are you ever embarrassed to take your camera to social gatherings?

[jann1033]

i think i really need to get over this but sometimes i am really embarrassed when someone comments on my camera, not necessarily in a bad way, just like "oh you have a real camera" type comments, not mean... just i think they think i should take better shots with that than their 3 mp p&s takes....last time i ended up leaving it home just cause i felt kind of like it's a little "look at me".. anyone else ever felt this way and how did you talk your self out of it?...with my new white lens and hunkin big flash i'm gonna feel even more like a freak:scared1

not that our friends would say mean things, they just are all more the "line the kids up crammed next to that white wall and take a firing squad shot" photographers. i have some close friends i'd love to take photos of their kids( one was born the day after granddaughter and they are so cute together) but i am just so stinking nervous to ask them mainly cause if they turn out stinko what am i going to say ( i know i am officially neurotic)

i don't have a problem anywhere else, just social gatherings.

 

[0bli0]

i think a more appropriate question for me is 'are your friends ever embarrassed to take you to social gatherings?'

i dont usually take a dslr to gatherings. but i'm happy to take my lomo or another small camera. if i do take the dslr, i usually use a fast lens like the 50 1.4 or 85 1.8 so i don't need a flash.

 

[Groucho]

Even if you do feel uncomfortable, remember that the pain of being uncomfortable is fleeting, but the quality photos you can take are forever.

If you email a couple of the pictures to the parents of whichever other kid is in them, that'll probably help, too, since they'll be looking forward to seeing you pulling out the "big guns" while the other folks do the "zombie walk" with their PnSs....

 

[jann1033]

i think a more appropriate question for me is 'are your friends ever embarrassed to take you to social gatherings?'

i dont usually take a dslr to gatherings. but i'm happy to take my lomo or another small camera. if i do take the dslr, i usually use a fast lens like the 50 1.4 or 85 1.8 so i don't need a flash.

hmm maybe those looks are not directed at my camera, could be they are wondering why hubby didn't leave me home and just bring the camera. you might be on to something there at least when i'm there i don't dance like this Elaine venize( sienfeld) smilie

aw but groucho, I how long the pain of a lousy picture lasts

 

[ColleenS]

Even if you do feel uncomfortable, remember that the pain of being uncomfortable is fleeting, but the quality photos you can take are forever.

Exactly! My family is used to it but I do sometimes feel weird going in to new situations with my camera. (this is one of the reasons I've been holding back on getting a flash)

But when I'm at home looking over the photos I always say to myself that I don't care how embarrassed I was, look at this great photo!

If you email a couple of the pictures to the parents of whichever other kid is in them, that'll probably help,

I do this ALL THE TIME. People don't care as much about me taking pictures all the time with my huge camera if they know they'll be getting a few.

Just last night my youngest sister had her final volleyball game. I brought the camera and took lots of pictures of the game. Was I a little embarassed to be practically on the court and using the flash?! Yes. Were the photos totally worth it. Yep.

 

[Gdad]

Yes- I feel that way sometimes.

Not sure if this qualifies as a social gathering but I went on a field trip with my daughter who is in kindergarten and opted against my DSLR- taking my wife’s P&S instead. I get neurotic also- thinking the other parents will be thinking I'm a wierdo snapping shots of their kids with some big camera. Then when I get there- there are a dozen 'Moms' with P&S's and one other 'Dad' with a nice Canon DSLR. And of course no one is paying any attention to this fact but me.

Insert Homer Simpson "Dooohhh!" here.

 

[ndelaware]

Well I guess it's just my personality but I never feel weird carrying my DSLR. How important the event is to me is the barometer I use to determine which camera I am going to use. For my goddaughter's wedding I carried my DSLR with the flash and a couple of lenses. For my wifes company funtions I usually carry a pocket sized P&S. As for my kids school functions and trips, I always carry the DSLR. I have had lots of people comment on it when I am carrying it, including it being named the "paparazzi" camera on my wifes company trip to Puerto Rico. But most people just say "nice camera" or make comparisons to their own cameras which sound like apologies from them for not spending more on a camera.

 

[wdwpluto]

I think Gdad makes a good point. Often times when I thought I'd feel uncomfortable in a situation like this, I've realized later that nobody other than me noticed or cared. So I say take your camera with you. The first time or two you may feel a bit awkward, bu I bet the discomfort will pass quickly.

I'm fortunate that by now my friends have realized where I go, my camera goes. And they enjoy the pictures (even the occasional silly drunken ones or maybe especially those!)

 

[boBQuincy]

Nah, by now most people who know me expect I will show up with some SLR in my hands. My response to the remark "you must get good pictures with that fancy camera" is a grin and "I get a *lot* of pictures anyway".

If I don't want to be "honored" as the defacto photographer for the gathering I just leave the SLR at home, but it's rare. Then they ask "why didn't you bring your *good* camera?".

At one 4H event I showed up with the 70-200 and one of the event organizers thought the parents had hired me to take photos of their children. Nope, I am not that smart, I do this for free! But a photo of a goat in a halloween princess outfit is more payment than anyone could ever ask!

 

[ktulu]

I'll take my dslr just to make sure I have the chance to get the good pics. I was pushed to get a better quality camera after having some bad photos come out of my p&s.

I'd have no problem showing up with my dslr, L lenses, speedlite with the Gary Fong Lightsphere or just a piece of paper, one of the "abetterbouncecard.com" type things

You paid a good chunk of change for the camera, might as well use it!

 

[jann1033]

Exactly! My family is used to it but I do sometimes feel weird going in to new situations with my camera. (this is one of the reasons I've been holding back on getting a flash)

But when I'm at home looking over the photos I always say to myself that I don't care how embarrassed I was, look at this great photo!



I do this ALL THE TIME. People don't care as much about me taking pictures all the time with my huge camera if they know they'll be getting a few.

Just last night my youngest sister had her final volleyball game. I brought the camera and took lots of pictures of the game. Was I a little embarassed to be practically on the court and using the flash?! Yes. Were the photos totally worth it. Yep.

exactly! maybe it's a girl thing. the only good thing is at least since they don't know anything about dslrs they won't really know how much i spent on my "hobby"

 

[Amy]

At one 4H event I showed up with the 70-200 and one of the event organizers thought the parents had hired me to take photos of their children. Nope, I am not that smart, I do this for free! But a photo of a goat in a halloween princess outfit is more payment than anyone could ever ask!

Ok, now you have to post the picture of the goat in the princess outfit!

 

[Master Mason]

Was I a little embarassed to be practically on the court and using the flash?! Yes. Were the photos totally worth it. Yep.

Not to be mean, but You were using a flash at a volly ball game? I am surprised that they didn't tell you to stop. That could be a hazard.

Back to the original question, I am never embarrassed to take my camera, it is mine, I bought it to capture the memories of the places I go and the people I am with.

 

[mabas9395]

Any time you are with a group/crowd and you are the only one doing something different, something that makes you stand out, like taking pictures (especially with a dSLR, battery grip, huge white lens, flash, diffuser, bag over your shoulder, etc) it is perfectly normal to feel like you are standing out of the crowd. Because you are!!!

The first question is how does standing out in a crowd make you feel? The next question is how does that make others feel? If the answer to both questions is "We Feel Great", then go for it.

 

[boBQuincy]

Ok, now you have to post the picture of the goat in the princess outfit!

Oops, fading memory, these goats were in fairy and witch outfits (there was one in a princess outfit but the photo is not very good).
The girls are a few years older now and likely to beat me up for this!

 

[Amy]

Thanks, Bob - neat pic! And very cooperative goats. Whenever I try to put a Halloween costume on my dog, he's got it off before I can even grab my camera!