Spouses Attitude Toward Photography

[petronius]

She accepts my photography, even my GAS attacks (ok, I know how far I may go); she shoots not as much as I do, but often better! She has no problem to have only ONE camera (strange, I know). Best of all she does the kind of photography that bores me (group shots, formal shots,...).

 

[Austerby]

My husband likes taking photos but is not interested after that. It's very much my hobby.

 

[rogue_designer]

If we're going someplace picturesque KT grabs an F1N or an AE1 and shoots right alongside with me. Our styles are vastly different. But she shoots a good bit.

She also does good studio portraits. She's very good at getting models to relax and act naturally in front of the camera.

She also doesn't seem to mind when I turn the camera towards her too.

I guess I'm pretty lucky.

 

[dcsang]

She adores it - she encourages me and thinks I'm a "great" photographer - she loves the images I take and is right behind me in terms of learning more and advancing.

As for the gear thing - well, I haven't been too active with my gear lately - I've got all i need/want right now so she's all good with that too 🙂

Dave

 

[Muggins]

My other half isn't hugely into photography (she tolerates the GAS because she's much the same with books...), but I lent her my Balda Baldessa 1a a few years ago, and have hardly had a chance to use it since. She says it's the most left-hander friendly camera she's ever used.

And the other day she expressed an interest in trying B&W, so I've got a roll of Ilford in an OM10 with a yellow filter for her... should be interesting!

Adrian

 

[John Lawrence]

I have no appendage, so it's not an issue for me!

 

[migtex]

After 30 years together, I say she supports my craziness.
In fact she just offer me this Xmas a TT disguise 60 bag so I can carry more stuff!
She use a P&S, hates to carry anything bigger than that....

 

[Suzanne]

My boyfriend went so far as to buy me a complete darkroom setup this morning! I am so excited about this! He is very much into photography as I am. Bought me a Holga for Christmas, took me to all the camera shops in Columbus this past weekend and developed our b&w negatives with me yesterday morning.

I'm trying to convert him to Canon from his digital Nikon, but when I packed my bags to head home yesterday, he sent his Canon AE-1 home with me to play with. Which ment a lot since it was his dads camera back in the day. Yeah, he supports me!!!

 

[snip]

My wife don't really have a hobby, making it hard to argue for mine, she hates me buying more cameras and bits, likes to see me sell stuff and absolutely detests having her photo taken.

She tolerates it to an extend I guess, lets me keep film in the fridge and such, but I wouldn't say she likes it.

It would be wrong not to say that she supports me having a hobby though. Begrudgingly so perhaps, but she supports it.


//Jan

 

[Roger Hicks]

Frances hates digital but loves B+W and printing: it's very much HER darkroom -- and she prints all my B+W too. The 'signature' shot on our web-site is hers; we each normally carry 2 cameras per trip (usually Leica, Voigtländer and ZI).

Cheers,

R.

 

[januaryman]

My wife loves some photos I take, likes to have some framed and hung in her office; but she is puzzled by most of my work, and gets mad at the amounrt of time needed to scan, adjust, file, convert the images. As such, she has taken to mocking me by calling me "Picture Boy." She has NO interest in the hobby for herself...

Of late, she finds the quality of my photos is better (practice makes perfect) and last week she actually encouraged me to seek out a wider lens when I mentioned how nice a 28mm lens would be!

Since that time, I asked her if I could now have an upgrade to the title of "Photo-Man" but I think she'll try "Picture-Man" instead... 😀

At least we don't throw things.

 

[Migracer]

I am the lukiest man in the world.

I am the lukiest man in the world.

I have been with the same woman since we were in our late teens the profile picture is of both of us. I cannot imagine mot sharing everything. She has embraced all my so call insanities and made them hers too. From my racing (cars, motorcycles, sail boats, air planes) to the photographic family that came with it. She is my editor and harshest critic and my biggest motivator. She has also been my favorite model.

 

[Migracer]

When I read the poll quetions to Karyn.

When I read the poll quetions to Karyn.

Karyn was aghast at the negative leaning of the poll questions. I was just going to let it go but she is my partner and we wonder is the division of married interest such a reality? Are relationships like Roger and Frances, Karyn and I such an oddity?

 

[marke]

No, Migracer...*I* am the luckiest man in the world!

No, Migracer...*I* am the luckiest man in the world!

Just had to add that, Migracer. 😉

My wife has become my strongest supporter, always telling others about my work. She also became my assitant last summer when I shot my first wedding. I couldn't believe how she natually she just fell into the role and how well worked together. She was a natural. And to top it off, we had fun doing it!

 

[lynxkcg]

My fiance can't stand the sight of a camera anymore. She hates it when I break out any camera, the bigger the camera, the more she hates it. Kinda sucks, I've always gone with her hobbies, and joined in many myself. Photography is really my only big hobby, and I don't get any support for it 🙁

 

[x-ray]

I met my wife through photography. She was creative director for a retail clothing chain and was one of my clients. She loves photography too and shoots for enjoyment and reference for paintings as she's now a full time painter. I support her in her art and she supports me in my career as a commercial photographer and as a hobby.

 

[OurManInTangier]

My wife is very supportive of my photographic career as it pays the bills, holidays and meals out etc etc. She 'gets' the more mundane stuff like landscapes because they're pretty and/or atmospheric, however she thinks I'm just plain weird for wanting to photograph strangers.

I've completed a number of documentary projects both commercially and privately which she understands the point of but simply dislikes the style I appear to have 🙂 She also doesn't understand why someone would pay me good money to shoot grainy old black and white when they could have nice bright digital colour shots.

We're opposites in many ways and a similar in others but put up with, laugh at, enjoy and support each others oddities.

Plus, I like shooting on my own.... just as well as no-one wants to come with me! 🙂

 

[chut]

There have been some incredible husband-wife photographer partnerships in the past. Henri Cartier-Bresson and Martine Franck, Robert Capa and Gerda Taro, and Manuel and Lola Alvarez Bravo come to mind. I find that many of the most successful artists, even those without co-practitioners, usually have had the backing of a supportive spouse.

 

[ruby.monkey]

As long as I keep taking photos of which she approves, and my camera pile doesn't spread too far beyond the office, she's happy. She can't understand my love of cameras, but she appreciates the results.

As long as I can still pay the mortgage, anyway. What can I say? She's the brains of the family. 🙂

 

[blackwave]

There have been some incredible husband-wife photographer partnerships in the past. Henri Cartier-Bresson and Martine Franck, Robert Capa and Gerda Taro, and Manuel and Lola Alvarez Bravo come to mind. I find that many of the most successful artists, even those without co-practitioners, usually have had the backing of a supportive spouse.

Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison as well. An art museum in town hosted an interview with them I had the pleasure of attending. Their work seems as though it couldn't exist as it is without their collaboration. It appears they have a great relationship, just from observing them interact, and to extend that connection into their art must be really great. I was envious!