In this day and age, it’s not a stretch to ask if people still care about great pictures. Smart phone cameras have improved exponentially over that last few years. The number of pictures that people take on a daily basis has grown along with the quality of smartphone cameras. With the number of pictures that people take each day, the value of every picture has gone down, diluted in value, some will say.  As a professional photographer, these things have to be taken into consideration when trying to convince folks that there is still a need for great pictures.

Great Pictures Are About Legacy

I recently read an article that stated that people don’t care about photography anymore because they can take their own pictures on their phones. But that made me think. If access to quality tools enables folks to do things on their own, why do people still hire plumbers? Why do they take their cars to mechanics? Why do they still go out to eat? The tools to accomplish all of those things are readily available for people to fix their own drains, cars and make their own food. What is the difference between those things and photography? I think that the HUGE difference is that photography is exceptionally individualistic. Not one person does it exactly the same as the other. If one photographer has a distinct style, then that photographer is the only place that you can get that style, generally. Plus, photographs are the visual representation of our legacy. Something that will be around much longer than we will be. Forever, even.  Is a smartphone picture enough to represent YOU when you are gone? Very unlike a delicious meal that only provides temporary sustenance and satisfaction a photograph has permanence. And when we are talking about wedding photography, that permanence involves documenting an historical event. One that has profound implications on the couple, the family and the family tree.

Since I mentioned food, it made me think that the multitude of pictures taken on a daily basis on smartphones can be compared to fast food. They’re quick. Easy. Nothing fancy (usually terrible) and not very nutritious. But enough to satisfy, if only temporarily. You will never be able to recall your BEST fast food meal because they are all the same. Simple. Cheap. Not memorable. There is no experience in it and they are all, essentially the same depending on the style for food that you desire.

Professional Pictures Are One of a Kind

A great picture taken by a experienced professional photographer is like a gourmet meal.  You get a meal like this once in a great while. Maybe even once in a lifetime if comparing it to wedding photography. A gourmet meal is prepared by a highly trained chef. It’s served in a beautiful location with perfect ambiance. You are waited on and treated like a king or queen, usually. This meal you will remember for the rest of your life. It’s an experience. But, again, a meal is only temporary not matter how unique and wonderful.

A great photograph is the same, but more. Much more. A great photograph, especially one that you pay a professional photographer for, is forever. It’s not something that you do every day. It might be something that you only get once in your life, like wedding photographs. The difference? As I mentioned, great pictures last forever.

Do All people care. No. But a lot of people do. I DO. Not only as a professional photographer but as consumer. That is why a large chunk of my wedding budget was for our professional wedding photographer. I wanted to remember my wedding day as beautiful as it was. Have the experience of having it documented by one of the best. I cared. My wife cared.

There are a lot of people who care about great pictures

There are a lot of people who hire a plumber to fix their plumbing. People who hire an skilled auto mechanic to fix and maintain their cars. There are a lot of people who spend their hard earned money on the experience of fine dining. There are a lot of people who care about what they leave behind. There are a lot of people who care about the style that is representing their legacy. There are a lot of people who care about great pictures.

If you are reading this, let me know your thoughts on how you feel about having great photographs. My instinct is, there are a lot of you.