14 months ago today Canon was born. He came into our lives in an uncertain time. I had just lost my job at Boeing, my wife had just quit her job, we were for the first time dependent upon photography for 100% of our income. The past year has been the best year of my life, it has been the most challenging of my life, and I have grown immensely through these experiences. I want to just take a moment and share a little from my heart about what has been going on and how Canon (my boy) has changed me and as a result my photography. To do this let me tell you a story.
These are two images that I found from my early days. On the left is a shot from the first wedding I ever shot in 2006. I was assisting the awesome James Moes as a second photographer. I recall a specific moment during their first dance when I was all of sudden filled with joy. I came away from that experience super excited and in love. Not just in love with wedding photography, but simply in love. I called my girl friend-now-wife and excitedly expressed to her how in love I was. The shot on the right is my first solo wedding. I can remember being so excited for Dan and Jess and loving every minute of it. What set this off, and why did I fall in love with my job? Why do I love my clients and get excited for them each and every time?
It’s because of Love.
That was easy. What is there to learn from this? How has Canon changed me?
After shooting for six years I had lost focus. I started asking myself questions like, “what is my focus?”, “why is my job worthwhile?”, and “how is photography serving a larger purpose”. In essence I had forgotten about what made me excited in the first place. Love.
Canon has a way of clarifying things for me. Canon has a way of changing me. Canon has a way of refreshing me. Canon has challenged me to get back to the basics of why I got into photography in the first place. I got into this job because I got excited about preserving love forever. I forgot this in a sea of technical details, of lighting and lenses.
Canon has taught me that its what is behind the picture that counts the most. Before I saw a well composed and exposed shot, there were good expressions, good moments. What I am coming to understand is if my art can’t convey vivid LOVE, than it is just an image on a screen or a picture on a piece of paper. I can look at this image of my son and me and be flooded with emotions. This is our beginning. This is the start of our story together. Look at his expression of pure unbridled joy. Look at my expression of excitement over his giggling laughter and the slight cringe as he pulls hard on my hair. This is a shot that I will personally cherish forever. This is a shot that I want to print out. I want my kids to find these some day as they dig through old boxes of photos.
Tash and I have a tradition in our house. This banter comes up whenever I have made a particularly daring or creative dinner.
Tash: This food is really good. What is in it?
John: pepper, oregano, etc. . . BUT The secret ingredient is love!
A motto is born:
“Made with Love.”
I hope it is quite obvious how I intend on applying these lesson from Canon.
Every wedding I will be striving to create images that are steep in love. The kind of emotions that jump off the page in 20 years (because we know that your dress style won’t.)
Every family I hope to bring out the same expression and moments that I know personally I would cherish forever. (and proudly show at my son’s wedding some day.)
I am so excited about my job. I feel like I am calling Tash again after my first wedding, full of love. I look forward to where this is going to take me.