Lessons Learned Before Sunrise

Intro by Skip Cohen

Reading this post from Bryan Caporicci’s archives got me thinking about one of my favorite quotes:

In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take.
Lewis Carroll

There were two reasons I chose to share Bryan’s article today. First, we’re all settling into new routines, and the pandemic has created time to pick up a camera and just go out and shoot! Downtime is the perfect excuse to strengthen your own skills and capture images for the most important client you have…yourself!

Second, we’ve all been where Bryan was deciding to step into the scene and be a photographer. I’ve heard so many artists talk about the importance of being upfront with people when you’d like to take their photographs. All it takes is kindness and a smile – and if they object, you’ve lost nothing but a few seconds of your time.

Most of the great street photographers know success because they communicate. Instead of hiding with a long lens, they often talk to the subject and let them know they’re there with shorter focal lengths. In turn, they capture more emotion and better images!

By Bryan Caporicci

I’m going to share something completely different here. This website is about the business of photography, and we started it to help you grow your business. But, I believe that mindset (and confidence) have a lot to do with your success (in business) as a photographer.

So – with that in mind …

I have recently re-discovered a new appreciation for photography. I’ve been going out in the mornings for sunrise sessions to explore the Fujifilm GFX.

This morning, I didn’t have anyone to photograph, but I still wanted to get up and photograph the sunrise.

As I was driving, I noticed a farmer’s field across some beautiful rolling hills. The workers were coming out to work. What caught my attention was the way the fog settled along across the slopes and how the workers popped out from the background in front of the haze.

It was stunning to me. But I hesitated.

Sure, I knew it would be a beautiful photograph, but I didn’t want to stop. I didn’t want to get out of the car. I didn’t want to bother the workers or make them feel uncomfortable.

But of course, it was my insecurity speaking. So, I kept driving.

Then I remembered studying with Mel Robbins and her book “The 5-Second Rule.” I said “5-4-3-2-1,” turned the car around and pulled over to the side of the road. Instead of photographing from a distance (like a creeper), I walked down to the field. I greeted the workers with a smile and began talking with them.

After a few minutes, I asked for their permission to photograph them. They agreed. Then the owner of the farm came out. He and I talked, I met his brother (who also owned the farm), and we had a great conversation. I got to know them a bit better, their history, why they bought the farm and what their hopes and dreams were.

He encouraged me to photograph as much as I wanted. He said that if I ever wanted to come back, I was more than welcome to.

So – I photographed.

Here is one of the images. You can see more in our Business of Photography Facebook community.

They’re not going to win any awards, but what they represent is significant.

Don’t hesitate. Don’t pause. If you feel drawn to something, go after it.

Be friendly. Smile. Be warm. Be welcoming. You will receive the same.

Funny enough, I think Joel Meyerowitz was speaking to my subconscious. I’m taking his course on “Masters of Photography,” and last night I watched his lesson that took place in Italy. He was photographing landscapes and some of the historical architecture there. He said “If you feel drawn to something, go after it. Trust your intuition.”

This morning I trusted my intuition. I pushed past my hesitation. I’m glad I did.

Technical details – this image is a straight-out-of-camera JPG file without any editing, shot on the Fujifilm GFX.