I recently had a conversation with a college level photography professor.   She asked what I wanted to learn.   I told her I would love to really push my photography to a “fine art” level.    Her response did not surprise me, but it definitely got me thinking…..

“We do not teach much technique in advanced classes. Because this is an art program we look at the content of the photograph as an art object. The term “fine art” is thrown around a lot and means different things to different people. But wedding photography does not make it into the content centered images that would make it into an art museum. It is a commercial enterprise. I think what people mean when they use fine art wedding is that it is artful.

So I’m not really sure if I agree or disagree.   I realize that wedding photography is not in museums but that doesn’t mean that it couldn’t or wouldn’t…. and why not?    Portraits are in museums all the time, so I would assume that weddings could fall under portraits.    And Yes it is a commercial enterprise…..  for sure….but does that make it less art?   Yikes this topic makes my head spin sometimes.   I definitely consider photography art, even the commercial kind.  Just like I consider make up, culinary, hair, all that stuff is art….but you won’t see a make up artist in a museum either…..But to me the ability to be in a museum does not define something as fine art…..

Long story short, here are a few of my images that are more artful…. or perhaps fine-art-ish.    And if you know me well at all you know that when people tell me something can’t be done… or I since some doubt….well lets just say that drives me even more.     I say 20 years from now you WILL see someone’s wedding photography in museums if you haven’t already.   Not saying it will be mine, but this industry has some pretty awesome people that can make anything happen if they put their mind to it!  <3    I surely follow some photographers that I would die to go see their work in print hanging beautifully on the walls of a museum.