Here’s the anti-photographer’s handbook. An indispensable field manual. And you thought you knew what makes a great photographer. Feel free to add your own dos and don’ts.

• Photography is all about perfectly exposed, noise-free images with spot-on focus.
• Follow the math. Your gear has to always pay off.



• It’s time you start thinking more about your gear. It’s the equipment that makes the photographer. Why should photographing make you a better photographer.
• Still, my camera is never as good as me, the photographer.
• But in my case, it is never the photographer, it’s always the camera.
• In some very rare cases new gear can make you a better photographer. Even better, upgrading is photography’s most fun part. Hey someone has to kickstart the economy.
• Buy the camera that looks great on you. A pro never holds a camera. A pro wears the camera.
• Good photography is all about one lens and one lens only, one perspective and one focal length. Ignore all other options. You alone know what’s best.
• A tripod is something for the aging.
• JPEGs? Infantry you.
• Never turn around with the camera in your hand. The focus is on what’s going on in front of you.



• For the very very rare case that you should screw up, there is always a software fix for everything. On the other hand, thinking about it, your shots are always perfect and never need correction or enhancement.
• There is a time for photography, and there’s the rest of the time. Photography is never spontaneous. It has to be planned. So decide well ahead what’s it gonna be for today. Or tonight. Always know exactly beforehand what you gonna capture. The most amazing photo opportunities are the ones that you plan and expect.
• The world is one big photo studio. No plug? No light? No need to improvise. Wait until conditions are perfect again and the light comes back.
• Shoot from one angle only. And that’s from eye level. That’s what cameras are built for. Shooting from the hip is heresy. LCD? That’s for secretly watching stuff you can’t watch at home.
• Never go as close as possible. Want an infection? What are zooms here for.
• Think. Always think. Never don’t think. Photography is all about thinking about settings and rules of composition.
• You know what you’re doing. Make one photo only each time, especially when dealing with kids and groups. Burst mode? A really good photographer knows the exact moment when to be ready to perfectly freeze that unique moment in time.
• But then again, take your time. Good things take time. Your shot can and will wait. And don’t worry if you left your camera at home. The shot was not that great anyway. Great opportunities come again and again. Because everything stays around forever.
• When it’s time it’s the shot that counts, not others’ privacy. Shoot first. Then you may ask.
• Being at the right place at the right time, however, is an excuse for photographers with absolutely no talent.
• Once a photographer, always a photographer. Who cares about new techniques. You brought your very own style to perfection. There’s no need to further grow. The day you would want to widen your horizon marks the beginning of the end.



• Every shot you take is a unique testimony to your skills and existence on this beautiful planet. Each and every shot deserves full and irrevocable copyright. Your copyrights are very valuable, people are trying so hard to get hold of your work.
• Say no to lowly paid jobs. Because you care about reputation. And who’s not a wedding photographer. Better shape up at the spa and polish your gear to perfection for that you’re ready when the big big assignments finally come along.
• Aim high. Do as the masters do. Why sell yourself cheap. Never sell any of your work for less than, say, $10,000. That’s not only an impressive figure. It reflects your value. No one’s willing to pay that amount? The world’s a bunch of ignorants.
• Just in case you’re hesitating, you might be right. What’s the point of risking your nice gear getting a scratch. Protect your investment. Leave it at home and enjoy its perfect condition for years to come.
• Let others do your job. Hire people for the lighting, the hauling of gear and calculation of proper exposure. Focus on that very moment to press the shutter button. Because really good photography is like a natural instinct. It comes by itself. It’s a gift given to the chosen few. All you have to do is waiting for that moment.
• Ignore what others think about your photography. What’s written and available on the Internet is anarchy. What matters is your own conviction and self-esteem.
• Social media and sharing images on the Internet is something for losers who have to make up for their own broken down existence.
• Creativity? Hasn’t everything been photographed in millions of variations already. There’s nothing new anymore. So why the hunt for new photos. Take a timeout. Maybe paint. Go to the beach. A few totally perfect shots a lifetime is good enough.