Do you allow yourself to just take "snapshots?"

I've been a photographer for many, many years and it is only within the last ten years that I've finally given myself permission to take "snapshots." I guess I got sick and tired of the pressure to make EVERY shot a masterpiece and sometimes missing a milestone moment just because I knew I couldn't make an heirloom shot out of it. It really is freeing to allow yourself that latitude. How about you? Don't you love going somewhere where nobody knows that you are a professional, so there are no expectations of anything?

I'm not a pro and shoot snaps all the time--way more now than I did with film because of the free processing. It's easy to delete the junk and show only my best. Sometimes I get lucky and get a number of good shots without planning--just run and gun on full auto so to speak (I mean sequential shooting mode here!) Shoot what is there because it is, and forget about set up--just walk around, check exposure settings, think about tried but true rule of thirds when composing and click away. Delete the trash and savor the best cuts. I don't care about the life of my shutter, batteries are rechargable, memory is cheap and erasable.

For those of us that only function with the left brain, snapshots are the only way we take pictures. Sometimes we get lucky from dumb luck. That's why we shoot, that occasional dumb luck image.

Absolutely, what’s wrong with a snapshot. I have a smallish Nikon8700 that comes with me just about everywhere I go. At family functions when I bring all the gear is scares folks away but a compact is more accepted. Besides, at those times I am not trying to capture a masterpiece (as if I ever could ) but I am capturing the moment.

I never used to, but now that I have a baby I do all the time - I even got a P&S (which I never thought I would do) for the diaper bag. I just don't want to miss any cute pictures for the family because I didn't have a "set-up" ready. Plus it's easy for my husband to use. But family time (hanging out, vacations, etc..) is pretty much the only time I do "snapshots"

I occasionally let myself take a snap shot or two.

I'm usually disappointed in myself when I do since most of the time my horizon isn't even straight.

I believe that a "snap-shot" can even be that "million dollar shot", because what is the difference between a snapshot photo vesus a serious photo? Maybe I have to go pro or something to get that answered.

What I'd like to know is what does one do different when taking the so called "snap shots" versus, what, a real photograph? I'm confused.

PacAce wrote in post #3900850
What I'd like to know is what does one do different when taking the so called "snap shots" versus, what, a real photograph? I'm confused.

Nothing is different. If it turns out great, it is a photograph. If it is just so-so, it's a snap shot.

Personally, I never set out to take a snap shot, but I do end up taking a lot of them.

PacAce wrote in post #3900850
What I'd like to know is what does one do different when taking the so called "snap shots" versus, what, a real photograph? I'm confused.

Use pop up flash.
Use "P" mode
Don't ask folks to pose.
Don't worry about background.
Don't worry about all the crap on the table or people in back.

It's just a quick click to capture the moment. JMHO

gjl711 wrote in post #3900919
Use pop up flash.
Use "P" mode
Don't ask folks to pose.
Don't worry about background.
Don't worry about all the crap on the table or people in back.

It's just a quick click to capture the moment. JMHO

I guess I must not take snapshots then, although I thought I did.

PacAce wrote in post #3900850
What I'd like to know is what does one do different when taking the so called "snap shots" versus, what, a real photograph? I'm confused.

We all have our own definitions. I think all snapshots are photographs, but not all photographs are snapshots.

To me, a snapshot is one captured with little forethought or consideration for how to best capture a scene.

As for gjl711's list, I think it's a little too specific. You can use a pop-up flash in P mode and make wonderful candid shots without asking people to pose, depending on the situation.

But in gross general terms, I think snapshots involve more camera automation and less deliberate control, less attention to background, DOF, lighting, timing and careful composition, vs. other kinds of photographs.

And by this definition, I don't take snapshots. My harddrive has enough useless crap on it already.

I do take a lot of carefully planned, deliberately executed shots that turn out like snapshots.

chauncey wrote in post #3900055
For those of us that only function with the left brain, snapshots are the only way we take pictures. Sometimes we get lucky from dumb luck. That's why we shoot, that occasional dumb luck image.

Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while!

I take so many snaps it's not even funny. I can take 100 pictures of my dog drinking water in only a minutes time... out of 10,000 shots I may yield less than 10 that I am really proud of. If I didn't take snaps, my keeper ratio would be horrible.

the worst part is sometimes i think and plan for a photo, and then it turns out worse than a P&S snapshot!

I think I allow myself to take a photograph once in a while when I take snapshots.