Why I Refuse to Critique Your Photos
My opinion doesn’t matter. Please read that twice.
Every year, I receive hundreds of emails and messages on social media from photographers asking me to critique their work. 9/10 times, I will not answer, but I assure you that I'm not trying to be disrespectful.
Therefore, I'm writing this blog post to share with those of you who email me and message me as a kind reminder of 3 reasons why my opinion does not matter.
I'm Not the Person Hiring You! I wholeheartedly believe that the only person whose opinion matters is the person interested in hiring you. Be it a private client, a company, or a bride; you should first focus on the opinion of the person hiring you for an assignment.
What is Right for Me, Might be Wrong for You. It's essential to recognize that my opinion is based on what I do. That biased is why you shouldn't care what I think. What I might consider incredible, someone else might consider garbage.
I Don't Want to Be Responsible for Your Art. When you allow someone to judge your creative work, you are putting that person in the back of your mind every time you pick up a camera. You'll always focus on what I think, and the truth is that my opinion will change daily, and I also don't want that responsibility.
If you want a critique, I encourage you to submit your work to competitions like Shutterfest or the WPPI Print Competitions. You'll have a panel of working photographers (including myself) who collectively provide unbiased feedback so that you can hear different perspectives on your work.