Jess, your work is awesome. You don't have to envy or compare yourself with those big league "photography companies". What you say is so true. I've been a graphic designer/photographer for almost 18 years. I used to work for an ad agency as an art director some years ago. I used to make their graphic arts and take most of product shot (women shoes , food shots, any work they would provide me. They had lots of clients). But when was the time to work with models, certain fashion brands, etc. they would always came with their photographer. Also, like you said, hair stylist, make up artist, assistants, managers...the whole bunch. Anyways, I would ended up directing the photographer, explaining him how I would like the angles, let some bleeding space so I could make a good design and stuff. At the end of the session, the photographer would give me the whole raw files of the entire session. (500+ pics). So I had to select like 15 best pictures out of the whole bunch, then do full retouch and post processing and then create the ad piece. (Could be a banner, magazine ad, POP). The raw files were just that, raw files, there were times that lot of pictures were super dark or you could see the lighting equipment in the background. At that time I used to use Photoshop 10 and lightroom wasn't around, so It had to be old school retouching stuff. I would take 2 to 3 hours to retouch a single pic. And of course at the end, the "photographer" got all the credit. Everybody would talk about how great the model looks and how amazing was the picture the photo guy took. I opened my own design/photo studio some years ago (home style thing but efficient), and I do everything. I Take the pictures, direct and do full retouch. And I guess I have the same or even better results than when I used to work with ad agencies. Sorry for the long text, just wanted to share my own experience. Keep doing the good job you're doing.

Retouching is an art, completely separate from photography. I'd like to see Annie Liebovitz's pictures before they have been worked on.

It's the same with filmmaking. A director isn't cutting (or filming) their own movies they have editors and cinematographers BUT the best photographers and directors understand how those roles/jobs work because they spent so much time doing it themselves. It makes them the best bosses and creative leaders because they understand what's required of the role and speak the same languages as the people that work with them. It's so frustrating going everything yourself but ultimately it makes you a better creative in the long run. What's the saying "don't compare your mess of raw footage to someone else's highlight reel".

Yeah its very true...i do landscapes..i have one 5dii...one lens..and one tripod which is very bent..i take ok photos, i am happy with my passion and hobby...but i used to compare myself with guys who have multiple lens some worth $4000 each, amazing tripods, filters, amazing cameras, plus they are experts in photoshop it makes u wanna cry lol.....end of the day u can never compare yourself to others. i love taking photos for myself if someone else likes one then its a bonus :)

I just started photography and I am struggling with that right now. I am always wondering whether I will be good enough to get that $1000 photoshoot or get my pics into a magazine. Your video has totally inspired me and I will continue this journey

Fcking love you babe, this was such good advice to hear.

I see you are no. 2 on the Top 17 Photographers to Follow On Instagram list. Congrats!

Keep being yourself! Your vision is amazing! Thanks for being you!!! 🙏🏼

Some of the most famous photographers who everyone goes crazy about can't even tell you what lens they are using. They have a guy that decides on the lenses, puts it on, especially one in particular who I'm not going to mentioned who is regarded as a complete genius in the photography world. Watched a documentary where he's literally saying, he doesn't even know how to set up the camera. When he shoots the pictures the whole thing is set up and then he walks over there and hits the button. He gets credit because it's his, "Vision," well.... It's not much different than being 6 years old and coming up with something in your imagination and saying that's my vision and then all these people put it together and you walk over and hit the button. Vision doesn't do it for me... I like people who know how to execute the whole thing.

As Kyle said this is the year of realizing stuff 😂😂😂

When I first decided photography is my passion I followed a bunch of great photographers. Just like you, I thought they were doing it by themselves but little does I know, they have teams of Professional retouchers, professional shooting team, professional makeup artists, stylers, hair stylers, and even studios set up just like a sweet home just for photo shooting... I never could have those but hey I'm still happy to do it as my passion. Lol Jessica, I have been watching your vids for a while now, and you inspired me to do it more and do it better. I learnt your natural light shootings and editing tutorials, I have made improvements the past year because of you. Thank you so much, and keep it up. XOXO

Hi Jessica I think there is room for both worlds. If you see photography as a job, you want to be as most efficient as you can get. And like in other areas too, this often means: Do what you can do best, outsource the rest. If your see yourself as an artist, something similar like a painter or a musician, you will never ever let somebody touch your work because no one would be able to match the final image to the picture you had in mind during the shoot. I for myself live in something between. When I do something for a client like an image shooting or a catalogue for new clothing designs I like to work with professionals like MakeUp Artist and Hair Stylist....the better they are the less work I will have in post. But as an Artist I usually do everything on my own. My wife (luckily she is a model and very talented in make ups too) and I are on our own and usually there is no help on any side (except some designers giving us nice outfits or heels) .... She does also a lot of the postproduction in photoshop because we act like a team and so we develop the shooting ideas together and create the final artwork as an output of our teamwork also together. But...I understand your point. It is disillusioning in some way if you see somebody’s work and have to accept that he only did 40% or so for it and the rest of the cheer has to point to somebody else you did not know :D Greets from Germany

I admire your honesty a lot, Jessica! I must stress though, you put a lot of emphasis on money. You seem to think that if you have the money, you can pay for a team and big studio, and that's when the magic happens. That would imply that you have to make money first before you grow as a photographer. I believe (and have seen) that it is much more about networking. Getting your work to a level that attracts other professionals. To not just approach modelling agencies but also professional stylists, make-up artists and retouchers to work with you. All you have to do is reach out, work together, grow together and eventually that gap between "just you and a model" (which, don't forget, you're already doing great with these little resources!) and this big team and impeccable work isn't that big anymore. :) I'd say: DO compare, but not just the result. Compare and study what they did to get there. And go do it.

Thanks for this video, Jessica! I often thought I could never get as good as some of the big photographers on Instagram, but I never thought of it this way. Keep on rocking!

I enjoyed this a lot. I'm a first year photography student at Lansing Community College and I am learning the basics of retouching right now and I learned literally TODAY that photographers send their photos out to professional retouchers... didn't realize that before today. How ironic lol

Also thank you for this Jessica! I've been doubting my photos because I see photographers like You and Brandon but this reminded me to stop comparing myself and just keep trying and shooting :)

Jessica,I 've been always interested in photography but never did anything with it.Recentely i came across your chanel and now i've been attending photography course.It's actually thanks to You .Videos similar to these one make me belive that everyone has own style and that's just fine.Your inspire me so much!

Jessica, stop it! I know we all compare ourselves to people who are better than us, and it's healthy in some ways, but I honestly think you do an amazing work with your team of one. I learn so much from your editing tutorials and your photoshoots that I end up looking for inspiration and comparing my own photos with yours!! You'll get to that level that you want to reach, it's just a matter of when

While I'm watching your video, I am thinking.. Does this all retouching and perfecting process is really what makes a photo great?? Or maybe a natural emotion and a deep moment is what makes a photo great and beautiful. I prefer what's natural than what's super edited 😆

I love this Jessica. Couple of months ago I felt the same. We are working hard to make it to better leagues. Maybe today you would like to be where some other photographers are, but at the same time there tons of us here trying to reach your level.. I love how open transparent you are with us. Thank. This is why you are doing great and do greater.

You are an amazing photographer and ever since I stumbled across one of your tutorials you have shown me so much and inspired me to continue on with my dream and not give up. Thank you Jessica 🙏🏼

at the same time it's good to compare yourself because it just means you try to be the best :) keep up the good work

Thank you Jessica you're helping learn more and more about photography!

Oh yeah, most of these fashion magazine photographers have a team of retouchers, MUAs, stylists and hairstylists. I do a lot of my own retouching but there's a lot of retouching I don't have the skill for I outsource. No shame in that. If it's outside of my realm of skill I'll outsource it if I can afford it. But yeah, I used to stress on magazine photos until I actually found out that a lot of photographers don't edit their own work. And that doesn't really matter to me. You are so right. It's an unfair comparison to compare ourselves to world renowned photographers because they do have a team we can't afford lol. Great vid again, Jessica :)

I. Love. Your. Channel. I am a photographer and your work is such an inspiration....and I love that you vlog your shoots and show the results. And I also love videos like this and your pricing video. So helpful!

This is so important! I always catch myself comparing my work to these amazing photographers but you're so right if I had thousand dollar dresses and a retouching team then I'd have these crazy amazing images! Honestly though I wouldn't feel like it was my image if someone else edited it.

Ditto: I have always thought the same thing.... It's like with me you get me and my work not a team of people. I had a speaker tell us she was always so busy that she didn't have time to edit.... then she gave us the name of an outfit and how to send them just the lightroom preview files and for like $2-400.00 they would do her edits and send them back. Re-apply the edited previews to the RAW files and it's done... It gets better, she then told us of a business that does her Albums for $1,500-2,000..... I think how does she get business charging $10-15K? People are paying for her subs and not her... So when people want a discount from my $3-4K wedding packages I explain that it's all me! I'm the one who knows my clients and their wants. I'm the one that has spent time with them to understand this.... Sorry this was long, Kinda went on a rant... Your awesome and I (totally) get what your talking about... Love your videos #keepingitreal

No worries Jessica, you're amazing!!!

Keep doing what your doing and you will have a team of assistance also. Master your craft. This year you have raised your own game

Great Video... the good thing is that we are getting more access to those information and knowledge which can help us reach those high standards.... so with hard work and courage we can produce this high end work. Back in the days those big photographers wouldn't allow anyone even to watch when they work.... so the good thing is everyone has shot these days.

Completly agree :) That ideal goal is a great place to aspire, but that's basically it. I think it's better to learn how to use and constantly improve the tools that you actually have and eventually realize that you're very close to that job or magazine that you wanted to be featured in. Comparing or trying to achieve the same results will (almost) always end up in "something negative" as like you said, you will not have the same results being a one man band than a crew of 10 people working on that shoot.

Needed this. I find myself comparing my work constantly!! Thanks for your honesty.

I love it when you geek out!

Great talk Jessica! Love your humble self too!

You are really great jess. I love your work & love this message

Hi Jessica, Many will hear great Ideas but because of individual characteristics and attitudes it can take many years for some to if ever accept this very important wisdom. It is also a gift of decency to share this understanding with others. You have come a long way in the last couple of years. I wish you happiness - CaLViN

Haha, what a revelation huh??? Sending work out... and the work is incredible!! I think your pretty darn amazing at your work Jessica. I always look up to you to learn.

I love your videos, whether you have a camera in your hand or not. You do you, boo!

This is such an encouraging message to independent artists of all kinds. Thanks so much :)

You don't know how much I needed this 💛 thank you

Thank you so much Jessica, I really needed to hear this!

True talk. This is gold advice for newbie photographers.

That's how any industry rolls. The endresult is important, the rest not so much. That's why you can easily market a mediocre singer that otherwise is able to target a specific group perfectly. If he or she is perfect for , lets say, the teen market (look- and attitudewise), you just slap autotune on the recording and make the voice fit. Is he or she a great singer, but doesn't look the way she should? Makeup/strict diet/surgeries can do the trick (or try to heavily market her appearance torwards the natural look). Adelle is a good exemple: first she was a curvy, now she looks like all the other puppets. Avril lavigne or pink too: First the were rocker girls, know they just do what the industry demands, it's always the same in the long run. I know that sounds aweful, but it's (mostly) the way it is....

Facts. This is true. I honestly know so many photographers who stress themselves out trying to get wardrobe stylist and make up artists and it's just difficult sometimes coming up with all that and when they don't get that , they get discouraged. I'm one of those people. So yes, Jessica is right.

Wise words from the queen herself 🙌 so encouraging

I really needed this today. You are amazing. Thanks!

Your videos always yank me out of the gutters when it comes to my motivation to shoot.

great video! I had no idea about retouchers.

Beautiful!! You said it wonderfully. Thank you for helping me realize this

I started Retouching first and have been wanting to dabble into Photography, but I feel like that'll start to slow me down. I love retouching, it's so calming.... add taking the photos..... omg XD

It hits me when I learn that there are professional color corrector for videos out there

I kind a figurate what you said out, so long time ago. It is obvious, due to the amount of work those photographers have, and due to the amount of money they charge! 😜 Anyways, Jessica I would like to thank you for your videos, for sharing all your experiences as a photographer, I'm new here following you, and girl... let me tell you, you're an awesome photographer!! You inspire me! I'm not a photographer (yet) but it's my goal to become in one, so please keep inspire us. With Love.

I´m in your same position I´m realize now all this things that you saying! everything is true, I love your videos. Regards from México.

Did you go to college to be a photographer? If so, can you give some pointers? Did you major in photography? Is photography a career? What college did you go to? If you didn't go to college, what did you do to learn and become top notch like you are now?

Woah. I just recently did a photoshoot out in Downtown Chicago and wasn't paid much but I spent about 6 - 8 hours editing only about 80 Photos I liked from them. Because I never let any of my work get out there untouched and wanted it to look amazing for the client. Now hearing that other photographers just send them off to a team kinda rubs me the wrong way.

I recently bought a workflow dvd because I thought the reason my pictures aren't as good as some of the other people was, because I'm stuck so much in my fine art world and can't keep up with the editing process (I'm a hobby fine art photographer and professional equine photographer), but after watching the dvd it turned out that I just don't have the best equipment. My pictures could look as amazing with 20,000€ equipment, but I'm very much a slave to my own equipment. It was rather eye-opening that sometimes it's not your talent or how hard you work, but luck or money that determines, wether other people's work looks a bit better. Sad but true. Still, never giving up. :D

I love this!! and I love your work Jessica

hi Jessica ☺ just to add this is not just in fashion. also in almost genre of photography. if you knew about Steve McCurry scandal that's his retouchers fault also. natgeo also and some sport photography. yes they are busy but it is really annoying when your super idol don't edit his/her photos. glad I found you here 😁

Excellent. and I love Dr. Phil show.

that's why i always thank you for sharing your experience because frankly i can't afford taking classes

It’s not about what you know it’s about who you know!

personally Id like to control every aspect of my work

I love watching your videos! Stay real!

Hahah its true that most photographers in the industry don't retouch their own photos. its really not feasible for them to make deadlines with retouching if they are shooting almost everyday, its sad but true! I shoot for all the modeling agencies in nyc and I absolutly love your work Jessica!

Thank you 🙏🏾

You are so inspiring...thank you

Wow love the breakdown

sooo needed this video today! Thanks Jessica :)

literally love you for this

You're amazing Jess !!!

hi Jessica. I cant watch all ur videos at one time so i keep watch when I can some of it. anyway, I think this is how they get more pro and famous because all what we saw in the magazine or at the street ads it almost as lil fake photos as they work harder in it to show it like wow ..hmmm how they get this photo ! this is how they work ..

I love this!!😃 thanks for sharing!!

Some photographers also use lighting techs as well. But yeah hopefully everything should be under the direction of the creative director and/or photographer. who would give direction to the retouchers as well, so the vision is still theirs.I agree that having a great team is really important, and in the beginning, we all end up doing everything ourselves. All this stuff should be used to enhance our creative vision and not fix mistakes made when the photo was taken. I met a photographer who hired a digital tech so he could shoot tethered to a computer, and that guy also changed his aperture for him as well. He wasn't familiar with the camera he had rented, but he did have his own creative vision and knew what he wanted. We all should know our gear though, lol.

I think your work could EASILY be in Vogue! You are insanely talented!

i love you my teacher

Very encourage talk!! Thanks

very well said Jassica 💗

This video has helped me a lot. You've saved My day. Thank you very much. Hugs from Rio de Janeiro

Thank you, I needed this video so much

I have to remind myself of this all the time. Nothing worse than having pretty grand ideas for a shoot based on the great images I see all around, then realizing that I don't have the resources for that. I just write down my ideas & tell myself that I will save it for later 😆

just found your channel, but already getting some motivation! thank you

I loved this, thank you

thanks!

That's a whole new level when a photographer has so much work that he has to hire a team of retouchers.

I love this: so real and it reminded me of something I needed to hear! Also I really admire your work!

Needed to hear this! thank you!

It's a good point Jessica/Oprah ;-) When one stops comparing oneself to others images (because you can't possible compare yourself to other people you don't even know) one can start comparing ones own work with other work taken a while ago and hopefully see an imporvement. When we all get rich and famous we'll all see eachother on a beach in Hawaii sipping Margaritas lmao.

I appreciate you.

You are amazing.

I loved this video, I never really stopped to think about it xd it's nice to be remainded!

Photography at that level is like making a film.(the director makes a great film but he doesn't do the especial effects the make up and so on). I have no intention of being a professional photographer, I just want to learn how to take beautiful photos like yours, but I fear that in time you may become more a vlogger than a professional photographer.The best of luck in any way you go.

Yeah first you learn how to do everything by you and then when everything becomes impossible to do then you hire team (with existing knowledge ) you hire a team .

Thank you for this video

Hey Jessica! Love your work and videos I really appreciated this. Thanks for the insight :)

Thank you :)

don't see them right now. we have to see their history behind before they got there, still they start it from zero. When we get bigger, we have to work as a team, and it is still not easy to be a leader of a team. love your work and your critizism, its also open my mind.

Ur awesome jessica and we love u 💛

Yap

Love your videos there so relate-able

Awesome video!! I know a lot of people who Shoot JPEG and don't edit anything! Not saying it's bad, just not the same as us "Hustling" people! Same with Video too, most people have amazing equipment, huge teams and make amazing stuff! We just have to keep hustling and making our best with what we have and can get our hands on! Great Video, such an awesome message!