WARNING: PHOTOGRAPHER’S RANT! This is aimed primarily at other photographers, but of course all are welcome.

First of all, the title will explain itself as you read, but good luck labeling another photographer as Arab AND a communist. That combo doesn’t come along very often. Must be the end of the world.

Second…

Look, photographers; I get it.

We’re all fighting really hard just to stay afloat, let alone make it anywhere. We’re all fighting over the same slice of pie in our respective markets, not to mention the slice isn’t even looking so good anymore (Newsweek was sold for an unbelievable $1 recently – yes there’s much more to it than that, but it’s still an indication of the times).

On top of that, EVERYONE is a photographer now. We feel this especially on the wedding side of the business for those of us who shoot them. I can’t tell you how often I’ve seen guests with a $2,000 lens (just like mine) hooked onto a camera body for another $4,000 (just like mine).

Convincing brides that the difference between them and me is experience has become a tough sell, although more often than not I seem to be losing work to the photographer who has a grand total of $800 worth of equipment. And brides, if you’re reading this, I don’t care if your guests take pictures; let them take more than I do!

But even with all this…

I do not get why photographers choose to hoard whatever they know.

How insecure do you feel about your work that you think the first schmuck to come along and do what you do will take away all your business?!

Location scouting is the first thing that comes to my mind, and just yesterday, I was out securing a cemetery location in Ogden for an upcoming shoot, so I decided that it would be a good time to check out Union Station a bit more closely than I had before. After all, I rarely make it up to Ogden.

So I wander around and yeah it’s great, but then I came across this:

And I realized that I’d finally found the location that another photographer, about a year ago, sternly refused to tell me anything about… BUT! I’m not gonna share the location to spite that photographer.

I’m gonna share the location because I’m not worried about what it’ll do to my business or to the body of my work.

I’m told this is a popular spot for photography, so this may be old news for many living in Ogden, but for those who may be starting out or those who just don’t get up to Ogden that often, it’s right by Union Station, on the north-west side, across from the bus station platforms. All of that is on the corner of 23rd Street and Wall Avenue.

There.

But hey, as long as I’m ranting about some photographers NOT sharing, how about I put my money where my mouth is and DO share some locations that help make my work stand out a bit?

Well here you go. Here’s some work I’ve done along with their locations (I’m purposefully leaving out locations that I gained access to as a favor, or happens to be someone’s house, etc., but you’re welcome to email me and ask if you’re curious – photographers, clients, I don’t care):

Hill Aerospace Museum: 7961 Wardleigh Rd., Hill AFB, UT. You have to take care not to expose any of the surroundings or it’ll kill the illusion of being by real planes:

Clear Vista Circle, off of 5400 S., past the train tracks headed west. There’s a lot of industrial crap all around there, which is why I was shooting towards the sky on both shoots:

Spanish Fork Reservoir, all the way up Spanish Oaks Dr. You’ll have to Google it using Satellite View to see it. Crystal clear waters but relatively small:

“Toxic Barrels” as I like to call them. On 400 W. between 800 S. and 900 S. on the west side:

West of the Usana Amphitheater, the gated road just off curvy 6400 W. The road you’re looking at curves back towards the amphitheater (headed east):

Emigration Canyon Rd. You have to park your car where you’ve roughly reached the peak and are overlooking Little Dell Reservoir and hike up southbound past the power stations:

Right across my house! It looks different depending on the time of year. I’m about on the corner of 6115 W. and 7000 S. in West Jordan. At least stop by and say hello if you’re this close:

Willard Bay State Park. It’s north of Ogden, take the 750 N. exit and head west:

There. Done! Somebody come talk to me in a couple years. I’ll still be in business, hopefully with even some healthy growth to speak of.

And photographers, for cryin’ out loud, SHARE! Share what you know!

END OF RANT.

I’ll be posting some images later today of a recent wedding and then sometime this weekend I’m going to announce a new project that involves some major giving back to my community. Very excited about this one!