The biggest problem facing photography education

A common theme you will hear me trumpet the loudest and most often is the thing that thousands of my students constantly complain about. The lack of knowledge that actually exists online. Now they are talking about the BIG names online. They all site the money they wasted watching and buying materials from people like Peter Hurley, Fstoppers, and SLR Lounge to name a few. They often lament on how many hours they wasted watching videos and actually learning NOTHING.

There are a few things we all have to remember. These people have a vested interest in you NOT learning anything. In order for you to stay on as a customer, you have to remain dependent. I mean, what kind of sense does it make to say you follow an educator for 10 years, and yet you still don't know what you need to know? 10 years of educating and your student following is still uneducated? How do these people remain in business? The answer is, they prey on the hopes of everyone watching. They count on the passion you have for photography driving you desperately to their sites in hopes to find the key to unlocking the HOW to do what you want to do . And they take YOUR hope, to the bank!

These people are entertaining, and extremely confident in their delivery. They show you results that seems great (sometimes). But it's all smoke and mirrors. You should always ask yourself, “is what they are teaching me going to work for me, under any condition, and do I know what to do if the conditions change?” If they're not teaching you the math, then nothing they are teaching you is certain. Nothing. And if it's not certain, then it's not 100% repeatable. And why would you choose uncertainty over certainty? Because they go through great lengths to make you believe that the math isn't needed. They say it like its a bad word. They need you to stay scared of the math and think its not something you need.

They need to create content to keep you hooked, but if that content were actually educational, it would work against their best business interest. Here at Manual Settings, we are striving to change all of that! Change happens from actually teaching you all what you need to know. The very simple tools it takes for you to become self sufficient.

You will see this theme said over and over, because it's vitally important that we change the online educational world. They should teach the truth, teach the facts, teach what will help, or they don't deserve you.

#1 thing to look for, if they're not teaching you the math, then they are teaching you to NOT know what you are doing, which is never going to be a long term answer to anything. If you are shooting TTL, it means…. Time To LEARN! Get off TTL, and go to MANUAL! If THEY are shooting TTL, then it's Time To LEAVE their channel! Spread the word! The revolution has started! Please trust yourself enough to want to learn the truth and take control of your art. Step away from the online salesmen that act like they are teachers, and step into the light. And while you’re standing in the light, you might as well learn the settings.