Glad you enjoyed it Shy Glo. Cheers Matt

For sure Steve no better time than today to get started. 🚀📸

I love that Phil, I actually in my teens and 20's did exactly the same thing. Documenting every party, and every moment of our lives ... that is a lovely reminder of something I had forgotten. Cheers Matt

Great point Jay, took me a while to work that out. Cheers Matt

Works alright.., as long as there aren’t any other „experts“ around. 😉

Actually, in a random group of 100 people, 85 of them will think they are the expert since they have a phone camera or point and shoot. Photography is one of those subjects that everyone is so used to doing and seeing images by the thousands daily that they think it i is easy. Like everyone is sure they are an expert driver when most are a danger to humanity. About the same percentage who think they are above average intelligence or great lover. There are no experts in image creation, however, that is determined by a viewer and an image and each print or file has to stand o its own perceived merits. In fact, many photographers are not experts at all because they are always surprised by which photo of an album people like the most. The LEAST experts in photography are found on KZfaq channels giving camera or equipment reviews because they would reject most images audiences would like because the image had some technical flaw or when blown up 300% does not have a perfect focus on an eye. Audiences have more innate esthetic expertise by instantly liking something or not without even noticing technical flaws. Besides the technical flaws being ignored, humans viewing art have a lifetime of experience that molds their sense of esthetics, which the photographer is not privy to.

Yep performance can be tough at times :)

Awesome, thank you Pär it is a pleasure to share, and connect with creatives around the globe, I think that is the main joy for me. Cheers Matt

Yes for sure :)

Yeah Andrew, there is nothing better than positive affirmation to keep the work flowing. Congrats. Keep pushing yourself. :) Cheers Matt

Glad it was helpful! SE keep fighting the good fight. Cheers Matt

Neil, best way is to keep shooting, and there will be a point where it feels like second nature. That is the time you know you are ready. :)

Yep the 10,000 hours is a real thing for sure. Then it becomes second nature, and muscle memory. :) Cheers Matt

The insecurity to loose social respect or status may lead to asking questions in a stammering, apologetic way. You have lost it. Now imagine the alternative. Step to somebody in a resolute way, hey you, tell me where central station is! You placed yourself above the other in the pecking order. This may result in conflict, though, if the other feels it like that. Observe how females photographer can be extremely directive, unapologetically so. They are not instinctively felt as a threat by men nor women, in the way men are perceived. Yes, the hurdle for men is much taller.

I can see that with asking for directions a little, but not with ordering a pizza, it's been so long now I cannot remember what I was even afraid of ... : ) I think it was rejection, rather than social status ....

Noted, thanks so much Virat, what is your FAV Z lens? Cheers Matt

@@MattIrwinPhotography i love 35 1.8S and 14-30 F4. I have got 24-70 2.8s coming soon and hope it is as good as what I have heard.

@@ViratShah Let me know what you think of the 24-70 2.8 I don't have one. : )

You are so welcome Bernard, and you will. Keep practising in a safe space, and as time passes it just becomes second nature ... : ) Cheers Matt

Thanks Alan, one thing I love about large group portraiture, as it happens in other things besides weddings, is it is trial by fire. And now days I enjoy working with large groups of various varieties and playing the director. : ) Cheers Matt

A valid concern I can assure you 👊🏼👊🏼👊🏼

Yep totally a problem, and something to always be mindful and aware, 1 in 100 people take it badly ...

The opposite is to have skill and no belief in it ... there certainly could be a lot in that ... doubt and fear are powerful. That is why we must stare them in the eyes and make peace. :)

Matt Irwin Photography Wise.

Yes Rob, currently in production, here is an image from the shoot :) kzfaq.infoUgz1jukHsgyaZR9axCR4AaABCQ

@@MattIrwinPhotography Thank you Matt. Im looking forward to the video. For some reason the link didn’t work.

@@2klember try this one kzfaq.infocommunity first post

Well said Ronald, indeed it is about connecting. :)

Thank you so much Luke, yep it has been a long road, and I could not have made these videos 25 years ago, and even when I started this with the first one in 2016, it was hard, but once you have made a couple of hundred it gets easier every time. Plus at the launches of all of my books, I have deliberately forced myself to stand up and make speeches in front of large crowds, the media, Lord Mayors, etc, that is terrifying, but every time gets easier ... public speaking has been the hardest for me, and I forced myself to do it ... and after a while, you realise you can do it ....

@@MattIrwinPhotography well done 💯👌

Sell one sir. You will be on cloud 9 for a month. And if they are asking, they mean it. Give yourself that joy. Cheers Matt

It just takes time doesn't it. We all slowly build our confidence and skill over time :)

For sure Lazy Dog, I think what we are talking about comes in many shapes and sizes, and is different for all of us :) What you describe is a percentage of me too :)

Indeed, performance outcome anxiety may well be a big part of it. In 2020 I am comfortable of my outcomes, but indeed, how a person sees themselves and how the camera catches them can always be different. My goal when getting to know someone for a session is to push them to exceed themselves. 99 times out of 100 it works out fine, and for that 1%, sometimes you have to agree to disagree and move on. :) And yes buildings and fog don't complain. : ) Cheers Matt

John thanks so much for sharing candidly. When asking for a portrait the hardest thing someone can say is 'NO'. But someone will say 'yes' too. And if you can cope with a few 'no's' then you will succeed for sure with a 'yes' eventually, just a numbers game. A you will love it, and be buoyed to do it again. Do you have a link to the published image? Cheers Matt

@@MattIrwinPhotography Hi Matt, Not sure how to do this but the published image are in N-Photo issue 106 January 2020. I do have a digital version the I would seen you but I can not find away of doing the here. I hope you are well and all going well too,

I actually think it does not matter how you learn photography, and in a way learning in the field teachers you hard and fast what you need to know for you. But we all learn differently, I learn fastest when it is practical. Some people learn best when they hear it, some when they read it. Which do you think you are? Cheers Matt

Matt Irwin Photography you’re spot on. I myself worked for resort photography at one point and with me doing shots 4 times a week makes me feel comfortable talking to people. I have many of lessons on creative live but still not satisfied because no coach saying you’re doing it wrong. I need to learn more on posing people.

@@AgentO113 Yes posing people is hard, it is something that takes time and confidence. And to be honest we don't all look the same, so the same rules for posing don't apply to all people. Sometimes it is about watching your subject for a while waiting for them to reveal themselves to you. : )

I do not recommend schools for the arts but it helps to have an appreciation for why the masters are considered such. For example, to learn light/shadows, perspective an art appreciation class can help by in regard to painting. Visit great museums and galleries to explore how the masters used light to tell stories that transcend time. Between Da Vinci, Vermeer and Rembrandt alone are enough to teach how to communicate in 2D and limited dynamic range. Seeing them in person is best. Ask yourself why you got the impression you got when seeing them. It was deliberate and intentional by the artist that their message reached 3-400 years into the future You do not need photography schools for that. You can read a book about the exposure triad and have all you need technically but everything else only has value as your own re-invention of the craft. That is where your style comes from, that sets you apart from others.

@@stanspb763 Well said sir.

Thanks for sharing, and yes the professional level adds an extra level or 17 of having to get it right quickly, on time, in budget etc. I like the sound of your future professional gigs. Let me know if you need an assistant ;) Indeed pricing is a difficult one, is this something worthy of a video? Cheers Matt

Matt Irwin Photography yes indeed!

He does well, and has been very succesful. To have a channel his size is an amazing achievement : )

Not anymore..................... I'm old looking, I look older than dirt, that people think I know what the hell I doing............................ hAAAHAHAHHAAAAaaahhhhaahahahahah

@@pauldhoff LOL that is great :)

Railroad Tracks................... geeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Whiskey

LOL indeed Jeff, that is where I started :) Cheers Matt