Making vs. Taking

Creating portraits that last for a lifetime is the core of my business, but it wasn't always that way.

 I made the decision to become a professional photographer a few years ago. I had a decent DSLR, a good eye, and a website ! I figured that I’d take pictures, post them, and success would be mine.

I had a lot to learn.

I’ve learned many things about turning my passion into a viable business, but the most important thing I learned was that my attitude towards photography was all wrong.  Simply taking pictures wasn’t going to be enough. Once I realized that, I stopped taking pictures and started making them.

Ansel Adams said, “You don't take a photograph, you make it,” (emphasis mine) and “You don't make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.”

In a philosophical sense, “taking” is a form of subtraction. “Making”, on the other hand, is all about addition. It’s about creating something unique by combining my experiences with those of my clients. Together, we make artwork that touches their hearts and enriches their lives.

I love the fact that what I do adds to people's lives. It's what makes my business a joy, not a job.

~ Stephanie