INFLUENCER MYTH BUSTED | Why You'll NEVER Be a Pro Photographer

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In a candid video titled "INFLUENCER MYTH BUSTED | Why You'll NEVER Be a Pro Photographer," veteran photographer Michael Lee, with over 25 years of experience shooting for major professional clients like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Audi, offers a direct comparison between social media photography (referencing North Borders) and professional photography, highlighting them as two distinct career paths in the current landscape.

Key Takeaways
Here's a breakdown of the key insights from the video:

Two Different Paths: Despite a shared passion for photography, professional work and social media influencing are distinct. Building a strong social media following is more likely to lead to a career as an influencer rather than a professional photographer.

The Knowledge Gap: Online platforms like YouTube only cover about 20-25% of the skills needed for professional photography, focusing on basic topics. The crucial 75% of advanced skills, such as complex lighting, are rarely found online.

Learning Professional Skills: The most effective way to acquire advanced professional skills is by assisting experienced photographers, gaining invaluable on-set experience.

Client Acquisition: Professional photographers are typically hired by art or creative directors from advertising agencies. Tagging brands on social media is largely ineffective for securing professional work, as social media managers aren't usually involved in hiring photographers for campaigns. Brands might hire influencers for social media content, but this is different from hiring a professional photographer for a full-scale campaign.

Distinguishing Influencers from Professionals: A key difference lies in their websites. Influencers often prioritize selling products (like LUTs or merchandise) on their homepages, while professional photographers prominently display their portfolio to showcase their artistic vision and photographic ability.

Audience Ambition vs. Reality: A significant majority (82%) of YouTube poll respondents aspire to be professional photographers, yet YouTube is highlighted as a platform more suited for beginners than for those aiming for a professional career due to its limited scope of advanced professional content.
Essentially, the video argues that while social media is a great starting point, it's not the primary avenue for developing the comprehensive skills and client acquisition strategies required for a successful professional photography career.

#photographer #carphotography #provsnoob

00:00 Introduction
00:57 Social Media Photography Is Not Pro Photography
02:11 The 1 Question To Ask Yourself
03:19 The MAIN PROBLEM that confuses photographers
03:57 Photography on YouTube is Suoer Basic
05:57 You NEED to Assist
07:53 82% Polled want to be a Pro
08:59 Poor Technique May Look Cool, but Only for Influencers
09:48 Why Being An Influencer Doesn't Get You Hired
13:14 Easy Way To Spot Influencer vs Pro Photographer
14:20 Summary