When asked what he felt was more essential, artistic vision or technique, Minor White replied— “You cannot create great art without mastering your tools. Unless you transcend their influence, they will hinder your vision. Turning vision into art requires technique.”
It never fails. At least one person at any given wedding will approach me and ask if this is what I do full time. I always reply that this is my passion, it’s what I do full time. I photograph people. People getting married, models for a commercial shoot (models are people too), high school seniors (also people) and families (yes, a group of people).
However, a woman once replied, “so what do you do during the week?”. Suppressing a knee jerk response with something clever and sarcastic, I realized it was a legitimate question. My wife has been known to ask the same question on more than one occasion.
Supposedly, computers are saving us considerable amounts of time. My experience is completely opposite. I live behind a computer monitor. Being a professional photographer sounds exciting and with the tools available to the general public, it would seem anyone can be a photographer. The reality is completely different. Running a full time business is very demanding and requires that you have many different skill sets. More than I ever imagined, but for the past 18 years, I’ve been rolling with it and have learned that these skills are merely the tools of an artist. I’m still just as passionate about being behind the camera and appreciate being paid to create my art. It’s truly a blessing.
In May, I was photographing the annual Microsoft CEO Summit. This was my 5th year photographing this event with the amazingly talented Gary Voth.
Summer suddenly happened and that means wedding season. Couples scheduling engagement sessions and price lists in need of being updated for 2009. The web site needing to be overhauled and propagated with new content. There are quarterly taxes and Federal taxes and piles and piles of to do lists. Album designs and new album and print samples. I do all my own web site design and coding, so that means hours and hours of research and testing.
I know we are all busy. I’d love to share with you all the things I do as it’s obvious that no one has a clue. My job is to educate as well as create. Master the techniques of business and photography so I can focus on my vision as an artist.
Remember the saying, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all”? I refuse to be one of those photographers who post merely for the sake of posting. I want to contribute content, in my own way to the people who stop for a moment to share in my world. I used to worry about those readers, but I’ve learned to let it go. They will come and go, but for the most part, they’ll stay. They get me and it’s the understanding and support they give that drives me forward. If you have me in your RSS reader, then you’ll get that little knock on the door that says I’m here every now and then. Until then… thanks for your continued support and interest!
Hope you’re well.
3 comments