Yeah, I get it, “My Epitaph” is a strange name for a chapter. But stick with me. People are always asking me about my goals as a photographer. They ask about the business side, the sales, the awards. And honestly? I’m flattered. I care about those things, and I won’t pretend I don’t. Earning my Master Photographer and Craftsman titles from Professional Photographers of America was a huge moment for me. It meant a lot. But here’s the thing: I can tell people want those milestones to be the highlight reel of my career, like they’re the finish line I was always running toward.
But that’s not it. I remember sitting down to write my first book in the Photography Demystified Series, back in 2016. I just let the words spill out, and I realized something: For me, being a photographer isn’t about chasing trophies or filling up a wall with plaques. If my tombstone just says, “Here lies David McKay, Master Photographer, took great photos, sold a ton of prints,” it wouldn’t mean much to me. Not really.
Sure, I love making great images. Of course I do. But when I think about what actually matters, what I want my life’s work to stand for, it’s something deeper. I want to help people see differently. Not just look, but actually see.
There’s this moment when you look through a lens, when you must stop and really pay attention to what’s in front of you. You must notice things. That pause, that shift in perspective, sometimes it’s subtle, sometimes it hits you like a freight train. That’s what I live for. That’s why I do this.
The best part of my job is sharing those moments with people. Showing them new cultures, wild places, sunrises and sunsets you can’t believe are real. Watching them get inspired, moved, changed, even if it’s just for a moment. Watching them have the same “ahh haa” moments when they look through the lens as I described above. Being the person who helps make that happen? That’s what matters. That’s what I hope people remember.
Because those moments don’t just change the people holding the camera. They change me, too. And sometimes, if we’re lucky, they change the world just a little bit. I know they do. As you read these stories, I hope something in them grabs you, maybe makes you pause, maybe even moves you. It’s remarkable to think how much can change just because a bunch of photographers decided to travel somewhere far away and start taking pictures. Don’t believe me? Keep reading.
