053: Growing Through Criticism: Mastering the Art of Constructive Feedback

Mica: [00:00:00] Welcome! To the 53rd episode of The Savory Shot, a podcast about the art and soul of working in food photography. Y'all know who I'll be. I'm your host, with the most, Mica McCook. Y'all, I can't start this show without first thanking you, the listeners. If this is your first time, thank you so much for taking a chance on this show.

Welcome to the Hot Mess Express. And if this is your 53rd time listening, thank you so much for being here. Again, and again, and again, and again. Now y'all, let's get right into today's episode. I am so excited to talk about today's topic because y'all, I feel like this isn't talked about often enough.

Today we are diving into all things about [00:01:00] feedback. Criticism. How to give it, how to take it and how it can help us grow as photographers and creatives. Basically this episode is a quest to discovering how to turn critiques into growth opportunities. I'm not an expert in this, but anytime there is a topic that I don't understand, I just immerse myself into learning it and exploring it. So this episode is that. My findings. What I've discovered, and if it helps me then chances are it's going to help you. But before we jump into all that, go grab your coffee, your tea, your cocktail, if it's been that kind of day and let's start the show.

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Mica: Every photographer deals with critiques, [00:03:00] or with feedback. I'm saying that with air quotes, feedback. And I don't know. I personally love portfolio reviews. I get energized by them. But, I know that there are some folks out there who really just despise it. And I get it.

One part of us wants to improve and grow, but sometimes hearing what others think about our work can be tough. Especially if the reviews are given by like our hero, like someone in the industry that we really love and respect. And especially if the feedback isn't complete and total praise. When you hear something that is constructive and critical, Ugh, it's like a knife to the heart.

It's like, do they love it? Do they hate it? Do they just not get it? Your photography is so personal and it's close to you and getting your work [00:04:00] reviewed is absolutely a vulnerable thing to do. You're literally putting your heart on a plate and handing it over and saying, "Please break my heart gently."

I remember my first portfolio review when I went to photography school. I was so nervous. My hands were shaking. My eyes were twitching. I was sweating. My heart was racing, y'all. I hadn't felt that kind of nerves since I was in middle school auditioning for my very first play. But I gotta say, after that first review, I was hooked.

Now, I'm not going to say that first portfolio session, it was all praise. And kiss my feet and threw confetti in the air and it was just this wonderful experience. I had some tough conversations that portfolio review. But it was valuable.

And now. I [00:05:00] crave portfolio reviews. I love them. If there are portfolio reviews being offered, I jump right on it. I'm the first to sign up to it because I know how valuable it is.

They help me see my work in a new light and it pushes me to get better. Sometimes I will look at a photo of mine and I'm like, I don't know what it is about this image, but I'm just not happy and I need help to break down how this photo could be better. And reaching out to a more experienced photographer that I respect and getting their feedback, it really just helps me look at things that I didn't notice before because I'm just so in it.

It's just too personal that I can't be objective about it. But here's the thing about giving critiques. It's an art and not a lot of people know anything [00:06:00] about it giving critiques or receiving critiques. So that's what we're breaking down today, how to handle feedback, how to use it to get better, and more importantly, how to give feedback in a way that helps others shine.

Because I feel like if you master how to give your opinion, that you will also master how to receive other's opinions. It's an art. So let's get into it. Let's jump right into it.

So what exactly is constructive criticism? Now, I did all the research, looked up books, looked up articles, and the overall general consensus [00:07:00] of this term and what it means. Such a formal way of saying what is constructive criticism. So constructive criticism it's feedback meant to help you grow.

According to Terry Barrett in his book Criticizing Photographs, if you guys don't have that book, it's on Amazon. Go buy it. It's a bit of a schooly ready read, but it is definitely full of knowledge. Terry says that critics do four things. They describe, they interpret, they evaluate and theorize about the work.

Constructive criticism should be objective. It shouldn't leave you feeling uninspired or down. And the thing about constructive criticism, it takes time and practice to perfect giving and receiving it. A lot of people don't know the first thing about giving [00:08:00] critiques, and because they don't know how to give feedback, they also don't know how to receive feedback.

Now, I'm going to repeat that for the people in the back, because this is muy importante. A lot of people don't know the first thing about giving critiques, and because they don't know how to give feedback, they also don't know how to receive feedback. When you give feedback, you're in a delicate, sticky situation, because you want to share your thoughts, but in a way that doesn't make the other person defensive, because as soon as that person gets defensive, anything you have to say, it really is just going to go in and over their heads. They are not going to be in a position to listen to what you have to say.

So it's very sticky. You have to be real perceptive, reading people's body language, using kind language and [00:09:00] words. It's tough. And on the flip side, when you're on the receiving end, you're putting yourself in a vulnerable position. You have to mentally and emotionally open yourself to receiving feedback and hearing others interpretation of something that's so personal and close to your heart and walk away from that conversation still intact.

That's hard. It's not easy. Yeah, I've gotten so much criticism about my work. You develop a thick skin over time because some feedback is great and you get all the love, all the glory and that lifts your head and sends you to the clouds but when you get some critical feedback, that sends you crashing to the ground.

It can be soul crushing. For example, I've been told that my work is too saturated, it's not sharp enough, it's [00:10:00] too painterly. And that used to kill me, but then I realized that they're talking about style. Because I like saturation, I like soft focus, I like that painterly Dutch look, that Golden Dutch era look, I like that.

And if someone is critiquing my style, then I take that with a grain of salt because not everyone will like what I do style wise. And you know what? That's okay. But if they're critiquing my technique, like lighting, composition, maybe the retouching needs work, things like that. I view that as objective and I absorb that and implement that into my work.

But that's just me. That's me personally. What you might find as valuable might be different for you. And what you will take with a grain of salt will also be different for you that I also think that's a [00:11:00] tough personal conversation to have with yourself. But when I go to portfolio reviews and I get a negative review or I never like to say the word negative, but like a critical review on my work, I respond to it positively, meaning instead of feeling bad or giving up or going, Oh, I'm just questioning everything about my, myself and my career. Instead I ask myself, how can I learn from this? How can I turn this negative into a positive outcome? How can I see this as a chance to improve and grow at what I do. Cause at the end of the day, it's important to remember that there's no such thing as a perfect photo. Mistakes will be made. Mistakes are what makes you human. Mistakes are part of the journey. And mistakes are also [00:12:00] subjective. One reviewer might love the way that you compose a shot, and another reviewer might go, Eh, this should have been a rule of thirds. That's the thing about photography. It is so subjective. So again, that's why I say what you decide to take with a grain of salt versus what is valuable, that's a personal conversation that you need to have with yourself. Because again, it's subjective. To help you, know the difference between what is constructive versus what isn't? I thought a nice little checklist would help. So let's break it down. What is constructive criticism?

According to my research, it's specific. It points out exact areas for improvement. It's helpful. The reviewer offers solutions or suggestions. Maybe they'll say that the shadows are a little bit harsh. Why don't you use a white [00:13:00] card to bounce a little bit light? Something like that. It's positive. Now I'm not saying it's all sunshine and daisies and, a little Munchkinland song in the background playing.

But what I am saying is that the reviewer delivers the feedback kindly and respectfully. They do. Treat you like a human being, in other words. So they'll say something like, Oh, I really love this composition. It's very strong, but I feel like it could be better if we did, if you would have done this.

It's focused on the work. Not you, the person, meaning the critiquer addresses the photos and not the personal attributes. So example, the framing of this shot could be improved versus you're not good at framing. You see the difference? And finally, it's actionable. The reviewer provides you with steps that can be [00:14:00] taken to improve.

Maybe there's books that they like, or maybe there are other photographers that they suggest you study and look at their work. You walk away with this tangible checklist of things that you can do for your future projects.

Now, what is not constructive criticism? It's vague. The person doesn't give you any details. They just say, and your photos need work. It's unhelpful. It's negative. The critiquer is rude and they say unhelpful things. Like someone told me, someone looked at one of my photos and it was this shot of this, cocktail and I use a slow shutter speed so that it looked like fire was coming out of the glass and the reviewer was like, Yeah, you shot this cocktail drink of like fire coming out of a glass whoop dee doo like that's not a big deal. Everyone's done [00:15:00] that. I was like, what?

Okay, thanks. What do you say to that? I don't know what to say to that. So that was not helpful at all. It was demeaning, it was rude, it was vague, not very helpful. But let's talk about receiving feedback because receiving feedback can be really hard, especially when we're putting our heart on a platter.

We're bearing our chest. We're showing, our Achilles. It's hard. So when you receive feedback, both good and bad, it's important to count to five. Especially if it's not positive feedback, you feel your emotions rising, maybe you're starting to like, turn red in the face or you could feel like tears welling in your eyes.

I find that closing your eyes, counting down from five to one to give yourself a moment to calm down and to take deep breaths. [00:16:00] Just take a deep breath. Listen actively. Focus on what the reviewer is saying without interrupting. Don't think about what you plan to say. That's not active listening.

That's actually being defensive. If there's something you don't understand, ask open ended questions. Do not do the yes or no. That is not going to be helpful. If there's something you don't understand, say, can you give me an example of what you mean?

I know some of these portfolio reviews, they go by really fast. If you're lucky, some of them are 30 minutes, but typically they're 15 minutes long. So start every question with what can I like, what, how, why. Things like that.

If you can take notes, write down the comments to reflect on how the review went. Thank the reviewer. A thank you goes a long way. And remember that the feedback is [00:17:00] a gift and the person giving the feedback. Whether it's critical or praiseworthy, they are not doing it to be hurtful. They don't want to hurt you.

They want to help you. This person is trying to help me. They're not trying to hurt me, but just remember that feedback is a gift. It's an opportunity to see ourselves from another perspective and grow. It's important to remember no one is perfect.

We all have areas where we can improve. And one thing to remember is that you can take the feedback or leave it. Really you can, because again, it's subjective. You can apply what you found helpful and take the rest with a grain of salt. that's like the most important thing. Personally, I. I don't go into every review hoping for critical feedback.

I want to know how I can get better. Compliments are great. It makes me feel good, but [00:18:00] there's a reason why I go to portfolio reviews because my friends, my family will always tell me, Oh, your work is amazing. It's amazing. It's amazing. It's amazing. And I know that when I go to portfolio reviews, I'm going to get the real nitty gritty of how to improve and get better. The next time you find yourself in a position to give or receive feedback, just remember to be kind, be specific and be open.

Now that we know what constructive criticism is, let's talk about who you should listen to when seeking feedback because this is crucial y'all. This is so crucial because not all feedback is created equal.

I think I've said this once or twice or a thousand times about how much I dislike Facebook photo groups. It's one of the [00:19:00] reasons why I'm hesitant to start my own Facebook group, which I still am. Savory Shot Insiders coming soon. A little shameless plug there. But really I don't like these photo groups.

They are all the same. The problem with some of these groups is that the person giving feedback, they might not even be qualified.

It's like the new leading the new. I don't know. That's just my opinion. I could, again, subjective. It's an opinion. Slapping a photo on a wall and asking for feedback can lead to snap judgments based on personal taste rather than constructive advice. And also, you got these keyboard warriors, they feel safe to say some horrible shit to you online.

Let's set the scene. Somewhere out there is a new photographer who's passionate about photography. They're [00:20:00] always carrying their camera around, and they're eager to learn, eager to grow, but they're so nervous to post something on a group, and then they finally get a shot that they are so proud of.

They finally muster the courage to share that photo in a Facebook group, hoping to receive some valuable feedback.But instead of constructive feedback, instead of compliments, their photos are met with harsh, vague, ugly comments.

And this new photographer gets cut and shredded so badly that they feel discouraged. They question their talent. Maybe they never pick up the camera again, and they never post in another group again. And in between the ugly soul crushing comments, there's feeble attempts of people offering solutions, but the person who's [00:21:00] giving the solutions is talking out their ass and they're giving all kinds of wrong advice, which, maybe their heart's in the right place, but you got a lot of blind leading the deaf around in these groups.

I'll tell you what, I had to unlearn a lot of things when I went to photography school. A lot of things that I picked up in these groups. So what can you do instead of these Facebook groups?

Where can one go for tangible, actionable advice that will actually help you improve? Especially if you don't have the luxury of being in a classroom setting. First, be selective. Let me just put that out there. Be selective. You can seek feedback from photographers you admire. I remember reaching out to photographers in other states, asking them to maybe look at my portfolio and give me some feedback if they have time to zoom with me for like 15 minutes.

Some will say yes. [00:22:00] I got a lot of nos, but you know what? All you need is a few yeses. You can find a mentor or join like legit groups like The Luupe. So if you're not a part of The Luupe, or APA or some kind of local group where portfolio reviews are offered on a regular basis, that's something that you might want to look into.

I joined The Luupe. I joined about two years ago and they provide portfolio reviews and I've gotten lots of great help out of them. I also signed up for mentorship programs. I did the Apostrophe Reps and that was like invaluable. I will forever be grateful to all the folks at Apostrophe Reps for all of their help and their advice that they gave me then and still give me now.

But if you like online groups, There are a few groups that I do like that I do recommend that are not on Facebook that you might find use with. So there's the Fstoppers community. It's an online community that [00:23:00] focuses on photography education and inspiration. I like to read a lot of the articles posted.

There's Photo. net. It's one of the oldest photography communities on the Internet. I found lots of helpful advice on the forums. Then there's the DP Review, Digital Photography Review.

It's a comprehensive site with forums for photographers to share and get feedback. And I didn't know about this one. But it looks interesting. I might submit some things to get some feedback on it, but it's the National Geographic You're Shot. It is a community of photographers to share their work and get feedback from National Geographic's photo editors.

So those are some great ones. Choose your critics wisely, y'all. Seek out critics who have the knowledge and experience to guide you constructively. And if you are posting in Facebook groups, the next time you post something, think about who you want feedback from.

Mica: [00:24:00] All right, y'all. We've covered what constructive criticism is and who to get it from, but how do you give and receive it in a way that's helpful and positive? Let's jump into some practical tips. So when giving feedback, I follow this simple formula. It works for me. I think it'll work for you. First, start off with what you like. Second, talk about how the photo makes you feel. And then third, how it can be improved. So what you like, what you feel, And how it can be improved. When giving feedback, the goal isn't to label the photo as good or bad, but to analyze and study it. [00:25:00] On the other hand, if you're the recipient of a review, think about what you need to take away from reviews. I've learned that when it comes to feedback when it's received with the right mindset, it can actually be a powerful tool for growth.

But the best reviews I've ever had were the best reviews because I went in with a list of goals, things that I need to take away from this review. I used to ask for feedback without goals, like I would just walk into a review and I would just be like, okay, tell me what to think. And I don't think I learned anything new about myself or my work.

I really don't. But when I go into portfolio reviews, I have a list of questions, things that I like goals. Things that I'm struggling with as a photographer, ways that I want to grow, [00:26:00] etc. Of course, I want to hear more from the reviewer and I want to hear their interpretation of my work. And oftentimes they'll answer the questions without me having to ask.

But if there are some questions that aren't asked, then obviously I'll throw them out there. And when I'm giving reviews before I like start, I ask the person I'm talking to, what are you hoping to gain from this conversation?

I was surprised how often we forget to really dive deep into the purpose and feelings behind our creative choices, but doing so can make all the difference. So finding the purpose and feeling behind your creative choices, it really helps to talk about your photo, talk about the inspiration, the goals that you had, the lighting choices you made. Get comfortable talking about your work that [00:27:00] really comes in handy in these portfolio reviews.

I think a well rounded critique has, the following elements. The reviewer talks about lighting and composition. They ask about the choices made and the effects achieved. They ask the story and emotion. They discuss what feelings or messages the photo conveys. Technical skills.

They review the technical aspect of the photo, like the focus, the exposure, the editing. Creativity and style. They talk about the unique elements and personal style and suggestions for improvement. They provide constructive tips on how to enhance the work. I feel like the five things that I mentioned just now provide a wonderful review.

Mica: Before we wrap up, let's recap what I hope you've learned. Feedback when [00:28:00] given and received constructively can be a powerful tool for growth and helps you see your work from a different perspective, understand your strengths, understand your weaknesses, pushes you to improve.

Remember to be selective about who you get feedback from. And if you are on the giving end, give honest and compassionate critiques. Always keep growth in mind. Are you helping this person grow? Thank you for tuning in to today's episode. Speaking of feedback, if you got a minute, would you go on to Apple Podcast and give this show a five star review and tell me what you think about the show. Tell me what you think about this episode. But I hope you found these tips helpful. Feel more confident in giving and receiving reviews. [00:29:00] Keep shooting, keep growing. And y'all remember every great photographer started where you are now.

Every great photographer has gotten reviews. They've gotten critical feedback, positive feedback. No one is immune to it. This is meant to help you grow. So be open to it. Be open to receiving and be kind enough to pay it forward by giving it. All right, y'all. Buh bye! [00:30:00]