Photos are the last thing on my mind.
Everyone has been asking me recently about “How do you approach people and get them to allow you to take photos?” or something like “How do I get people to book me to take photos?” and I didn’t really know what to say because what worked for me may not work for someone else. What I have done would be near impossible to replicate or repeat. How I built my portfolio is unique to my own journey and manifestation. It's not a linear "do this" timeline; it's a put-your-best-intentions-forward-and-trust type of timeline. I also didn’t feel like I was worthy of giving advice because I am still just learning every day. I wasn’t worthy because there's still so much to learn and I am far away from the visions and universes I see in my head. Then, I got thinking like I am just a soul with a camera façading around like I am on a merry-go-round, watching the world pass by as the sun goes down, capturing fleeting bursts of beauty that only exist once. Then, I spiraled like how dare I talk about myself in such an egotistical artsy-fartsy way; how dare I say “fleeting bursts of beauty that only exist once” like I am something other than a mere photographer.
Then, I spiraled even further. How could I give creative advice when all I am doing is capturing the beauty of the universe? How could I give advice when I don’t understand focus bracketing, photo compositing, or even the finer complexities of how to light a studio? How could I give advice when half the time, the world and the people wandering around in it scare the heck out of me? How could I give advice when I am constantly seeking that for my own? How could I give advice when I couldn’t tell you the difference between a Canon 90D and a Sony A7? How could I give advice when words constantly scramble in my mind and it's only through writing that I can decipher them? How could I give creative advice when I am only just realizing that I have a voice, and it's a voice that deserves to be heard? Then, I realized something deep. They were asking the right question but in the wrong way - you shouldn’t simply want to take a photo; you should want to preserve a fleeting moment of existence. You shouldn’t simply want to take a photo; you should want to tell a visual narrative through the medium of photography. You shouldn’t simply want to take a photo; you should want to capture human connection and its intimacy. You shouldn’t simply want to take a photo; you should want to reflect and highlight the messages within the choice of subject. You shouldn’t simply want to take a photo; you should want to capture the world how you see it. You shouldn’t simply want to take a photo; you should want to capture art pieces that make people feel something. You shouldn’t simply want to take a photo; you should want people to welcome you (and your camera) into their worlds for a brief moment. You shouldn’t want to merely take one's photo; you should strive to capture a glimpse into the whole that makes a person and/or business unique. Like, I could honestly bore you with metaphors around seeing photography in a deeper light and how this simple mind trick will help you take more emotive imagery. And, in fact, that's exactly what I will do. Here goes, prepare for boredom.
Instead of merely taking a photo, aspire to compose visual symphonies, orchestrating elements of light, color, and form to create a masterpiece that resonates with the soul. Rather than simply snapping a picture, endeavor to craft a visual poem, weaving together moments and emotions into imagery that speaks volumes without uttering a word. Rather than just taking a photo, aim to sculpt light and shadow like a skilled artist, molding them into shapes that dance and intrigue upon the canvas of your lens. Instead of merely capturing an image, seek to paint with the palette of life, using your camera as a brush to stroke existence with hues of passion, beauty, and meaning. Instead of just taking a photo, aspire to sculpt moments frozen in time, chiseling away distractions to reveal the raw essence of humanity and the universe encapsulated within each frame. Rather than simply snapping a picture, endeavor to compose a visual sonnet, where every frame is a stanza, every subject a verse, and every detail a rhyme that tells a story of life's rich complexities. Instead of merely taking a photo, strive to conduct a visual symphony, harmonizing the elements of composition, timing, and emotion to create a masterpiece that resonates with the heartstrings of all who behold it. Instead of just capturing an image, aim to choreograph a ballet of light and shadow, where every movement of your lens captures a moment of grace, elegance, and beauty frozen in time. Rather than simply snapping a picture, aspire to compose a visual aria, where every frame sings with the melody of life, each note a brushstroke that paints a portrait of the human experience. Instead of merely taking a photo, seek to sculpt moments like a sculptor molds clay, shaping them into forms that evoke emotion, provoke thought, and inspire wonder. Instead of just capturing an image, aim to conduct a visual symphony, where every element – from light and shadow to color and composition – comes together in perfect harmony to evoke a symphony of emotions within the viewers. Rather than simply snapping a picture, endeavor to paint with light, using your camera as a brush to illuminate the world in ways that reveal the hidden beauty and magic lurking within the mundane.
I don’t know. I guess basically what I am trying to say is when one approaches photography solely as the act of taking a photo, you’ll limit themselves to a superficial understanding of the craft. It'd reduce photography to a mechanical process of pressing a button, devoid of the depth and richness that can be achieved through artistic expression. By failing to embrace the artistic viewpoint, photographers miss out on the opportunity to delve into the intricacies of storytelling, emotion, and human connection that can be conveyed through imagery. They overlook the potential to capture fleeting moments of existence and translate them into timeless visual narratives that resonate with viewers on a profound level. The essence of photography lies not in the mere act of taking a photo but in the ability to transcend the ordinary and explore the extraordinary through the lens of artistic vision. It's about more than just capturing images; it's about preserving moments, telling stories, and evoking emotions. By embracing this perspective, photographers can elevate thier work from mere documentation to powerful expressions of creativity and insight. So, let us not merely take photos but endeavor to craft visual masterpieces that transcend the fleeting nature of existence and resonate with the soul.
I guess I do have some wisdom to share after all. Who would have thought?!