Subjective truths: A workshop among wedding photography veterans
How do we truly know if our approach is right or wrong? Speaking with experienced wedding photographers made me realize how subjective success and failure can be — and how valuable it is to stay curious and open to learning from others.
Mid-February I was invited to speak in front of a group of German wedding photographer veterans at the North Sea coast in St. Peter-Ording. Photographers all who have all passed their 40s and who have been in this business for over a decade now. I still feel very honored for the opportunity to share my thoughts and way of photography with them and I value the mutual respect this group had for each other.
When speaking to veterans in the business, I find it interesting to hear what our commonalities are and where we see things differently. Since we all reached a certain point in our lives and have witnessed the changes in the industry for so long, we had a lot of common experiences, face the same problems, but also often take different approaches to handle those.
In this group I realized how highly subjective our own conclusions are. An example of failure can be understood as a general wrong direction – or as a wrong approach to the right direction. The question is: what is wrong or right? We tend to argue in the way that our brain feels safe. Here might be dragons – go the other direction. But both positions can be valid because what works for one doesn't necessarily work for the other.
The thing is, you will only know when you try it out. Therefore, the exchange of experiences becomes even more valuable, as we learn from each other's trials, successes, and even failures. Sharing openly allows us to explore possibilities we might have previously dismissed and reassess paths we've abandoned. It creates room for innovation and growth, especially in an industry constantly shaped by change.
Moreover, these discussions reminded me how essential it is to approach differences with openness and curiosity rather than immediate judgment. The beauty lies precisely in these nuances; understanding different methods broadens our perspective and enriches our creative toolkit. Ultimately, photography is a deeply personal craft, and embracing this individuality fosters authenticity and genuine connection – both within our community and with the couples we photograph.
