“Change is inevitable, growth is optional” (John C. Maxwell)
Throughout life, we all experience a multitude of changes, whether we desire alterations to our life or not. These modifications to our lives do not always have to be negative as long as we continue to see the positivity we desire. As photographers, we thrive on capturing change in one’s life. These changes can be various events, from momentous occasions such as a wedding or your kids’ birth down to what seems minuscule such as your kid going into the 4th grade. All these big or small changes still require alterations in our life. Capturing these memories with a photographer you trust can help immortalize these moments and appreciate them for what they always will be, growth. No matter what we think is monumental or minuscule, everyone oversees each bit of change differently. However, no doubt all the alterations that occur also create growth if allowed.
Throughout life, we all experience a multitude of changes, whether we desire alterations to our life or not. These modifications to our lives do not always have to be negative as long as we continue to see the positivity we desire. As photographers, we thrive on capturing change in one’s life. These changes can be various events, from momentous occasions such as a wedding or your kids’ birth down to what seems minuscule such as your kid going into the 4th grade. All these big or small changes still require alterations in our life. Capturing these memories with a photographer you trust can help immortalize these moments and appreciate them for what they always will be, growth. No matter what we think is monumental or minuscule, everyone oversees each bit of change differently. However, no doubt all the alterations that occur also create growth if allowed.
All of us have experienced varying amounts of change in our lives. When my first daughter was born, the shift it created in my life was immense. I had to absorb and understand a lot of information to feel comfortable that I was doing the right stuff. That might be the most challenging piece I would have to conquer. Then my life changed again when we had our second daughter. Again I had to choose to grow and learn more so that I could be the parent I so deeply desired to become. I always wanted to be the best I could for my daughters, so I researched everything possible. I thought I had it under control, but soon my firstborn will enter school, and a new wave of alterations will come over me. Just as before, I will choose to grow with these changes, just like so many people do every day. However, being able to go back in time and watch my family’s growth through the photos taken, whether with another photographer or just by myself, I better appreciate the journey and see the growth as clear as a midsummer sky.
To wrap it up, I may be biased as a photographer. Still, the importance of photos of my children and my family will always be priceless to me. They’re not only beautiful in the moment and capture the essence of my children in a still frame at that point in time. They also create a timeline I can look back on to see all the change and growth that has occurred over the years. I know first-hand professional photographs can be pricey, but only if they are seen for the value they offer at the moment rather than the memory.
My wife and I went to school to become photographers to help people see the growth they experience through change. Photography is essential in keeping a record of time as it passes so quickly. Photography is a passion of ours because of the possibilities it holds. Watching people go through some of their most significant moments and having the honor to share and capture them with our clients is gratifying. All of the events in your life create growth, and we are beyond thankful to our current clients as well as future clientele for allowing us to share such special occasions with them.
Finding a photographer you trust can be a complex process. Anyone and everyone can purchase an expensive camera and claim to be a photographer. Especially with new cameras and editing capabilities, you may think you had hired a “professional” when you just hired an amateur who knows how to market well. My wife and I went to the Seattle Art Institute to acquire degrees in photography. Through that process, our portfolios were curated by trusted professionals in the commercial world. Our teachers were hired by many businesses, from big businesses like Bank of America or Brooks Running to just small clothing brands. Overall, all were highly sought after for their ability. I’m not claiming we are the best match for anyone. That is purely up to the client to decide, but I can offer some things to look for when searching.
Some stuff to consider when searching is the pricing. I would never advise shopping outside the budget because no matter the outcome of the shoot, the financial stress you will face will always put a bad taste in your mouth. Another piece of information to look for is not necessarily how long someone has been shooting but if they have had their portfolio peer-reviewed by other professional photographers. Many enthusiasts picked up photography as a side hustle a few years back and then continued as full-time. However, they have never pursued conferences or peer reviews to improve their portfolio and field understanding. The second to last piece to look for is the age of your photographer. Since you want to be able to communicate and understand each other, age can hinder that.
We always want our clients to be as comfortable as possible and even will occasionally have coffee with clients to chat about stuff or change that has happened in their lives. We see our relationships with our clients as an extension of our business and want to relate to them as much as possible because then we understand what photos they desire. The last piece of advice is to try to have a sit-down conversation with your desired photographer to talk about what you want from a session and to pick their brain about the subject. If they seem unknowledgeable, then they are. At college, my wife and I learned all the ends and outs of photography, even shooting and trying to capture where photography started with a pinhole camera. All photographers should offer a free consultation to chat, get to know them more, and decide whether it’s a good fit. Something different we offer and something to consider is a no questions asked photoshoot to try us out. You will have the opportunity to purchase desirable images, but if you don’t like us, you can move on at no cost. We want to show people what a good photograph and photographer look like. As always, my wife and I believe everyone should have access to professional photographs, no matter their budget. Even if we are out of your price range, we would love to chat and recommend another that might fit better.
Comments +