Yep, I photograph weddings!

There are a lot of photographers out there who LOVE to bad mouth wedding shooters. They go to school for 2 or 3 or 10 years learning all about how to be an "Artist" or a "Photojournalist" and any thought of shooting anything other than a Geographic or Wired or Rolling Stone cover is WAY, WAY beneath them...leave that to the photographic wannabees! The uneducated. The uninspired posers.

I just can't seem to get my mind around that concept. I can't relate.

I think a lot of "What" anyone does in life and "How" they do it is 100% related to the reasons "Why" they do it. Simplistic, I know, but really, think about it. If my goal as a photographer is to be known as an "Artist", how will that effect the "How" I work. If I want to be known as a "Sports" photographer, how will that effect the "How" I work.

For example, if my "Why" is because I want money, that shapes my feelings completely about the task at hand. The goal is $$, so once I have the old money in hand I'm a happy camper. Now that's not saying that I don't want money or making money shouldn't be a part of it, but if money IS the goal...well, a lot of things can be left along the wayside to get to that goal.

If my "Why" is to be known as an "Artist", I'm again getting more into the selfish territory of things IMHO. I'm wanting recognition, wanting the glory. Again, not saying that being an Artist isn't part of the equation, but if glory or a title is the goal...once again, a lot of things can be overlooked along the way.

So what in the wide world of sports does this have to do with wedding photography and labels and elitism and, and, and.

Well I guess it's about what I'm discovering is my "Why". The what it is that makes me such an obsessive, annoying photographic nut right now.

My "Why" is because I have to. I have to shoot something or I start getting a major case of the heebie jeebies! I just don't see myself ever saying, "Sorry, I don't shoot that type of photography!", because if I don't have something else I have to shoot I'll be there, giving it my very best. I have to. And if along the way someone wants to call me an artist or a wedding shooter or a photojournalist or a pornographer (lol) or whatever titles are floating around out there, hey, I'm fine with that. But I'll always know my real title is just "photographer".

Because I have to...

Jeffrey