Chicken or the Egg – A Norwich Photographers Opinion

As a portrait photographer i’ve found through various online posts that there is often a debate or at least a slight hint about whether the photographer's vision should take precedence over the customer's desires. I have my own view of this….

Photography is a unique art form that allows us to capture moments in time, telling a story through visual imagery. As photographers, it is often easy to get caught up in our own creative vision and desires, but it is important to remember that ultimately, the customer's needs and preferences are more important than our own wants.

Some say that true artistry comes from the photographer's unique perspective and creative expression, while others believe that customer satisfaction is the ultimate goal. I personally believe it’s a blending of visions, and both perspectives have merit to achieve the ultimate goal, both customer and photographer satisfaction.

When it comes to creating a photograph, the customer's needs are undeniably essential. After all, the customer is the one who will be ultimately be purchasing and cherishing the photograph. It is crucial for the photographer to listen to the customer's vision, preferences, and desires in order to create a photograph that truly captures their intended message and emotion

Couple deeply in love

By focusing on the customer's needs, the photographer can help them achieve their dream photograph. This may involve collaborating closely with the customer to understand their vision, taking input on styling, lighting, and composition, and ensuring that the final photograph resonates with the customer on a personal level. Ultimately, the goal is to create a photograph that the customer will love and cherish for years to come.

That’s the end goal, creation of a dream that will be loved and cherished for years to come

However, that is not to say that the photographer's artistic vision should be completely disregarded. As a photographer, it is important to bring your unique perspective, creativity, and technical skills to the table. Your artistic vision is what sets you apart from other photographers and can lead to truly stunning and memorable photographs, who wants photographs that look exactly the same as all the other customers or similar to other photographers work

Portrait shoot for a musician/composer

In the end, I’ve learnt that photography is a subjective art form, and there is room for both the photographer's vision and the customer's desires. By finding a balance between the two, you can create images that are not only visually striking but also meaningful and personal to the customer. So, whether you are a photographer or a customer, remember that photography is a collaborative process, and the best results often come from understanding and respecting each other's perspectives.

Oh and fyi if you’d like to have your own memories to cherish for years to come, get it touch and lets create those memories together