A Rant about Photographers
Some thoughts on some observations I've made about the photography community.
The following was previously shared on Instagram related to an observation of a post featuring portraits. I am sharing what I wrote here with grammatical errors corrected. Please feel free to let me know what you think, if anything, about what is mentioned and share thoughts respectfully.
I’m working on a couple of written essays for Substack and noticed something that I want to say is unintentional, but considering the photographer I know they're aware. Not mentioning who - they featured a carousel of photographer portraits and every person featured was of a man. The excuse that they don't know any women or they haven't had the opportunity to ask to take their portrait makes me wonder if they simply didn't have the chance to ask, if they chose not to ask or if they avoid women. I don't believe their intention was to exclude as I have heard them talk about "the community" before and the struggles with running into people spontaneously but they attend events quite often and a lot of portraits featured were taken at meetups in a large city known for photography.
I don't often run into people except during events and photowalks I host. As my own person, I can sense when someone is being creepy versus someone taking my photo because the moment feels right. To continually note that there aren't that many women photographers actively taking photos is something that can definitely be true in more rural and suburban areas. For example, when I was socializing with photographers in Philly, I had learned of one woman taking photos with the crew I met with - they didn't invite her to join when I was there which was odd now that I think about it. However, after visiting Philly a few times, I noticed more women out taking photos during summer and winter events.
In NYC, I cross paths with an average of two women photographers every time I walk through downtown, but I don't seek out to speak with them because I either can't tell what they are photographing or I don't want to disrupt their flow by initiating convo, but I do go to a lot of events like exhibitions and meetups to network. Regardless, there are a lot more women taking photos than the community likes to showcase because the quiet part is that a lot of photographers don't want to validate their work through recognition unless it benefits them. It's why we have people like John Maloof, a real-estate developer turned photography marketer, who "discovered" Vivian Maier's photography for sale during an auction and made his career off of discussing her life and work as if it's his own.
I think a lot of photographers are also trying to establish themselves online - I wish I had the data to analyze on platform usage but I can say that most of my posts have been engaged by male users. I think (societally) we were making progress up until 2020 and then the political shift highlighting "manosphere," "alpha bro" creators and "the loneliness epidemic" has encouraged men to reclaim mediums and spaces occupied by women and not promote them as before. It's a rabbit hole theory, something I could write about, but honestly it depresses me too much just thinking about it. This is not to say that male photographers are actively engaging in this - I do know one person that is which is why I unfollowed them - but it could be something many are subconsciously conditioned to accept. If anyone researches this, please let me know.
Last bit, I recently met someone who I have known through IG for a few years now. This photographer actually asked to meet me and when we did we spoke for about 5 minutes and then he took off & wrote about meeting me on their IG story. At first I thought he must be busy but then I realized that he may have hoped that I was going to act or look a certain way; when I didn't, he lost interest and took off. First time that ever happened, but honestly it confused me more than anything because why express that at all? Maybe they felt bad about it, I don't know. I genuinely think some people are seeking romantic relationships, friendships or partnerships, the latter of which I notice more of.
Everything you shared here is relatable.
As a woman photographer, I sense I have to do extra things to either protect myself or set expectations upfront in subtle ways, such as, mentioning I have a partner early on (as naturally as I possibly can, without it sounding like I am deliberately communicating that I’m not interested in a romantic relationship, because that comes off as presumptive).
My partner isn’t a photographer or into photography at all, so it’s hard to suddenly weave him into a conversation if I’m making a photography based connection. Wearing rings sometimes solves that but I don’t like wearing jewelry and I don’t feel like it’s my responsibility to be sending signals. Some people of the opposite sex need to learn to accept that a connection is hobby focused and not romantic-potential by default.
I can imagine how much trickier it is to be single and not interested in connecting for a romantic relationship, but for genuine interest-based connection or platonic friendship. It’s frustrating to have to navigate because we’re accused of being presumptive if we are clear and upfront about it.
I don’t know what the solution is, but that I have stopped trying to over-care about men feeling misled. If they can’t read that I’m interested in connecting professionally and go silent on me because they expected a date and not just a photo walk/coffee, that’s fine. There’s so many more people out there who will understand you. In the meantime, I see you, I feel you.
I went back to photography a few months ago (after 10 years of a break). Now I went in more seriously, got a camera, started watching videos on photography. Got super disappointed with all the “technical tricks” that were in every single video. All the “color theory” and “composition tricks” and “look for layers”. I’m actually writing a post about it, it will come out soon. Anyway, I felt all my creativeness leaving my body, I felt like to be a “good photographer” I have to follow all those rules. Then I realized, they are all MEN. I haven’t seen a single lady photographer’s channel for like a month of watching those videos. And when I finally did, most of it spoke to me much more than “rules” kind of videos. Well, there were 2 or 3 men’s channels that I do follow and find helpful, but it’s because they don’t push “rules” on you, they show ways to take photos the way you want to. Photography is an ART. There are NO RULES. So yeah, I feel like it’s difference in approaches that makes them feel like women are somehow “less” of photographers.