A few months ago I came across The Green Wedding Providers and thought, “hey, if anyone deserves a green certification, it’s me.” And this not something I talk about a whole lot, it’s just how I live, and so it may not be apparent to everyone how passionate I am about environmental issues.
When I filled out the application for the certification, it became very clear that being a “green photographer” isn’t so much about my practices as a photographer, but more about being green as a person. Most photographers shoot digital and offer online proofing. That right there is a huge step, saving tons of film, chemicals and paper that would require resources to produce and would end up in the waste stream. Many photographers even use recyclable batteries, which is a huge money and time saver since you’re not running around buying batteries before every gig. I’m thrilled that these things are fairly standard now.
The Green Wedding Provider certification dug deeper though, asking questions like:
How do I get around (by bike mostly, some bus, some carpool – car is the last resort)
Do I compost (yes!)
Do I grow food in a garden (yes)
What kind of chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides do I use in the garden? (none, compost is the best fertilizer)
Do I source green energy (it’s so easy to sign up for wind electricity, and it costs me like $2 / month more)
How do I dispose of my spent electronics? (sell them, donate them, take them to an e-waste recycling facility)
What kind of cleaning supplies do I use? (Mrs. Meyers or Dr. Bronners when vinegar and baking soda don’t cut it)
How do I conserve water? (we have a low-flow shower head and faucets, and we water the garden with a drip system)
Etc, etc… and they didn’t ask, but I told them anyway… that I’m vegan, and have been for over 4 years. More than a tree hugger, I’m a tree lover. You might find me admiring them as I was in this photo.
That’s me, a Green Certified Wedding Photographer.