Fauxtogs who should end up on the main page…

[fstopper89]

@AD, yikes, they’re using actions to try to cover up for their lack of technical skill. Actions should enhance or help with your workflow, not take over the photos! And those poor newborns. Bright flash in their faces- wouldn’t that hurt their little underdeveloped eyes?

@Sarah, even if you’re not good at spelling or grammar, there is always spellcheck on most internet browsers or Word. Word also has grammar check. If you’re unsure and you want to post something on a business page per say, write it in Word first and then copy/paste. The occasional mistake is not what I’m talking about. It happens to everyone. It’s the blatent, haphazard, sentence fragments and misspellings that make you have to re-read everything. If it is really THAT bad, one should have a friend look it over first. Learning disabilities and dyslexia are understandable (if that is the case), but it’s just a fact that you won’t be taken very seriously in a business sense if you consistently post things with terrible spelling or grammar. And from your writings here, I personally haven’t noticed anything really that terrible!

Here’s another GREAT image. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=585024221511287&set=a.208006282546418.60832.197903103556736&type=1&theater

[Sarah]

Ya learning disability’s suck. I do use spell check but I get worried about possibly using the wrong word and things like that occasionally.

“I whole-heartily agree that someone who claims to be a professional should act as a professional, which means proper spelling/grammar.”

Even if you put a lot of time into typing something you still may have misspellings if you are just bad at spelling and grammar. I do have people proof read my contracts but I don’t always have someone go over every single blog post or email I send out.

I get it if there are several mistakes that is annoying but hopefully I seem like I try my best =)

[fstopper89]

Like I said, I haven’t even noticed any of your posts to have a bunch of errors (If you hadn’t said anything, I would have never guessed). It is good you have people proofread contracts, as even little errors can *potentially* spell trouble if anything legal ever came out of it (heaven forbid). I was speaking more about Ashley Adey’s page and Bekka Gene’s page. Both look like they typed something, then a meteor fell outside their window and completely distracted them, then they went back to typing and started somewhere completely different. Or their cat walked on their keyboard. Or like someone pointed out putting “maturity photos” instead of “maternity photos” which are in essence, almost opposites. (That is however an example where spellcheck or grammar check would miss it). My ex was severely dyslexic so I got to understand his terrible spelling. It made him very self-conscious. I can’t really speak for learning disabilities though I’ve known many people with them, but in some cases it might be helpful to re-read something to make sure it looks right. I’ve always had grammar, spelling, and reading as my strongest points, but don’t expect me to rattle off an entire multiplication table without thinking about it like some 8th-graders can do!

Found another photo. Here, let’s stick our camera 2 inches away from a pretty flower and post it on the ‘net.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=231472380199808&set=pb.197903103556736.-2207520000.1358983134&type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=231472353533144&set=pb.197903103556736.-2207520000.1358983134&type=3&theater

[AD8182]

Just being honest in saying that when I see poor grammar and spelling that tells me the person has not taken the time to make sure it is correct. Yes, it may take some people longer but that’s all part of being in business. What you put out there is a reflection on you as person and how you want others to perceive you. It’s not personal, it’s about business. As someone who has worked with human resources, one misspelled word will lead the resume to get tossed to the side. And that person could have been great for the job, but attention to detail is very important. Especially when people are paying you for your services. I would not hire or do business with anyone who’s website or literature had misspellings or poor grammar. If you are unsure about a word, then you need to take the time to look it up.

[AD8182]

browneyedgirl- So you agree with me? It’s not just me who thinks the pictures are horrendous. One thing I’ve noticed is all the “mini-sessions” many faux togs offer. 10 spots, $30 bucks a pop for a day in the park. Sound familiar.

[AD8182]

I can’t begin to explain the kid on the toilet!! Who’s genius idea was that??

[fstopper89]

@AD Yeah, those are horrible photos. They are really underexposed and most look out-of-focus. The person doesn’t look like they know how to even use their equipment. As far as Amie Elizabeth, her photos all look like snapshots. She actually took down the entire wedding album she had. They were all blurry, and probably the worst wedding album I’ve even seen. The caption on the album read “Sorry for all the blurry photos. In need of a better camera.” Well duh- why are you advertising yourself as a business if you can’t take a clear photo? It’s terrible. She looks like a nice girl, but something has to be wrong if she (and her mother, who’s been promoting her) believe it’s good or marketable work.

I disagree with you (partially) on the mini session thing. Lots of great pros around me do them, especially around holidays. They’ll offer by appointment, 10 or so time slots at about a half-hour each for a smaller price and each client gets 5-10 edited images. The woman I used to work for did that every spring and fall and it was a hit. Some people, especially those who like to get photos of their kids done yearly, love that option. Some people just want some updated photos for their wall or for Christmas cards. It’s a really great marketing tool. I personally have not done the sessions in the park kind, but I have done similar mini sessions to market to the same demographic. There are those who can’t afford a whole session but still take pride in getting some good photos done, even if it’s just a few. But I do charge a lot more than $30 still. That’s just too cheap.

For God’s sake, if anyone has to comment and ask what this object is, and then go back and say “awesome pic” there is a huge problem!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=231472266866486&set=pb.197903103556736.-2207520000.1358983134&type=3&theater

[Mrs Woo]

What fascinates me is how many of these people seem to not be controlling their cameras?  Either depth of field is off, or they have motion blur (in bright daylight? – HOW?!?!)… then there are all the off color balances…  I almost asked them what made them choose photography and ask them for their photographer story, but decided that it was too suspicious to have a stranger show up on a FB page and do that.

[scee]

OMG – Why?   https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=334452823313&set=a.334443283313.149789.232918573313&type=3&theater

[Mrs Woo]

Some people, Scee, have no well, okay, they have imagination, but one that should be left in ‘neutral.’

 

[Gidget]

Here are some of my favorite Fauxtogs:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.238497799516524.70067.209931422373162&type=3

These are so called Professional Photographers who advertise their services at local bridal shows: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.228430730533532.55336.196624087047530&type=3

This one has been in business in my area for years and charges a huge amount of money for someone who thinks this is a good photo: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=153317968032443&set=a.153291151368458.30026.144301418934098&type=3&theater

This is the worst one of theirs and even though it is from 2010 and horrible, they still use it today on all of their marketing materials http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=153355991361974&set=pb.144301418934098.-2207520000.1359138638&type=3&theater

Self described Momtographer

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.425083984189545.99379.335988719765739&type=3

 

 

[fstopper89]

Gidget, the first two and the last are really not horrible. Yeah, they each have some bad images and some of the albums showed a lack of technical knowledge to some degree. The wedding ones, yeah those are bad. I wouldn’t call the others fauxtogs though, I’d say borderline but if they worked on a few things I think they could be really good.

[Mrs Woo]

I tend to agree with Browneyedgirl quite a bit – on the last one there’s a ton of select color and faddish posing.  Then again, it could be faddish posing is everywhere and some assume everyone wants it.  Sometimes (to this old lady, at least) it seems like some of  the stuff around here lapses into the “isn’t my competition terrible?” rather than truly bad photography (then there’s that picture of the little girl that someone shared that still haunts my retinas – PhotoShop should require examinations and license before use!).

I was jealous of the one photographer – they have had access to some absolutely beautiful sites to do their work, and they used it to their advantage.  Whenever someone attempts to tell me my images are amazing, I look at my pictures and think to myself, “It’s rural farm land in the Midwest – how exciting is that?”

[nairbynairb]

Oh. My. God.
This needs to be on YANAP!!!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=395645617195990&set=pb.344042625689623.-2207520000.1359244666&type=3&theater

 

[CraigMyran]

Ridiculousness: http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/208232_585024221511287_245742118_n.jpg

 

Sure, why not, add a watermark so people don’t steal this photo

[Author]

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