For Love not Money
A rare post by our resident artiste...
Sooner or later all photographers go through a stage where they ask themselves what they want to do with their photography. What is their purpose? Why are they doing it? Over the last few months I have been thinking about these questions.
As you can imagine life is pretty full right now, and I have therefore decided that my photography should be about having fun and shooting what I want to shoot. I have been looking at the various aspects of photography and trying to decide what I really want to do. As with all things, sometimes it is easier to start with things you don't want to do and by a process of elimination deduce the things you do want to do!
So to this end I have decided that I won’t shoot any more private commissions. In fact, no paid work whatsoever. There are several reasons for this:
1. When I started my photography I was taken in by the view, which is often projected by the popular photography forums, that to be considered a good photographer your work must be such that people will pay you for it. Photographers who shoot to show or sell prints but have another day job are often portrayed as GWC's who are not doing it for the right reasons, and that the only valid reason to take photographs should be for payment. Only then will you be considered to have “made it” as a successful photographer. So I set out to be good enough to be paid, and then after I was paid, I realised that this was probably the worst reason to take a photograph. Photography should be an art, and art by its nature is seldom created on demand.
2. I don't get a lot of free time, so when I do shoot I want it to be for me.
3. I want to actually show the pictures I take. Private commissions are by their very nature private. I want to show my pictures on the blog and elsewhere, so these goals are mutually incompatible.
4. I want to shoot what I want to shoot. Most private commissions are about shooting what the client wants. At that point it stops being for pleasure and becomes a job, and I certainly don’t want another one of those.
So, I will sell prints, I will shoot for friends, but I won't shoot for money.
Stephen Haynes mentioned the term “dilettante.” I like this term as it represents the aspects of art that are free from commercial constraints. It is important to remember that until recent history, those who furthered the arts and sciences did not do so for pay, they were often wealthy and were only interested in their own amusement and education.
dilettante \DIL-uh-tont; dil-uh-TONT; dil-uh-TON-tee; -TANT; -TAN-tee\, noun:
1. An amateur or dabbler; especially, one who follows an art or a branch of knowledge sporadically, superficially, or for amusement only.
2. An admirer or lover of the fine arts.
That's me. Not that I’m wealthy of course, I’m not, but I do want to create art for no other reason than I love it. I will take photographs and create CGI art for no other reason than fun!
So if you would like a portfolio of beautiful photographs for free, then I'm your man, providing you don't mind me showing them on the blog! Oh, and coffee is good, I can be bribed for good coffee (is that TFC?)
Please note that this offer is subject to availability and no guarantee or warranty is implied. All offers carry the dilettante quality seal.
Pirate Maiden.
Sooner or later all photographers go through a stage where they ask themselves what they want to do with their photography. What is their purpose? Why are they doing it? Over the last few months I have been thinking about these questions.
As you can imagine life is pretty full right now, and I have therefore decided that my photography should be about having fun and shooting what I want to shoot. I have been looking at the various aspects of photography and trying to decide what I really want to do. As with all things, sometimes it is easier to start with things you don't want to do and by a process of elimination deduce the things you do want to do!
So to this end I have decided that I won’t shoot any more private commissions. In fact, no paid work whatsoever. There are several reasons for this:
1. When I started my photography I was taken in by the view, which is often projected by the popular photography forums, that to be considered a good photographer your work must be such that people will pay you for it. Photographers who shoot to show or sell prints but have another day job are often portrayed as GWC's who are not doing it for the right reasons, and that the only valid reason to take photographs should be for payment. Only then will you be considered to have “made it” as a successful photographer. So I set out to be good enough to be paid, and then after I was paid, I realised that this was probably the worst reason to take a photograph. Photography should be an art, and art by its nature is seldom created on demand.
2. I don't get a lot of free time, so when I do shoot I want it to be for me.
3. I want to actually show the pictures I take. Private commissions are by their very nature private. I want to show my pictures on the blog and elsewhere, so these goals are mutually incompatible.
4. I want to shoot what I want to shoot. Most private commissions are about shooting what the client wants. At that point it stops being for pleasure and becomes a job, and I certainly don’t want another one of those.
So, I will sell prints, I will shoot for friends, but I won't shoot for money.
Stephen Haynes mentioned the term “dilettante.” I like this term as it represents the aspects of art that are free from commercial constraints. It is important to remember that until recent history, those who furthered the arts and sciences did not do so for pay, they were often wealthy and were only interested in their own amusement and education.
dilettante \DIL-uh-tont; dil-uh-TONT; dil-uh-TON-tee; -TANT; -TAN-tee\, noun:
1. An amateur or dabbler; especially, one who follows an art or a branch of knowledge sporadically, superficially, or for amusement only.
2. An admirer or lover of the fine arts.
That's me. Not that I’m wealthy of course, I’m not, but I do want to create art for no other reason than I love it. I will take photographs and create CGI art for no other reason than fun!
So if you would like a portfolio of beautiful photographs for free, then I'm your man, providing you don't mind me showing them on the blog! Oh, and coffee is good, I can be bribed for good coffee (is that TFC?)
Please note that this offer is subject to availability and no guarantee or warranty is implied. All offers carry the dilettante quality seal.
Pirate Maiden.
Labels: day-job, Pirate Maiden, shooting
posted by Richard at 3:39 PM
9 Comments:
Vincent Versace recently said something similar, that he was no longer going to call himself a professional, but rather an amateur. His reasoning was basically that an amateur is someone who does it (it = photography in this case) for the love of it. That does NOT mean he's not going to get paid or take commissions however, it is his business after all - but also his passion.
The next time my wife and I are in England we may take you up on the TFC offer - if you are interested in shooting two ancients for the challenge of seeing if you can get anything decent (or indecent if you/Lin prefer) out of such a shoot.
I absolutely ADORE that image!
And I would do TFC with you ANY day of the week!! Of course, you have to fly me their, so.. I guess I'll be waiting a bit for that plane ticket!
Ah well! Someday!! :)
I couldn't agree more with your opinions on it all!
Hugs to you both,
~Lela
All TFC shoots very welcome :-)
(We do good coffee and cake! I promise!)
Bravo!!.. Couldnt have said it better myself.
bt
Fantastic Richard !
I totally concur.
This post made my day, I'm not weird after all......well maybe a little weird.
I read an article in the current Focus photography magazine about George Tice. Here is a little excerpt that may pertain to your thoughts.
"Now I'm on my 53rd year of being a photographer and I think the reason that keeps me at it with such ambition is because I really love my photographs." Other photographers he knows look at their photographs and all they can see is what they don't like about them. "I don't do that" he continues, "I love them. I have a big bulletin board downstairs and sometimes I pull a box of prints, kick back, have a drink and really get into my photography. I think learning to love your photographs is what's sustaining about my career."
Two things that struck me. "..and really get into my photography." and "..learning to love your photographs.."
I don't think many photographers learn to look at their past images to get into their art or learn to love their photographs. How many go back and sit and review their past images without self criticism. I think a lot of the blogs I visit they are looking to the next image. I think if a photographer gets into their images and learns to love them as George says. The purpose and whys are automatically answered.
D.L. Wood
I'm a lurker. A serious lurker. I just lurked all the way back here finally. I love your photographs. They're stunning. I like to look at them to clear my head- it's almost meditative. A completely sensory experience that removes the ego!
About this post: I don't really have the means to contribute anything but text-based appreciation for the sort of work you both do. I admire Lin's writing and Rich's photography, and the combination is complimentary- and charming.
I have always wanted to do nude photography (you know, like the things you gotta do before you die?) and so would pose for you, no problem, depending on where exactly you shoot them, but You've probably shot a grand number of slightly tattooed women in their early twenties, so I bet it'd be boring.
But, two cents and offer in.
Keep doing what you're both doing. It's enchanting.
Thanks for your kind words. Glad you like our little corner of the blogosphere...Rich would love to photograph you (of course). Each person is unique - for that reason, phpotography can never become boring. However we are in Norfolk, England, so there's a small problem of several thousand miles to consider. If you are ever in the UK, please let us know :-)
absolutely. I may be studying in England next semester or next fall. I'll keep in touch and let you know.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home