You might be reading the title of this post and think I’m totally out of my mind, but trust me when I tell you that shooting less will change you and your photography.
I originally learned how to shoot on film and film can be hard on the pocket book. The rolls are expensive and developing them is even worse. I learned to be patient and wait for the shot because there was nothing worse than spending all my money to develop an entire roll of basically the same image.
When I bought my first DSLR, I started slipping and began to overshoot because… I could. It didn’t cost me anything extra except for my time. Then I suddenly didn’t have enough hours in the day for everything between two kids, my husband and a business. I had to reevaluate my approach after I got sick of culling through hundreds of images to get a handful of keepers.
Here are five reasons to stop overshooting today:
-
No.01Relationships
If you’re constantly behind the camera, you won’t be able to fully enjoy the experience. For example, we recently went to Disney World and I took 54 shots and kept 40. From start to finish, it took about 10 minutes to cull and edit, but the most important thing was that I wasn’t behind my camera all day. I was enjoying the Disney World experience with my family.
When you start focusing on the foundation, the rest comes naturally. Focus on the fun first.
Read more – 5 Secrets to Making Photography Fun
-
No.02It Will Shift Your Outlook
Whenever my husband and I can tell that the other is getting frazzled over something silly we like to say, “It’s all about expectation management.” Of course we want our children to be tidy, the laundry to be put away and home cooked meals daily, but we know that it won’t always happen and that’s okay.
Expectations of yourself and those you’re shooting should be about the experience if you’re just shooting for fun. If I’m working with my children I always remind myself to get one shot for me, one shot for them and one candid. If I get more, I’m ecstatic. If I don’t, then so be it.
When I stopped putting pressure on them to help give me the shot I envisioned, I started getting those shots more frequently. It’s funny how that happens.
-
No.03Improve Your Skill
If you limit how many shots you can take, you’re far more likely to make sure those shots are perfect before you take them. When I stopped taking “test shots”, I started noticing that I was a lot more intentional about making sure my settings were accurate to begin with.
One simple way you can push yourself is by setting limits with your personal projects. For example, try taking only one image per day for your 365 project instead of a handful and picking the best.
If you still find yourself overshooting, try using a really tiny memory card (think MB not GB) while still shooting in RAW.
-
No.04Increase Creativity
There is something almost mindless about continuing to press the shutter when it’s practically the same image. I understand the desire to “get the shot” and running around to get different angles, but the shot will come if you wait for it.
Try planning an image before taking the shot. Take in your surroundings, notice the light, envision the framing, composition, etc. Then adjust your settings and wait.
-
No.05Less time editing
This goes along with the previous two steps. If you shoot with intention and limit your shots, your images are more likely to be where you want them before you edit. This cuts down culling and editing time significantly.
If you find yourself stuck behind your camera and spending hours culling, try to intentionally shoot less. If all else fails, get a film camera and ask yourself if each frame is worth the cost it takes to develop it.
Once you start harnessing the power of shooting less for your personal work, you can start carrying it over to your business. Shooting with intention will change you and your imagery for the better.
Very, very nice. Thanks for inspiration!
I’m so glad you found it helpful!
Thank you for these awesome tips, Maria!! I definitely over-shoot and will keep these in mind.
I think most people do these days. You are not alone!
Great tips, thank you!
You are so welcome! I hope you give it a try!
I am now cleaning up a lifetime of too many shots. This is great advice
I’ve been there! Give it a shot!
So lovely tips – AND PHOTOS!!!
Would you mind telling how exactly you were able to shoot the secong image from the top of the girl with the teddybear (EXIF, meterring mode, focus etc.)? I is really fantastic!
Also, how did you shoot the second last imageof the hockey players and the light?
Awesome photos! Thanks for sharing;-)
Kind regards;-)
Thanks Susanne!
I’m uploading a huge wedding into LR right now, so I’m not 100% sure what my settings were for the image of the girl. This was shot on a 35mm and I typically shoot between f/2.8 and 3.2.
I spot metered off the stuffed animal. Sun was coming from behind, the tram door at my 10 o’clock and through a small window to the left. I always use single point focus.
I shot through a chain link fence during golden hour.
Great insight thank you, I came to the same conclusion last week after editing 60 pictures for client to pick 5, find it hard to cull, should be easier to take fewer in first place xx
I’ve always found that clients end up choosing more when they are less overwhelmed with options. Shooting less will definitely help!
Im a newbie photographer, and didn’t think that overshooting could be an issue. This post has really opened my eyes. Thank you!
How on EARTH did you go to Disney world and only take 54 shots?! 54???? Are you sure you don’t mean 540?? We are going in February for the first time and I can’t imagine only getting 54 shots over a span of 4 days, it doesn’t seem like enough and I’m so afraid I’ll miss something.
I know so many people who will upload galleries of hundreds of photos of their vacations, and I never bother looking at any of them. But when they share just a few of the best moments I am more interested. My approach in sharing photos is also to pick the best ones, which do come more naturally if I shoot more mindfully and sparingly.
Thank you Maria. I am one of those who shoot more. I think I need to do some Justice to myself. My time is precious.
Excellent advice , thank you
I am such an overshooter and it’s been crippling me!
So good to find your article (a google search on the subject revealed only two find on the subject!) so thank you for inspiring me to shoot less and take control back!
I have always believed that is why my pics have gotten so bad over the years. You can’t drive back to shoot that waterfall so you had to make sure you thought about it before shooting when you were using film. Now I just take and take and adjust it after. I stopped thinking about correct settings and now I have completely lost my skill.
Thanks for confirming my thoughts!!