dsmPhotoCompany

My photography, my heart, my life – would be nothing.

A little dramatic?  It should be.

My lovely wife turns a year older tomorrow and as we gather a few friends to celebrate, I find many of them are friends we’ve made along our journey in photography.  Colleagues, mentors, peers and clients.  One is even coming from hours away to celebrate and we have the pleasure of a portrait play-day this weekend.

Megan and I celebrated our anniversary last week as well.  We didn’t go crazy because in that same week we had 3 image premiers, a senior portrait consultation and lots of image processing and marketing to work on.  So while I made sure to carve out that evening for just her, I also note she sacrifices so much to be a part of something I love.

And she is growing to love creating art for our clients as well, her eyes lit up when we told her about the latest idea we concocted for one of our seniors…she loves to get wild-n-crazy with the hair and she will have full reign with this one.

I can’t help but think, what would this journey be without her?  Perhaps I could be more selfish and dedicate more time to my portraits.  But what would they look like?  Would I have found the perfect field 2 years ago for a senior who wanted to wear her prom dress in a field?  Could I have gotten the perfect smile from an aspiring male model when he was unsure and stiff?

Would I look at the work I created with the same passion and desire to do better?  Would I even value it the same?

I am completely lost in a love affair with photography.  I eat, sleep and breath it on every day that ends in “y”.  But I couldn’t do it without her, the one true love I have above all others.  She lights up a session with just a smile,  a funny comment or sneaking away with my camera to snap a quirky outtake.  Our clients not only respect her work as a stylist, but enjoy her ideas and interacting with her.

No, I couldn’t do this or love in the same way without her, and not just behind me, but right next to me.

Thank you, Megan – for understanding this passion I have and sharing in it.  Happy birthday and I love you!

Photography derives from the Greek word ‘fos’ – meaning light and ‘grafo’ – to write. The write part is especially curious as there isn’t writing involved in taking a portrait – today that is. In the 16th century however, a camera obscura box was used for drawing images, allowing light to project an image through a box onto a screen to be traced. Today, Webster defines photography as the art or process of producing images by the action of radiant energy and especially light on a sensitive surface. Not only are people not tracing to create portraits today, most are not even using film – but instead favoring digital technology to capture still live.

I firmly believe there is art involved in almost every photograph, the perspective, meaning and level of art that goes into each portrait is what makes it special – and unique. What one person may see as just a pretty picture of a 3 year old girl eating her first ice cream cone may mean something different to that little girls dad. Or her 87 year old grandma that may not get to see many more ice cream cones melt in that girl’s hands.

Every portrait created is a moment in time that for all intents can’t be replicated. Sure, we can try to achieve a similar result and duplicate it, but it will never been the same as the original. And a unique moment in time especially rings true for a bride to be, as she walks down the isle toward her new life and partnership. Or later when they share a frosting-covered kiss as their family cheers/laughs in excitement. These moments are special and skilled photographers have been capturing them for hundreds of years.

I have been fortunate to be a part of some very special moments recently. My 2nd godson’s first portraits. A loving couple’s editorial engagement art. A delightful senior with a natural beauty that belongs in front of a fantastic sunset. And of course our kid day event where we got to meet and photograph so many new little faces. Without the art of photography, I wouldn’t get to meet these wonderful people and share in their lives. It’s a delightful privilege and I not only thank them – but also tip my hat to the generations of portrait artists that have come before me and the ones from today I am inspired by. Who inspires me most? My business partner, and friend, Brian. But that’s another blog for another day!

For some icing on my cake, today we received this note from a model, we created his portfolio last fall/winter…

Jeremy! My guy, hows it going? I’m sure business is still great with you and Brian! I just wanted to write and see how you guys were doing and say thanks! I feel like you guys did so much to help me launch my career and man IS IT MOVING FAST! I cant believe how fast things are just falling in place and every time I show people my card they say WHO SHOT THESES! So big big kudos to you and Brian, anywho, talk to you later—jordan

Yeah, this thing called photography pretty much rocks.

Off to St. Louis today to shoot a salon grand opening, everyone have a great weekend!