In this day and age, why is self-expression in photography important?
Where does a project based entirely upon the photographers experience or a concept based entirely upon seeking an emotional response fit into the industry today? What goals might the photographer of such a project have?
Just wondering what people think so if you have any thoughts please share them! Thanks :)
This feels like you’re asking us to answer a homework question, lol
But that aside, it can be difficult to say as there’s quite a few variables and it almost surely varies industry to industry. On top of that, any given answer here probably doesn’t have intimate insider knowledge of every industry, but just a small handful they’ve been in for years.
For example, I shoot a lot of Real Estate. Self Expression doesn’t really come into play much, although having a style that broadly appeals to multiple clientele does. And that just brings up the question of what the actual difference is between self expression and the style you’ve formed over years of shooting. I’ve had multiple realtors explain to me what they like about my images versus other photographers, and often it comes down to my capturing large areas well, and frequently, compared to other photographers narrowing down and capturing smaller segments of larger open rooms. Is that self expression? Or more style? And what’s the difference?
Maybe not a good question for Real Estate Photography, but how about Weddings? Or fashion? Weddings as a current cultural phenomenon value self expression more, and Fashion Trends even MORE so. I’ve shot over 100 weddings at this point and know that, because weddings are more personal and people are a bit more picky, clientele who chose me definitely did it because of my style and personality. Is that a product of self expression? Again, hard to say.
My take is that cultivating “Self Expression” is maybe missing the point. Or a misunderstanding of what’s actually going on in the creative. Much more important is having a clear creative vision and a plan for bringing it to fruition. In movie directors, you tend to see styles come out and I think those styles are a product of strong directors having a vision for what they want and how to achieve it. Whether it’s “Self Expression” is neither here nor there, and I think is kind of unimportant.
…Although I wonder how I’d agree or disagree with this take back in my teen years, where self-expression seemed much more important to me and my peers.
Not a homework question lol just something I’ve been thinking about lately!
I guess what I mean by self expression is when the project concept is entirely based upon a feeling or the photographer’s experience. Ie the concept comes from the self. There’s obviously numerous exhibitions/photobooks where this is very common but I’m curious as how it fits in outside the ‘fine art’ part of the industry and into more specific areas of different forms of photography-based jobs. In my head a specific style of shooting is inevitable, but self-expression is optional and dependent on concept.
Interesting about what you said about clear creative vision taking priority. I wonder if this depends on the photographer and their working style, or if/how much self-expression in some way dictates this.
Plenty of food for thought. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts
You’re very welcome, glad to share.
As an aside, I have no idea why you’re getting downvoted and I like that you started a bit of a thoughtful conversation here. Keep on keepin’ on, friend.
Me neither lol. Thank you!