WHY SHOULD I HIRE A PHOTOGRAPHER?
Camera phones are stellar, pro-level cameras are easy to get, and AI can generate a photo of you on a Hawaiian beach in seconds. It's easier than ever these days to get good photos of yourself, quickly, so it's totally understandable that demand for and of photographers would be changing. Aside from some of the more classic situations like weddings, I'm hearing more and more that people are opting for using the cameras on their phones to capture life's milestones instead of hiring a photographer. But I think photographers offer something irreplaceable in the creation of your portrait photos: they allow you to enjoy the moment, which results in photos you would never be able to take yourself (or have AI create for you).
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT LOOKING GOOD
Especially since I've been meeting so many people at local markets this summer, I've heard a wide variety of concerns from people about the reasons why they are not interested in booking a photo session with a photographer. I've heard everything from "I don't have any big events coming up" to "I don't think I look good in photos" to "I've got a selfie on my phone that works just fine" (yes, in those exact words!). In all honesty, I understand a lot of the concerns I hear because I used to have them too. (If you're interested in learning more about my origin story as a photographer, give this blog post a quick read!)
In response to every concern, I would simply say that I don't think photography is as simple as just dressing up and looking good—at least, not anymore. Photos of you aren't just meant to capture you "looking your best" (whatever that means to you). They're meant to freeze time and bottle a memory.
As a photographer, my goal is to capture the moments that represent the real you and your very real connections with the people around you. I want you to stop and smile in front of a photo I took as it hangs in your hallway, simply because it reminds you of the feelings of your blossoming romance with your significant other. I want to give you the photos that spark conversations, with the whole family browsing these photos together while you share stories about the people in them. I want to create galleries that bring up warm, fuzzy memories and bring happy tears to your eyes years down the road, as you reminisce about the days when your kids had just started learning to walk.
I'm talking about the kinds of photos you want to print and save in an album or photo book, the kinds of portraits you want to frame, and the kinds of pictures you want to include in a slideshow. Photos that bring back real, powerful memories.
Can AI or a selfie do that?
REAL MOMENTS ARE PRICELESS
I won't deny that new tools for creating photos have their place somewhere in our lives—I also love a good selfie every now and then—but the art of creating portraits goes back centuries for a reason, and I don't think photography as a profession is going away any time soon (knock on wood).
However, with these new tools and technology, I do also think that the art of portrait photography is changing, and what photographers are offering as a service is changing too. Yes, I am providing you with polished photographs that depict everyone with a reasonable degree of artistry, but I'm also now providing you with an opportunity to share a real moment with people you care about. When you book a photo session with a photographer like me, you're not only getting great photos, you're making memories too. That memory is just as important to me as the final result of your finished photos.
Photography trends seem to be moving away from studio settings, smile-and-look-at-the-camera poses, and flash lighting. More and more, people are seeing the magic of authentic portrait photography, with photos being taken at a relaxed pace with natural lighting in a comfortable setting (sometimes at home!), and with an easy flow that blurs the line between photo session and memory-making moment. Photos with your spouse can now also be a special date night, and family photos can also be a fun family day activity. And I think that's really rad!
