The Worst Photography Advice I Ever Heard

You know when you hear something and it just stops you in your tracks, makes you say “What the…???!!”

Well, roll back a few months to this year’s The Photography Show and picture the scene: I was walking past one of the stands where a pro photographer was giving a talk about pro technique. He was talking specifically about wedding photography, but essentially his advice (if heeded) could be applied to any kind of location photo assignment.

Here’s what he said:

Don’t ever do a recce.

Now, for those who don’t know, a recce is basically time spent checking out a location ahead of a shoot. It also gives the opportunity to talk things through with the people involved (the client, venue owner) and plan out the finer details specific to the area etc.

In my opinion, where logistics allow, conducting a recce is pretty essential and should always be advised.

So why should you do a recce?

Well, apart from the reasons above, two big considerations immediately spring to mind: a) contingency planning and b) expectation management.

As a photographer, you have to be ready to adapt, change plans and find solutions at the drop of a hat during a photo shoot. All manner of unforeseen factors can threaten to derail proceedings, not least of all the weather.

There have been occasions, for example, when I/the team/the subjects have been all set for a great outdoor shoot – only to have Plan A scuppered in minutes because of adverse conditions.

Enter Plan B (thanks to a recce). If you know that there are some nice areas under cover (in a building, in a woodland close by etc) because you’ve previously visited the location, it’s no great shakes – you can head there to carry on shooting until (hopefully) the weather clears. If it doesn’t, no problem – you’ve still got pictures in the bag.

But if you’re having to waste time looking around and hoping to find something suitable at the time when you should be taking pictures or filming… Well, this could have a big impact on timings and, ultimately, the success of the shoot. And, worse case scenario, what happens if you can’t find a suitable alternative?

Don’t get me wrong. You’ll often have to be flexible and seek out a way of getting the job done unexpectedly… and, even with the best planning in the world, that will sometimes necessitate putting the camera away and going on an impromptu recce.

I also mentioned expectation management. Everyone involved needs to be happy with what’s required/expected and also with the plan of attack (hence why it’s a good idea to get a contract signed – but that’s for another post).

Whilst it’s rare, it’s not unheard of for photographers and clients to reach an impasse, for whatever reason. It could be creative differences, logistical disagreements or simply that they don’t get along! After all, you can’t please all the people all of the time.

But here’s the thing: if this realisation is reached ahead of a shoot, once a recce is completed, there’s no harm done. Just agree that the match isn’t what everyone is looking for, return any deposits and move on.