— LostAruban

Photography is generally seen a solitary pursuit. You are in your head, thinking about composition, angle of the light, background distractions and any technical aspects. But this doesn’t have to be the only way to go out and shoot. The following four reasons should show you how photographing with another person or group can make you a better photographer

1) Perspective

Shooting with another person can you show you compositions you may have never thought about. I had one friend who love getting on the floor and later when comparing his photos with mine he often had the most interesting perspective of the same subject. Just because you have a certain way of shooting things doesn’t mean it’s the only way to get the shot. I remember when I noticed a friend shooting portraits against the setting sun and thinking he would have blown-out wasted photo and afterward being stunned by the amazing result. So have an open mind and see how others approach the same subject or pick totally different subjects and perspectives.

2) Processing

After a photo shoot I would look at somebodies photo’s after they had shared these online and I would be inspired by the possibilities of post-processing. Often as a group of photographer we would come across the same fascinating subject, but our approaches to post processing would be different showing our own interpretations. Some people who go the heavy contrast black and white route while other took the same subject with muted colors. Looking at what other photographers do with the same subject opens up your mind in what is possible.

3) Access

Joining certain photography meetings may open doors to you that otherwise would have stayed closed. I have been invited backstage to a Chinese Opera performance to shoot their preparations. I was unable to communicate with them in English and there would have been no way for me to gain access backstage without the contacts of the organizer. I have joined a shoot in an abandoned military complex that I didn’t even know existed.

4) Equipment

The first time I came across a studio lighting setup was during a photo shoot where we got together as a group in a studio to practice portraits. I have been introduced to medium format camera’s, toy camera’s and wide angle lenses during such shoots. People are eager to share and show different types of camera’s and lenses. I remember coming across a girl who had her holga all taped up and I asked her if it was broken and she explained that the tape was to prevent light from leaking in. And now 4 years later I still keep my holga tightly taped up. The majority of photographers who are part of a photography group are happy to share their knowledge and I advice you to grab that opportunity.

How to meet people

Photography is the most popular hobby in the world ( depending how you define hobby) so there is a large chance you may already have friends who are into photography. Some people are intimated by lack of equipment of knowledge but photography really is about vision rather than gear of technical know-how and this should be emphasized.
There are also websites to find like-minded photographers. I have personally met up with groups from Flickr, couchsurfing, meetup, lomotion and local photography groups.

Conclusion

The above aren’t the only four reasons to shoot in a group and they always vary depending on what you are looking for. And I am not advocating to always go out in groups or with somebody else, but there are definite benefits that shouldn’t be ignored. So go out and discover and keep an open mind on how others see things.