What I Despise In Photography 

The thing I despise: when doing a group photo, you set up the shot, you have the only photo camera around, and then two or three people show up with their phones next to you and you can’t have people to look your way for the photo anymore. People are more drawn to phones for photos than someone with a decent camera. Happened to me at parties and on a movie shoot. 😩

Oh, another thing I dispise is photographers who do nothing but criticize other photographers while producing nothing themselves. Those who can do; those who can't are usually critics.

We need more videos like this! This seemingly mutually-agreed-upon urge to always be happy about everything is exhausting at best, damaging at worst. Thanks man, please share more, much appreciated.

I’m aware of the situation you’re talking about with the copying, and I’m glad you brought it up, because I always wondered which of you had done it first. I feel like that work from that particular place gets copied an AWFUL lot… I can’t recall specific examples but i’d swear it’s more than one photographer doing the copying.

Enjoying the rants lately! 😂

I’m digging the rants… keeping it real with truth and no BS! ✌️

This made me laugh. Thanks for that. I agree with many of the points you make. I’ll add one of my pet hates: I never look down on people because of what they use. Cameras are tools. Use what works for you. But. People who buy tens of thousands of dollars worth of gear just to photograph cats….?! 😅

Haha, grumpy old man 😂 But hey, you have many valid points here 🤗 Keep them coming!

Justin - LOVE❤ the rant sessions, it’s like group photographer therapy (do you feel better? I do!) I despise the amount of SPAM on all social media. Take care & be well

Great Video man.!! I must say. Love the content.

My favorite gripe is when people ask where a photo was taken. The only reason I can think of is so they can take the same photo. I spend a lot of time scouting places to shoot (Street Photography) and find it helps me to keep looking as it gets me in the zone. People need to search out locations that suit themselves and not worry about where other people shot their photos. And don't get me started with the ones that go to a workshop where everything is set up (lights, model etc), and then they press the shutter button. Then they have the nerve to show you the photo and say "Look at the shot I took." This should give enough for another video.🤣

Great list. Gear shaming is the worst. I also don’t like photographers (especially street and urban) who aggressively get in people’s faces to take photos. I get that you can’t always ask permission, but at least be discreet and don’t interfere in whatever moment you are trying to capture!

@Justin Mott I feel like you took the words outta my mouth, just the other day I was having a similar conversation with someone and happy to see I’m not alone! Let’s hear more!!

Enjoyed the grumpy photographer rant. Good video!

Justin i have friends that constantly have work yet their images are horrible while other friends who are talented photogs go unnoticed. Also, watching awards over and over go to a subpar image makes you wonder. Love your hat. Love the rant.

I hear you on the hat thing. Found a wool Western-style had that I love…big brim to keep light out my eyes, keeps the sweat from dripping, plus it gets out of the way when I put a camera to my eye!!

I wish I could "like" this video for every point you made! I won't go into detail, but oh yeahhhh, I've had the same experiences.

Living in NZ where the sun is intense I have to wear sunnies constantly my eyes can’t cope without them regarding hats again the suns harsh down here it would incinerate my bald head in seconds so hats are vital. As a news photographer the thing that annoys me is getting a call to an Incident and getting abused for shooting photos when all around folk are already live-streaming the whole thing. These days our images are pixelated to protect folks identifies yet they are being posted unedited all over the web crazy times. I previously shot weddings for years never have I ever looked down on them actually a 5’6” I rarely look down on anyone great vid mate

I recently came across a photographer who advertised "no up front cost for booking only pay for your prints, you won't be disappointed" I feel outraged and disappointed. What's your thoughts on this behaviour?

Enjoyed the rant! I'm with you on the straps. I just can't deal with them so I give them to my partner to adjust for me.

Love these home truths! People walking next to me and taking that same shot is a real pisser of mine. Loving the recent videos, muchos respect mate.

Good points. The hat one was funny. Boink! - One thing that irks me- is when someone takes a "well timed" frame out of a video, and tries to pass it off as this amazing opportunity / capture time for a photo. Ya, right.

Whoa nelly there not even two minutes in and you’re coming after my hat!?!? I’ll you know it helps me see the viewfinder better in bright sun sir, all while protecting my face and neck from harmful UV rays, and in a pinch I can even use it to cut lens flare! Gotta be the right sort, but a hat is a must-have! I feel you on the sunglasses though.

Great video! I hate PS & 🤖 🙁 It's so hard to look at images when you know that they've been highly manipulated. Simple PS adjustments are fine, exposure, WB, contrast and a little crop here and there 😊

When the model tells me if I can make look skinny.

I wear glasses and sunglasses. Sunglasses are a real pain, and I end up either swapping them out for normal glasses or temporarilly putting them on my forehead. Transition lenses are just too dark. BUT sunglasses do protect your eyes and can defend against getting cataracts, which as we get older we are all more at risk of getting.

My glasses are transitions! Is that ok as I need them to see! I do end up being the cap guy though 😂 but not sure I can pull off a beanie cap.

Any idea where I can sort out my light leaks in a Leica R4 in Hanoi?

Love it Justin.... Rant on brother... Hahahaha

I have been wearing glasses since I was a kid so I have gotten used to glasses. I wear a hat with a broad brim which sometimes can get in the way. My peeve as an amateur is with gear snobs. Like you send, use what you can afford and are comfortable with using because at the end of the day it's the person behind the camera that is most important. I thought your comment about wedding photographers have a tough time because of the variety of situations they are shooting at the wedding was interesting.

The over the shoulder things kills me. Got it shooting with the Hassy. Don't get why people would tip off other people's work.

Glad you threw all the mirrors out cause then the list would be really totally awkward 😂🎉

I enjoyed that😂

Now we know. My peeve, people trying to talk me down on my gallery price. If you are not willing to pay a gallery price, stay out of the gallery.

We have a beautiful park that's popular with both quinceanera and wedding photographers. I consider myself a red-blooded street photographer. You're suggesting that if I come upon one of these professional photographers and their client(s) that I take full account of the time and effort they've invested in some 15-year-old Hispanic girl (or 20-year-old bride) and NOT take a photograph of their client myself?

What’s your top favourite spots in Hanoi and Vietnam for photography?

Love the "rant". It's all good. Many thanks.

Since you mentioned memory cards, how do you know it’s time to retire a memory card? I’m kinda new at this and wondering if some of mine are already starting to crap out.

What do you despise?

Buying memory cards?... that's easy. What's far worse is getting the dang things out of their packaging! 🤣 Great list BTW!!

You made a great list of my "je m'eprise persque rien," but I do not like photography. "Cloning" photos and gear hate are the worst on my list. Thank you for sharing.

It should be law that a photographer cannot answer the following question - 'ooooh cool shot, what camera did you use'?

Continuing the rant. 100% on the sunglasses! Also when friends want you to photograph them for free or expect a deep discount for their LinkedIn profile photo and balk at my rate and then go on a vacation to Africa for 2 weeks and eat out every night. There is no other profession that asks or expects discounts more than photography. I HATE that our industry is so undervalued, and that all rights, usage, and the kitchen sink are expected to be included in one low ball price. Documentarians and photojournalists as you mentioned, who should be at the top of the pay scale. Change is not made, nothing is ever sold, without the image. Re: Your comments about copying. I guess it’s with very industry, but it literally hurts me when I see a lack of integrity and ethics. BIG peeve. When you create a story and it gets published by a well known outlet and you have no control over the image sequencing or what is written about the project. 100% on wedding photographers and they don’t make a few thousand dollars in a weekend for those who don’t know. They take 3 weeks, tons of hours to cull, sort, work on the images. I have MAD respect for wedding photographers after having shot a few weddings. They are in the trenches and have to have transferable skills in a second. People/friends who ask me to show them how to use their camera, or ask me what camera they should buy. That’s like asking what kind of car to buy and then asking me to show them how to use all the features. The trend with camera companies, lighting and gear companies developing gear and showcasing amateurs vs professionals in order to target the amateur market to increase sales. Ok. I’m done.

00:00 📸 Justin Mott's channel focuses on professional photography insights. 00:18 🕶 Sunglasses are inconvenient during photography sessions due to obstruction. 01:18 🎩 Hats, except specific types, hinder photography and are generally disliked. 02:04 📸 Copying another photographer's work is a major grievance for Justin, affecting professional integrity. 04:24 🎒 Ballistic nylon in camera bags is unappealing; Justin prefers more stylish alternatives like Cordura fabric. 04:51 📷 Adjusting camera straps frustrates Justin, preferring simpler, non-adjustable options. 05:26 💾 Purchasing memory cards and hard drives is a necessary but unsatisfactory task for Justin. 06:05 📷 Photographers who demand approval for their photos can create awkward situations, which Justin dislikes. 06:59 📧 Asking for help without considering the other person's convenience frustrates Justin. 08:01 📰 Disdain for photographers who look down on others based on their chosen genre. 09:03 📜 Justin criticizes exaggerated bios that embellish achievements in photography. 09:30 📷 Gear shaming is frowned upon by Justin, emphasizing skill over equipment quality.

RU-vid gear shaming!!!!. I like that. I have some pet peeves in the industry. I just go out and do my best to just create art and not care about the trolls..

It would be cool if they made a baseball cap with a electronic mechanical arm that could activate and put a camera in front of your face, turning the bill of the cap into an asset instead of a dilemma to be overcome.

I think gear shaming resonates with me, cuz the gears I use aren't industry standard..

The biggest thing I despite: online photography groups. A lot of photography groups online are gear heads talking about XYZ gear, gear shaming or just photos of their latest shoot. I want to be able to talk about artist, talk about why someone influences you, or shots you’d redo. It seems like the online discourse is gear centric, and not connecting with people.

Sounds like you need an M11 Monochrome.

What do you think of AI-enhanced portraits? There's a lady politician here in the U.S. who's begun to use AI-enhanced photos of herself in her Twitter/X posts and such. I like the lady, and I agree with her on most political issues, but using an AI-enhanced photo of yourself is, to me, like lying. Also, what brand of Vietnamese coffee do you drink/recommend? Is it available on Amazon?

Grumpy old man. Wait, how old are you? I'm 47, so...if you are 47 or younger, I recant.

I didn't watch this video. I just saw the clickbait title and came here to say how much I loathe your clickbait title.