In this post, I talk a little about my relationship with photography and some of the things that I love about being a photographer. I also touch on how I use photography as a tool to help me to slow down and keep my mental health in check.

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So yeah, let’s get into this. Here are 6 things that I love about my journey as a photographer.

1. Photography is my creative outlet of choice

If I’m being honest, I don’t like the way my mind works most of the time. I overthink way too much, I get anxious and I struggle to calm my thoughts. Though this happens much more than I’d like to admit, I’ve found that immersing myself in creative activities really helps.

As a kid, I was quite artistic and would always be doodling or sketching or writing. My first memory of thinking I was creative is tied to my dad – he swore that I was the best artist ever. I remember once when my sister had her portrait drawn by an actual artist, dad saw it, shrugged, and said something to the effect of: “It ain’t all that, Damion can do better”.

I couldn’t! There was no universe in which I could do better. But dad thought I could draw – so I thought I could draw.

As I’ve gotten older, photography has become my major creative outlet. Sometimes, just the simple act of picking up my camera and taking a walk is enough to help to reset my mind. And I don’t even have to edit or share the photos (or even review them for that matter), I just have to get out there, pause, open my eyes, and take a photograph.

Also interestingly enough, I’ve found that if I haven’t done something creative for a while, I start to feel anxious. I get cranky and unsettled and my brain starts to go haywire.

2. Being a photographer reminds me to slow down

Building on the first point, being a photographer helps me to remember to slow down. It’s so easy to get caught up with life and making a living that we forget to just pause for a moment and take a breath.  Photography has helped me to slow it down a little. To notice the small things that I would have otherwise missed.

Like the rain, I love when it rains because of the way everything reflects off of wet surfaces. I love stumbling upon a scene and noticing how perfect the light is, or how funny a particular composition could be, or how different everything looks if you change your point of view. Like looking up. When’s the last time you stopped and just looked up?

This photograph was taken on Brickdam just outside the GGMC office. I was waiting on a taxi one day, fuming because it was late, and happened to look up.  I was honestly surprised by what I saw and am so happy I quickly snapped this one with my phone. It’s still one of my favorite photos to this day.

We are surrounded by so much beauty – it’s all around us, in every landscape, all the time. I honestly believe that if we all stopped taking ourselves so damn seriously, we’ll be a lot more likely to notice how special our little place in the world is.

3. Photography helps me remember more

This one may be cheating because I actually don’t know if I really remember more. However, because I always have a camera in my hand, I’m able to capture and immortalize moments that would have been otherwise fleeting. Many of these moments aren’t big or important – in fact, they are so normal that sharing the photos would be useless as I’m the only one that might find any value in them.

But I’m able to capture those moments and remember things that I would have surely forgotten otherwise. And once I remember, those memories are better because I have a photograph that goes along with them.

4. Being a photographer allows me to capture unforgettable memories for others

I must admit that when I first started out with portrait photography I was scared. It was super intimidating to meet strangers for the first time and stick a camera in their faces. I had no practice and I was sure that I’d bomb. Hard. But, somehow, that didn’t happen. And my first portrait session led to a second and then a third. Now, I’ve been photographing people for a good few years and am happy to have played a part in capturing some of their best memories.

When I have a session with a client, I work hard to quickly dissipate any tension and to get them to relax. Before they even realize it, I try to get us chatting like old friends and I’m able to photograph images that they fall in love with. Seeing the look of joy and satisfaction on the client’s face makes me in turn fall in love with my job even more.

5. Photography enables me to make a buck on the side

I mean, duh. Bannaz gotta eat yuh kno. Granted, It’s pretty tough for me to make a living from photography, especially in the Guyanese economy. But a little extra income from this side hustle comes in quite nicely. At the very least, it helps me to justify point number 6.

6. Being a photographer lets me justify fancy toys

Don’t get me wrong, I still can’t afford all the toys on my wish list. But being a paid photographer does help to make it easier to justify. “I need this (insert specialized equipment) because it’s gonna help me with my work” is a lot more compelling than “I want this cuz it’s nice”.

The amazing lens or that new computer or that whatever else is shiny and new, they aren’t toys, they are ‘tools’ (wink). I’m allowed to be a tech-head.

How about you? Are you also a photographer? What are some of the things that you love about photography? Let me know down in the comments section below.

Until next time.

Damion