I am just back to work after an incredible 7 days of mind-spinning education. Okay, I do admit, the conference *did* take place in Las Vegas, so it wasn’t altogether heartbreaking to be there and soak up the atmosphere. There *might* have been a ‘Drink-by-the-yard’ (or 3) consumed, and it’s *possible* that there were some shenanigans afoot during the week of learning. :) To be very honest though, most of the time was spent in classes, or in deep discussion with other photographers about business, and the business of being photographers. I spent a great deal of time listening in on Print Competition, and being inspired by the incredible images I saw. It was inspirational, and thought provoking, and I hope to enter my own prints next year.
This is a very fast-paced industry, with technology and trends that move faster than a gaggle of 5 year olds chasing after the spoils of a split pinyata. This past week of listening to some of the best and brightest in my field has only reinforced the notion that if we don’t keep up, we fall behind. It’s as simple as that. I am never going to stop learning more about how to do the best job I can do to provide my clients with beautiful photographs.
Even more important than keeping our skills up to date, and being exposed to new ideas, is the concept of the timelessness of what we do for our clients. People have photos made because they love each other. It is the only tangible thing left on this earth after we are gone. I was sitting in David William’s 2 day seminar when he asked the following question to the class:
“Do YOU have all the photographs you want?”
The answer was simply: ”No, I do not.”
I am a photographer, for God’s sake. But even I do not have all the photographs I want. I do not have any recent photographs of my Mother and myself. I want more photographs of my beautiful daughters, especially the kind that reveal how cherished and adored they are. I have no family photographs depicting my siblings and myself as grown ups with children of our own. I did finally take photos of my children and myself last fall, but I have not yet printed them or displayed them in my home. I need to get better at that!
There are many photographs I do not have of my grandmothers, and of my father. They are all are gone now. Those opportunities are gone as well.
This post is not meant to be depressing, but rather, to tell you that I am on a mission.
I am renewing my efforts to encourage all of you Moms and Dads to be photographed with your kids, no matter how bad your hair is, or that you don’t remember the last time you had a decent night’s sleep. I want to create beautiful, timeless images of your family that will be cherished for generations. I want to make it easier for you to get beautiful prints made of your photographs, that will actually end up on your wall, and not on your computer’s hard drive.
So be warned. I’m coming for your photos, and I will get them for you, despite your protests.
And you will be glad I did. :)
(PS. This is the photo of me and my own girls…I am promising myself to take my own advice and get it up on my wall as soon as possible! )
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