CARIBBEAN BOUND

Tomorrow I take off to Florida for an annual Caribbean cruise. We have about 150-300 people in our own group and this year we're on the biggest cruise ship on the world headed to Jamaica/Haiti and Cozumel.

WHY I TAKE PICTURES - 7 Points

for 4 years I have offered the organizer of this group my picture skills even though it's not a paid job because of the following:

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1. I love taking pictures

I doubt i'd have lasted 10+ years as a full time photographer if doing this wasn't enjoyable to me.

And sometimes they're even scenic shots.

Pushing yourself to take pictures in unique and challenging lighting is actually a rewarding feeling.

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2. I get to meet new people

I met these two let's say like 5 minutes before I took this picture and it created a nice friendship connection doing the pictures.

A lot of these people are or soon become my close friends

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3. It's a gift to friends

It's a nice gesture to give this gift to people who are about half already my friends and if not they end up being my friends afterwards. So it's partly sharing my talents. But giving them something they can use and share

3b. My way of saying you are beautiful and deserve a picture that helps you shine

It's a big reason i love doing solo shots because i love seeing them used as Profile shots

For example... These are all single moms and i'm sure life is already tough and it's nice to have someone not just say they're beautiful but prove it with a picture.

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4. Security Blanket

Also even as an extrovert I can get overwhelmed and sometimes it's nice to just hide behind my camera and not have to feel obligated to chat all the time but just observe with the camera... yes i openly admit this is my security blanket. I can just go take a break and just work. Also i understand people nicely through the lens as well.

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5. GOOD FOR BUSINESS

Also it's nice to advertise my service... and with hundreds of good looking single people the hope is some of them get married and need a wedding photographer.

For Example: A close friend i met last year...

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6. Let's be honest I am in a lot of them

And i may take tons of pictures of everyone but doesn't mean i can't make a gallery of just the ones of myself.
It's funny how many people worry that I'm not getting in the pictures... oh don't worry about that. Who do you think the person feels most comfortable taking a picture of when I hand them my camera?

I constantly give my camera to others to take pictures.
No way i'm gonna work 24/7 when this is not a job and the hope is there are pictures of everyone so the best way to do that is let people use my camera.

7. TEACHING

I also enjoy teaching... and this year I'm actually doing a couple of classes during the days at sea.
I am charging this time around not so much for the money... but to make the people value what I teach.

what we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: tis' dearness only that gives everything its value… the heart that feels not now is dead: the blood of his - Thomas Paine

Anyway those are some of the reasons I do this each year as a mostly service (together with a room stipend)
But if you're wondering what I'd charge your business for this service... $4-7k

Anyway here's to plenty of food, ice cream, friends, beaches and pictures this next week.