Seems like the more I listen, the more I hear people talking about the gear, the business of photography, the widgets. Let us not forget the simple love of photography.
I understand why there’s so much rhetoric in our industry about the business of photography and the gear and the gadgets. There is the common stereotype that most creative people aren’t good business people. There is fear. Gear is easier to talk about than vision. Exposures are exact, the camera dials have numbers. There is a ‘right’ answer to many of these questions.
But where is your love of pictures? Where are your actions that back this up?
Can you pick up a book of photographs and get lost in it?
Can you walk around with your iPhone or Android or your point and shoot or whatever and take 100 pictures knowing that they’ll never be for a client or a portfolio?
Do you love hunting for pictures?
Will you stay up late or get up early for pictures?
Do you sometimes ‘see’ life as a photograph?
It’s different for all of us, but when you can take a break from all the chatter, remind yourself–as often as you can–why you love photography.
Amen to that… seriously buried here with editing and biz work. Need a break to just go out and shoot for myself.
this is so dann right! Great blogpost!
I make pictures because there’s an itch in my brain than can only be scratched in a particular way. It’s the same reason I play music. You just need it.
See y’all on Monday at the studio.
This is just what I needed to read today! I am really struggling with my very new photography business. I am having a hard time balancing having 2 little ones and business “stuff”. I actually decided a few days ago to put my photo biz on the back burner for a while. Then I got three requests for shoots, and one for some lessons (blog and PS help). I actually couldn’t sleep last night, because I was so excited and my brain would not shut off. I guess it’s a sign that I need to keep working on growing my photo business and try to get the balancing part figured out.
That is all there is in photography Chase. The gear suits a purpose, but doesn’t make you a talented photographer. Seeing, feeling, interpreting, and visualizing is what matters.