08/24/2026
This is Dewey, he’s a very good boy, and played for about 8 minutes.
I recently tried to get advice in a Beginners Photography Group on Facebook about a situation I was asked to photograph (low light, spontaneous reaction) and specifically asked for kind and informative responses and was simply met with “you don’t know anything about photography”.
“If you have to ask these questions, you’re not a real photographer”
That was the first public post I’ve ever made asking for advice, about anything. I added a photo for attention, so people wouldn’t just have to read about my situation. Instead people tore apart the photo I posted and offered 0 helpful advice.
This was one of my biggest fears for so long, and 100% the reason I’ve gatekept 99% of my photos over the last 10 years.
I am not a professional, I am a hobbyist who is still learning and trying. I can’t buy $20,000 worth of gear and drive 10 hours to the best locations and then spend weeks editing photos on six different softwares. That doesn’t matter to me, I have fun, I can gift people moments back of their life, and I have the support of the people who actually know and care about me.
To those who love and support me: thank you eternally🫶 words really can’t express my gratitude, I hope each of you have personally felt my love through these processes.
To those who used to support me and decided they were too good, or have never supported me: I have more fun without you in my life.
