I have an amazing group of photography friends, some of them I’ve met in person and others I’ve not, YET! But I know one thing, when I need advise, help and even criticism, I know where to go and I expect to get it. They also know that they can expect the same from me.

We’re friends and I can’t agree more with Skip Cohen and a recent blog that he posted about our community. Friendships are the things that make us tick. Here is the LINK to Skip’s recent blog on Friends, I hope you take a moment to read it.

After reading Skips post I started to reflect on a couple things I’ve been hearing in my neck of the community. Things that have been unsettling to me and frustrating to say the least.

One of those things I’ve heard is other photographers, generally younger photographers telling prospective clients “I can do it cheaper then them” Them of course is in reference to another photographer, probably someone they shake hands with and a call a friend, maybe someone in their own venue.

When I first heard this it upset me. I wanted to do my own kind of confronting but really, where would have that gotten me. So I’ve decided to sit back and just watch, and listen. Last week I saw a young lady purpose she can do it cheaper through a client on Facebook, and it made me think. It’s okay to think we are better, it’s okay to challenge ourselves but in honesty isn’t what we want to offer our client something better, not cheaper? What are we saying about ourselves when we say “hey, look at me.. I’ll do it cheaper”.

What is our purpose in this industry, if all we want to do is get more people… cheaper then anyone else?

My daughter and I were talking last week about the big power ball jackpot, we didn’t even play but we were reflecting on what if we did. I’d quit my job, I’d travel, I’d buy a house, a car, I’d set so and so up in business, I’d have this or that… and I thought. I’d keep shooting. My daughter stopped and said “you would” I paused and thought “YES, I would, it’s my passion, it’s not about the money, I love to create, to create memories for people. I’d keep shooting!

After that, I heard another young photographer state that we “professional” photographers do it for the money and we need money to make money. I shook my head again. What has become of our industry?

Do I need money to survive? I sure do, as much as anyone else, but I’m not about to cut throat my neighbor photographer to get it and it’s not what I’m all about.

We don’t always get along, we can look at many an example for that, but our industry requires and needs us to.

I’m not going to cheapen myself or my industry, I’ve worked hard and long to get where I am. I won’t do it cheaper then you and I’m not all about the money. I did not pick up a camera one day and take a few pretty pictures and call myself a professional. I worked up the ladder, actually blew off the word professional for 2 years.

I’m an artist, a creater, and a giver. I give back to my clients and to the industry that has supported me through ups and downs. I’m proud to say I am a profession, not because I take pretty pictures, but because I carry myself in a professional manner in all that I do and when I carry my camera I’m part of a much bigger picture then just me, myself and I. I represent so much more and I know it.

So when you carry that camera, stop thinking of who you are and think of what this Industry is and who it represents, think of the great names that represent photography by their art hanging in the halls of amazing places and in the homes of families and people who trust us to be as professional with our work as we are with our persons!