WHAT EXACTLY IS “GREEN” WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY?

There is a lot of buzz around our society about things being “green” and sometimes I wonder what people really mean when they say it… In regards to Photography, and specifically Wedding Photography, how shall I to make my business green?

OK, so my impact on the environment: I drive a lot! Going to meet clients, shooting weddings, driving around until I find the perfect spot for that Bridal portrait she’s been waiting for since she was a little girl! Yes gentlemen, girls dream about how Smokin’ Hot they’re going to look in their wedding dress! That’s why it’s such a big deal! So, I need a fuel efficient car to counter my excessive gasoline consumption. Solution: I drive a Toyota Corolla. Not that flashiest of cars, but the absolute best fuel efficiency that you can get without going Hybrid. I do so want a Prius… I think I will try to hold out for an all-electric car that hopefully Toyota and Honda will compete for and release one soon for the general American public! I don’t understand the Photographer, let’s call him Photographer X, who drives around in an SUV (that’s Sport Utility Vehicle if you’ve forgotten) with his logo plastered across the side. Seriously my camera gear, even with duplicates of everything for weddings, doesn’t take up THAT much space!

Impact on the environment #2: Paper. I mean, printing materials, contracts, information documents can add up to a lot of trees! I can use recycled paper, but I would really rather use none at all… I try not to print ANYTHING if I don’t absolutely have to. My desktop is littered with .pdf’s of documents that I need to keep but didn’t want to print!

Impact on the enviroment #3: Well, this one is rather a benefit of digital photography technology over film. There is no printing unless a person actually wants the photo! I use memory cards so no film or chemicals to process the film. Professional Digital camera’s are expensive and are frequently sold used to get the very last drop of use out of them! The great thing about Canon (which I use) camera’s, and I’m sure all the Pro-level camera gear, is that you fix it when it breaks and don’t just buy new stuff. We live in such a throw-away society, it’s nice when you don’t have to throw everything away! The way I keep the actual end product of my wedding photography green, is that I provide a photo disc to my clients. One which they may take to the photo lab and make prints as they choose to. I also would highly recommend a digitally designed album over one which uses prints. This cuts down on the number of pages and paper used in the overall album. Plus, I think storybook albums from GraphiStudio are dreamy!

More will come as I think of ways to make my business as “green” as possible… whatever that means!

Green Wedding Photography! Right now: