Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009...8:50 pm
Being Green For Wedding Photographers
Jump to Comments
This may or may not be a concern for a working photographer. We’re usually faced with many challenges to our gear, brain, and logistics. Being a wedding photographer is knowing how to solve your challenges instantly and going with the flow.
I thought i’d shed some light on this. I believe the earth is something we take for granted for and should take care of because it takes care of us: beautiful landscapes, food, shelter, etc.
Here are some small ideas for a wedding photographer that can eventually become a big impact.
- Recycled Batteries: This is a simple and no brainer. Purchase your brand choice of recycled batteries. A lot of photographers will say Maha Powerex is their pick of choice. I’d agree it seems like the most durable batteries i’ve used so far.
- Recycle when you can: You’re a wedding photographer and you probably love getting and sending packages. Try your best to reuse your boxes when you can. With USPS the only requirements are that you cover up any previous label.
- Purchase Recycled Products: Keep your eye out for recycled paper products for the office. Sometimes they’re cheaper and in effect will save you money as well.
- Unplug any auxillary accessories: When you’re not using your printer. Unplug it from the outlet. It still will continue to consume electricity if it’s off but plugged in. Unless you purchase a special surge protector. This will save you a plethora of money as well!
- Buy a GPS: Stop printing google maps. You’re going to waste a lot of paper and ink. Just buy yourself a GPS. Just make sure you plug in the destination points the night before.
- Printing: Print on the back of paper that’s already been used. Sometimes you might need paper for drafts. Use the back!
- Meetings: If you meet your clients more than once. Try to minimize travel by replacing one in person meeting with your client with a phone call or skype/web meeting. Doing things over the internet will save you and your clients time as well as tons of gas. Here are some examples: Invoice Day, Final Date Confirmation meetings. Some things you cannot replace in person meetings might be: Album/Creative Meetings.
- Eco-Friendly Car: This isn’t a viable option for everyone; given the costs of a eco-friendly car isn’t the most cheapest option at this point. Purchase or lease a car for your wedding photography business. On the plus side; the value of hybrids keep their value very well and may eventually save you a lot of money in the long-run when gas is at $4-$5/gallon
- Maximizing your Car trip: This is a bit related to the last one. Try when you can to car pool and make multiple trips all at once: While heading home from my wedding i can check my PO box because it’s on the way and send any put any mail while at the PO box.
- Carbon Offsets: Purchase Carbon Offsets to Offset your brand! This isn’t the most attractive option; but for environmentally conscious brides this might be a good way to market yourself. Personally, I’ve only encountered a few couple brides in the past several years whom are enviornmentally conscious.
1 Comment
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:28 pm
I’ve been living green since before it was so fashionable, and I even had a job as a recycling educator to develop public education programs about reducing waste. One of the reasons I was an early digital photography adopter was its green potential.
I recently learned that most energy conservation gurus believe that the lion’s share of resource conservation is expected to be achieve through the public’s efforts to use energy efficient appliances and tools, and implement conservation measures. If this is indeed true, it’s time to seriously get started, don’t you think?
So, these are great tips that everyone, not just pro photographers, can use! Every little bit counts!
Leave a Reply