Your Spouse/Partner/Girlfriend and Photography?

So there it is-- How do you make your spouse/partner/girlfriend

interested in your passion? AND -- Is it worth it?

Yaron,

 

The next time we get together, bring you wife along. I have a digital camera I can loan her. Instant ectacsy! Once she or he sees the wonderful results, they're hooked!

Yaron: careful what you wish for, you might get it :-)

i met my girlfriend through an art site, because we both take pictures.

 

and we work really well together.

 

and oh yes, it is worth it.

Two people in one house with NAS, sounds dangerous, although I think I have enough NAS for at least 2 people.

My wife show interest in the results, other than that, she does not ask too many questions....ie..when did you get that? I like her sewing/knitting results and do not question the trunks of fabric and yarn. The local camera shop is around the corner from a knitting shop....it's a fair trade.....Warren

Warren,

 

I'm right there with you, brother. My wife simply enjoys the final product, and shows little other interest, which is good, because there is no justification for what I've spent on my setup!

My wife is primarily interested in the economics of photography, as in... <i>"How much did <b>that</b> cost?"</i>

My wife _is_ the photographer! I just screw around with cameras...

My G/F only had a fleeting interest in photography when I met her, but since then has taken more of an interest as a follow on from my own. To that extent she's no where near as fanatical about it as I am, but does enjoy 'capturing the moment' so to speak.

 

The nice offshoot of this is that she'll work my want for taking photo's into what ever outings we have, and not see it as 'baggage' which holds us up.

 

Its also good as she see's things differently then I do, so say if we were to go to a wildlife park then her photo's would be from from a view which I probably wouldn't have thought of.

 

I guess it wouldn't bother me if she didn't give a rats about my hobbies, but the fact that she understands my interest (and my financial indulgences) definately make it worth it.

 

As for how to 'make' your better half interested in it .. maybe you need to meet her half way and join her in some of her indulgences and hobbies. They don't need to 'love' photography, but it really helps if they understand your cravings for it :)

Hi Yaron:

 

My SO got interested after following me around and waiting for me to take photos. Then when I got them back and he saw them, he got interested. He's not as interested as I am but he really is active and has a nice collection of really good photographs now.

 

I have added to his photo equipment with gifts for his birthday and Christmas. I have also rolled some of my early equipment for his use. He supports my efforts fully and arranges our time togethere where we can photograph.

 

BTW, he really likes the lens I got from you for him.

 

Conni

My partner is able to detect my acquiring any piece of photographic equipment by its scent. A single, expired, roll of Velvia: she knows. A lens: she knows before I do. Recently I've realised that when she says she's not interested in photography, what she means is that she's not interested in carrying the necessary stuff around. Now I carry it, she uses it.

 

But what's really, really difficult to live with is when we get home and review the pictures. The ones taken from that interesting angle that I didn't even consider; the creative compositions that really stand out, the ones that emphasize some detail I didn't even see; the ones other people comment on. Hers. All hers.

 

The least people who claim not to be interested in photography can do is not take good pictures.

Originally my husband wasn't interested in anything but enjoying the results. Then we got the Sony F707, and his interest grew slightly with the instant results of digital. Now I've got a Nikon D70, and he has the Sony to himself - he loves it! He insists on shooting in M mode (as I do), and takes the good with the bad.

 

Now I wouldn't say it's a passion for him, rather it's become an enjoyable pastime for him to share with me as we travel, hike, camp, etc. Oh, and he always sets the tripod up for me, getting the spirit level just right. If I do it without asking him to help he gets hurt feelings :D. Men - go figure! (yeah, yeah, I love this cuteness really... )

You don't! Photography is a hobby, not a job, and hobby become a job. It is not something that you make ppl liking it. Most ppl like photography are likely interesting in electronics, computers, etc, and most of them are major in engineering and art :). For example, I hate shopping and going to the Mall, but my wife in love with it. I would rather go to Fry's or Arlington Camera than the Mall or spending a day in park taking picture and camcording.

O learn ye of the fury of a woman scorned and beware!<p>As some of you know, last year I went picture-taking crazy in Arizona with my FG and 3 lenses. My wife, who was with me, felt ignored and still hasn't fogiven me. When she found out that because of NAS I spent about $6000 last year on lenses (and other goodies), she hit the roof. Now she calls the camera my "mistress" and hates everything concerning photography. In the interim, she continues to take pictures with her Canon Elph 2 that are quite decent. Click on my name and you'll see one of her pictures that I've posted when discussing APS picture quality in another post long ago. Being banished from using my Nikons when travelling, I'm forced to use our 18 year old Canon Sure Shot Tele P&S. Then she exults in how much better her pictures turn out than mine - even when I was using the Nikons. Oh, woeful tale! Is there no way out of this sad state?<p>The answer, as with all things feminine is to spend a lot of attention and money on her. Maybe, in retrospect, I should have spent more attention and less money. At any rate, while we were in Aruba, I purchased for her a nice Chopard "Happy Diamonds" watch for her birthday. That put me back north of $4K, and I'm still waiting for the watch to come from Switzerland (she had it customized with rubies, and mother of pearl face).<p>Take an interest in her hobbies, someone above said. Last year, in order to help her along with her musical interests, I purchased a Nurnberger violin bow (about 80 years old). That was actually pretty cheap for about $2K and it dramatically improved her sound. She's quite a decent violinist to start with. OK, so some of you don't think that $2K is cheap for a piece of wood, but have you priced what decent violins cost lately?<p>This year, I decided to use the money I was saving up for a new car and get her the piano of her dreams instead. (My wife had trained to be a concert pianist when she was a teenager, but she went into business instead because of pressing financial needs at the time - my medical school). Instead of a new Mercedes E320 4-matic (4 wheel drive), I've put it all into a Steinway Model B grand piano. Actually, the Steinway costs more than a fully loaded Mercedes sedan. The pain is that my colleage just bought a new Mercedes E500, so I see his car in the lot every day :-( As a consolation, at least I'm buying American Iron (Steinways are made in Brooklyn, NY), than German iron (or Austrian iron - Bosendorfers are about $100K). She's a lot happier with me at the moment. Cost? Only about $70K of "repentance" money. She may actually let me take the Nikons on one of our upcoming trips.<p>So, learn ye all. Don't neglect your spouse for your hobbies, or it WILL COST you!<p>P.S. Dig a hole in your back yard, behind a bush. Put your NAS receipts in a watertight box and bury them in there.

Well I don't have a spouse right now. But I do have family and friends. After spending thousands on camera gear this year, they really bitched. Did you really need to spend all that money? A couple of prints kept them quiet. for now!

My wife only cares when I take pictures of her--and when she sees the scans on the screen--asks me to remove the wrinkles in Photoshop!