A few clients have asked recently about my “green policy”. Obviously, in a world where most people are quite conscious of the environment, global warming, and our impact on the world, potential clients want to know what I am doing to “be green”.
Being a photographer who shoots digitally, it is often easy to pretend that I am greener than I was when I shot film. But my sense is, the waste and pollution is somewhat more hidden, so we think it’s less. We don’t see/touch it (film chemicals) but it is still there (manufacturing, shipping and disposal of products). It’s not easy but I am working away at it.
For me, “being green”, is simply an extension of how we (my husband, my daughter and myself) live our lives every day – we try to respect the earth, tread lightly and maintain an awareness about our impact on the natural world.
Concretely, this means, we bike, walk or take transit most places. If I am shooting a job out of town or need more gear than my bike or feet can carry, I do a car share.
I try to buy used gear when possible. I try to use rechargeable batteries and dispose of them properly when they are finished. I send clients digital proofs and not paper proofs. I reuse paper and envelopes when possible. I shoot jobs in vintage and re-gifted clothes, lol!
All of this being said, there is always more we can do. And I don’t just mean buying “green” laundry detergent or organic cotton underwear (this is not always an accessible option for people). We need to push the manufacturers of our gear to produce in a greener way (i.e. with renewable energy sources). And we have a serious responsibility, ourselves, to struggle for a better world.
I try to be as inclusive as possible in my work, and that definitely includes being eco-friendly. I am most definitely open to feedback so if you have thoughts or comments, fire away!
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