In this Episode

This week focuses on a couple of key questions to consider when deciding if your work is ready to be shown. With the constant pressure of social media and wanting to get our work seen as much as possible, we are often faced with some difficult decisions on when to show our photos and in what state to show our images. I break this issue down into three major areas. First is knowing when your work is done. Second is getting comfortable with only showing work that you have finished and are happy sharing. Finally, understanding that you are not in control of how the work is going to be seen from person to person and location to location.

Work is meant to be shared

One of the biggest challenges facing people in today’s easy to edit over and over again is the idea of when finishing an image. In the chrome days, an image was done straight out of the camera. With Photoshop and other editing tools, it seems like images can be edited forever. In the end, only you can decide when an image is finished. It is a decision that you have gotten the photo into a state where you can see in the print or on screen what you wanted from the image. At times, you might not have the skills to edit the way you want, but those can be learned. You have to make a conscious effort that based on what you know today that the image is done.

You also have to be able to make sure that you are putting your best foot forward. This means you need to edit your work until you are done. Showing your work early would be like a sculptor showing their work when it is still mostly a block of stone and being upset that others can’t see the final piece. Don’t be afraid to tell people that you need to finish the work. (PS This is also why I don’t think you should give away RAW files.)

Finally, you have to accept that you are never going to show your work in an environment where you are going to be in complete control. There will be things that make your images not necessarily look their best. That is ok. You do the work. You put your best work out there. It is more important that your best work is seen then worry about the color of the walls or the temperature of the light.

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