hi sarah, my friends Dan and Christine visited you recently, and so now i have come to know about you...i really appreciate this blog post, as i think it's getting to the essence of who you are and putting that out there that is the challenge. it's all about personal branding these days, and delivering a simple message, and all the while doing it remarkably. love your work...i live in canberra but alas the funds don't stretch to allow me to come to your workshop in november, but i wish you all the best with it and every success you can muster.
I will never think of "remarkable" the same way again... thank you!
I completely agree with you. I find my work to be remarkable even if some do not. It's all about believing in what you are producing!
Do you use those hyperlinks to increase SEO? HAHA, just kidding, great post I could not agree with you more!!
LOVE your work, your words. every second day you seem to come out with something incredible.
just so you know, i think your business is remarkable.
you're making a difference in the world!
XO
Beka Hope
Thanks for blogging on this, Sarah! This is something i've been thinking about and talking with people about recently. One thing I remember Dane Sanders saying was people aren't necessarily paying you because you take great pictures. Yes, that's important, but they pay you for the experience they receive.
I cannot agree with you more. being a photographer, and a good one at that, has strayed so far away from good imagery and being a good friendly person with your clients and is all about name recognition and google statistics. I feel like if everyone would put down their mice for a day or so and just walk outside and work on their craft they would benefit so much more even if its just in personal happiness and enjoyment. Yes google rankings and SEO stats will being you more business but is that the business you want. Is that the business that is going to drive you to be the photographer, designer, image maker that you always dreamed of. Maybe, maybe not, but you did not strive and work so hard to spend your time staring at graphs with numbers of visits on it. If you do what you love and capture/create the images that give you and others enjoyment everything else will follow with time.
Sarah your always inspiring to me, your more than remarkable.
Hi, Thanks for this post. It was really informative, and I love the picture you used, as always.
Great post. Love it. Goes along with Seth Godin's newest book Linchpin. Great great read.
Love the messge! Thanks for the kick in the arse today!
Hmmm..I've found myself remarking about you many times in the past month. You know what that means.
thank you. so true, and so well written. inspiring. :)
so true! thanks for the words and pointing out the inspiration of Tim Walker - ps you do a great job yourself
Talk about perfect timing! Sarah the day before you sent out this post I was scouring my city with my boyfriend to find a photography book that would satisfy my eyes delight with some amazing inspiration. I couldn't find ANYTHING that 100% appealed to me. The very next day I log on to your blog and Here it is!!! THE perfect book. Thank you so much for sharing this with us! I ordered one and it's on it's way to me right now!!
Talk about perfect timing! Sarah the day before you sent out this post I was scouring my city with my boyfriend to find a photography book that would satisfy my eyes delight with some amazing inspiration. I couldn't find ANYTHING that 100% appealed to me. The very next day I log on to your blog and Here it is!!! THE perfect book. Thank you so much for sharing this with us! I ordered one and it's on it's way to me right now!!
Love tim walker. Wish I could live in all the vignettes he shoots! :)
You so so nailed it... "Other photographers get lost in looking at blogs,wedding photographers,Flickr, etc" So so true... They forget to actually "study" the many elements that make a great image. The design the stylist lighting etc.. So many individuals focus on the "What camera what lens did you use" Which always I reply with the Eyes rolling.. I look at paintings music videos movies for a vibe or feeling of what I want inspire me with to make great images. Your tale here about this photographer and his book is spot on..
preach it okie sister!
kudos to you in your shining moment and for spreading inspiration.
preach it okie sister!
kudos to you in your shining moment and for spreading inspiration.
I've never heard of Tim Walker, so thanks for mentioning him. I am a fashion magazine addict and love editorial work, so thanks.
Thank you for sharing! I've never seen his work and I am now completely in love with it! AMAZING!
i'm on it! thanks! i collect photo books too and 2 of my favorites are sante d'orazio - a private view and patrick demarchelier - the photographs.
Hi Sarah! I've been checking out your blog off and on for a while now but am just commenting for the first time. This is an awesome post for two reasons. One, because that book looks absolutely delicious. And two, because you are so right about getting outside of the wedding photography community and seeing what else is out there. I am very new to photography as a whole and I can tell already how easy it is to get sucked in by the blogs and the competition and the this and that. I love how much you talk about the importance of finding inspiration all around you...and how personal projects and creation are essential to keep the juices flowing. Couldn't agree more. I really admire what you and your husband are doing here, keep up the amazing work!
Hi Sarah! I've been checking out your blog off and on for a while now but am just commenting for the first time. This is an awesome post for two reasons. One, because that book looks absolutely delicious. And two, because you are so right about getting outside of the wedding photography community and seeing what else is out there. I am very new to photography as a whole and I can tell already how easy it is to get sucked in by the blogs and the competition and the this and that. I love how much you talk about the importance of finding inspiration all around you...and how personal projects and creation are essential to keep the juices flowing. Couldn't agree more. I really admire what you and your husband are doing here, keep up the amazing work!
Hi Sarah! I've been checking out your blog off and on for a while now but am just commenting for the first time. This is an awesome post for two reasons. One, because that book looks absolutely delicious. And two, because you are so right about getting outside of the wedding photography community and seeing what else is out there. I am very new to photography as a whole and I can tell already how easy it is to get sucked in by the blogs and the competition and the this and that. I love how much you talk about the importance of finding inspiration all around you...and how personal projects and creation are essential to keep the juices flowing. Couldn't agree more. I really admire what you and your husband are doing here, keep up the amazing work!
tim walker is one of my faves, too. and my art coffee table obsession was out of control until all my books were stolen in college :( now i just use the library :)
Tim Walker is one of my favorites! I want his book sooo bad.
Wow! I so needed to read this. I'm so glad I decided to go through your archives.
THANK YOU for inspiring through your words AND through your art.
This is what I want to start my New year thinking about: Purpose, passion and possibility!
This is so true! I'm thankful for this post- it was really inspiring to me today! Thank you!!
Well said! Thank you for sharing, Sarah!
perfectly said! you can clearly see your passion through every single image you post.
This is very well stated. Education can be important but passion is the necessary key to success.
I have Passion & Deep Desire and I am self taught and I am Very Proud of It!!! I have alot of Fantastic Photographers around the world who I am Inspired by and this Drives me to be better! You guys are definately at the top on of my List!! :-)
Thanks you guys I Love you heaps!!! x
Sarah, I have often been inspired and pushed forward by your insight wisdom and amazing images - but this was one of the most home hitting and truly inspiring post you've had yet! Thank you so much for giving what you've received to so many of us freely!
cheers
Halleluia & Amen! Whole heartedly agree: Love. It's about Love. Life is about spreading love, giving love, and investing in love. Be it family, friends, acts, or even pursuing your passions; Live, Love.
totally agree with this... i spent $50k on a degree in film/photography that i could have spent travelling, photographing & purchasing equipment. the ONE thing that my degree did for me, that is just as valuable as the passion, is knowing the technicals.... you can have passion all day long, love it, but if your exposure is crap... what was the point??? passion + technical understanding... but i think that can be obtained from cheap community college courses.
totally agree with this... i spent $50k on a degree in film/photography that i could have spent travelling, photographing & purchasing equipment. the ONE thing that my degree did for me, that is just as valuable as the passion, is knowing the technicals.... you can have passion all day long, love it, but if your exposure is crap... what was the point??? passion + technical understanding... but i think that can be obtained from cheap community college courses.
Inspiring. Wise. Beautifully written. Thank you for sharing and giving one untrained individual hope :) You rock!
Love it! Such great advice Sarah! Keep it coming! ;)
Your blog is quickly becoming one of my favorites.
Well said, my friend, well said. You always inspire me :)
sarah, i LOVE this. thank you so much for it. it's really encouraging to hear-it can be discouraging to keep hearing people tell me that i can't be legit without a degree in photography. your words make me feel like i actually have a place in this little world of photography. thanks for being awesome. can i give you a shout out on my blog and post a link to you??
Sarah, i LOVE this. thank you so much. it really makes me feel better....it's kind of discouraging hearing people say that you're not legit cause you don't have a degree. i mean, not that i'm trying to be legit..but i at least want to feel like i fit in somewhere in the world of photography. you inspire me. thank you so much!! do you mind if i give you a shout out on my blog and post a link to you??
I couldn't have said it better. you guys are amazing! I
I couldn't have said it better. You guys are amazing!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for this blog post. This has been on my mind literally everyday, and I sometimes beat myself over even considering not going to school for photography. Thank you for you encouraging blog posts, after reading them you give me this motivation to keep going!
-Sandra
Amen, Sarah. I have been creating images for almost 20 years and will tell you that almost every photography class or seminar I have been to had huge gaping holes in them leaving me more frustrated and bored. However, I found two photography mentors that fed me deeply. It was worth every penny I spent to learn from their depth of soul and wealth of knowledge. They took a risk and used their platforms to point their students to God. God became our teacher through them. And because of them, my hearing got better, my seeing became visionary, and God's presence was infused into my photography. My suggestion is to find those who are practicing the presence of God in such a way that their photographs have the power to move people to deeper living and are awe-inspiring, and then hang around them as much as possible. Learn from them and be encouraged by them. Godly mentors are life-changing and life-giving.
Thanks for your post! You are definitely on the right track and someday you will be that mentor many talk about!
Amen, Sarah. I have been creating images for almost 20 years and will tell you that almost every photography class or seminar I have been to had huge gaping holes in them leaving me more frustrated and bored. However, I found two photography mentors that fed me deeply. It was worth every penny I spent to learn from their depth of soul and wealth of knowledge. They took a risk and used their platforms to point their students to God. God became our teacher through them. And because of them, my hearing got better, my seeing became visionary, and God's presence was infused into my photography. My suggestion is to find those who are practicing the presence of God in such a way that their photographs have the power to move people to deeper living and are awe-inspiring, and then hang around them as much as possible. Learn from them and be encouraged by them. Godly mentors are life-changing and life-giving.
Thanks for your post! You are definitely on the right track and someday you will be that mentor many talk about!
Amen, Sarah. I have been creating images for almost 20 years and will tell you that almost every photography class or seminar I have been to had huge gaping holes in them leaving me more frustrated and bored. However, I found two photography mentors that fed me deeply. It was worth every penny I spent to learn from their depth of soul and wealth of knowledge. They took a risk and used their platforms to point their students to God. God became our teacher through them. And because of them, my hearing got better, my seeing became visionary, and God's presence was infused into my photography. My suggestion is to find those who are practicing the presence of God in such a way that their photographs have the power to move people to deeper living and are awe-inspiring, and then hang around them as much as possible. Learn from them and be encouraged by them. Godly mentors are life-changing and life-giving.
Thanks for your post! You are definitely on the right track and someday you will be that mentor many talk about!
Thank you so much for this post. I'm new to photography and completely did a 180 on my career choice and this post is so helpful. I have many people who are supporting me as a photographer and then I have people telling me I need to go to school for photography to be any good. I have so much passion for this and know I can make it without a formal degree, but it's been hard dealing with the nay-sayers. This post was the perfect thing for me to read and I can't thank you enough for it!
Sarah,
Thank you so much for this post. I am currently making the transition from art school to state school because of so many reasons you stated in your post: I don't want debt and I have the passion to do it on my own.
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for this post. I've been struggling with ideas like this for a while and I have the EXACT same thoughts as you, but others around seem to feel that it is necessary for me to go to school to develop it.
Thank you for solidifying my decision.
I completely agree. I finish my degree in 2 weeks with no intention of making a career in the advertising field. But will my journalism, marketing, web design, graphic design, law, and persuasion classes help our business? Immensely. Education should be a lifelong pursuit, but career should be a calling...a path that you find instead of decide.
Also, I have met people with BFA's in Photography who don't even know what focal length and max f/ stops their lenses are. Minor details I guess...
This blog post was right on time for me. As I was reading through it, I realized something. When I started out, I was soooo passionate about photography and really put my heart into it. I loved every moment. Over time, I became so worried about the technical aspect and nailing each shot juuuust perfectly and beating myself up over my images that I've lost the passion I once had. Don't get me wrong, a technically sound image is SUPER important. But I've lost something a long the way, and that was my heart.
So this weekend, I plan on going out there, trusting my eye but letting my heart take the lead. Thank you for reminding me that my images need to reflect me and not necessarily some preconceived notion of how an image is "supposed" to be.
P.S. I'm like you and have a journalism degree. I focused on writing in college, and I eventually realized that telling stories with images was my heart's true desire.
every.single.day that i read your blog i think, yes.yes.totally.yes. you express so well many of the thoughts i think and philosophize about constantly. i can't wait to meet you!
...what a poetry in this photo ♥
Oh, I would love to attend one of his workshops! I've heard such good things about them and I love film. By the way, I've been following your blog for a little while now and your work is absolutely gorgeous! Just stunning.