What Will People Say About Your Work in 2075?

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by Skip Cohen

​It's my favorite day of the week, Throwback Thursday. This morning, as I searched for images I hadn't shared before, I ran across a post from nine years ago. The message makes even more sense today!

We're living in a that's-good-enough world! Many products are manufactured with planned obsolescence, and they often have a shorter lifespan than what we're accustomed to. For example, in our own kitchen, since moving into this house nine years ago, appliances that used to last a lifetime have been replaced several times. And consider the Ford Mustang - you can't buy one right now because of three different recalls on the 2025 models that won't be resolved until 2026. Ford's slogan of "Quality is job one!" doesn't apply to very many products these days, including their own vehicles.

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

Here's the question of the day...What are people going to be saying about your photography years from now? How will your work be perceived?

Even though I've shared them before, I thought it would be fun to share a few classics of both my folks. Both of the older photographs were hand-colored and captured eighty to ninety years ago. The two more contemporary images were captured by Bambi Cantrell around 2008.   

But one of my favorite images out of the session she did with my folks is this one on the right. It was captured before Alzheimer's took control. We had no idea what the next few years would bring, but the love my folks had for each other is clearly what Bambi focused on.

Here's the bottom line - you owe your subjects the very best you can be. Never compromise on the quality of your work. The photographers we respect the most are the ones who capture the intangible spirit of the subject in addition to outstanding technical skills in exposure, composition and lighting.

Over the years, Beverly and Tim Walden have talked a lot about the value of a portrait. They're not creating a photograph, but a family heirloom to be handed down for generations to come. And the portrait session needs to be an experience, not just a few clicks of the shutter! Their advice to new photographers deserves repeating: 

Our advice to new photographers? Do less and do it exceptionally well! Narrow your focus to gain appeal.
All great artists are known for a style, a look that is their own. As you begin in this wonderful profession, be original, do what your heart loves, do it well and work towards mastering it.

So, what's the answer to the question of the day? Are you creating images that, years from now, your clients will look back on and smile, remembering the day you took their portrait? And will future generations look at your work and cherish the photographs, like I do of the portraits of my folks?

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