Things I wish I’d known

John Baikie Things I wish Iʼd known… This article first appeared in issue 168. For back issues please visit professionalphoto.online

John Baikie reflects on the importance of being yourself and sticking by your photographic convictions when others might be casting doubt on the direction your inner self is taking you.

HAVE SAT THINKING about this subject for a while, not because I couldn’t think of anything to say but because I had thought of too many! I started as a full time photographer almost 16 years ago and I feel I could write a book on the things I wish I had done differently. That said, I think sometimes the things we consider to be mistakes were actually just lessons and, without these, we would not have developed in the way we have.

One of the biggest pieces of advice I would give to my ‘just starting out’ self, would be to care less about what others say. I used to hang on the every word of people I considered to be experts, only to realise years later that I should follow my own inner voice. I was continuously entering competitions, awards and qualifications and having a mentor telling me what to do. These things have many positives, but with that comes negativity as well.

I don’t mind a little constructive criticism if it comes from a good place, but I feel that in the early days, I was doing things differently. I had my own style and vision and wanted to push boundaries. Not to shock people exactly, but to encourage folk to look at photography in a different way. To be noticed I suppose, and for my work to stand out. This ‘freestyle’ thing was basically knocked out of me when I should have taken my own direction.

There’s a very traditional approach to judging on the whole in this country and I was wounded by having my work shot down regularly. One of my favourite images, a wedding shot that was very different - featured here - was getting noticed, and drove many clients to me, and it actually still does, some eleven years on. I remember watching it being critiqued and hearing a couple of overseas judges rave about it for being different and original, but I

John Baikie has been a professional photographer for nearly two decades and still confesses to loving weddings. He describes his approach as '80 per cent reportage and 20% art,' and he's continually on the look out for moments in time that will define the occasion. As well as covering home grown weddings he travels regularly and has photographed weddings as far afield as Cyprus, Poland, France, Italy and even Thailand! He also covers weddings of any size, from lavish events with 300 guests down to an intimate ceremony with just the bride and groom.

it was torn apart by UK judges for the very same reasons. It was different, and they didn’t like it.

I was very much affected by that and went back to shooting more traditionally. My words to myself would be ‘not everyone will understand what you are trying to do, but follow your inner voice.’ By backing your instinct you stand out from the crowd.

The other thing I would tell myself is to make the most of things when times are good. Don’t get hung up on business and making money. Enjoy life more, take holidays, travel and go for experiences over bank balance, as life goes by so quickly. Here I am now, a cynical old(ish) guy, wondering if I am fit to do many of the things I have on my bucket list. I think it might be a mid-life crisis, but I really do wish I had experienced more of life in the last decade or so, instead of constantly worrying about how many weddings I had in my diary for next year!

/ www.johnbaikiephotography.com / www.captiv8.uk.com

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