Spotting the Difference: How to Identify Real Photography Educators vs. Scammers

Scammers only want one thing from you. Your money.

The world of photography education is growing rapidly, offering countless opportunities for photographers to refine their craft. However, this growth has also attracted scammers who take advantage of aspiring photographers with false promises and subpar education.

As an experienced industry professional, it's crucial to know how to distinguish genuine educators from scams—saving both your time and hard-earned money. Let’s dive into the key differences and actionable steps to make informed choices.

Graphic description with a side by side competition between scammers and genuine photography educators

Why Photographers Fall for Scams (And How Scammers Succeed)

Scammers are masters of persuasion, using psychological tactics to attract aspiring photographers. Here’s why they succeed:

1. The Promise of Overnight Success

Image describing the false promise of fast success and money

Scammers lure people with “instant results” and “foolproof methods,” feeding on the desire for quick achievements. How many times have you seen adds that promise five figure bookings in one week? There is no magic formula for rapid success.

Solution:
Understand that photography mastery takes time, dedication, and consistent effort.

2. Fake Social Proof

Scammers flood their platforms with fake reviews, staged success stories, and influencer partnerships to appear credible.

Solution:
Always seek independent reviews and ask for proof of student success. For example, I always ask my students for honest video testimonies so that future attendees can see how real and genuine they are. We have all fall for scammers in the past… Me included.

3. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)

Flash sales, countdown timers, and “limited seats” create urgency, pressuring photographers into impulsive decisions. This is a loaded one. For example, my workshops always have a limited attendance. Why? Because I want to keep the numbers of attendees short so that all attendees can have equal attention from me and have a deeper and more authentic experience during my workshops. Tickets to my workshops also tend to sell fast, so if attendees want to save a seat, there is always a sense of urgency.

Solution:
Take your time to research and evaluate before making any commitments. Reputable and authentic educators will have a limited attendance and their tickets will sell fast, so there will be a level of urgency. But reputable educators also have real testimonials and an online presence that assures you of their true intentions. While Scammers do not. Video testimonials, a history of successful previous workshops and strong online presence should help you figure out who is a scammer and who is not.

4. Lack of Industry Awareness

Beginners may not know what a legitimate educator looks like, making them vulnerable to slick marketing tactics.

Solution:
Research educators with industry experience, awards, and verified credentials. Doesn’t need to have all of these, but at least one of them. For example, I have never submitted my work for awards, but I am a very experienced photographer, with several workshops all over North America under my belt and the sponsorship of some of the most reputable brands in photography. I am a brand ambassador of Floral Albums, one of Europe’s premium album and print labs, AftershootAI, the world leader in volume editing for photographers, and Flashgear.net, a lighting and diffuser company from the Midwest US. On my workshops, I also have the sponsorship of EvotoAI, the fastest growing detailed editing software in the world. Westcott lighting and Fractal Filters, a California company who specializes in filters for photographers.

5. Emotional Storytelling

Scammers appeal to emotions rather than offering tangible learning outcomes, making their courses feel more personal. They will especially appeal to fast and high earnings, as a hook. Don’t fall for it. There is no easy money.

Solution:
Focus on educators who emphasize skills, structure, and measurable growth. Reputable educators usually have their own forums like private educational groups on Facebook, where they often share their knowledge for free, or a strong presence on Youtube or Instagram, where you can see their work, as well as BTS reels with information that helps their audience.

Braulio’s educational group in Facebook with over 16,000 members. Click on the image to join this educational group

Investing in photography education should be a rewarding journey, not a financial setback. By following these guidelines, photographers can make better decisions, and educators like you can build an audience that values authenticity and quality learning.

Remember: As an educator, my goal is always to empower, inspire, and educate—not to exploit.

Flier for our upcoming workshop in Las Vegas. Click on the image to register