Can photography ever be considered as art?

"For 180-years, people have been asking the question: is photography art? At an early meeting of the Photographic Society of London, established in 1853, one of the members complained that the new technique was "too literal to compete with works of art" because it was unable to "elevate the imagination."

Note: I would beg to differ today...we have an unlimited horizon in our future with the advances in technology. Let's make sure we create art!  Bev

I love what Tim always says when he is teaching;

"It’s art when the very essence of the artist  is reflected in every particle of the finished image.

It’s fine art when that is done with the highest qualities, standards and materials possible, guaranteeing that image is at full potential."

 Let's drill down on this today...what can we do today to bring the value of our photography up to the value of an art piece such as a painting?

I would say the first thing is to make sure we produce photographs worthy of investment and undergirded with excellence in execution. That is where education comes in...we MUST learn this craft and strive for excellence if we are to be seen as artists! Check out the different levels (and intensity) we offer through various channels.

 Once we have a product that is excellent in execution, we need to understand how to value the art, presenting each piece with the attributes of a fine art piece. 

Here is what we do:

 1. We present every wall piece with a Certificate of Authenticity (seen above) which has a string of numbers (we handwrite these) that indicate the year, month, day, client number and pose number. We call it a Registration Number. Then Tim hand signs through the "It's An Original" seal. This is attached to the back of the framed piece. 

A couple of weeks later, we send a letter explaining the numbering system and checking to make sure the client is satisfied.

 2. With one product which is a hand-printed 11x14 reproduction of a Beau Visage painting, we present them in acid-free black boxes with a pair of white gloves for handling. We allow only 3 additional handprints of any painting; then that image is retired. Simply by handling the sample with white gloves  when showing our clients these beautiful prints gives the message that these are very valuable pieces of art. We then deliver this product with a pair of white gloves.

 3. We hand-sign all of our wall pieces. There is nothing like the signature of the artist to ensure the client of the value and uniqueness of these pieces.When I am buying an art piece, the first thing I look for is the signature of the artist. If I don't see it, I won't buy it! It is a very important key and one of the easier things you can do.

4. We speak about our portraits as art. We are photographic artists and print artists who only consider our work finished when it is printed and finished to our standards. We use acid-free mats and conservation glass on our fine art black and white portraits, even naming them Museum Prints, giving them  more value.

We undergird that value by using archival papers and processes so that these can be passed down to several generations. We are constantly messaging that in our business through our converstaions and written information pieces.

"Perhaps the biggest struggle photography has faced historically as a medium is to be taken seriously as an art form. I’d say it’s only in the last couple of decades that the results at auction have been able to hold their own against traditional art forms..."   Huffington Post

 If you don't value your art, how can you expect others to? What can you do that you are not currently doing to upgrade your presentation?