Remember the old adage, "There is more than one way to skin a cat."
Sounds more like this is what worked best for him so it must be best for everyone. I've never shot professionally, though have been asked. I don't think I'm good enough for a lot of projects, so I practice. Probably why I do mostly wildlife, never had a complaint.
Thanks to the joys of modern cameras, practice is a lot cheaper than the old days of film. Finding willing subjects is the only obstacle. Family, friends may be able to help.
Just have a good idea what you want your end result to be and how you wish to obtain it and see if it works.
Sadly you find them in any kind of group. Look up Dunning-Kruger Effect and add in some brand snobbery and you get my point.