Eh, it's a photo, you can print a million, why should I pay for this? What do I get? Can't anyone do this? The camera does all the work anyhow, right? As my brother-in-law jokingly says to his beloved family full of serious photographers: "boy that camera sure takes a nice photo!" (Yes he has been threatened many times, but it's also why we love him.)
Well I think it's important to keep in mind what I am investing into any particular photograph and therefore what you get in return.
You're investing in:
My time
By way of example, the photo that accompanies this blog post is one I remember very clearly. It was nearing the 2020 US Election and I was struggling with vast political, ideological, and humanitarian differences from some of those I love the most. My heart was breaking. I was feeling isolated, disconnected, and lost. One day, I called in sick and chose to take my camera out to try and work through some of those feelings. While en route to a specific destination I had wanted to shoot for some time, I happened to glance in the rearview mirror as I drove a familiar stretch of road. The light was nothing short of magnificent. There was a touch of mist in the air that morning, golden hour, and a beautiful forest divided only by the very road I was on. I pulled over, which isn't always easy to do in this country and I began to walk up and down the road to find the best angles (this can also be tough to do here as the roads are narrow and drivers aren't used to looking out for the dazed and amazed photographer who is paying attention to the scene, not the surroundings.)
I went home after several hours of shooting and various locations including the original one I intended to visit. It was the greatest of therapy and while it didn't resolve the concerns I had going out, it helped give me perspective and a step away from being so close to the situation. Photography most often reminds me to be grateful both for what I have and where I live. I've chased many dreams, not achieved all of them, but what a treasure every single venture has been. I am thrilled photography has been the best reason for all of this.
So, yes I firmly believe your investment is well justified and the benefits to me throughout this process are wonderful as well but always be mindful that you aren't just purchasing a piece of art, you are purchasing a piece of that photographer a moment in their life when they held their breath, pressed the shutter, and waited for the magic. And that is valuable.
Well I think it's important to keep in mind what I am investing into any particular photograph and therefore what you get in return.
You're investing in:
My time
My effort
My planning
My years of experience
My years of experience
The hours spent traveling and on location
The perspective
The equipment
That spot you walked by and thought “ohh that’s pretty” - I stayed at for an hour, covering every angle, looking for the shot that held the most magic and music for the soul. I walked back and forth, left, and then came back because it was nagging me that something wasn’t complete yet. Bear in mind that you are genuinely getting a peace of my heart and soul. I live for these images and moments. They are as pure and happy a moment as I’ve ever experienced.
By way of example, the photo that accompanies this blog post is one I remember very clearly. It was nearing the 2020 US Election and I was struggling with vast political, ideological, and humanitarian differences from some of those I love the most. My heart was breaking. I was feeling isolated, disconnected, and lost. One day, I called in sick and chose to take my camera out to try and work through some of those feelings. While en route to a specific destination I had wanted to shoot for some time, I happened to glance in the rearview mirror as I drove a familiar stretch of road. The light was nothing short of magnificent. There was a touch of mist in the air that morning, golden hour, and a beautiful forest divided only by the very road I was on. I pulled over, which isn't always easy to do in this country and I began to walk up and down the road to find the best angles (this can also be tough to do here as the roads are narrow and drivers aren't used to looking out for the dazed and amazed photographer who is paying attention to the scene, not the surroundings.)
I went home after several hours of shooting and various locations including the original one I intended to visit. It was the greatest of therapy and while it didn't resolve the concerns I had going out, it helped give me perspective and a step away from being so close to the situation. Photography most often reminds me to be grateful both for what I have and where I live. I've chased many dreams, not achieved all of them, but what a treasure every single venture has been. I am thrilled photography has been the best reason for all of this.
So, yes I firmly believe your investment is well justified and the benefits to me throughout this process are wonderful as well but always be mindful that you aren't just purchasing a piece of art, you are purchasing a piece of that photographer a moment in their life when they held their breath, pressed the shutter, and waited for the magic. And that is valuable.
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