What exactly is a green photographer and what makes him/her green?

Since the advent of digital photography, the industry has become more green in general as we do not need to process film in order to see the output and spend a lot less money and resources on producing photos. With digital cameras, you can see what you just took and if you dont like the shot, you can simply delete it right away without having to wait to see if it turned out ok after getting it developed. You can also simply save all your images on your computer/laptop and hard drives/dvd/cd instead of printing it all out. You can even display your images in a digital picture frame.

By being a green photographer, however, the photographer is someone who is socially and environmentally conscious about his/her business. There are renewable resources and local vendors that could be used for the purchases, products, and services that you provide.

There are also organizations and groups that you can join to become a certified green business. Although there are guidelines that they provide that you have to follow in order to qualify, I do not know how I feel about some of those organizations because it feels like it is just another organization that you have to pay money to join. In the bay area, we have the Bay Area Green Business Program which I would actually join but unfortunately, my studio is in South San Francisco, and they do not have the program in that city yet. There is also www.greenweddingproviders.com, but I have not decided whether or not I want to apply.

Ways that photographers can be green

• Using digital cameras instead of film
• delivering image electronically using online galleries or on a DVD/CD instead of having printed proofs
• using local printing and album services and products
• using rechargeable batteries for your equipment
• recycling material when possible in your studio
• reusing boxes and packing material
• using CFL light bulbs in your studio
• donating or recycling old equipment and electronics/e-waste
• carpooling for sessions and weddings when possible
• sharing resources and even lending your equipment to friends and family
• purchasing used products to save money and promoting reuse

You can read more extensively about Green Photography here

I personally do all of the above and can say I am a green wedding photographer even though I am not officially certified.