today’s post was inspired by an article written on this very topic, by professional photographer Andrea Joki. Here is an excerpt:

“…One phrase I hear a lot is, “it only costs 10c to make a print – so why do you charge so much?” And if the value of the image was only the print paper cost itself, that would be a valid question. But then again, a lawyer makes several thousands and all they produce is paper worth less then a penny. So why do we pay lawyers upwards of 100 euros an hour?

The easy answer is that an experienced photographer – one who has spent years studying the craft, honing skills, and perfecting style, is going to give you a much better image than the beginner who is simply clicking a shutter button.

…One thing I really find interesting is that people will buy… all manner of luxury goods that have maybe a 1-2 year lifespan. But when it comes to professional portraits, which will last a lifetime, they base the decision purely on price. I’m not sure at what point children and family become less important than a fancy purse. But I can tell you that those who purchased high quality portraits have a beautiful reminder of a time that has past – and those portraits are still hanging or displayed while the (designer) purse has long since been thrown away.

…Choosing the best you can afford will always be the best advice given to anyone looking for quality professional portraits. As with anything hand-made and requiring an artistic eye, those who produce quality work will charge more – it compensates for the amount of time they have spent learning and perfecting their art.”

read the whole article here

and along those lines, here is an entertaining skit which highlights this issue from a different point of view

your pet’s photo session will be held at your home, in a relaxed and familiar environment. time will be taken to gain their trust and ensure they are comfortable with the intrusion into their space, in order to have them behaving just how they do for you, looking alert and happy!

i am so grateful that i had the foresight to capture my own gorgeous rescued wild-born kitten miffy (above) before she became terminally ill and had to be put to sleep at just one year of age. We still miss her but having such a beautiful photo is a great comfort – and seeing her little pink tongue always poking out brings back lots of fun memories!

Your beloved pets are with you for such a short time – don’t miss your chance to remember them for ever with beautiful and heartwarming portraits from available light ltd. Contact us today to arrange your booking!

but what if we never make it? if we never attain whatever unrealistic pinnacle we have set the bar at? should we hide from the camera for ever?

no matter what we believe we look like, how our hair is behaving, what our skin is doing, how much or little we weigh, whether we’re healthy and fit or suffering from illness, injury or the effects of age – we are all works in progress, so let’s get rid of this unhealthy desire for wax-doll static perfection and honour the living moments of our journey, whatever that looks like.

this thought-provoking post by debsphotographs.com prompted me to write today’s note – and encourage you all to get in front of the camera for a change: whether that’s your own camera at home, your friends’ cameras, or even hiring a professional to help you celebrate your family’s life just as it is right now – don’t hide anymore, share yourself generously with the future and celebrate YOU today!

“hello – may i please use your phone? my car broke down on the motorway, i’ve been walking for about 20 minutes…”

that’s kinda how life goes, isn’t it? if i may borrow a line: “no one expects the spanish inquisition.”

i’m certain that if this woman had any inkling that her car might break down after dropping her son off at work that morning, she would probably have taken the time to shower, do her hair, dress in warm clothes, and wear shoes suitable for walking a couple of kilometres (in full view of hundreds of rush-hour commuters). but, she didn’t. she took her car for granted and trusted it to keep her state of undress a secret; which is actually pretty shaky ground, because it’s doubtful the car was even aware of its extra responsibility that day.

however, i’m just as certain that from that day forward, her morning routine grew to include “get dressed, take hair out of rollers”… just in case. and why am i so certain? because from that day to this i have never left the house myself without making sure that i won’t look like an escaped mental patient if i have to get out of my own car. i just remember that beyond-embarassed look on her hair-rollered face and her wet muddy slippers below her nightdress, and suddenly find extra motivation to get ready properly.

so i just want to take the time to say thank you, anonymous 1980s doorstep lady, for that vivid and compelling demonstration – you probably saved me from a similar fate!

in other news lol, here’s a totally unrelated photo from last weekend

this powerful and heartwrenching new zealand-made documentary has won several awards already; if you get the chance, you should see it.

website & background information here

here’s an experimental pinhole photo i took a couple of years ago, using my homemade pinhole ‘lens’ (a pierced DSLR body cap). if you want to know how to make your own, leave a comment

“what you see is what you get”; one of denise’s favourite sayings about herself – and that’s a philosophy i have a lot of time for. there’s something so refreshing about spending time with them – not only their straightforwardness, but their cheeky sense of fun and appreciation for simple things. i am thankful to count them among my truest friends. we miss you guys… come back again soon!

ps… the lyrics reference in the title of this post was intended!

in my experience the principal’s influence can make or break a school over time – and john’s school has benefited hugely from having a man of his talents and passion for education at the helm. he’s one of those ‘hands-on’ proactive headmasters: meeting kids at the drop-off zone in the mornings, playing sports on the field at lunchtime, supervising the road crossing in the rain, dressing as various characters or getting dunked underwater to raise funds for the school – even coming in on the weekend to help weed the grounds! yet he commands the respect of the students and is well liked by the staff and parents – no mean feat!

but most of all: our family is honoured to call him our friend thanks for the opportunity to shoot your portrait john!

Quit trying to find beautiful objects to photograph. Find the ordinary objects so you can transform it by photographing it. (Morley Baer)

Photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place. I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them. (Elliot Erwitt)

Don’t fight Mother Nature – When out photographing, I have always found working with the prevailing conditions to be a far better idea than stubbornly resisting what is going on around me. (Howard Grill)