Dear Photographer,
What will you choose to do with the power you hold?
Why do you stand in front of strangers & loved ones and make a record of their existence?
Why do you feel compelled to keep doing it?
Really, why?
Have you forgotten?
Do you know but yet, feel like you haven’t been able to truly make the work that’s on your heart?
The power is yours. Now.
There is no need to wait.
There is no technique you must learn first.
There isn’t a standard you must meet.
Your vision is enough.
YOU are enough.
Do you fear creating something that doesn’t meet an expectation?
But what is the value in giving someone something they expect?
Where is the magic in being shown something you expected to see?
Where is the power?
The power is in YOU.
Every moment of your life. Every feeling. Every insight. Every ounce of wisdom you have accumulated throughout your life is channeled through you when you put your camera to your face and choose to put a moment in that little tiny square and use the shutter to say “This.”
This moment is a universe to explore and treasure and see.
Taking that photograph is an act of love for whoever is in front of your lens, whoever cares about whoever is in front of your lens, and whoever in the whole entire universe sees that photograph of complete strangers and is moved. Forever changed.
And it is also a gift for you.
A self expression. A self discovery. A way to witness yourself by seeing what you create when you cannot use the limitation of words.
A representation of your beliefs. Your values. Your heart.
You can’t possibly ever understand the ripple effect of the work you create– it goes on and on and on and spreads far and wide and deep.
So what is it you want to be saying with that power?
What will you choose to do with that influence?
What do you want to give to the world?
What will be your legacy?
You hold immense power in choosing.
- Do you want to be the photographer who has the most in focus photographs?
- The one who had the least amount of grain?
- The one that was the most efficient?
- The one that always got everyone looking at the camera at once?
- The one that hides people’s “imperfections”?
Or
- Do you want to be the photographer who showed people their truth?
- The one that prioritized the feeling of a moment over technical constraints?
- The one that gave everyone permission to just be- without the need to perform?
- The one that saw what was truly happening, even when no one was looking?
- The one who showed them that they are enough and perfect as they are?
You have the power to remind people of the very point of existence, and the gift of reminding yourself of the same.
As soon as you stop being so concerned about being a “good photographer”,
you are free.
You are present.
You are able to see.
Not look for what is expected- but to see the beauty and imaginable power of what IS.
You are giving someone a gift that will expand in value exponentially forever and ever and ever.
So what do you choose?
Will you cast aside your vision for the sake of keeping up with what you think is expected?
Or will you honor the completely unique, loving, one in an infinite bajillion vision you and only you hold?
Will you show them through your visual love language that they are enough?
Will you help them see the importance in their present moment?
Will you help comfort and heal?
Undoubtedly, whatever you choose- you will be giving yourself the same gift.
The pictures we take are evidence of what we choose to see.
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