What Am I Even Doing with the Camera?
Here's my morning routine. I wake up, drink some coffee, journal and then walk two to three miles. Sometimes I listen to books or music, but lately I’ve been listening to Anderson Cooper’s new podcast, "All There Is".
Two of my friends recommended this podcast, and I’m so glad I started listening. It’s about his journey with grief after the death of his mother, Gloria Vanderbuilt. He interviews other people about their journey with grief, and it’s been incredibly helpful to me. If you are processing a loss in your own life, I highly recommend it.
I bring it up because one of his guests was talking about a film she was making of her father and his journey with dementia. In the episode, she discussed her need to make art and asked herself, "Why? What am I doing with this camera?"
HIGHLIGHTS
What am I doing with this camera?
That question really hit me. I actually stopped walking for a moment so I could write it down in my notes—What am I doing with this camera?
I think the reason it struck me is because I’ve asked myself the same question throughout my career and even before I was a professional photographer. I’ve always been drawn to photography and to making art in general, but I’ve always struggled with why?
Why as humans do we make art? What purpose does it serve? Why am I so compelled to do it?
I don’t know if I’ll ever have the answers to those questions, but I do know that as a portrait photographer, it’s always been SO important for me to capture people in my photographs. It's not just the way they look, but some little piece of who they are and some part of their story. It’s always been important to me to create little time capsules for families, and that was important for me before my own father passed. Now, I feel like it’s more important than ever.
I have pictures of him all over my house at different stages in his life. I found some of him as a teenager, and he looks exactly like one of my sons. That was amazing to discover! Through pictures, I’m able to continue to learn about him, his life and his stories—even the ones that don’t involve me.
Pictures are so important. They help us hold onto memories, witness moments in time that we may not remember, or even ones that happened before we were born but are still a part of our heritage.
So, what am I doing with this camera? I’m creating a record, a visual history, for the families I work with. That’s important to me!
If you’re a photographer, I'd love to hear from you. What are you doing with that camera? Why is it important? What is the reason you pick it up every day? Why are you so compelled to share it with others? Why are you turning it into your career and life’s purpose?
These are important questions to ask ourselves as artist and as humans. If you have an answer to any of this, I’d love to hear what it is. DM me on Instagram and tell me what you are doing with your camera.
Please share your why with me and thank you for listening to what felt like a journal entry on today’s episode!
