How To Handle An “Insult” Photographers Get Frequently – Part 2

Sad to say, but needing to know how to handle a pseudo-insult that photographers get frequently is just part of the job description.  In Part 1 we discussed how to handle the “You must have a really good camera.” pseudo-insult.  The second most common one is much subtler and really doesn’t sound very offensive until you think about the basis for the it.  If we understand the basis for it we just might find it flattering to have been asked this even though the way it was done wasn’t the best.

Insult #2 – “What Kind Of Camera Do You Use?”

The typical scenario is the same as the “You must have a good camera” insult.  Namely, “You’re a good photographer. What kind of camera do you use?”  There are two similar but subtlety different bases for why this question was asked.

Basis A – You have to have a good camera to take a good photo.  You’re an average Joe and you have good photos so you must have a good camera. Tell me what it is to confirm my assumption.

Basis B – You have to have a good camera to take a good photo.  You’re an average Joe and you have good photos so you must have a good camera.  I want to take good photos.  So if I get the same camera as you I can take great photos too!

Basis A is just a different way to say Pseudo-Insult #1  and in Part 1 I discussed how to handle that it.  This leaves us with the Basis B situation.  Simply answering the the question puts us in the position of being responsible for or at least having influenced someone to buy the wrong camera.  What makes a camera “best” for me isn’t necessarily best for you or anyone else.  What is best depends on what you are trying to do in photography and any particular requirements, e.g. financial, physical (size, weight) etc.  A simple Google search for “how to decide which camera to buy” can give you a lengthy list of articles to review.

Determine what their true needs are

Rather than work through a large matrix of options with them I suggest some leading questions on the more qualitative aspects of the decision.  Some good leading questions are:

• What kinds of photography are you interested in?  Landscapes? Portraits? Street Photography? etc.
• Do you prefer to shoot in a controlled environment (studio) or uncontrolled (outdoors)?
• How serious is your interest in photography.  Do you want to make fine art photos?  Vacation/travel photos?  Snapshots of the kids to share?
• How well do you understand the basic elements and relationships in photography?  ISO/Aperture/Shutter Speed
• What’s the most important feature you’re interested in?  Why?
• Any personal constraints or concerns?  Budget?  Physical such as size and weight of the gear? etc.
• What do you like or dislike with your current camera?  Why do you want to replace it?

If you can get them to focus on which camera most closely meet their needs and not on the most expensive camera they can afford you’ve done them a great service.  Once they can articulate these kinds of criteria the list of possible choices can be narrowed considerably.  I believe these qualitative factors have more impact on how happy you are with a camera than things such as megapixel count or sensor size.

How To Handle “What kind of camera do you use?” question.

My suggestion is to respond in a polite manner with response that contains 5 elements:

1. Take a deep breath.  Remember they didn’t really mean it as an insult.
2. Acknowledge their comment by simply stating what you use.
3. Ask a leading question of “Are you thinking of getting a new camera?”
4. If they answer “no” go to Element #3 as outlined in Part 1.  If they answer “yes” start asking the leading questions above.
5. Offer to review their possible options after they’ve narrowed the options based on these leading questions.

Who knows you might just strengthen an existing friendship or gain a new friend.  You can never have enough good friends.

How do you respond when someone asks “What kind of camera do you use?” Please leave a comment in the comment box below.