Perspective.
Now that’s a concept that’s talked about a lot in photography. But what about your perspective outside of the camera? Forget about shutter speeds and f-stops for a moment. I’m talking about your point of view when it comes to this crazy thing we call life. The truth is, nothing can be more important about you as a photographer. If you look closely, all of our perspectives outside of the camera shape the one within it. The way your life has unfolded as of today mirrors itself in the way you interpret the things in front of you with the camera. In short, you can tell who a person is by how they shoot.
My dad died when I was very young. As I look back on my body of work over the past three years, I can see how that event shaped the way I see my clients, among other things. I value relationships between fathers differently because I never had that. It’s not envy, but a fascination with what was never there. Believe it or not, it’s sometimes the wounds in our own life that allow us to see things differently than others. And many other times it’s the biggest blessings that reveal a new viewpoint we never had prior. The birth of our son gave my wife Katie and I one of the greatest outlooks we’ll ever have.
And honestly? We’ve all got a story. Sure, it’s difficult to articulate, but when it comes to the camera it’s a feeling. It’s a longing for something we’ve always wanted more of in our own stories, so we picked up the camera and tried to capture the spirit of it. The beauty. The light. The darkness. The tears. The joy. Who we love and what we love. And while we get paid to tell others’ stories, the most tragic part is we can neglect to care and nurture the story that matters the most- our own.
And this is what I have to say:
Please. Don’t lose your perspective.
In an industry that preaches status and becoming big-time where the noise is loud and the lights are bright, you can lose sight of what really matters. You can lose sight of the most important people. I’m encouraging and pleading because I see this happening. The fame, the likes, the followers- it’s a war between who you actually are and what you’re told to become to be successful and, oh yeah, cool. The people you need to know, the crowd you have to be around- it sounds crazy, but you can lose perspective because you picked up the camera.
If you’re relating in anyway to what I’m writing, there’s an unspoken knowledge that your life was meant for much more than the applause of your peers. You see this job for what it is, and your life isn’t wrapped up in the successes or failures of it. Your story is one made up of the bruises and kisses that life has tossed at you, and you’re not trying to be somebody you’re not. You, like many, have given up on the perfectly put together rockstar image. Because that’s not you. And that’s okay. And believe it or not, for many of us, it’s a breath of fresh air.
Never lose that. Because your perspective is unique, and it’s something worth talking about.
- Tyler | Tyler Branch Photo
(Header image of Tyler & Katie by David Guenther)