This blog might come over as a slightly arrogant blog. But so many times I hear: oh, you are a photographer so you can make picture…
- at my wedding
- of my company
- for my ID
- of my child
- of my dog
- a funeral
- and so on and so on.
And I say NO!
Mostly people are surprised if I say no. Yes I have almost all the degrees in photography (I only miss a master that’s a different thing) so yes I learned all the techniques. My specialisation is concert & documentary photography. That also doesn’t mean I make pictures of every concert with my camera (mostly a snapshot with my iPhone like everyone now days). During my photography studies I didn’t even take all assignments. It’s good to set your borders as an artist in whatever art you make. As a student it’s normal to experiment and discover your interest and talent. But as a photographer here in the Netherlands people expect you do everything. But it’s good to have a specialisation.
So what kind of photography do I do?
At the moment I started to pick up my photography as a freelance independent photographer and I only make picture for my own art and on request. So a concert here and there when it fits my agenda. Art project at my own pace.
I feel great the way I can reinvent myself as an artist compared to the pressure of when I was studying. I have control and do what I love work with people I want to work with who fits in my vision. With Noize Magazine I’ve had a great time but now I don’t have big pressure deadline and focus on developing my own style in my own time. So let’s make art!!!
Dare to be arrogant!
Now I’m getting older I start to understand artist that seemed arrogant when I was young. Like stories I heard about Corbijn asking outrageous fees to make pictures or the attitude of Erwin Olaf. They are strict in there own rules they made to protect them as an artist. To have control of there own art. So now I don’t see arrogant as a bad thing but just a way to focus on your personal work. The hard thing is the balance between appear arrogant and still be open to new things. Boundaries are hard to set because before you realise you start to build walls instead of bridges.
So yes you can always ask me to make pictures of your wedding/dog whatever. Just accept if I ask a high fee or even say no.
With love,
Helene
