some contacts in that field.

Regards
Chris

P.S. Did anything ever come of the Cameo Studio sale in Norwich.
  

[George Fairbairn]

Thanks Francis....sorry to hear about your situation as well.  And thank you for the kind words!!

Graeme...I figure it is as well...but surely they have to have standards.  I am not kidding in that this person's images have been seen on "you are not a photographer"....  anywho....

lmao Kevin....too true!!  

I completely agree with you as well Dinendra.....this is why I haven't really actively pursued anything like this yet.  I had one commission for The Sky at Night magazine...but they found ME through twitter.  I honestly don't have much of an idea how I would go about pursuing stuff like this as well...anyone have any tips?  

A big thank you again to everyone.  Things like this make me question myself at times and it is nice to get some reinforcement!  

[Richard Mortimer]

Don't think the car was a problem Chris - unless she parked it on the bed!!!!!

[George Fairbairn]

Hi George, Sounds like a bit of a time of it at the moment.  Sorry to hear about the wife's job, but mine faced the same in June 2010 and it's tough out there at the moment.  Sorry also to hear about the dog, always a difficult one at any time.  As for the car.....I think we have all been there at some time.  I just had to change mine before the repair bills started to spiral, but having owned it for just 6 years (a now 8 year old car) I had to take a depreciation hit of £25K!!!

As far as commissions are concerned, it can be very much who you know and being in the right place at the right time to get that foot in the door.  It sounds like this lady may have got a foot in the door and is being given a chance on a small job, but any picture editor worth their salt is not going to give a critical job to an untested photographer and if her work is as bad as you say, it sounds unlikely that she will get published for some time yet, nor be getting any repeat bookings.
Your band shoots are cracking and appear to be receiving the professionals recognition they deserve.  Keep faith, keep knocking on doors and finally the right person will answer.  Have a chat on your MMoS as he may have some contacts in that field.

Regards
Chris

P.S. Did anything ever come of the Cameo Studio sale in Norwich.
  

I never followed up on that studio sale tbh.  I enquired and thought about it...but I don't think I want a high street studio...more like what Richie has...an industrial area.  I don't want to turn into a portrait studio...just not what I want to do full time if you know what I mean...

as for MMoS...I quite that as well because of the wife losing her job and her car.  Really annoyed at the car situation as it needs more work than it's worth...so there is more money to fork out on something I wasn't expecting....lol.  But, maybe I should enquire to the big dog for some advice on getting into that area.

[George Fairbairn]

Don't think the car was a problem Chris - unless she parked it on the bed!!!!!

lmao!!  I need to stop throwing American phrases in here.  Can get quite confusing! 

[Chris Seals]

Don't think the car was a problem Chris - unless she parked it on the bed!!!!!

....wife lost her job, her car s*** the bed,    

Looks like a car problem to me, unless I am missing the point on another Americanism.  If so, sorry George, but my normal referencepoint would be Family Guy or American Dad!!  

[George Fairbairn]

Don't think the car was a problem Chris - unless she parked it on the bed!!!!!

....wife lost her job, her car s*** the bed,    

Looks like a car problem to me, unless I am missing the point on another Americanism.  If so, sorry George, but my normal referencepoint would be Family Guy or American Dad!!  

haha...no you were right.  It's an American phrase when something craps out....you say it s*** the bed.  No idea why, never gave it much thought until now. 

[Chris Seals]

I took it it dumps oil on your garage floor (the car's bed)!!

[Martin Hobby]

I have this "friend" on facebook that sort of kind of does photography.  To put it bluntly...she is horrible.

Phew, glad you said "she", I was getting worried you meant me!  

Really sorry to hear about your dog.

I also have lots of younger togs following me on FB, and I do try and be as helpful as possible, sometime's not getting any of my own work done as Im telling them stuff they really should be learing in Uni. (They dont teach about apature and shutter speed any more, apparently!)

I dont get too bothered anymore if/when I see one of them gettting a break, I do wonder how some of them do it though...

...but usually its not paid for work, esspecially in Alt mags, and music mags, alot of these fauxtographers think a byline is payment enough, and dont really on commisions like we do to provide food for the family.

I have one friend, used to work for me at venture, who spent 3 years in london whoring herself out for free to loads of webzines and freemags, she's now moved up to Leeds and is quite a successfull music tog. She lived on tins of beans and the dole for 3 years, whether thats right or wrong, but she stuck to her guns and had the dedication to succeed. I just cant afford to do that.

[Jane Allan]

Hi George

Sounds like the universe decided it was your turn to be dumped on.  Really sorry about that, but it will pass - everything does.  Meanwhile, take a moment to look at some of your work - it is really good!  I always enjoy seeing what you've been up to as I really enjoy your style.

Jx