Life is too short to worry about it. So, don't.
I know you've heard it before, one way or another... "That's too cliché"... "That's SO cliché"... Or, "Don't be cliché." Well, guess what? Being cliché is better than being negative. Take it from Meg. She found the love of her life because she gave in to the cliché of saying the quiet part out loud, that she's in love with none other than Hercules.
In the case for photography, there's a lot of clichés... and I will embrace them all. Someone once told me (a fellow photographer) to never use the word 'capture' in any of my work, because, you guessed it, it's cliché. In my mind, it's the perfect word to encapsulate what photography does. It's well-known, descriptive, simple, and above all, it's powerful. Being told not to use that word made me think of all the common themes of photography. There are so many genres of photography and they all come with typical angles, styles, and themes. That doesn't make them any less valuable or artistic. Art can be powerfully subjective because it is an expression from the personal perspective of the artist, and individuality is manifested through the artist's talent and skill. If we're always worrying about being cliché, we might miss out on the opportunity to express our individuality in life. Think of themed photoshoots, for example.
I'm currently working on a themed photoshoot to officially launch Kristin Mae Photography this spring, and I couldn't be more excited about it. However, one day, while recently scrolling through Facebook, I saw an advertisement from another local photographer that also does studio sessions, and the theme they're doing this spring is exactly what I am working on this very moment. It couldn't be more identical to my concept; think fancy archway prop and flowers. My heart sank a little, I won't lie, because I thought I had an original idea because I had never seen it before. Silly me. I decided to make it original, and so, I am.
Anyway...
As a photographer, it is my job to bring my clients' visions to life. If they want family photos, holiday photos, graduation photos, or another style, I am here for it. If they're interested in mini-sessions, I am here for those, too. If I have a client that wants to do a boho-themed shoot, even though they don't dress like that everyday, I am here for it; floppy sun-hat and all. Life is too short to not be cliché. If you spend too much time worrying about it, you'll miss out on artistic opportunities and possibilities. As the famous polymath Sir Isaac Newton once said, "If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants." There are far too many talented photographers in this world, with unique and similar inspirations, ideas, and outcomes, to be worried about who's done what kind of shoot already, and when.
Do it anyway.
If you want to pop a bottle of champagne during your photoshoot, let's do it!
I've actually done that shoot before. It's fun, and so cliché. 😉