Photographers and instruction manuals have a tenuous relationship. We prefer to figure things out on our own, and, if that doesn’t work, we resort to some quick YouTube research. Why? Well, have you ever tried reading an instruction manual for a camera or a piece of lighting equipment? Especially a Godox instruction manual…
I feel like a lot of instruction manuals are written in hieroglyphics by the same people who create the IKEA instructions. Maybe it is because I have always been a very visual learner. If I see someone do something, I pick it up very quickly. Reading technical instruction manuals, on the other hand, is like trying to translate a dead language to me.
Have you ever read an manual that tries to explain the process of how stroboscopic lighting works?
I’d rather attempt a Triple Lindy . . . and I studied physics and math!!! How are people who aren’t proficient in complex math expected to understand this stuff?
So fellow photographers, how do you feel about instruction manuals? Let me know about it over on TikTok or Instagram.

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Remember: Instruction manuals are for people who don’t know what they’re doing!