Ten Things You Should NEVER Say to a Photographer...

Look, if you are doing Photography for Income, you must realize that at one point, you will discover there are far more horses' asses than there are horses. People will criticize your work: some intentionally and some without realizing they are tearing you down.

For the next few weeks, I'll post 10 things that I have heard from people. Here is some crap you will hear from people who are essentially...well, stupid:

MY NUMBER ONE, ALL TIME FAVORITE:
"Wow, I have seen some of your photographs...you must have a really good camera!"

This comment was made by a writer for the local newspaper (it was a Booth Newspaper, so I should have expected such tripe). I was at a party and he asked me what I did. He made the above comment after I told him I owned three photography studios. I knew he worked for the paper, but I asked him what he did. He puffed out his chest and said "I am a writer!"

I replied, "Well ordinarily I wouldn't consider someone who works for a newspaper a writer any more than I would consider someone who works at McDonalds a chef, but I have read several of your pieces and they were very, very good...you must have a really good typewriter!"

He recoiled in disbelief and said, "The typewriter doesn't have a damn thing to do with it!"

My simple reply? "You don't say?"

His wife turned to him and said, "You are a total douche." Priceless! This was before cellphones with video (who am I kidding, it was before cellphones!) but I wish I had one to record the look on his stupid face.

Even though it is tough, you have to be polite, because one of these high flying hosebags may end up to be an actual paying customer some day.

Until next time, may all your highlights read 245 and all your shadows read 7...