"Photography is Dead" and other stupid things people say

[Read Time < 5 minutes]

I stumbled on a video this morning that got me pretty enraged.

"Photography is Dead" was the headline, and yes, my first thought was the same as yours - Clickbait. But this one was surprisingly short for a YouTube video, so I checked it out.

I’ve seen this before and read a few articles on this “topic.” They usually rant about how photography has changed because of technology, and now everyone can be a photographer.

The bottom line on many of these takes is that photography is NOT dead, but you do have to embrace the change and move with it (well-played, clickbait).

I know, this doesn't inspire me, either, but the sentiment, though certainly hooked with the clickbaity title, was good - if you want to BE an artist, you'll have to work harder. I approve of that tough-love approach.

But the message in this video was different. It was…depressing, and that made me more than a little concerned about you, the aspiring photographer, who wants to create a business in wedding photography.

What would you think if you saw this video?

I don't want to give the photographer's name because I simply don't want to anoint him with any publicity on the issue.

His take was NOT a rant (which I don’t mind), but rather a whine (which I loathe).

"The industry of photography is dead" is narrow-minded and harmful.

If you're an aspiring photographer or a photographer who wants to turn your hobby into a career, and you hear something doom and gloom like this, you might question your choices. Resist.

Let's be realistic. You're about to embark on a journey of education and inspiration. You're about to spend a good deal of money on necessary gear to fund your creative business venture.

What do you mean "Photography is dead?"

We're all doing our best to find joy in our lives.

Creativity is something that is both personal and public. We like to share, so we do. We've been sharing photography for about 200 years (a French guy invented photography in 1822, btw).

When big things happen in our lives, we, the photographers of the world, want to capture those moments with images. We want to preserve them and bring them back at another time to relive the moments and FEEL what we felt when they originally happened.

Photography can do that.

As a wedding photographer who wants to inspire others to go into wedding photography and make it a business, my opinion on the mortality of photography is, of course biased...but it's correct, and you have every right to have your own wrong opinion.

When a big thing happens, like a wedding, people want it preserved forever. They want it so badly that they will happily pay someone with advanced photography skills good money to take the photos FOR them.

Why?

Because they want this event remembered, and they don't trust themselves or some rando with a smartphone to get the good stuff that will last forever.

This is why professional wedding photographers are STILL in demand.

Professional photography is not dead.

This video from a well-spoken and seemingly frustrated photographer is NOT the whining advice you should be listening to.

He admits that he has not made a living from his photography, but it has been a profitable hobby. That part gets glossed over too quickly for my liking.

Not everyone will make a living at their photography and that's fine. My warning is to be careful who you take advice from.

This photographer's storied career has been that of an advanced amateur who has NOT made a living as a photographer.

His perspective is different regarding the craft of photography as opposed to one of a PROFESSIONAL.

Look, I understand the current landscape. Photography used to be hard. It was a craft that few people mastered (relatively speaking). Thanks to technology, many more people have access to it, and the learning curve is much lower. Digital cameras have made it SO much easier, and now the "art" of photography has transferred from the once exclusive craftsman to the average Joe with a cellphone.

Life can be tough like that.

He argues that no one can see your work anymore because it's too crowded out there (referring to social media). This is thin...really thin.

When you're shooting as a professional photographer, your client is who you're shooting for. As a wedding photographer, your client is your bride and groom.

Wedding photography is arguably one of the greatest ways to translate your creative skills into a business.

I take that statement very seriously.

I started as an amateur, like every photographer did. I worked and studied and listened and studied and shot and shot some more and worked to make my photography MY business.

Could I have given up when it was hard? Yup.

Did I sacrifice by working a "day job" and then working on my photography business on the side? You bet.

And that's the biggest thing I want to get across in this newsletter.

You CAN become a wedding photographer.

It'll take work. You'll have competition, and yes, everyone with a camera might look like your competition, but you CAN do this.

I teach the "inner game of photography" because that's the thing that freaks people out the most - the unknown. I choose not to teach you how to use your camera. There are a million people who can teach you that.

I want you to take the photography skills, blend them with interpersonal skills, add in your organizational skills and marry everything up with the inner game I teach to create a successful business in wedding photography.

I want you to treat your photography skills as a gift that you get to share with your clients.

Look, business is still business, and art is still art, but your ability to do something you love and make a living with it is NOT dependent on social media or how many "views" you're getting.

Your job is about pleasing your clients, improving your craft, and running your operation with integrity and excellence.

That is what a successful business looks like.

PS,

Photography is NOT dead! Far from it!

Is there another area you’re currently challenged with and want to know more about? Are you interested in becoming a wedding photographer but don’t know where to start?

Feel free to reach out. You can add a comment below or shoot me an email at [email protected]