How closely do you protect your secrets?

I asked a photographer on the Internet for the name of the wide angle converters he uses, and his response was "I can rent them to you at $150 per week with a $1000 deposit." The name of the converter was not in the message.

Uh...

Well, I guess if that's the business he's in that's cool with me.

My question is: Would you share the name of the equipment you used with someone who asked out of the blue?

BillsBayou wrote in post #10196110
Would you share the name of the equipment you used with someone who asked out of the blue?

Yes, but I'm not trying to make a living off photography. I have a day job.

If I were trying to make a living selling pics I'm sure I'd start stripping some of the meta data off pics before posting, etc.

BillsBayou wrote in post #10196110
I asked a photographer on the Internet for the name of the wide angle converters he uses, and his response was "I can rent them to you at $150 per week with a $1000 deposit." The name of the converter was not in the message.

Uh...

Well, I guess if that's the business he's in that's cool with me.

My question is: Would you share the name of the equipment you used with someone who asked out of the blue?

Equipment? Sure. Not a problem. Anyone can buy equipment, and my equipment does not define what I do, how I do it, or how I market it. There are so many ways to accomplish the same image that it really doesn't matter--once the image is seen, it can be duplicated.

Most of my work is done with Canon 5D2, 24mm, 50mm, or 70-200mm zoom lenses, White Lightning studio electronic flash, Manfrotto 3021 tripod. There. I could take the same images with much other equipment.

If you were to get a copy of Professional Photographer Magazine (the trade journal of the Professional Photographers of America) you would see that they always include the equipment used to take the images displayed editorially. The same is mostly true of The Rangefinder.

Marketing is a different issue. With regard to marketing, "Tell them what you did, but not what you're planning."

Equipment, I don't see why not...only thing that annoys me is technical or business, how did you do that questions. I had a girl ask me how she can take shots like mine to steal my job (literally her words, "how can I steal your job". I had a guy recently ask me how I landed my clients. These type questions are the ones I'm going to get annoyed by, not what lens/body/etc. is that.

True that 'cause they'd hit the market before you knew it. I don't mind sharing how I do some things...no big deal. Some things you will hold to your side.

RDKirk wrote in post #10196176
...Marketing is a different issue. With regard to marketing, "Tell them what you did, but not what you're planning."

they aren't secrets, i share all my techniques and everything all the time, doesn't matter what the gear is or the photoshop wizardy and marketing tricks.

most photographers replicate other photographers with a spin on it until they can develop their own style

some throw hissy fits about it and pretend they came up with it on their own

others market it

some build their entire style off of it

my current equipment for referenec:
singh ray filters
5D2
21 zeiss
70-200 2.8L
100 2.8 macro
kenko 2x

and i want to get something medium format soon

check this out, here's a photographer looking for "insider secrets"

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=874242

let's boycott him. or her.

but really, what bull**** - free the information,share the knowledge, share the passion, theres no need to confine it for the little bit of money it may make you by blocking an aspiring photographer.
however,
a lot of photographers sell workshops, personally i dont do that because...well i just haven't got around to it to be honest
but in those workshops you essentially sell your techniques, not all of them but everyone has their price
i suppose you could approach this from two schools of thought, really.

I have had plenty of folks ask me about the equipment I use, and frankly I used to be much more free about helping folks with equipment and technique questions. After finding a couple of these folks suddenly in competition for events I shoot, I've dialed back my helpfulness a bit.

Dave

I don't think there are any secrets when it comes to photography equipment or processes.
If approached properly by an open minded individual who is willing to do the work and does not just wanting a handout I will share openly, I believe what goes around comes around.

tracknut wrote in post #10196950
I have had plenty of folks ask me about the equipment I use, and frankly I used to be much more free about helping folks with equipment and technique questions. After finding a couple of these folks suddenly in competition for events I shoot, I've dialed back my helpfulness a bit.

Dave

+1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I took for granted a horse show that I have shot for years, in fact, probably more than a decade. My bad for not keeping in touch. (I will always send a free small print and thank you note to the show manager after the show. If the show manager or relative shows I will send an action shot. If not I will send some sort of show candid.)

I contacted her recently and she told me they had decided to go with someone else that was cheaper for this year. Again, my fault.

Shortly afterwards I got an email from the new "photographer". She told me that she was new to photography and wanted me to tell her what settings to use for horse shows!

I was less than helpful.

BillsBayou wrote in post #10196110
My question is: Would you share the name of the equipment you used with someone who asked out of the blue?

Absolutely! But I doubt that by them going out and buying my gear list, they'll suddenly know WHEN to press the shutter button (and make sure ISO/f-stop/shutter speed are correct, too, but knowing WHEN to take a shot vs. when to NOT take a shot is way more important than anything gear or settings related, I'm talking lighting here if you're not picking up what I'm putting down )

matonanjin wrote in post #10197044
+1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Shortly afterwards I got an email from the new "photographer". She told me that she was new to photography and wanted me to tell her what settings to use for horse shows!

I was less than helpful.

Fast enough shutter speed to stop the motion of the horses, aperture wide enough to allow you to use an ISO that isn't chock full of noise. Hopefully she has f/2 or faster lenses

wow, people suck!

egordon99 wrote in post #10197506
Fast enough shutter speed to stop the motion of the horses, aperture wide enough to allow you to use an ISO that isn't chock full of noise. Hopefully she has f/2 or faster lenses

wow, people suck!

I would have forwarded this straight to the manager.lol

It's been proven over and over again that "security through obscurity" simply does not work.

Regarding the response the OP got, I'd say the photog in question was trying to say "It cost me a lot of money to learn which gear to use, and it's going to cost you a lot as well." In any industry you get these people. They are best ignored.

Why not ask other photographers (like the people here) to help you "reverse engineer" the shots in question? If we put our heads together, I'm sure we can come up with the gear that can make that shot. Might not be exactly what the original shooter used, but as long as the results are the same...

Wow interesting. In this case, no I would not share anything with the photographer. Note: They will be calling you back to do the job soon (let us know too when they do). Sometimes cheaper is not the best route.

matonanjin wrote in post #10197044
...Shortly afterwards I got an email from the new "photographer". She told me that she was new to photography and wanted me to tell her what settings to use for horse shows!

I was less than helpful.

culturejam wrote in post #10198172
Regarding the response the OP got, I'd say the photog in question was trying to say "It cost me a lot of money to learn which gear to use, and it's going to cost you a lot as well." In any industry you get these people. They are best ignored.

I guess I don't understand this mentality.

As a professional, I typically spend around $4000/yr on education and upgrading my skills. This will generally include a 4-5 day seminar or two, some half day seminars, membership in a couple of pro forums, membership in my local professional organization, educational DVD's, books, magazines, whatever.

As has been stated, gear is a lesser issue for me but it's entirely likely that I paid for that information at some point in the past.

How much advice should be free and where do you draw the line?