I’d love to see a lively discussion on this one so please leave a comment below.
This has been a topic I’ve been wanting to write about for a while because I see it all the time. Rather than write a long post though, I thought I could talk about it better. So please take a look at the video below.
Questions are a vital part of your growth, and hopefully we can help get you on the right track to learning better, by figuring out the things you want to learn better. Enjoy! 🙂
PS: My new Photoshop HOW TO Course launch is going FANTASTIC. I’m getting so many messages from people that have just watched a few videos and love it. I hope you’ll swing by and get in on the ground level of this one for the best price along with the best perks and free updates. (CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE)
I love teaching and photography... In that order. I feel that enjoying photography, and photo editing can get WAY too complicated. So my personal mission (and favorite thing to do), is to create education that simplifies the process of taking great photos, and how to edit them to get the results you’ve always wanted.
Thank you for addressing your recent tutorials directly to me. Special thanks to whomever commented ” you never showed us that” re Bridge. Also Carbon Copy Cloner and the what if I lost all my Raw files. I had been in the habit of directly copying from the card reader onto an ext HD, then never getting around to culling. You had kindly responded to a question I sent re Support. I have gremlins haunting my house as well as computer, who move things around where I cannot relocate them. They have done so with your email. I can see that your business model does not really support small group or individual sessions. The answer to your question is “somewhere between a A7RV and a A-1”. Re my initial post, I need to reinforce the Memo to Self, never post after consuming more than one margarita. I need to practice with the newer cameras (A-1, A7rV, and a6700), as well as new features in Lightroom before considering a class. Please keep me in mind if you ever to a Costa Rica type seminar. I realize your business model best avoids specific camera brands. I would love to know to what extent you use the Memory settings for Bird, Landscape or travel. Also, do you keep a “travel light” kit for trips where weight is restricted? Thanks for moving your interests parallel to mine.
Thank you for this video – very useful information for a novice.
This is a very helpful video reminding us to explore on our own, Google on our own and use teachers when we’re ready to use teachers.
What a great Question! LOL. Your frustration on ppl refusing to simply “Try It” reminds me of a monthly newsletter by Fred Picker. Fred – “I need to get a rubber stamp that says TRY IT” This was in the early 80’s before Blogs, webinars, and even internet although ARPAnet was in-place. He was NOT an educator like you, but an excellent photographer and darkroom guru who tried to teach his method and published some fine books like The Fine Print.
Cheers,
Tim
Thanks Tim. The frustration really isn’t in people asking me. I get it… some people are scared to try. The problem is I think it’s hurting their learning process because I’m sure not everyone asks all the time. So some one sits and wonders how to do something or what some setting does… when if they just tried it they’d find out – but they’re scared to do it and I get that. I just think so many people could learn so much more if they were a little more explorative. I hate seeing people struggle is what it comes down to and I think so many more would have less struggle with a little experimentation 🙂
Matt – Understand your point of view….BUT perhaps you could share some of the GOOD questions that you received?
Hi Paula – lots of “How to Blur the background”.
– How to make complex selections
– How to make composites and combine photos
– How to match color in a composite
Those 3 questions, in some form or another, were the lions share of the survey.
Excellent vid! I really love your style, laid back, easy to relate to. I can so relate on the asking a question just to ask… How do I get more red? TRY it. Try the different color adjustment tools and see what works! That is the best way to learn, and the way I learned PS, even back in the beginning, when there were no layers and you had to figure out how to do what you wanted without the ease of layers… Just try, try, try. If it doesn’t work, undo, or close the file without saving. And yes, SEARCH it first, Google or whatever search engine you want to use. I think that irritates me the most; I’m on Quora, and I get questions that, if they’d just googled it, they wouldn’t have to waste their time typing and posting the question and my time having to tell them GOOGLE it! And the questions with no definitive answer…augh! Another time waster for you. The contrast one caught my attention…there is no definitive answer because it mostly depends on each photo. You can’t just say, set your contrast to ## and it works for every photo! And I think, so many questions would be answered if the questioner just tried to figure it out first! Again, wonderful video and topic and thank you so much for your time!!
The best 10 min I have spent on my computer that I can remember, THANK YOU!!!!
This was a great video topic. I liked the way you broke down the categories.
Thank you, thank you,thank you. I get very tired of questions that are unanswerable simply because the questioner wants to demonstrate “advanced knowledge”.
Hi Matt, I was interested that you are pretty dismissive of the pen tool as being an old fashioned tool for making selections. I often need accurate curved selections for architectural photography and use the pen tool for this because it can easily be shaped to any curve. What would you recommend using instead, please?
In my profession as a dog trainer I sometimes get the feeling that people ask questions sometimes just to connect. That might just be something that happens in my line of work. I don’t know. But I really believe people sometimes just want to be acknowledged and accepted.
I used to answer them all but unfortunately I don’t have time to be best buds with the thousands of people I have worked with. I have a list of YouTube videos that I refer them to just because there’s so much bad information out there, but I don’t always think that the answers are always what they are really seeking when they contact me.
Frankly I think it’s pretty amazing that you have the time to take questions. I’ve taken several of your courses and I always recommend you to anyone who wants to learn editing. But I wouldn’t even think of asking you to take the time with all the people who you help with your videos. I generally either watch your videos again or go search YouTube if i need more information. I have a smaller clientele and I don’t have much time to answer questions unless someone is a current student paying for private lessons. You come across as a really nice guy, and I think this is further proof of that.
Thanks for everything you do. I really beat the bushes trying to learn light room and photoshop and was spinning my wheels until I found your videos.
Thanks Dawn. I really appreciate it. I guess I feel that if you’re doing to teach and put your information out there, then you also should be available for questions.
Good video about questions people ask. But the thing that was driving me crazy while watching the video was seeing the Apple Pro Display XDR rock back and forth every time you touched your desk! Looks like you have top of the line equipment for your workstation, but for god’s sake get a desk that is comparable in quality as your equipment. Don’t you notice the rocking? Like me, doesn’t that drive you crazy?
BTW it has been less than a year since I bought your PS course. Do I qualify for your new course as an upgrade/revision? Is the new course much different than the original? PS has come out with some significant changes recently. Will the old course be updated with these changes or are they only addressed in the new course?
Word up, fam. Reddit constantly has “What do you think of my photo” posts. Doesn’t matter what they think….it matters what you yourself think.
Cheers
I guess it matters what you’re after. But I don’t know anyone that doesn’t care one bit of some one likes the work of their hobby (painting, cooking, playing guitar), etc. People like appreciation for their work plain and simple.
OMG, I hear ya Matt! So frustrating when people will not take the time to try and figure it out themselves. I had one guy say that I show too many alternate ways to do something, he just wants the one RIGHT way!
I bought your OG PS course years ago and still refresh with it ….hmm, although I guess it might be a little behind the revs. ?
I belong to a large Camera Club so can easily recommend your new PS course!
Thanks as always!
What you said in this video make sense!!!
Hope that what you said will make you life easier and hopefully in the future you will receive and answer less of those questions!!!!
golf is easy compared to photoshop
I highly disagree. And if it is for you I’m very jealous 🙂
If I misuse a tool in Photoshop, I can undo. If I hit a ball into the trees on the course, I’m done!
Good job Matt. You hit driver off the cart path with this one. I hope everyone takes it to heart.
Quality questions are very important. Some times a simple answer is the right answer.
One thought about “Just Google it”: In the age of generative AI, it is worth looking at additional tools besides Google when searching for help. I wouldn’t use something like ChatGPT to get Photoshop advice, since ChatGPT’s information is old and it sometimes makes things up. But a tool like Microsoft’s new Bing integration with generative AI is also worth a try before you post a question, since it can give you longer, explanatory responses along with links to click for more. (You’ll need to use Microsoft’s Edge browser or one of its mobile apps)
In the tech community, we are strongly advised to provide a “reprex” – a reproducible example *including sample code and what we’ve tried so far that didn’t work* – when asking for programming help. That often helps us answer our own question so we never have to ask someone else! “Try it yourself before asking for help” is important advice in any field.
Helpful thoughts! I may be guilty of some of this – so I will be mindful going forward!
Well done! It’s absolutely amazing how many people ask a question, even on general places like Facebook and Nextdoor, that have either been asked and answered many times before, or could easily be answered by a Google search. They just want the answers handed to them without them having to do any work or spend any time researching. What is being taught in schools these days?
Not sure about some of the places you reference, but I can tell you that I don’t think the people asking me these questions go to “school these days”. Pretty sure their schooling was quite some time ago so the question is “what was being taught in school back in those days” 😉 (I’m joking btw…)
Very sage advice.
Well said! So many people don’t even try to help themselves before rushing to waste time of experts like yourself! Your justified frustration shines through. Well done and let’s hope people take note.
Thanks Matt, it’s been helpful to have my responsibility for learning played back in this way. I think learners lack confidence and wants the ‘expert’ to fast track the practice journey.
I totally understand that and it’s our (teachers) responsibility to help. If I’m going to put education out there, I should expect questions. I just want to try to help people have better questions and maybe not worry about some things that won’t help them, if that makes sense.
Matt, really enjoyed your video and as a fairly new LR and PS user, I have to constantly assess what I am trying to achieve overall in a particular photo and with each layer, is it a meaningful contribution to the photo and what is the best approach or tool to use. So your discussion really reinforces with me to assess finding the most appropriate or efficient approach for each action. The issue I have with PS is that there are so many ways to do a particular job, but I am enjoying the process of becoming more proficient.
When I first became interested in photography and post processing, I asked a family member how to edit and process photos and they said they only use Microsoft Excel ! I thought to myself “is that the most versatile and efficient approach to photo editing” ? I’m guessing that you don’t cover Excel in your new course.
Matt,
Great topic for discussion.
It was Bert Monroy who always said “Learn from a happy accident.”
For me that was the best advice I ever received about Photoshop.
The frustrating menace of many skill trainers, teachers, and coaches is a pupil/trainee that doesn’t practice. (My piano instructor in grade school knew this about me all too well.)
Although today my expertise is in IT data analysis, I consider myself relatively competent in Photoshop or Lightroom. So from time to time people who know that I work with PS and LR ask me questions. I usually answer them in the same way:
“Try it and see what happens, it’s non-destructive. Make friends with CMD-Z or CTRL-Z. And then try something else. I would need to know a lot more about what you’re working on before I could possibly make a good suggestion.”
They usually turn away non-plussed at my non-answer.
The questions to ask are always the same.
Is there truly something that you fear, or are you afraid of succeeding?
Are you really serious about learning, or do you think it’s magically going to happen by itself?
Have you TRIED it? What happened?
You have to try something first and win, or learn from it if it doesn’t work.
i’m a retired IT guy. I answered thousands upon thousands upon thousands of questions like these over the years. Hey, it put food on the table, what are ya gonna do? 🙂
Before I retired, Matt, I was one of the trainers in our imaging department and used to get these type of questions all the time. The one that stand out was, “Before I spend time creating this, will the client approve it?” Diplomatically i responded that first you are getting paid for your efforts, so your time is our investment in you. Second, it will go through an internal approval process and third, it will be reviewed by the client who may suggest changes. An open ended question with no answer should be intuitive before asking it.
I giggled my way through this video:)
Ask the google machine first. As a teacher of dog training skills I felt the REAL frustration behind these questions about questions.
I will be sharing this one.
Nancy
What a wonderful video.
I have been following you for many years, even met you at the Javits Center years ago.
Truly a great video!
So important for people to listen and HEAR this!
Thanks for taking the time to do this, Matt. Nice to get your perspective on this. I can’t imagine trying to field some of these questions. Good subject in general. Oh… and good luck with the golfing!
If I remember correctly, you wanted to know what we wanted to see in the course. I said actions that could used for correction work. I’ve written some generic actions that really speed up my processing, even one that gives me a curve to adjust for what I like best. For example say I have an image and use levels to set the end points. Next I run an action which has set values but I
don’t like the result. I have to go back to levels in the History panel and try something different. It’s not a real problem but I was hoping to see some tips on writing actions that that incorporated an action adjustment for say contrast, vibrance, and especially unshartp mask that I could use in my action writing. Looking through the course contents, I don’t recall seeing anything having to do with actions.
I always find it funny in groups on line when someone asks what lens to get but they give no info about why etc and what lens to get depends on so much, purpose, budget etc
Same for “What computer should I buy?” I try to tell people that’s like asking “What car should I buy?” It depends! What’s most important to you, what will you be doing with it, and of course how much do you want to spend.
All so true, and you’re bound to tick off some folks with your honesty, lol. I see this in my industry as well – it’s a lot easier to ask somebody than to do a little research on your own, or try some experimentation first. We always want the easy way, even though everything worth doing takes practice and more practice. A favorite saying in my house is “Google is your friend”…thank you for reinforcing that. As always, appreciate the fact that you are open and honest.
Thanks Matt. I learned a few hints about asking questions. Aslo I like the encouragement you offer to experiment. I find I ask myself “What do I need to do not to fix ….” From now on, I will experiment. So the questin becomes”How will I play around with this….” I don’t need to know what the “correct” next step is. All tyhis is common sense but I find the remider helpful.
You hit a 350yd drive down the center.
I don’t believe those questions. You took the bull by the horns and put it out there!!
350.., I wish! 🙂
Enjoyed and agree with your video. My photography started improving when I realized I was buying and reading a lot of photo how-to magazines instead of taking photos. This also applies to online photo courses. I hate to admit it but I’ve purchased one or two of your classes and have never gone beyond the first video.
Oh gosh? so true! I’m totally the same with some lack of confidence to try stuff ( scared it might blow up?)
I now need to brush the dust off my camera I haven’t used for 4 months & start again.
I love this video, and totally agree!! Thanks, Matt.
I love this Matt. You are saying what many think but are afraid to say but it needs to be said. Better than that, you offer solutions to each of the points. Most of all, this shows that you aren’t so much frustrated by the questions as you want people to be better for themselves. Thanks!
Thanks Jim. It’s tough to not come across as frustrated and I didn’t want it to seem that way. It’s more being a little disheartened that I know people want to learn… and I want to help and will be available to answer questions. But I see so many people stuck on the wrong things and asking the wrong questions. Anyway thanks for the comment 🙂
Hey Matt, can you tell me how to get a picture of myself playing golf and then how I should go about editing this photo? I think your experience with both of these subjects would be so very helpful. Like “Should I use the remove tool if I hit a bad shot while photographing myself playing golf?” or “Should I start my editing of my photo by using LightRoom or PhotoShop?”
Your feedback and expert advice would be so very valuable. ???
(Keep up your excellent training. You are one of the best and I have followed you for years. Having been an instructor myself I know EXACTLY what you are talking about here.)
Go to Adobe and download Photoshop beta 24.6. You may be able to get a photo of yourself playing golf.
Had already done this earlier but thankfully there are no photos of me playing golf (hard to take them in the dark of the woods).
This was a very clear and concise explanation of the kinds of questions that one should ask. And I love how you used the golf analogy Matt. I wish I would’ve read something like this many years ago.
Thanks!!
Well said. Good stuff.
I watched at 1.5 speed. It makes you sound and act mad, which is a little odd for this video which is really humorous. I can see these questions irritate you. I hope not too much.
When you said “JGI questions, just google it” I (stupidly) went to google and searched for “JGI questions”, not realizing that you were translating an acronym and not giving an instruction.
Your points are so important. We learn best by doing. We become independent thinkers and successful problem solvers by struggling with an idea, experimenting, and sharing with others. When you get an answer without putting out any effort, you are just as likely to forget it in the next moment. Your brain just won’t register it as important to remember. Many elementary school teachers have the rule “Three before me”. If you have a question for the teacher, you better be prepared to tell three ways you tried to find the answer BEFORE you ask the teacher. Even then, the answer might be, “Did you try to find it using…..?” Good teachers always encourage students to use the tools and resources available to them to search out and find answers on their own. It’s empowering for the student and saves the teacher from answering the same question 30 times a day.
I’m a real Photoshop novice. I’m looking for a class for beginners.
Hi, Judy. Matt might not reply himself to plug his own courses, but they are excellent. Navigate to his courses at the top of this page, or here’s the link: https://mattk.com/course-list/
Hi Matt,
I’m curious as to whom was the winner of your AWESOME course during your recent survey prior to launch?
TIA, Lisa
I totally agree with you point of view. It is about respecting your time and taking personal responsibility for our own study and learning. I am a scientist and we are trained and constantly reminded that the usefulness and quality of a response to a question whether to a colleague or Mother Nature is directly related to the quality of the question and the usefulness to developing understanding of the phenomena being studied. When I teach I frequently get questions similar to yours, of course in a different context. I try to gently help them restate the question and then let them answer it on their own. Now that they got the question right then ask Dr Google for help. Then me. I might also be asking Dr Google. Getting into the habit of asking “am I asking the right question?” Every time I ask a question is absolutely critical for personal development. You are totally correct to being up this idea.
With the remarkable remove tool, you can indeed remove the chain link fence in front of a tiger or other animal. Try it; it works! Good videos!
This video is exactly why I like your teaching style. You don’t pull punches, and you do it kindly and with humor. As a former trainer of volunteers, I agree wholeheartedly.
I love your teaching style. I’m a late beginner in PS. I know how to use many of the left panel tools.
Working on learning layers.
Mostly use LR.
QUESTION:
I’ll know pretty fast if this course is too advanced. I want to try it but bail if I can’t. Is that ok?
Great guidance here, Matt! A timely pointed reminder on how to learn skills vs “tricks” (practice) and how to be a student, regardless of skill level.
You’re the best Matt! Thank you.
Thank you, Matt, this was a great discussion and you’re an outstanding instructor! Hey, I want to pass along a technical observation just in case it might be of use. I never have trouble with your YouTube video links, but (and this has been going on for years, but I’ve been too lazy to comment until now) any time you post a video directly on mattk.com, I can not open it in Chrome. The video doesn’t even show up on the page, just a big blank space. This happens on multiple Windows computers and Chromebooks. I can copy the link and paste it into Edge and the video shows up and works just fine. Since it happens on two different operating systems, I assume it’s not a local issue with me, but who knows? Thanks again for all the great content!
Hit the nail on the head there Matt you have to experiment to gain the knowledge
Agreed with you 100%. I have your Photoshop program and refer back to it. There have been improvements in Photoshop since then, But I tend to use the tools I know well and move on. I dont like the healing tool since they improved it, the circles are confusing to me. Thank you gor sll you do.
Matt,
Best video ever! Anyone who has taught, most any subject, has had the same experience and wishes they had a video like this to play the first day of class.
“Just hit the ball”, sums it all up.
Your comments, Matt, on point as usual. Reminded me of the apocryphal tourist roaming around mid-town Manhattan asking “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” and the amused, jaded New Yorker answering, “Practice, practice, practice.”
I agree Matt. thanks for the video.
That was a very informative video. I sometimes get very overwhelmed with the use of Photoshop and Lightroom. I am a amateur photographer and try to take good pictures and then edit them to my desire… But it can be crazy using those programs and learning all the “tricks” those programs offer. Thanks for the video. ??
Very good video.
Takeaway: Yer frustrating the heck outa me!
Research your question and make an effort to understand as much as you you can before taking up the man’s time.
Don’t be lazy!
This Video resonates with me, I’m ashamed to say.
Thanks for the kick in the butt Matt! Good on ya
Thanks. Will you be doing a similar course for Lightroom?