Yervant and Anie - The Photography Symposium 2016
“All good things must come to an end” and no better way to sum up the second day of Yervant and Anie’s Photography Symposium. This event rolled through Toronto as one of its many stops on June 15th, 16th and 17th. I attended the event for 2 days and there was a master class on the third day which I opted out of.
It was an incredible experience and one I won’t soon forget. If you do get the chance to attend this event in your city, I strongly advise you do check it out, you won't be disappointed. Yervant and Anie put together an unbelievable program packed with a wealth of information, knowledge and not to mention an incredible line up of 6 industry professionals all experts in their particular area of photography. It took place at The Berkley Field House, a truly beautiful venue. It was geared at a smaller more intimate group of about 60-100 attendees which I feel was the perfect amount.
The two days were jam packed with information and personal stories and at times, astonishingly emotional and honest moments. Yervant speaking about wedding photography and making us laugh hysterically. Joe Buissink sharing his incredibly moving story of his childhood and why he is so passionate about wedding photography. Sue Bryce sharing her brilliance on posing your subjects. Michele Neal Celentano and her insistence on existing in your photographs because of her beautifully moving story.
There were a couple of common threads that were strung through these two days of presentations and stories. These recurring threads seemed to be: if you work hard at your craft, you can achieve whatever it is you want for you and your business and you are worth it so charge your clients what you feel you are worth but keep in mind, you must deliver on that promise.
One thing in particular really struck a chord with me, the presenters kept re-iterating was with regards to printing your work. Then I thought about it and we don’t print our work nearly as often as we should! You MUST print your work. Preserve those moments in time through print as you never get a second chance to go back and relive those moments. They are fleeting!
Remember, it’s not a photograph until it’s printed! This statement really reverberated me and reminded me just how important it is for us photographers to print our work. Not only are you helping yourself but you are also helping to preserve our industry.