i saw something online the other day that made me realize that many people don't quite understand what it is that makes us professional photographers. whether it be a lack of educating our clients on our part, or simply misunderstanding, i wanted to put it into perspective for those who might not understand the difference between a professional photographer and an amateur.
the post that i saw was something along these lines:
person one: 'does anyone know where i can get really cheap pictures?'
person two: 'just go to the photography department at school! their cameras are just as good or better than photographers' cameras.'
what stunned me the most was that this person thought that it is the camera that makes the photographer. which couldn't be farther from the truth. the camera itself is merely a tool - nothing more.
take these instances, for example:
let's say i go out and buy a $75,000 custom-made guitar. this guitar has all the bells and whistles that any musician would drool over. i strum until it sounds pretty good. does this make me as good as carlos santana or jimi hendrix?
take my friend gary box. he has a rockin' pair of green scrubs that he likes to hang out in for comfort, and darn if he doesn't LOOK like a doctor. he is also really interested in surgery and got a scalpel for Christmas. he reads books about surgery on the weekends. does this make him a doctor? or even a hobbyist doctor?
if i purchase emeril's cookware, does that mean i'm going to be a famous chef?
if i want a great steak, i have a choice. i can either go to outback or i can go to morton's of chicago. both are beef, from the same source, doesn't that make them the same?
what many people fail to realize is the amount of education and time that go into creating a professional photographer. a true photographer can create a phenomenal image with almost any camera. but putting a professional camera into the hands of the untrained, does not create a photographer necessarily. there is so much more to our craft - the mastery of light (professional photography is often referred to as 'painting with light'), creating depth, expressing emotion and feeling, the art of posing, and the cultivated eye of the artist, just to name a few things.
there is much, much more to the distinction, but i wanted to introduce you to the generality of the professional, and why it is we do what we do. we are committed to ongoing education and mastery of our craft and our skills. we do not rely on any features of our camera to do the work for us, rather we put the camera to use as our own tool in creating the final work of art.
if anyone wants to talk more about this, you're more than welcome to email me anytime at info@3girlsphotography.com. photography is one of my favorite subjects on the planet, and i'm always looking to educate and share knowledge!
til next time...
peace and popsicles -
jen :-)
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