What will people say about your work fifty years from now?

I suppose this is more of a Throwback Thursday post, but after doing the post this morning about the Malibu fire it just wasn't very fulfilling. However, a little digging into old photographs and I found this one of my Dad. There's a whole series of points to make on this one, starting with you asking yourself a question.

"What are people going to be saying about my photography years from now? How will my work be perceived?"

My buddy Scott Bourne said once, "Shoot as if this is the last photograph of yours anybody will ever see!"

Dad's going to be 93 in October. The image on the left was probably done around 75 years ago. It couldn't be more classic. It's hand-colored, and I love the Olan Mills signature. On the back is the ordering number and a stamp, "Olan Mills Portrait Studios, Springfield, Ohio."  It's printed on double weight paper, and everything in the image is classic to the 1930's.

The image on the left also couldn't be more classic, even though I've cropped it for this post. It was done by Bambi Cantrell, and Dad was around 85. I love the pose, the lighting - In fact, it's a family favorite for all of us and the way we see Dad, casual yet focused with a whole lot of love in his face. He's still got the same smile, and we've got good hair genes in this family. LOL

So, what's the answer to that question? Are you creating images that years from now your clients will be looking back and smiling, remembering the day you did their portrait?