UncleBuck Loc: Malvern, Arkansas

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Just quick clarification...I never said that all professional photographers were not knowledgeable. Far from it. And I specifically respect E.L's knowledge and wisdom above almost all others. I was simply stating that based on the wide range of conflicting responses received to questions and requests here, there is ample reason to be skeptical to at least some degree to those responses unless the credibility of the responder is well known to the person asking. While it is possiblee that diametrically opposing answers are both true and correct, the likelihood of that is quite low. Rest assured...that is intended to included my own responses as well. I've certainly made mistakes in replies here. I'll correct them if I catch them, but sometimes that doesn't happen.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I agree 100% with your remarks and take no offense to you previous post.

Even the most seasoned and experienced professionals make mistakes and believe me, in my professional life I have made some blunders and have had occasions to mess things up something awful. Anyone who has been at this as long as I and tells you they have a perfect performance record on the job, teaching or just about anything else being disingenuous- that a nice word for telling big fibs and giant whoppers! Cameras darkrooms and even computers are virtual boobytraps for settings some wrong, pulling the wrong switch or no connecting something right. The best wedding photographers are paranoiacs and devout believers in Murphy's law! I never KNOWINGLY intentionally gives anyone "wrong" advice, but I may have done that inadvertently by operating under a misconception or misunderstanding.

Early on, as a kid, I leaned this deep philosophy form my grandmother- I'll translate:" WHEN you screw up, own up to it, make apologies, fix it if you can, clean up your mess and most importantly learn from it not do THAT again! The operative word being "WHEN" because we are all susceptible to mistakes.

I don't wanna get "political" but in today's environment of "DISINGENUITY" in some aspects of government, the media, and social media we all need to be out own FACTS, CHECKERS. I kinda knew that journalists have to check facts before publication and that there are folks in the media that do nothing but that, however, lately, it seems to have become an industry. So when I read or hear something around here, that is suspect, dubious, or sounds like monkey business, I check it out before making any comments. And...especially on this site where the wrath of the trolls will descend upon me if I even accidentally write a blooper, I double-check my own facts. Many folks around here will not give me a private heads up, they will just try to cut my head off!

Larry is right- not all professional is professional- that sounds oxymoronic or just plain moronic, but y'all know what I mean. There is also a philosophy I adopted in my experience of having to hire and train lots of new professional photographers. I'll leave y'all with this jewel of wisdom: There are photographers who TALK a good job. There are photographers who DO a good job. Very seldom are they the same photographer!