The Difference Between a Photographer and a Snapshooter

A photographer knowshow to manipulate aperture, shutter speed, exposure and flash compensation, direction of strobe or constant light sources, filters, and various other variables to arrive at an image she is happy with. She is concerned with composition, understands the virtues of using ambient light, and creates images with mood and presence. A photographer incorporates techniques she has learned from the photographic images of legendary photographers and amateur photographers alike.

A snapshooter relies on Automatic or Program modes to do all the work for her. Her goal is to get the best possible composition and not worry about exposure. In so doing, any number of problems can cause her images to exhibit incorrect exposure. If she shot underexposed RAW images, she'd have a fighting chance to save her images if she knew how to use high-end software to correct her underexposure problems. A snapshooter relies on quick tricks to get better pictures without really understanding the details behind the tricks. She just wants to compose and capture and that's it.

Don't be a snapshooter! Be a photographer. Take a few photography courses and learn how to manipulate all of the variables needed to make great pictures. Learn the art of making fine prints in the darkroom. Learn about other cameras besides ones based on 35mm film. Learn about techniques in portraiture or lighting classes. The more you learn, the more you will discover that it's not all just a click of a button.