We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rob Simmons a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Rob, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s jump right into the heart of things. Outsiders often think businesses or industries have much larger profit margins than they actually do – the reason is that outsiders are often unaware of the biggest challenges to profitability in various industries – what’s the biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?

Nowadays with phones and the cameras in them, there are actually more photos taken in one day than in the history of all of photography before the advent of the camera phone. It then becomes a problem to justify the expense to someone wanting to hire you because they have a camera, they have some kind of filter app on their phone that does al the work. Yet when you truly want to have something artistic and beautiful to display you finally realize I need that experience and equipment for getting that photo. I once sold a photo of a field of bluebonnets for 500.00. The customer was a little taken aback for the price. Yet the photo was a result of hours of driving around to find the location, taking the time to set up the shot (which was with a 4×5 view camera and film which is 4 inches by 5 inches of sheet film) Then waiting a few hours for the sun to set and take the photo. Then drive back home and send the film off for development, to only find out if all of your practice and learning to do this paid off. Then to take the film scan it and have it printed and then the expense of framing. by the time it was done, of that 500 dollars paid only a few hundred went to me, which in turn continued to help buy film and continue on with my passion. Many people dont take in account the time that is put in before and after the shutter has clicked to take the photo. A 6 hour wedding that the customer sees us working is actually a 20-30 hour wedding for us with before and after.

Rob, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am kind of a Jack of All Trades photographer. From portraits with a digital camera, to film photography with 35mm, Medium Format, all the way up to 4×5, 5×7 and 8×10 film. I get in ghillie suits like a sniper and hide in trees to wait for wildlife to come and capture them in their home. Able to get details that would be impossible from a distance. All the way to seeing the sky and clouds in the reflection of their eyes. Or hiking out in the wilderness carrying 40 lbs of camera gear in a back pack to set up and take the shot of a sunset or sunrise and not knowing if you got the shot until a few weeks later once the film is developed. Yet when you do with large format you are able to print a 5 ft by 6 ft photo with incredible detail, like you could walk into the photo. I even do a process known as Wet Plate by taking a tin plate and making it light sensitive and taking a one off photo of someone that will last for 100’s of years. A family heirloom type photo. Sometimes the old way can still be the way that really lasts.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Having run my own business for the past 26 years has been great yet stressful at times. It is something that I never thought I would be doing but when you do it for yourself it can not feel like work. Can be tough knowing you have employees who count on you and of course I count on them to help our company continue to be successful. Of course these past few years have been tough with the economy and inflation really affecting our business. So to help supplement and of course the joy I have in it, this creative side of photography and music has been something that I do that I love as well as bringing the creative aspect to finding ways to overcome what has happened with this economy.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I just try to be honorable in how I do business. I want what is best for my customer, and sometimes that best is not me. I will tell them that because I dont feel I should take their money when for them it could be spent better elsewhere. I know God will always provide for me and I hope that I always show Him through my actions.

Contact Info:

• Website: shootingthelight.com
• Instagram: @shooting.the.light
• Facebook: facebook.com/RobSimmonsPhotography
• Youtube: RobSimmonsPhotography