If the clients like the photos - nothing else matters?

[Svetlana]

I tend to overcritisize my work but at the end of the day my clients love the photos and are happy. I feel like I'll never stop noticing all the faults with each photo though...What about you??

[cdifoto]

I shouldn't admit this (especially since I'm a dood) but I had a breakdown in Jamaica during their dinner. I thought I failed miserably. I had to walk away for awhile. I was so low I was thinking how much my stuff would be worth in the B&S section. Except for the actual breakdown, that's a pretty normal day for me. Questioning my value as a photographer, whether I'm worthy of being there, etc.

[Svetlana]

So I guess it's normal...What is B&S section btw?

[cdifoto]

Buy & Sell.

[Svetlana]

From what I've seen here I think your work is fantastic! Honestly!

Anyway I'm not going to get too hung up on that, the photogs will obviously always be critical of their work. :)

[cdifoto]

Yeah people tell me I'm insane for being so critical. I tell them that if I was ever happy with my work I'd have to quit. It always seems that the worse I feel about a wedding, the better I actually did.

[Valjoy]

Yes...I am my own worst critic. I seem to look for fault with every photo I take.
BUT...I think this self critique may be good for me ...I continually strive to do better next time.
This may be due to seeing some of the brilliant work here on POTN.
I am still learning as a wedding photographer and will probably be learning for a long time to come.
At the end of the day it is the client that we have to please for us to continue in this business. Saying that......there is nothing like the feeling you get when you know you have captured 'That Shot'......pride in your work and self satisfaction are definately part of the job for me.
cheers Val

[Maddog12]

I am my own worst critic as well.

[Christopher Steven b]

I nearly sent back some of the money to the couple who hired me for my first wedding [2nd photog.]. And then it occurred to me that that gesture would convince them that my work was unworthy more so than my actual results would. They ended up being really really pleased with it.

It's a funny kind of tension. I am supposed to have faith in my vision--and yet it seems I must often ignore my own appraisal of my work.

so--yes, Svetlana, I feel the same.

[FamilyJules]

I ask myself all of the time "what the hell are you doing!?" I question my work during every wedding, during every edit. I find fault in almost everything I do, and wonder why I keep getting booked.... so Svetlana, we are our own worst critics, and I think it's the ones who constantly critique their work turn out to be the ones that keep pushing themselves further....we KNOW we don't know everything there is, therefor we keep having the urge to pursue the infinite amount of things there are to learn in this industry.
If your clients are happy, that means you're on the right track :) If we don't find fault in our work, that's when we've failed as photographers, because then we stop learning. I've seen your work.... You have what is takes, that's for sure (but I know no matter how many people tell you that, you still don't truly believe it yourself..... or atleast that's how it is for me, hehe)

[FlyingPhotog]

Take it from someone who's worked for the past 20 years under the mantra: "You're only as good as your last gig..."

If the phone keeps ringing and the checks keep cashing .. You're doing fine!

The Caveat: Always have something in your back pocket (away from your day job) that makes you happy and that you can enjoy unconditionally. It may be as simple as an after dinner walk or as complex as shooting and processing your own 8x10 film. Regardless of what it is, make it something that pleases you and makes you grow personally and not something that's professionally required.

[FamilyJules]

Oh and Svetlana, thank you for posting this....reading that other photographers feel the EXACT same way as me, makes me feel soooooo much better!
And hearing that from CDI, a photog that I admire on here, really hit home for me....I take comfort in knowing that even the best of us still live in the same bubble of harsh self-criticism.... as mean as that sounds, lol

[Svetlana]

Oh and Svetlana, thank you for posting this....reading that other photographers feel the EXACT same way as me, makes me feel soooooo much better!
And hearing that from CDI, a photog that I admire on here, really hit home for me....I take comfort in knowing that even the best of us still live in the same bubble of harsh self-criticism.... as mean as that sounds, lol

I totally understand where you're coming from! I feel exactly the same. You're so right when you're saying that us doubting ourselves pushes us forward and makes us be better and better every time we have a shoot. I love my job! :)

[Svetlana]

Take it from someone who's worked for the past 20 years under the mantra: "You're only as good as your last gig..."

If the phone keeps ringing and the checks keep cashing .. You're doing fine!

The Caveat: Always have something in your back pocket (away from your day job) that makes you happy and that you can enjoy unconditionally. It may be as simple as an after dinner walk or as complex as shooting and processing your own 8x10 film. Regardless of what it is, make it something that pleases you and makes you grow personally and not something that's professionally required.

Thanks so much!! And your caveat - I love it! Photography is what I do on the side from my full-time job and i love every minute of it! But the idea of coming up with something that doesn't require dealing with clients, etc...is great!

[cdifoto]

The Caveat: Always have something in your back pocket (away from your day job) that makes you happy and that you can enjoy unconditionally. It may be as simple as an after dinner walk or as complex as shooting and processing your own 8x10 film. Regardless of what it is, make it something that pleases you and makes you grow personally and not something that's professionally required.
That reminds me. I need to grab another beer.