A touchy subject...

I've been marketing and marketing and marketing. Not really actively yet, but thinking, brainstorming and such. Trying to get the creative juices flowing and bouncing ideas off my silent partner, my hubby. He and I always come back to the idea that good enough is good enough for most people. They wouldn't want to pay for a CERTIFIED professional photographer to come and deliver HIGH END images of what ever they need. What I see is a need to educate. Educate our clients and end users on why we demand the prices we do. I hear from so many clients: "Ohhh, that's a little pricey...I'll just get my Aunt Edna to shoot the photos for me. She's got the exact same camera as you!" At this point I realize that I will not be getting the gig and that they will be happy with "good enough". So many of my colleagues say that we should not criticize other photographers (non-professionals) work. Why not? As professionals - or people who aspire to be - shouldn't we always welcome criticism? Truly, I'd prefer constructive criticism, but all criticism is a way to expand our vision and grow our talents. Let me back up. I am getting ahead of myself. 

I earned my Graphic Design degree back in 1984 - way before desktop computers & DTP. I worked for several production houses and several other printing firms. Honing my skills and talents, all the way. Suddenly, the desktop computer arrived and church secretaries were calling me up wanting training on Aldus Pagemaker and Adobe Illustrator. Suddenly, my freelance work was drying up. So many people thought that the way to great design started first with a personal computer and a program. I intended to wait it out. (I am still waiting.) 

Several years later I took a position with the Fortune 200 company (the one I just left) and so many people at that firm asked me: oh, you are so talented; how do you know what colors go together, how do you design for a presentation, how do you design a logo... I kept going back to a music analogy. I'd ask them, "Do you own a musical instrument?" They'd respond, "Sure!" It was at this point in the conversation that I'd ask them to write me a concerto. I'd go on to explain that while they had the means to listen to a nice piece of music and many of them owned pianos... not many of them could create something out of nothing. So many of them took it hard. But in reality, they were insulting me and the talents I brought to the table. (okay - call me Simon Cowl.) Its the same thing with visual arts. Drawing, painting, photography... you have to start with talent and inspiration. Inspiration compels you to learn more, to hone your craft, to learn your tools. Talent is the road. Talent tells you to do it one way over another. Your confidence tells you that its right. Skills without talent is empty. When I show up to an event, several people tell me "ohh, I have that camera!" or "oh - isn't that lens great? I have that one too!" What used to separate the pros from the "weekend warriors" were the tools we purchase. With so much disposable income in today's America, that difference has become invisible. Its the fact that we've honed our skills and talents to capture what ever moment is in front of us. Its our eye that we've developed over years of "SEEING" and looking for the light. Not everyone can do what I do. Because not everyone can see what I see. The main difference between a pro and an amateur? The pro.