If you’ve been to any other photographer’s website; especially higher end photographers you’ve probably noticed the term “investment”. No one really tells you why they use it in lieu of “price” or “pricing”. I never really thought about it myself until recently and now I understand why.
APPRECIATING PHOTOGRAPHY
The reason is that photographs, unlike most things you spend your money on, do not depreciate. If anything, they actually appreciate. The reason is that it captures a moment that you’ll never be able to live again. Sure, you can close your eyes an imagine, but that isn’t the same thing.
Just looking at photographs of your children, nieces, and nephews when they were younger; looking at photographs of your parents who recently passed away; or looking at photographs of yourself when you were still in school are all times easily forgotten.
PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE KEY
But photography is a beautiful thing because it holds the keystones to your memories. Look at your favourite childhood photo and you are instantly transported to the sights, smells, and sounds surrounding you at the time!
You remember the smell of caramel-covered popcorn, the taste and feel of cotton candy melting on your tongue, the screams of other children as they were flung around in their seats on the rollercoasters, the sound of buskers demanding that you “step right up”, and the feeling of wondering whether your crush would notice you.
Photographs are powerful things. Portrait photography and even modern lifestyle photography, which has increased in popularity, can be a priceless investment.
MAKE THEM LAST FOREVER
Now, I’m not saying that you need professional photographs to pass down from generation to generation so that your children, their children, and even their children’s children will know how you looked or what kind of style you had in your prime. No, you can just take simple photographs with your camera even. That said, make sure to keep the very best ones together somewhere.
That’s the beauty of printed photographs in this digital age. It ensures that your photographs are always accessible. It keeps them in everyone’s sights not only to enjoy, but to remember. Here’s what I mean: while growing up you’ve undoubtedly had photos taken for school and your mom and/or dad bought some wallet sized ones and ones to hang on your wall. Even if you don’t live at home anymore I bet you still know exactly where they are. You know (more or less) who they are of and what they’re about. That’s powerful stuff!
If I now told you to go grab a photo that matched that description (e.g. a photo of you in grade 10) then you could do that for me. Now, if I told you to find me a photo of yourself when you were in post-secondary school you might have more trouble. Not because they don’t exist, but because you have so many and none of them stand out in particular to you.
GIFTS
That’s something I find incredibly compelling about providing women with the experience of a portrait photography session (weddings too). Not only do they get the experience of looking and feeling their best (something deserved just for living through the horrible pressures put on them by society), but they also get physical proof to hang on their walls and/or sit atop their desks, tables, shelves. Getting to know a woman and being able to create a timeless, beautiful photograph of a woman is really a gift that I get and then being able to give it right back in the emotions she feels and the photographs she gets to look at forever are a gift I get to give to her. Now that’s something I can be incredibly passionate about!
If you have any questions feel free to comment below. If you’re ready to start figuring out how you want to be photographed then check out our genre inspiration galleries to get started!
Jonathan How is the photographer behind Made by Ten and calls Milton his home. He specializes in creating beautiful, creative portraits of real women. He uses photography (and this blog) to help them build confidence and love for themselves and creates artistic images for their homes and offices. You can see him driving around the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in Ontario, Canada from portrait to fashion shoot and back again.