What do you do if you want genuine and helpful critiques of your photography?

For me personally, I have found that joining groups or forums that focus on your particular genre of photography is one of the best ways to get valuable and effective critiques of your work. I have found that as long as you actively engage and contribute to the conversations within the community, oftentimes, when it comes to getting feedback on your work, the community tends to be more open and honest with you as you have created that relationship where the community knows that they can be candid with you and you won't be offended by the feedback.

Joining communities is a powerful way to get genuine and helpful critiques of your photography. By becoming part of photography groups, whether online or in-person, you connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion and can offer diverse perspectives. Online platforms like Flickr, 500px, and specialized forums provide spaces where photographers of all levels exchange feedback. Local clubs and workshops offer face-to-face interactions, fostering deeper connections and more personalized advice. Engaging with these communities not only improves your skills through constructive criticism but also broadens your network and exposes you to new techniques and ideas.

Communities and groups are a wonderful way to grow and learn in skills. I've found in my experience that being part of an image critique group is very helpful if you have people in the group that are more experienced than you, or at the level you want to be. I've also learned that all critiques need to be taken with a grain of salt. You can show the same image to 5 different groups or judges and they all will have different feedback. Listen to them all, think about what each says, and decide what helps your end goal. Many professional organizations have merits and awards, so those judges will critique based on those rules. It can be hard to hear someone pick apart an image you love, but it really does help grow and motivate us to grow.

If you want genuine and helpful critiques of your photography, have an open mind. Create avenues for feedback on your accounts like leaving the DM open, creating pools, and posting Q and A sessions. Receive feedback with a positive mindset and write down suggestions on how you can do better.

Join a community of Peers that have members that are at the stage and have made it to where you want to be. They will give you honest feedback. Often those that have not made it or are at the same level, won't give you the feedback that you need to improve yourself.

Attending workshops is an excellent method to receive genuine and helpful critiques of your photography. These workshops, often led by experienced photographers, provide structured environments where you can learn new techniques and immediately apply them. During these sessions, instructors offer personalized feedback on your work, pointing out areas for improvement and suggesting ways to enhance your skills. Additionally, workshops foster a collaborative atmosphere where participants can critique each other's work, providing diverse perspectives. The immersive experience of a workshop allows for hands-on learning and direct, constructive criticism, accelerating your growth as a photographer.

La preparación continua tiene que ser uno de los mayores enfoques a la que debes de reinvertir ingresos, ya que esto te permitirá aprender y sobresalir en muchos proyectos que requieran una perspectiva innovadora o de ciertos aprendizajes.

Yes to this! BUT - ensure that the person you are hiring is the right fit. Make sure they have experience and expertise in both the genre of photography and the elements you want to work on. For example, hiring someone who is an expert on posing and composition might not be the best fit if you actually want to work on your lighting skills. Also, read reviews and try to speak to past students. What processes do they use, and do those methods work with how you learn? Can you reach out to them for advice in between sessions? If you are investing in the opportunity to learn, you want to get the most out of it.

Hiring a mentor is a highly effective way to obtain genuine and helpful critiques of your photography. A mentor, typically an experienced professional photographer, offers personalized guidance tailored to your specific needs and goals. This one-on-one relationship allows for detailed and constructive feedback on your work, helping you identify strengths and areas for improvement. Mentors can provide insights based on their extensive experience, offer tips and techniques, and help you navigate challenges. The personalized attention ensures that the critique you receive is directly relevant and actionable, accelerating your development and helping you achieve a higher standard in your photography.

Hire a Mentor or Coach that promises to actually coach and not coddle. A coach in any industry should be there to push you .. esp if it hurts. The coach or mentor should also be someone that has far surpassed where you want to be, not someone that just started coaching. Kyle Goldie is one that provides honest mentorship and coaching as well as Mastermind sessions with Peers that are also instructed to be brutally honest. Do not hire a mentor / coach that is there to simply cheer you on. They are doing a dis-service.

Be careful about using social media. Unless you have a very thick skin, many people on social media can be needlessly cruel in their feedback, which is not necessary and may impede your learning. Additionally, there is no way to easily verify the people who comment, so there is a good chance you could be getting bad advice. It's best to find a few groups that are focused on your niche (as opposed to general photography groups.) Seek out groups on social media that have clear rules about respectful discourse and are well moderated to ensure you are in a safe space.

Using social media is a dynamic way to get genuine and helpful critiques of your photography. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter allow you to share your work with a broad audience, including fellow photographers, enthusiasts, and potential mentors. By actively participating in photography groups, hashtags, and themed challenges, you can attract constructive feedback from a diverse community. Engaging with your audience by asking specific questions about your photos can elicit more detailed and useful critiques. Additionally, social media provides opportunities to connect with experienced photographers and influencers who can offer valuable advice and insights, helping you refine your skills and grow as a photographer.

I wouldn't recommend social media for feedback unless its a closed group of very experienced peers. There's always trolls that want to bash your work whether its good or bad. Often the unwarranted negative comments stick in your head.. Avoid general social media and groups..

No todas las críticas serán positivas, pero pueden ser constructivas. Aprende a distinguir entre críticas útiles y opiniones personales. Usa la retroalimentación para mejorar y no te desanimes por comentarios negativos.

Take a critical look at your own work, noting the things you excel at and areas where you can improve. Clearly define the kind of feedback you're looking for, such as composition, lighting, or post-processing. Then, take Action: Share your work in photography forums, social media groups, or with mentors, making it clear what kind of feedback you're after. Listen actively to the critiques, ask questions to understand better, and show appreciation for the input. Use the constructive feedback to enhance your future work, trying out the suggested changes and techniques. Keep sharing updated work, and considering new feedback to continuously improve your skills.

Best way to get genuine and helpful critiques is by looking for a mentor in the niche that you are in and present to him / her your work and they can give you positive critiques which can help you grow as a photographer and shoot better.