What is the Pick-and-Choose Mindset in Photography?

What is a pick-and-choose mindset? It means that you don’t just snap a picture anymore; you create a photograph by making conscious choices in the creation process. Take a look at the two images below: The subject of both photos is the lace of a bride’s dress. On the left, you have a snapshot. The photographer created the photo without the use of a pick-and-choose mentality, other than, “I need a picture of the lace on this bride’s dress.” The image does not have a strong composition, and it isn’t particularly flattering to the bride. On the right, you have an example of a professional photographer using the pick-and-choose mentality to create a far more beautiful shot than simply the “here’s the lace on your dress” picture. This shot is well composed, with nice lighting, and the bride looks her best. It’s a pretty clear choice when judging the difference in effort between these two examples! A pick-and-choose mentality sometimes means going the extra mile, such as walking to an inconvenient location or getting up in the morning when you would rather be in bed. Does becoming a pick-and-choose photographer mean that you must meticulously plan for each and every shot? Absolutely not! That’s why skilled, candid wedding photographers are in demand and some of the most successful in the business. They have the ability to pick and choose on the fly. That is a skill that you want to develop! Developing this skill means studying the photographs of others and learning why a photograph works, or why it doesn’t work, and doing this until it becomes so second nature that you don’t have to think about it anymore. Advancing yourself from a beginner photographer to a pro photographer requires that you develop a pick-and-choose mindset. You can read more about it in chapter 8 of Kent DuFault’s best-selling [Advanced Composition guide]( and discover the advanced tools of photographic composition that will help you predictably turn your photos into works of art. Take a look at it [here](. Chat soon, -Brett   P.S – 🤔 Want more cool stuff? Check out our buddies at [DailyPhotoTips.com](       [ Want to build your creative confidence? Try our super supportive [Weekly Photography Challenge Group](. It's a great place to share your work, get inspiration, and mingle with fellow photographers. [Join Now →]( (it's free!)]( Thank you for supporting Photzy! We're so glad you're here. Our mission is to help you explore your creative side, through photography. As a small community-led team, email is a crucial way for us to keep in touch. We regularly send out free tutorials, photo tips, inspiration, and store discounts. Never want to hear from us again? Break our lil hearts and [unsubscribe](. Or tell us how we can improve [here](mailto:cservice@photzy.com?subject=Feedback%20on%20your%20email). [Made with ♥ at Level 2 11 York St Sydney Australia]( Copyright © 2012 – 2023 Photzy Pty Ltd.