Are professional photographers using phones now ??

mondeo · 03-01-2022 10:46PM #1

Had an occasion there recently where we needed to hire a photographer for a few hours. A guy comes out and pulls a phone out of his arse pocket and starts snapping away... Sure I could have done this myself or got a friend to do it if I knew he was going to use a mobile phone... I called him out on it and asked him where is his proper camera since he is a professional ? He said many photographers these days are using high end phones instead of carrying heavy camera equipment.. So any gobshite can take a picture using his iphone and call themselves a professional ? I asked him to go and we will do the picture taking ourselves. Was I wrong to do this ?

What would you think if you hired a professional photographer for a wedding or other special event and someone pulls their iphone out ??

TXPTGR1 · 03-01-2022 10:48PM

Chancer- tell him to stick it

TXPTGR1 · 03-01-2022 10:51PM

And yeah talented photographer with a high end phone will take better pics than an amateur with a 10K camera but there is a big difference equipment wise between proper camera and phone despite what apples marketing would have you believe

Gregor Samsa · 03-01-2022 10:57PM

I'd tell him he can do the job if he's willing to be be paid-in-kind with my equally professional service.

Then I'd show him the Swiss Army knife I practice dentistry with.

mondeo · 03-01-2022 10:59PM

My perception here was for someone to show up with an SLR with a proper lense, camera stand etc. Maybe the guy was very talented with his phone but as a customer I expected something else. I just seen some young person taking pictures with a mobile phone and it crossed me as unprofessional.

Quazzie · 03-01-2022 11:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118413374#Comment_118413374

How did your own photos turns out?

TXPTGR1 · 03-01-2022 11:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118413405#Comment_118413405

Why does that matter - however we’ll they turned out they would have turned out far better with a proper camera

mondeo · 03-01-2022 11:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118413405#Comment_118413405

They turned out what I would expect from a phone camera, nothing overly spectacular but considering it didn't cost me anything I am not complaining.

03-01-2022 11:17PM

Something to bear in mind - the phone may have been capable of generating RAW images (as well as JPEGs and just about every other format).

If you've not heard of RAW then have a read: https://photoswithphones.com/how-why-shoot-in-raw-smartphones/ - while RAW is the absolute best quality you'll get with digital photography but the equipment (lens, for example) will also affect the quality of the image.

If I hired a 'professional' and he pulled out an iPhone instead of a Nikon/Canon DSLR, then questions would be asked. There's a lot of 'pre-processing' done in the viewfinder (Framing, checking Depth of field and the like) that simply cannot be done as easily on a smart phone...

Nah, no questions, just a statement; 'Thanks for turning up, Bye now'

Quazzie · 03-01-2022 11:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118413426#Comment_118413426

They would've also turned out a lot better with someone who knew what they were doing working the camera.

Ubbquittious · 04-01-2022 12:38AM

The best camera is the one you have with you. But that doesn't apply if you have time to prepare when you go to a job

Camera lenses and sensors are not great. You can do way more with a proper camera

Esel · 04-01-2022 03:33AM

I've heard of phoning it in, but that is taking the piss.

endacl · 04-01-2022 03:44AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118413434#Comment_118413434

Sure you got what you paid for so.

04-01-2022 04:18AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118413434#Comment_118413434

If it didn't cost you anything, how was it a professional?

Strumms · 04-01-2022 04:38AM

The tools of a photographers trade are a camera, not a phone…

if I book a limo to take me to an event but a driver arrived in a Ford Mondeo, I’m not having… “well, it’s comfortable enough, leather trim and seats, aircon, driver in uniform…..

Rolls Royce, Mercedes, Bentley, Jaguar… that sort of standard…

professional photographer needs a camera with lenses…not a phone that takes photos. That isn’t the standard.

Mrs OBumble · 04-01-2022 04:56AM

How much did you pay? Did you get quotes, and choose the rock bottom one?

Esel · 04-01-2022 07:38AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118414253#Comment_118414253

I book a limo to take me to an event but a driver arrived in a Ford Mondeo

OP *is* mondeo, man!

Pawwed Rig · 04-01-2022 08:38AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118414250#Comment_118414250

Did you even read the thread?

Citrus_8 · 04-01-2022 08:55AM

My personal opinion is that a photographer, not the equipment, makes photos. Amature may have much worse result with the best camera (either built-in or stand alone), comparing to the professional photographer, using an old camera without processing the photos with software. It's all about the skills: how a photographer is able to catch and reproduct the moment in the picture without ruining that moment. However, it's hard for a customer to judge whether a photographer with a phone camera is such a high level photographer what he/she trust themselves to make photos with and it would look same or similarly excellent comparing to the camera alone, or just a beginner photographer who's doing it occasionally but not having a proper equipment yet. I believe, the best way to know the answer is to see their pricing and the final result. But I've seen even very expensive photographers presenting, in my own opinion, unsatisfactory results while some student begginer with a photo may demonstrate some nice surprises.

So, I wouldn't judge so quickly, but I also completely understand the customers' expectations - it's just not looking professional, and the experience is different.

humberklog · 04-01-2022 11:42AM

Any chance of more info OP?

What was the nature of the gig?

How did you decide on that particular photographer?

maestroamado · 04-01-2022 11:50AM

For me the use of a phone is very unprofessional even if the result the same. They need to have a proper camera ans a bit of cop-on...

Fair play to you for sending him on his way..

I would think it be ok for journalist...

Faolchu · 04-01-2022 11:53AM

a pro can create more with a simple camera compared to an amature thats a given even with a phone. that said a camera phone wouldnt have say a decent directional flash, wouldnt have different focal length lenses etc. add to this if all they have is a smart phone they they wouldn be able to modify the available light using defusers, reflectors etc. so while the image will be better than what an amature could produce it wouldnt be the best image the pro could have produeced even if they shot in RAW and carried out extensive post processing. of course to contradict everything i've said I know of one pro that recently did a showing of images he created on the london underground just using an iPhone. each image sole for about €500 each.

o1s1n · 04-01-2022 11:58AM

Sorry OP but this is actually hilarious, I really hope you told him where to go!

Crazy to think anyone would view this as acceptable carry on. I wonder did he accidentally forget his camera bag and tried to wing it with his phone?

Freddie Mcinerney · 04-01-2022 12:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118413304#Comment_118413304

Back up his hole?

Feisar · 04-01-2022 12:22PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118413324#Comment_118413324

As what you said more often than not it's the Indian not the arrow but yea I'd be expecting a better effort than a phone!

mondeo · 04-01-2022 12:43PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118414849#Comment_118414849

I just googled photographers and a website showed up with some nice example shots. The person was in the Dublin area not too far away from me. I probably should have asked more questions like what type of equipment he was going to be using but what do I know... I just assumed he had a proper setup that wasn't a iphone like half the country has in their pockets.

04-01-2022 12:52PM

"...and a website showed up with some nice example shots..."

And next go do an image search on a couple of the 'examples' just to see where they turn up. That website only would be the ideal.

skinny90 · 04-01-2022 12:59PM

you did the right thing, Hiring out someone with a phone(regardless of their ability) is a bit much

04-01-2022 01:09PM

The gap between cameras and phones has narrowed, and is even been surpassed by some of the high end phones, but you still lack the flexibility of having large lenses, much bigger sensors and subtle control that a camera allows.

However, the end result could still be excellent. Some of the best photos I’ve ever taken have been on a recent iPhone Pro and I have a heap of professional camera gear and know how to use it.

I’d still expect to see a bit more equipment than just a phone tho.

o1s1n · 04-01-2022 01:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118415338#Comment_118415338

It is an interesting thing to ponder, a huge part of the issue here is just how it looks - when you're paying for a photography service, there's a bit of pomp and ceremony to someone ushering folks around with a big SLR camera, setting up tripods etc. With smaller tech getting better and better, it does make you wonder will professional photographers still continue to break out the big guns just for show to distinguish them from everyone else there with a camera phone.

Atlantic Dawn · 04-01-2022 01:22PM

Where did you see him advertising his services from, Facebook?

Are professional photographers using phones now ??

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