Every other artist begins with a blank canvas, a piece of paper the photographer begins with the finished product.

This quote is referring to the difference between an artist and a photographer. An artist typically starts with an empty space or a “blank canvas” – meaning a surface on which to create art on. A photographer, on the other hand, usually starts with a “finished product” – meaning, a real-life scene that they capture with a camera. Thus, whereas an artist creates art from nothing, a photographer captures a scene that already exists.