Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Susan Platt. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Susan thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?
Professional photographers, like myself, in today’s society are being mischaracterized due to various misconceptions. And what I mean by “professional photographers” is anyone educated in and receiving income from their craft by working within the fine art, commission, journalism, media outlets, wedding, portrait (studio), or commercial aspects of the photographic industry. Here is why there are so many misconceptions:
Ubiquity of Cameras: With the widespread availability of smartphones and affordable digital cameras, almost anyone can take high-quality photos. This has led to a misconception that professional photographers are no longer necessary since anyone can capture decent images. However, professional photographers bring much more to the table than just technical skills and equipment. They have a deep understanding of composition, lighting, storytelling, and the ability to capture unique moments and emotions.
Social Media and Filters: The rise of social media platforms and photo filters has created a culture of instant gratification and a focus on superficial aesthetics. Many people believe that a visually pleasing image is solely dependent on filters and editing tools, disregarding the expertise and artistic vision of professional photographers. This can lead to a devaluation of their skills and an oversimplification of the craft.
Misunderstanding of Skill and Experience: Professional photographers invest a significant amount of time, effort, and resources into honing their craft. They undergo extensive training, gain experience through practical work, and continuously refine their skills. However, this dedication and expertise may be overlooked or underestimated in a society that values instant results and quick fixes.
Perceived Lack of Creativity: Some people believe that professional photographers merely replicate well-known styles or ideas rather than showcasing their own creativity. This misconception fails to recognize the vast range of styles, genres, and innovative approaches that professional photographers bring to their work. They often push boundaries, experiment with new techniques, and create unique visual narratives that reflect their artistic vision.
Market Saturation: The photography industry has become highly competitive, with a significant number of photographers offering their services. This saturation can lead to a perception that all photographers provide a similar level of quality and professionalism. However, there is a stark difference between amateurs and professionals in terms of technical skills, artistic vision, business acumen, and client satisfaction.
It’s important to remember that professional photographers play a vital role in capturing significant moments, preserving memories, documenting events, and creating visual stories. Their expertise, creativity, and technical proficiency contribute to the quality and depth of the images they produce, distinguishing them from casual photographers.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I create photographs that are visually stimulating and that speak to the heart and the mind. I capture the world as only I see it. It may be the silhouette of a rock formation sinking into the sunset or the simplicity of dewdrops dancing in the wind. My photographs stir up the unexpected emotions and thoughts in the viewer. My photographic journeys, also known as #Lightstalking adventures, have been the catalyst and inspiration behind each and every photo.
I began photographing with a Kodak Brownie Bullet film camera given to me by my brother when I was eight years old. Since then, I have been exploring the world through my lens.
My photography career began as an assistant portrait/wedding photographer for a small studio in Lodi, California. While there, I learned the basics in studio lighting, posing, composition, and environmental lighting. After honing my skills, I was offered a position at largerportrait/wedding studio, a few miles south in Stockton. This is where I polished my skills. During this time, I became one of 1,600 photographers in the United States to become a Certified Professional Photographer through the Professional Photographers of America. I was a member of the Professional Photographers of California and held the position of President for the Professional Photographers of San Joaquin County for 4 terms.
My unparalleled photographic style, unique eye, along with my eccentric personality, led me to breaking out on my own and opening my own wedding/portrait studio on the “Miracle Mile” in Stockton. I quickly became the most sought out wedding/portrait photographer in Northern California.
Throughout my 25 years in the portrait/wedding photography industry, I continued my education. I am proud to say that I studied under many notable portrait and wedding photographers such as Frank Cricchio, Joyce Wilson, Monte Zucker, Denis Reggie, Annie Leibowitz, and Helmuth Newton, to name a few.
After suffering a spinal injury, and dealing with severe burnout, I stepped away from my career as a professional portrait/wedding photographer. I took a 5-year respite. During that time, I did not pick up my camera. Fast forward to 2013, I decided it was time to get back in the game. I picked up my camera and began a new journey in fine art photography.
For the last ten years, I have been working with film, digital and instant film mediums. My areas of work encompass wildlife, conservation/environmental cultural, daily life, abstract/still life, and documentary. My personal mantra is “The Way I See”, which is exactly what it means, The Way I See It. My keen eye is always looking beyond the ordinary. I wait for that pivotal moment; when the light is just right, or when the subject is at its prime, then I click the shutter and make my photographs.
More recently, I have had the privilege of being mentored by Canadian humanitarian photographer David deChemin, and conservation writer/conservation photographer Jayme Heimbuch.
Wildlife and environmental/conservation photography makes up a large area of my body of work. This includes wild horses, birds of prey-Bald and Golden Eagles, Egrets, Herons, Sandhill Cranes, urban wildlife, and the effects of drought on the environment.
My work has been honored through the Julia Margaret Cameron Award, the Pollux Awards, and PhotoLA. My photographs have been featured at FotoNostrum’s Mediterranean House of Photography in Barcelona, Spain. Contemporary Art Curator awarded her The Collector’s Vision International Art Award (2021), The Power of Creativity Art Prize (2021), Voices of Tomorrow Art Award (2022), and The Faces of Peace Art Award (2022), International Prize Leonardo da Vinci 2023 Awardee (2023),International Prize Pegasus Awardee, International Celebrity Masters Honoree (2023).
My work has been published in Contemporary Art Curator Power of Creativity Art Book, Voices of Photography Art Book, and the Faces of Peace Art Book, Voyage Utah, Circle’s Spotlight Magazine, and Craft & Vision Magazine.
Currently, I am preparing for my solo exhibition at the Artifact Gallery in New York City, which opens on September 4, 2024.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Society can take several actions to support photographers and cultivate a thriving creative ecosystem. Fostering the arts in education by prioritizing art education in schools to provide students with opportunities to explore and develop their creative talents, including photography. Offering photography classes, workshops, and resources that equip students with the technical skills and artistic vision necessary to pursue photography as a career or hobby.
We, as a society, can invest in cultural institutions by allocating funding and resources to museums, galleries, and cultural institutions that exhibit and promote photography. Support these institutions in organizing photography exhibitions, artist residencies, and educational programs to engage the public and provide exposure for photographers.
Let’s create accessible spaces for photographers and establish affordable studio spaces and shared facilities where photographers can work, collaborate, and experiment. These spaces can facilitate the growth of a creative community, encourage knowledge sharing, and provide photographers with the necessary resources and equipment.
By offering grants, scholarships, and financial support for photographers at various stages of their careers, these funding opportunities can help cover equipment costs, project development, research, travel expenses, and exhibition or publication fees. Financial support enables photographers to focus on their creative pursuits and take risks in their work.
I would like to see society support the photographic arts by promoting and attending art festivals, photography fairs, and cultural events that celebrate photography. These platforms can provide opportunities for photographers to showcase their work, engage with the public, and connect with potential buyers, collectors, and collaborators.
Lastly, we need to advocate for fair compensation and copyright protection for photographers. We should encourage the public, businesses, and media outlets to respect photographers’ intellectual property rights and compensate them fairly for their work, and support initiatives that promote ethical practices and fair treatment within the industry.
I believe by implementing these measures, society can create an environment that nurtures photographers’ talents, encourages creativity, and supports a vibrant and sustainable creative ecosystem. Such support not only benefits photographers themselves but also contributes to the enrichment of cultural heritage, innovation, and the collective human experience.
Have you ever had to pivot?
The shift from film to digital photography has been primarily driven by advancements in technology and the numerous advantages offered by digital imaging. These advancements caused me to pivot not once, but twice.
I began photographing back in the 1970s, prior to the arrival of digital technology. I learned my photographic skills by working with film. I learned how to develop B/W film and how to make prints from the negatives. If I utilized color film, I would have to send it off to a lab for processing and a wait a week to see the results. There was no one-hour film processing available at this time. When I began working as a portrait/wedding photographer, film was still the only option. After photographing an event or a week’s worth of portraits, I would send my film off to the lab by courier for processing and printing. It would take approximately a week for the lab to return my negatives and proof prints. When digital photography became available to me, I was able to have instant results, even allowing me to make adjustments to the image on the spot, if needed and improve my technique. Digital photography eliminated the need for film, processing, and printing, which was costly and time-consuming. Digital images could be captured, stored, and viewed without the need for physical media. This convenience, coupled with the ability to delete unwanted images, allowed me to take more shots and experiment without worrying about wasted film or expenses.
Though digital photography cut costs and the fruits of my labor were instantaneous, I felt that I lost that personal contact with my clients. With film, once it was processed and the proof prints arrived, I would contact the clients to arrange viewing. I would meet personally with my clients to deliverytheir proof prints and help make the selections for their final prints, advising them on sizing, matting, and framing.
Consumer perceptions changed when digital cameras and smartphones became readily available. Where weddings were concerned, people began putting more emphasis on having larger weddings to have low budget or no budget photo vendors. I heard too often that a family member or friend had a digital camera and could do theirphotographs-just because “Uncle Joe or my friend’s friend Lucy has a really nice camera, so they must be able to take great photos.”.
Because of the changing technological landscape in professional photography, studios like mine saw a decrease in business. I noticed this trend early on when digital just started to take off and decided that it probably was a good idea to find other areas in photography to focus my attention.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sgplattimages.com/
- Instagram: @sgplatt
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sightsrevealed
- Youtube: Coming Soon!
Image Credits
Photograph of Susan Platt by Nadine Sandmeier Brown.