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The photographers’ tribe

The Photographers’ Tribe

We need the Photographers’ Tribe.  I LOVE photographers…..I mean, what’s not to love?  We are great 😉  But lately I’ve heard silly chatter about certain types of photographers being better than others types, or not good enough…what is this?   There are so many styles of photographers and so many clients who gravitate towards each style…..in other words there is a client for every photographer and every style.  Any wedding photographer has to excel (and on the fly) everything from documentary, portraiture, lifestyle, posed and more.  They cannot afford to think one style is better than another…..they must do it all and be great at it all….kudos to all you wedding photographers.  🙂 It doesn’t matter if you are taking beautiful backlit pictures in a gorgeous location or recording life exactly how it is occurring, it is all moving and art.  It is so effing scary to share art that shows who you are deep down inside…..our sport is vulnerability.   We need the safety to express and share.  We cannot be afraid to show our images because someone might not appreciate or see our art.  As artists, we should welcome all the ways of expressing it.     Choose the style or styles that fuel you but never, never think you are better than any other photographer.  We are all in this together…..for real.   I am forever inspired by other photographers….some way better than me and some just begininning – you can be inspired in so many places, but not if you’re feeling that your style is the only way or the best way.

There is a saying, that comparison is the thief of joy…and I believe that so wholeheartedly. We are a group who finds beauty in the mundane, who are constantly seeking beauty, looking for images that feed our creativity and make our hearts sing…..how amazing that there are so many of us that express ourselves in this  unique and beautiful way.  We are a tribe, lets act like one.  Lets train ourselves to be positive, kind and encouraging.  Our art is ourselves in the most vulnerable way…please do not make it scarier for us to express ourselves.  Tell a fellow photographer how gorgeous an image is….even if it is different from what makes your heart sing……it made that photographer feel something, see something and brave enough to share it with the world.  So love that, encourage that and be the photographer who loves art , regardless if it is how you would create it.

Lets celebrate the differences in our business, lets celebrate each other, lets celebrate art and vulnerability, lets be there for one another and keep this industry strong.  If the water in the harbour rises, so do all the boats.  We are stronger together in every diverse way.

 

Thanks.

Sarah

 

 

Here are a few images that speak to me…..west van city photographer

Backlit family photography vancouverengagement-2 16-boudoir-sjp_0104 16-kidsinalley_0039 web14-muskokaliz-sjp_0100Ambleside Isla dancing Porteau Cove pictures

 

West Van Photographer

 

and here is a selfie – ha!  This is how I  usually look…..smeary make up and tired eyes…..I thought it made sense to post this picture in a post about accepting and vulnerability.

Me the photographer