Myth #1
Expensive gear guarantees great photos.
Nope...
The idea is widespread. Most folks assume I get better shots with the professional 5D than with the consumer T3.
Not so fast...in the right hands, with light and a lens, the very affordable T3 will perform very well.
Myth #2
One shot will do.
Generally, a few shots per setting are required, and that number goes up as the number of subjects goes up. If a group of ten can face me, smile, and not blink, that is lottery luck.
Myth #3
Photographers just "get" photos.
Not always. A lot depends on the subject. I have had family portraits where mom and son were wonderful, but the 18-year-old daughter was horrible.
It is ultra-important that customers of photographers understand the need for groups to be focused.
Myth #4
DSLR cameras are night-vision binoculars.
The fact is, great lighting is needed for photography, plain and simple. In regard to zoom length, a common misconception is that a 300mm lens can photograph that blue-jay across a field of corn.
Photography is a light proposition and wildlife photography is a hunter's stalk-like approach. The odds are stacked against us, surely.
Myth #5
Entry-level DSLRs have Auto Mode, which is good enough.
Sure, functionality and user-interface is important, but it is not the road to iconic photographs. Automatic modes are great if you only want great snapshots.
If you want timeless photos, get out of Auto Mode.
Myth #6
Photography is easy, now that it is a digital medium.
Ha! Go shoot a wedding, it's as tough as roofing a house. I would know...
Myth #7
One lens is good for everything.
If you only are after vacation photos, you might get by with one medium range zoom lens. But, if you want wide angles at the beach and elk in the mountains, and macro shots of your garden flowers, one lens will not do all of those things.
Myth #8
It's easy to make money as a photographer.
Ha! All kinds of factors blow this idea away. Yes, the digital age has eliminated the obstacles of developing and printing, but the gear remains expensive.
Prices of very capable cameras has decreased significantly in the last five years, and the market is saturated with photographers. There is a lot of competition...
Myth #9
"I don't edit my photos."
Editing is absolutely a must. I use Adobe Photoshop CS5, but many free programs exist. Gimp, Picasa, and even WindowsLive are programs that offer powerful editing.
The cameras are pretty good, but they are far from perfect. Subtle editing is often the only edit. Realistic images should be the goal. Using the camera to its fullest and editing correctly will help you achieve timeless and natural looking photos.
Myth #10
"Man, your camera takes great photos."
It is not the camera. I guarantee that.
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