Qualified Assessments – Fool’s Gold For Our Egos

Qualified assessments of our skill as photographers can be fool’s gold for our ego. I learned this one night when channel surfing the TV and my wife asked a question. After we finished talking, I noticed that I had landed on America’s Got Talent, not a show I would normally watch. An older woman had just finished dancing her heart out and Simon Cowell, the apparent “villain” on the show, was explaining why he voted against her. He said that the best he could say was a qualified assessment that she was a great dancer for her age and that was the problem. He wasn’t discriminating against older people or trying to be hurtful. It was just that, but for her age, she wouldn’t be considered a great dancer. He was looking for great talent, plain and simple, without having to qualify the meaning of great.

That exchange stuck with me. As photographers, we hear qualified assessments quite often.  Perhaps most dangerously, we make them of ourselves. We hear or say things such as: It’s a great photo for an amateur, for having a inexpensive camera, for taking it when the light was bad, for not knowing what I was doing, for an iPhone, for  … (well, you get the idea). It’s either great or it isn’t. There are no shadings or degrees. It may be a subjective judgement but it’s an absolute judgement. It’s like being pregnant; you are or you aren’t. You can’t be a little-bit pregnant.

Why Does This Matter?

It’s easy to wonder, “What’s the big deal? What’s the harm in this?” It’s about being honest with ourselves. If we want to be truly great or even just the best we can be, we have to keep striving. We can’t settle, we have to continually strive to improve and learn. Qualified assessments of “great for a…” lull us into thinking we’ve succeeded. However, if we really listened to the meaning of the statement, it says that in any other circumstance it wouldn’t be considered great at all.

We can’t control what others say to us but we can control what we tell ourselves. If we can’t be honest to ourselves, who can we be honest with? Wouldn’t you rather have someone give you honest feedback rather than flattering you with undue praise. In the end that undue praise just sets you up for a fall when reality sets in. Personally, I vote for honest feedback even if it stings.

How To Handle Qualified Assessments

Whenever you receive a qualified assessment from someone (including yourself) ask two probing questions to get a better feel as to the true feeling the commenter has about your photo and/or skill. I’d also suggest that you preface these question in the following manner.

• Thank the commenter to let them know that you appreciate the feedback and value their opinion.
• Let them know that you are interested in growing and improving your skill. Because of this, you appreciate honest critique. Let them know you value and want honest feedback and aren’t just fishing for gratuitous compliments.

The two questions are simply:

1. What aspect in particular do you like about the photo?
2. What aspect of the photo do you think could be improved?

After receiving the feedback thank the commenter again. Most importantly, don’t get defensive, or try to convince them their suggestions for improvement are wrong. I say this because, getting defensive is a sure-fire way to shut down all future feedback and leaves the commenter feeling betrayed.

Accept their opinions as a gift of something to consider. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Consider it thoughtfully and act accordingly. Just because someone suggests something doesn’t mean you have to follow the suggestion. If you disagree with them, don’t reject it hastily but only after thoughtful consideration. Treat every bit of feedback as a learning opportunity.

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