Open Mike Night #4 - Inspiration

Hello Everyone,

A very happy Friday to you! It has been a busy week but I'm happy right now because it's Open Mike Night!  Let's dive right in.

Mississauga Wedding Photographer Dennis Larkin asks...

I'd like to know what inspires you. From wedding to wedding, where do you find the inspiration to make each client's images as individual as they are?

Great question Dennis!  Okay, I have heard this question answered with phrases such as, "read magazines, watch movies, study art history" etc.  Those suggestions are helpful and I do recommend them, but my true inspiration runs deeper than that.  Anyone who has attended a workshop where I have spoken will relate immediately to what I am about to say.

Let's start with meaning.  The Oxford American Heritage Dictionary defines inspiration as, "the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something".

I have three key words that define my imagery.  If you don't already have three to five words that descibe your art then I would highly recommend you invest the time this weekend to explore your heart and mind for those words.

My words are Relational. Evocative. True.  Let me explain.

In being Relational I don't mean merely the obvious.  For example, it is true that a wedding is about a man and woman committing to each other.  However, when I photograph a wedding I also seek to capture the story behind other relationships, such as the parents who have invested their lives into their children who are now starting their own family.  It's about the friendships that the couple has with their groomsmen and bridesmaids, often forged through years of good and difficult times together.  It's about people who have come together on one day to honor two people whose lives they have all made an impact on.  That's relational thinking.

In being Evocative I want every image to bring emotion to the viewer.  Whether it's joy, laughter, peace, or even sadness, emotional imagery is real imagery.  Some of my favorite photographs aren't ones that will necessarily win global awards, or be picked favorites by other photographers.  They are images that speak to me because of the emotion they portray.  Interestingly, my clients favorite images often match my favorites which encourages me to know that I am effectively connecting with their desires as well as mine.

My last defining word is True.  This word is powerful and carries so meaning.  I desire my photographs to be an accurate representation of what I was privileged to witness.  I'm not referring to the arguments behind software manipulation, but rather a fraction of time that reflects in one image what could not be expressed in a hundred words.  One of the best compliments I have received was from someone who viewed one of my images and then simply replied, "Yes".  To them, the photograph was accurate.  It was real.  It was true.

So how do these words relate to inspiration and becoming better artists tomorrow than what we are today?  It's simple.  In defining my imagery with those three words I want my photographs themselves to be inspiration to others.  I wake up every morning blessed that I have the greatest job in the world.  Being a photographer is a gift that allows us to communicate what's in our heart without saying a single word.

The miracle of life is what inspires me.  How about you?

Best Wishes,
Michael

Comments

[Nathan]

As always, I enjoy Open Mike Nights! Your response made me recall this.

[Michael]

Thanks Nathan, and thanks for the great link. That is a wonderful article to read and rings true in so many ways.

Take care,
Michael