Photographers Can Be D*cks (But You Don’t Have to Be One)

The Terrible Photographer Podcast

Patrick calls out the toxic gatekeeping culture that's suffocating creativity in photography — and offers a better way forward for anyone tired of comment-section warriors and gear snobs who've confused being an asshole with having standards.

Episode Summary

From unsolicited critique bros to insecure middle-aged men treating Instagram like academic journals, photography has a gatekeeping problem. This episode explores why photographers can be unnecessarily cruel, how it stems from fear and insecurity, and why the most successful photographers are actually the most generous.

Patrick shares his own experience of being publicly torn apart for a simple business post, reveals his moments of being "that guy" himself, and introduces a framework for filtering feedback that could revolutionize how you handle criticism.

Key Topics Covered

The Gatekeeping Problem

• Why photography culture has become toxically hierarchical
• How fear and insecurity drive cruel behavior online
• The difference between constructive critique and ego-driven attacks

The Psychology Behind Photographer Dickishness

• Callback to Episode 1's "Mount Stupid" concept and Dunning-Kruger effect
• Elizabeth Gilbert's "hungry ghost" — the insatiable ego that feeds on diminishing others
• Why problem-solving instincts can turn toxic without self-awareness

The Feedback Filtering System

• Industry experts: When to listen and take notes
• Peer review: Valuable insights vs. armchair quarterbacking
• General audience: Gut reactions are gold, technical opinions are noise
• Your inner critic: The giant prick who sees flaws invisible to everyone else

What Successful Photographers Actually Do

• Why the most talented photographers are the most generous
• How kindness and collaboration build sustainable careers
• The difference between confidence and cruelty

Key Quotes

"Photography doesn't need more experts. It needs more people who remember what it felt like to be uncertain, to post something they weren't sure about, to be brave enough to put their vision out there despite the risk of criticism.""An unchecked ego is what Elizabeth Gilbert calls 'a hungry ghost' — forever famished, eternally howling with need and greed.""Unless explicitly asked for feedback, keep it to yourself. Your unsolicited expertise isn't helping anyone — it's just feeding your own ego.""Tearing someone down is easier than building yourself up. Pointing out flaws is easier than creating something flawless.""We don't get better by being meaner. We get better by being more human."

This Week's Challenge

Say something kind. Find a photographer whose work you genuinely admire and tell them why — specifically, thoughtfully. Offer encouragement to someone newer than you instead of unsolicited advice.

And if you catch yourself about to post that clever criticism, that technical correction, that snarky observation — pause. Ask yourself: Is this making the photography community better, or am I just trying to feel superior?

Resources Mentioned

• Elizabeth Gilbert (Author of "Big Magic" and the "hungry ghost" concept)
• Dunning-Kruger Effect (Psychological phenomenon from Episode 1)
• "Mount Stupid" (Framework introduced in Episode 1)

Connect

• Website: http://terriblephotographer.com
• Instagram: @terriblephotographer
• Book: Lessons From a Terrible Photographer — https://www.terriblephotographer.com/the-book
• Newsletter: Sign up for Field Notes and get access to "The Darkroom" — exclusive resources and extra content — https://www.terriblephotographer.com/darkroom-download

Credits

Music provided by and licensed through Artist.io
Episode Photo by Brando Makes Branding | Unsplash

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Choose the kind of photographer you want to be — choose the one who lifts others up.