Garbage In, Garbage Out

Garbage

BASIC, HTML, SQL, and VBA are among the computer languages that I have utilized over the years. Like any language, grammar (or syntax) is important. One of the first things I learned about programming, way back in the Commodore 64 era, was the acronym GIGO: Garbage In, Garbage Out.  If you provide poor inputs, you will get poor output.

This computing maxim has become a more familiar saying over the years. It is akin to saying, “You get out what you put in.” Or, perhaps, “You are what you eat.” This is a universal truth. Whether it is programming, business, or relationships. The short term return may make it seem worthwhile. If you continue to do the wrong things, it will eventually catch up to you.

As a photographer, what constitutes garbage in, garbage out? It runs the gamut from bad lighting to poor posing. In the wider industry, the person behind the lens is just one piece of the equation. Models, designers, agents; they all have their own combination of inputs to manage. These inevitably cross streams, as it were, impacting everyone in the chain. Both agents and designers need reliable models. The agent so that they can provide qualified talent to others in the industry. Designers need the best “clothes hangers” they can get to show off their work to the world. Models need to be wary of who they work with and what images they put into their portfolios.

Whatever your role in this often upside-down industry, pay close attention to what you put into your own work. Avoid rushing into every open door without dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s. Do your homework. Do your due diligence to find the best options. You will find yourself on a steady road to improvement. Your industry peers will recognize the effort you put in and, eventually, the best will want to come to you.

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