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32 Pics To Prove That You Should Probably Ask A Gen Zer To Take Your Pics For You
InterviewGen Z is known for many things: being the most racially and ethnically diverse generation in US history, being open-minded and passionate about social issues, having a seemingly innate understanding of TikTok, and growing up with access to smartphones and the internet from a very young age. This young generation has many skills that are useful in the workplace and in their personal lives, one of which they’ve recently been applauded for online is their ability to take excellent photos.
Zoomers know the angles, filters, apps and strategies for taking the most flattering and impressive pics, and recently, many people of older generations have been sharing proof of these photog skills on Twitter. Be sure to upvote all of the pictures that you know you wouldn’t be able to take yourself, if you’re a millennial or older, and let us know in the comments what you appreciate most about this young, technologically savvy generation.
Keep reading to also find interviews with Cath Proctor and Catherine Sneed, two of the millennials who participated in this conversation on Twitter. Then, if you’d like to check out another Bored Panda article discussing what makes Gen Z unique, you can find that right here!
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When it comes to taking photos, we all have different standards. Some people prefer a more avant-garde pic, while others want a standard headshot that can be used on LinkedIn. I’m actually part of Gen Z myself, and I have to admit that I’ve had many discussions with my millennial partner about how to take a good photo. He doesn’t understand how to get the most flattering angles and seems somehow unbothered when a photo comes out slightly out of focus. Because of our generational divide (I hesitate to call it that because we’re both on the cusp of our respective generations, but you understand!), he always ends up with much better photos of himself than I have of myself. The things we do for love…
Jokes aside though, pandas, growing up with so much access to technology and the internet has benefitted Gen Z in a variety of ways. They’re extremely tech savvy, which means skills that used to require classes or training are already mastered by this young generation. This can also make them less likely to fall prey to internet scams and believing fake news. They may be young, but that doesn’t mean we can’t all learn a thing or two from Gen Z.
Wow! Don't know which is more impressive, the selfie or getting 42 family members to behave while she did it!
To gain more insight on this topic, we reached out to one of the Twitter users who joined in on this conversation, Cath Proctor. Cath told Bored Panda that she’s a millennial who loves Gen Z. “I'm a high school English teacher, and they impress me in all kinds of ways,” she shared. “My job provides me a pretty good view into their lives, and I'd say we're not that different.”
We also asked Cath why this young generation seems to have an innate skill for taking photos. “They were born with these tools in their hands,” she told Bored Panda. “They're also doing it constantly throughout the day, so it's no surprise they're honing that skill to a professional level.”
We were also curious if Cath thinks these impressive photog skills that zoomers have can be taught, or if older generations just have different standards for what is considered a “great photo”. “I'm not sure we can learn, but if there was a course I'd take it,” she told Bored Panda. “They're consuming such a high volume of images that, of course, they're training their brains to recognize quality and have higher standards.”
Looks like same spot, just turned 45 degrees to the person's left. I'm willing to assume the photographer recommended the change to make better use of the natural lighting.
Load More Replies...seriously, it's the most basic of the basics, you never take photos with a light in the background.
...or if the daylight is from behind: use the inbuilt flash as a fill-light.
Load More Replies...I'm guessing these were taken with different phones. The highlights, fill light, everything is processed so differently between the two it's almost as if the one on the left is using no computational photography.
Taking a photo is just as much about the back ground as it is the person. Person is more relaxed and standing casually in second photo. Also the photo background was reframed just enough to add better items of interest, water for instance. The last change is camera moved to a more overhead shot. Like earlier the photo became more dramatic by photographer getting on the ground. Looks like this photographer found a way to raise the camera giving the image better point of view. (note high rise work crane is out of image.)
What's weird about this picture is that Seattle, seen in the background, is not pounded by rain. Heck, you can even see Mount Rainier in the distance which is rare.
Or just held the phone up higher because they understand better about lighting and angles. I’m a millennial and my pics suck most of the time.
Load More Replies...We also reached out to Catherine Sneed, another Twitter user who shared a photo proving how great Gen Z is at taking pics. “I’m an ‘elder’ millennial and consider GenZ to be really savvy with any tech,” she told Bored Panda. “They can pick up anything and use it flawlessly the first time.”
“Photo taking seems to be easy for younger generations because of all the filters,” she explained. “It’s similar to all the social feeds, and older generations are really just a shoot and click generation.”
And when it comes to whether or not anyone can learn the photography skills Gen Zers have, Catherine says, “I think it takes a long time to learn how to take great photos. There are so many hacks and learning videos because so many people just get it wrong.”
He's not in awe, he's thinking 'Those aren't penguins. Does my mum not know what a penguin is? Oh god how should I tell her? Or should I just keep quiet and let her enjoy the moment? I mean what's the worst that can happen - it's not like she's going to tweet this out and show the whole world she doesn't know what a penguin is, right?'
Unsurprisingly, Gen Z is the most photographed generation. And while this might seem like it only impacts their social media presences, apparently, it has also influenced the way they shop. According to Business Insider, zoomers feel pressure to dress in new clothes often and in unique ways to set themselves apart from the crowd and prevent “outfit repeating” often online. But this young generation is also concerned about keeping costs low and protecting the planet, so they’re not always buying new. “Gen Z is shopping a lot more for secondhand clothing than previous generations," Jessica Pruitt, an associate manager of marketing at Buffalo Exchange told Business Insider. "There is less stigma around this."
In fact, some zoomers even opt to rent their outfits rather than buy them, if they’ll only be worn a few times or for taking a few photos. “This is a fundamental evolution in consumer behavior, and we expect it will have an impact in the fashion business in the years ahead," a group of writers wrote in Business of Fashion's State of Fashion report for 2019. "There is a trend toward clothes having a second life or being used again," Chad Kessler, global brand president at American Eagle, told Business Insider. "This is part of their focus on quality, value, and thoughtful purchasing, and I think these [rental services] are just different ways for them to participate."
They both have different things to recommend them. Can see your face so much better in the first one. But that looking up frame is always great.
And while older generations sometimes give Gen Z flack for taking too many photos, living inside their phones and being obsessed with taking selfies, there’s no need to be so hard on them. If they’re enjoying an activity with their friends or eating a delicious meal, why shouldn’t they snap a quick photo to remember the occasion by? Yes, living in the moment is great, but pausing for 15 seconds to take a photo does not ruin the moment. We have incredible cameras in the palms of our hands nowadays, we might as well use them! Plus, these expert photo skills that zoomers possess really come in handy when you’re out in public and need a group picture.
I don't think the tattoo on their leg is a whale. Maybe a mermaid or a fish?
Gen Zers are also well aware of the fact that their generation is unique when it comes to taking photos and videos. Recently, the term “millennial pause” was coined on TikTok to define the obligatory pause that millennials take when making a video before they start talking to ensure that the video is actually recording. Apparently, Gen Zers don’t do this, and they’ve been mocking their elders online for this adorable quirk. “The way the quintessential Millennial behaves online is basically a bunch of silly little nuances strung together to create a personality that is very giddy and excitable about the normal or mundane,” Michael Stevens, a 24-year-old TikToker based in New England, told The Atlantic.
I don't agree that the photo on the left is "awful". It just seems like the photographer had different priorities in each. The one on the left wanted to see the people. With the one on the right, I am not sure why there are people in it at all. Any color, contrast issues can be dealt with post shooting.
Even the way a selfie is taken can be a dead giveaway of your generation. Apparently, boomers are known for taking pictures at exceptionally low angles, close to their face. Gen X tends to use too high of an angle with their arms outstretched and their chin pointed down. Millennials are guilty of taking a photo straight on and being way too smiley, and finally, Gen Z has deemed the “right way” of taking selfies to be with their phones at about eye level and slightly pointed down. And while it’s never kind to mock others for their online behavior, Gen Z seems to know what they’re talking about. So I’ll let them make fun of me as much as they want as long as they’ll still help me out when I need a photo in public!
I think we can all agree that the next time you need a photo taken in public, it’s best to ask the youngest person you can find. Even 7 isn’t too young, apparently! We hope you’re enjoying this list highlighting one of Gen Z’s hidden skills, and be sure to upvote all of the pictures you find most impressive. Let us know in the comments how you feel about this young generation, and then if you’re interested in checking out another Bored Panda article discussing what makes Gen Z unique, you can find that right here!
I could have picked a lot of great photos that were taken by older people just to prove my point older generations are better at taking pictures. This proves nothing.
This is just a collection of good photos taken by young people. The headline is nonsense.
Yeah, but then it wouldn't be controversial which seems to be Pandas mission anymore.
Load More Replies...The generation who have grown up posting their lives on social media are good at taking photos. No big surprise here.
Not to forget that photo equipment is way more developed today with filters and stuff
Load More Replies...All those photos that appear in the Historical Photo lists, pre-Gen anything. All those photos of your "popstars" you love, GenX. All those photos of your dinner, all those ones that have endless filters, GenZ. See I can make arbitrary statements and back them up with curated examples like a big strawman too.
It's not that Gen Z's take better photos. They literally have a device that takes the best photo possible. The camera in cellphones automatically adjusts light, exposure, grain, digital apperture, shutter speed and ISO. Then the cellphone does automatic postprocessing to the photo to get the best color balancing possible, exhancing them. And after that, people adds filter and more post processing to photos. Show me a genz taking this knids of photos with a DSLR camera on manual, or with one of those old s****y cameras and then tell me that. Claiming this is like claiming "gen alpha are better with computers than previous generations at that age because they can use an ipad to open youtube, but people 30 years ago couldn't use DOS operating systems at 3 years old".
Not sure your point here. The comparison photos were taken with the same equipment, and in general the one taken by the younger person looks better to me. The major difference I see is how they frame the shot. In these examples, the older people tend to focus on the people regardless of how everything else looks. The younger people seem to take the entire scene into account, and will even sacrifice how the people look a little for the benefit of the overall scene.
Load More Replies...Not gen vs gen but someone who doesn’t know how to take a great shot vs those that do.
All the old people mad at actual people saying gen z did a better job than older generations is funny to me
I appreciate patting Gen Z on the back, but come on...did the random gen Z kid also tell you use a different pose too?
I'd say that x & z want different focus in the pictures - older want people and younger want it all so much that you can't recognize people on pic - yes those are great pics but if I go on holiday I want to be recognized in pics and big sights deserve pictures without me
Nah, this is kak. Look. Open iphoto on your phone. (Apple). Choose "portrait mode". Shoot. Done.
I should show these to my partner. He takes the worst pictures, lots of them, and doesn't tell anyone when he's ready to take one so we always have eyes closed, etc. Then he puts the absolute worst ones of both of us on social media 🤦 Ooh well, God loves trier, I guess!
I dunno why but the eyes closed part absolutely nailed me in the funny bones. I know people like this, and it's scary whenever they decide to take 4k video without steady mode. Hah
Load More Replies...I could have picked a lot of great photos that were taken by older people just to prove my point older generations are better at taking pictures. This proves nothing.
This is just a collection of good photos taken by young people. The headline is nonsense.
Yeah, but then it wouldn't be controversial which seems to be Pandas mission anymore.
Load More Replies...The generation who have grown up posting their lives on social media are good at taking photos. No big surprise here.
Not to forget that photo equipment is way more developed today with filters and stuff
Load More Replies...All those photos that appear in the Historical Photo lists, pre-Gen anything. All those photos of your "popstars" you love, GenX. All those photos of your dinner, all those ones that have endless filters, GenZ. See I can make arbitrary statements and back them up with curated examples like a big strawman too.
It's not that Gen Z's take better photos. They literally have a device that takes the best photo possible. The camera in cellphones automatically adjusts light, exposure, grain, digital apperture, shutter speed and ISO. Then the cellphone does automatic postprocessing to the photo to get the best color balancing possible, exhancing them. And after that, people adds filter and more post processing to photos. Show me a genz taking this knids of photos with a DSLR camera on manual, or with one of those old s****y cameras and then tell me that. Claiming this is like claiming "gen alpha are better with computers than previous generations at that age because they can use an ipad to open youtube, but people 30 years ago couldn't use DOS operating systems at 3 years old".
Not sure your point here. The comparison photos were taken with the same equipment, and in general the one taken by the younger person looks better to me. The major difference I see is how they frame the shot. In these examples, the older people tend to focus on the people regardless of how everything else looks. The younger people seem to take the entire scene into account, and will even sacrifice how the people look a little for the benefit of the overall scene.
Load More Replies...Not gen vs gen but someone who doesn’t know how to take a great shot vs those that do.
All the old people mad at actual people saying gen z did a better job than older generations is funny to me
I appreciate patting Gen Z on the back, but come on...did the random gen Z kid also tell you use a different pose too?
I'd say that x & z want different focus in the pictures - older want people and younger want it all so much that you can't recognize people on pic - yes those are great pics but if I go on holiday I want to be recognized in pics and big sights deserve pictures without me
Nah, this is kak. Look. Open iphoto on your phone. (Apple). Choose "portrait mode". Shoot. Done.
I should show these to my partner. He takes the worst pictures, lots of them, and doesn't tell anyone when he's ready to take one so we always have eyes closed, etc. Then he puts the absolute worst ones of both of us on social media 🤦 Ooh well, God loves trier, I guess!
I dunno why but the eyes closed part absolutely nailed me in the funny bones. I know people like this, and it's scary whenever they decide to take 4k video without steady mode. Hah
Load More Replies...