GP: In what ways is your company greener?
MC: All the ways I can manage. My primary mode of transportation is bicycle - I use an Xtracycle cargo bike for most of my shoots. I print on all natural photo papers, mostly 100% cotton rag. I use rechargeable batteries and support renewable energy companies. My office supplies have as much recycled content as I can find. My promotional printing is done using waterless printing technology. I use vintage and antique picture frames, or have frames made using reclaimed wood and natural oil finishes. I believe strongly in community, and support environmentally related business networking groups and their members. I work as Chief Photographer for Dandyhorse, a Toronto based magazine on cycling culture (pro-bono).
GP: Why did you decide to join Greener Photography? What value do you see in membership/being certified?
MC: I have been working towards making my photography business as environmentally sustainable as possible for the past several years. I was so happy to find Greener Photography, a community of photographers with similar goals. I did not need to think too long about becoming a member. To have the support of such a community is wonderful, and the ideas and resources the website and members provide is very valuable to me and my business. I am very pleased to support the initiative.
GP: How has offering greener products/services and running a greener business benefitted you?
MC: Personally, I need to feel I am running my business in a greener way in order to feel good about it myself. I also work with several environmental organizations, businesses and publications who value what I do because of the extra effort I put in. In addition to environmental concerns I feel strongly that I should offer quality products and services (prints, packaging, etc.) to my clients and I find that more often than not, greener photography products are also higher quality and more aesthetically pleasing (cotton photo papers for example) than the average. Using my bicycle for meetings and photo shoots allows me to stay active and get places quickly and easily in the city.
GP: Share a favorite greener website, service, or product:
MC: I write a blog on green photography practices. http://mollycrealock.wordpress.com/
GP: What are your hopes for a greener photographic industry?
MC: It's great when the big corporations come on board. Seeing environmental mission statements from Canon, Nikon, Epson, Adobe, Apple, etc. is wonderful when it happens. It would be good environmentally and financially for photographers if the technology slowed down a lot, if we didn't need to replace photo and computer gear so frequently. It would be great if the producers would take back their old machines and deal with the eventual waste themselves. More, it would be really wonderful if we got back to a time when things were meant to be repaired and/or upgraded rather than disposed of.
GP: Thanks so much to Toronto Ontario photographer Molly Crealock for taking the time to answer our questions!
If you know a member you would like us to spotlight feature or interview, let us know!
