To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved

If you have ever been in love, you would know what a miracle loving someone else is. But if you have ever had the rare gift to be loved back by the person you love, you would know that the real miracle is being loved and not loving.

But even with how amazing love might be, to give and be given, it does not compare to being given the trust of another person. Love and trust should go hand in hand, but not all things work out idealistically. Someone might give you their love but not their trust, but when they do that’s when you know it’s really real.

Emotions are sacred; perhaps love the most sacred of them. But in giving someone your trust, you give them a key that can open up the doors to any part of you – parts that you had kept hidden. We can love but still be closed, but in trusting we open up ourselves to the possibility of agonizing pain and hurt.

To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved. If someone trusts you, it means they think that you are worthy of the most secret parts of them. That’s a gift and a compliment far more special than getting someone’s love.

Fear

“The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.”

-          Joseph Campbell

 

Fear is a deliciously painful emotion – it can hold you back or spur you on. It puts things into perspective, makes you realize what is truly important and forces you to make decisions, sometimes even coaxing you into making a choice that you thought you never could. If there’s one thing that fear does, it shows you the bigger picture.

 

Fear is one of the most real, undiluted, organic emotions that one can experience – you will only ever feel fear if you truly are afraid. So it is a rare feeling, like a reminder that you are alive.

 

Fear is a catalyst, a vehicle, a transporter. When you do feel afraid for whatever reason, let the fear in for a while, allow yourself to feel it, and then let it go and let it move you to what you need to do. Let the fear guide you, but don’t let it reside in you.

This is Art

As photographers, we must view our profession as an art. It’s not just a way to make a few bucks. Otherwise, we’re only taking snapshots and someone is hiring us for the equipment we own, not for our artistic vision and creativity.



Think of it this way. You could hire anyone to paint your portrait, but does that mean every artist’s painting will be of the same quality? Of course not. Will you automatically go with the lowest bid, regardless of style and quality? It depends on what you’re after. The artist who has mastered his craft or is constantly improving will undoubtedly produce a fine work while the beginner who does not understand lighting, color, and posing will produce something that is sub par and unappealing. Yes, it will cost less to hire the inexperienced artist, but do you really want to look at a poor painting of yourself for the rest of your life?


In the same way, photography is an art. We are “painting” with light and capturing the results on a camera rather than with brushes on a canvas. It can be difficult to remember this when our work and prices are compared unfairly to lesser qualified photographers. But trust me, there are plenty of people out there who still value our quality and want to create art with us.


When someone visits our website and decides to contact us, they do so because something in our portfolio appeals to them. Perhaps they’re moved by a particular photo or can envision themselves being photographed in our unique style. They consider hiring us because they want us to make them look beautiful and create artistic photographs to remember a certain moment in their life. This means we get to collaborate together on wardrobe, setting, mood, and more. Rather than taking snapshots of a client, we’re teaming with them to make art that evokes emotion and lasts. This is exciting!


Keep learning and pursuing your passion in photography and the recognition and respect for your work will come. Always put forth your best effort and give your clients something they can’t get anywhere else. They’ll love you for it! No matter what, view photography as an art and not just a means to an end. This will keep you thriving and loving your profession while others fade away.