No, I’m not a photography God, but I do know a thing or two about the subject.

I’ve spent the past 15 years working photography workshops, organizing group photography outings and with other photographers in the field. I have worked with some of the finest photographers and pure beginners. I’ve learned quite a bit over the years too. You may of course want to take all of this with a grain of salt, and it’s mostly targeted to photographers who like to work with groups and other photographers. I can also think of quite a few other things to spout off about but I don’t want to break my own rules.

Here is my list of things you should do or not do if you want to be a successful photographer while working with others. Your mileage may vary.

1. Never head out on a photography trip without charging your camera batteries beforehand.

I’ve seen it happen many times, photographer packs their gear, arrives on site and quickly discovers their camera battery is dead. It’s even worse when they don’t have a charged spare battery on their person or in their bag.

2. Always pack a clean hand towel in your kit.

Another thing I see a lot of photographers forget about. Bad weather or conditions. Their gear gets all dirty and they have to borrow someone elses towel to clean it. If you loan your cleaning towel out, expect to never see it again.

3. Don’t bring too much gear.

I went to dinner with a photographer one evening and planned to photograph the Denver skyline from the roof of the restaurant (with permission) and he brought a duffel bag with everything he owned in it. What an embarrassment. Figure it out before you leave for a trip and only pack what you need to get the job done.

4. When you are working in a group, work within the group.

Group trips are a group activity, so anything you do or don’t do will have an impact on the group. A lot of photographers have a “lone wolf” mentality that serves them well when working alone, but when you are in a group environment, you’re going to need to compromise a little bit here and there. Wandering off and misdirecting the group for your own needs is a sure way to irritate other members of the group. There’s always room for a little flexibility, but don’t go full tilt independent while working with a group. A group is a team and teams work better when they work together.

5. Never think or act as though you are the best photographer in the world.

I’ve seen really good photographers take some very average photos. There’s nothing more boring than someone who thinks they are better at the craft than everyone else and act like it.

6. Don’t brag about your expensive photography gear.

Having a lot of money doesn’t make you a good photographer. Nobody want’s to hear it. Not everyone has money to throw at their photography and have to rely on less expensive or incomplete photography kits. Deflate your ego and be a regular person.

7. Never use a photograph made by someone else without their permission.

It’s unethical and possibly illegal.

8. Unless you are serving as an instructor, keep your advice to yourself.

I’ve seen quite a few photographers offer unsolicited advice to other photographers. Nobody learns a thing from a know-it-all. If you need help, ask for it. If it isn’t asked for, spare others the repetitive unsolicited offers of expertise.

9. Keep your chimping to a minimum.

What is chimping? You may ask. Chimping is when you spend more time admiring your photos in camera than you spend making them. It’s fine to take a look. Check those exposures, confirm your compositions, make sure your settings are correct. But spending all your idle time looking at your photos will distract you from the work at hand and you’ll drain your batteries quicker (see commandment 1.) Learn to have confidence in your work. It also gets annoying to others when you have an uncontrollable need to show them off to whoever is around you too. Now you’re distracting others. Save it for post processing later. Show off when you’re done, not while you’re doing it.

10. Always have a flash with you and don’t be afraid to use it.

Animals aren’t afraid of flash, they don’t know what it is and it’s not something they recognize as a threat. I’ve witnessed many a photographer make photographs with a subject poorly lit or with too much back light to get a good exposure. This happens a lot with people photographing wildlife in demanding lighting conditions. Flash is a light equalizer and if you don’t learn how and when to use one, you’re seriously missing out.