Motivation

There seems to be some reoccurring themes in a lot of the professional photo blogs I read. One main theme among the industry newbies and veterans is how social networking (i.e. blogs, Facebook, Twittter) has lead to a flood of so-called Rock Star Photographers. Of which I am not. These are the people who charge substantial fees for workshops yet may not have the years of experience to back of their costly expertise. The other hot topic is how the prevalence of digital SLR cameras (a la mine) have lead to a flood of amateurs on the market who charge too little for their services. In particular, I came across this article from the New York Times this evening.

I am an amateur photographer who charges a nominal fee for my services. I wonder if this means I am part of the problem. And if it's an actual problem or just an industry that is choosing to get up in arms over a perceived threat. Either way, I'm not sure what to make of it. The backlash and criticisms on blogs and forums relating to these topics is enough to make me think I'd be crazy to try and enter this field. And I really don't know if photography is something I could do or would even want to do as a full-time gig.

The one thing I know is I love taking photos. And I'm willing to give up most of my non-working hours during the week editing photos, even if it is for a nominal fee. Nothing makes me feel better than being able to hand over an image to someone that I just know they'll hang on there wall and treasure for years to come. Images like those below are enough to make me know that even if I never charge another dime for my photos, I'll still keep taking them.