As a matter of opinion, it’s time to get some cojones. Or whatever clever slang you’ve cooked up for the female equivalent, or whatever will help you understand the following point. Sure there’s plenty of good things to honor about the past of our photography industry. A lot of the trails have been intelligently blazed by those before us, a lot of ditches have been dug. But…ahem…generally speaking status quo in photography doesn’t know which way is up. Surely you’ve noticed.
So I ask.
What is your photographic vision?
What is your brand vision?
What is your business?
What is your marketing?
What are your effing goals?
This is not a fluff piece. This is truth: there ere are a bazillion photographers in the safe little ‘status quo’ bubble that will keep the status quo quietly marching along. So many that, in fact, it will be just fine without you.
Which is precisely why you should leave it behind.
What does that mean? It means take a chance. Or Three. Charge away from convention. Break shit. You can always go back to the status quo if you get scared or get knocked around a bit, because the reality is that it’s not going anywhere. You’ll be told that they won’t take you back if you leave, but that’s a scare tactic. In reality, they’ll take you back in a second, because… the SQ voice depends on numbers. If you don’t have what it takes, it will always be there waiting with open arms saying, “We knew you’d be back” or “I told you so.”
But the funny thing is this: I’m banking that when you push it, when you leave the status quo behind, and make some new in-roads, some new habits, that you might just get comfortable with the new you, and lo and behold you’ll be ready to push it again. That’s when the magic happens. That’s what we need. That’s what–I’m guessing–you need.
Very well said and comes at just the right time. My husband keeps telling me to go beyond my comfort zone, to start expanding my photographic vision, and to try something new for a change. He keeps telling me…”Document our life together and stop taking those photos of our kids sitting on rocks because it’s boring.” My husband always tells me the way it is, he’s German. No bs from him. I might not always like hearing it, but in the end I know he’s right.
@ Natalija: love the baby in front of the window!
@ Nicolae – thank you! It’s a photo of my son and one of a couple of photos that I am happy to see in Ginny Felch’s “Photographing Children Photoworkshop” coming out late next month.
I need to quit my job! my camera is spending far too long in its pack and i haven’t been published in forever. crazy photography blocks right now. Good post keep them coming Chase!
CC, WARNING ! Be careful what you wish for.
Being a full time “photographer” is a misconception. Making a living as a photographer is all about being a full time “business person”. Working in the industry requires 80% business and 20% photography.
I promise you that as a part time photographer, you get to shoot what you want, when you want and this is not the case when and if you leave your job. Not trying to discourage you but when I hear people talk about leaving their job so they can shoot more it indicates that they have forgotten this is a business not a hobby.
Just get out and SHOOT. It doesn’t take a business card to follow Chases advice. Taking a risk creatively is a lot harder than taking a business risk.
thank you Chase! i’m doing a big commercial/modeling shoot in the next month and this was just what I needed to overcome my “photographer’s block” while trying to come up with a shot list.
Great post Chase! I think this is the advice I needed to hear. I think we tend to get caught up in “what’s the new trend” or whatever everyone else is shooting that we sometimes lose our own voice in a sea of other photographers. I guess some times the best thing to is to just shut the noise out for a bit, trust yourself and remind ourselves that we are creative powerhouses when we allow ourselves to be!
I agree John. Once you stop looking at what other people are doing, your creativity is sparked. Putting on blinders can sometimes be the best thing you can do to push things further and to get us where we want to be.
I couldn’t agree more Nataljia! I find that the more I “Study” the more I feel pressure to shoot like the people I study. The “me” gets lost in my work. I’m learning not to just emulate those that I admire but seeing what it is that I admire about them then stopping everything and asking myself “ok, how to I adapt that into what I do to make MY voice stronger and not just another clone of this person” It’s a long tedious road but I know it’s going to make me a better shooter in the long run and I know I’m being true to myself!
Cheers and happy shooting!!!
By the time that you have heard of a “trend”, it is either out of style or about to go out of style.
Several years ago I saw an ad for some PS Actions, it said … Give your customers the latest trends … By the time that these actions come to market, the “trends” have become a cliché.
Totally! That’s why I find myself not necessarily pushing away from trends (They’re trends for a reason, the obviously have worked for SOMEONE) but not necessarily taking them as scripture either. Like I said above, take bits and pieces to add to your arsenal and figure out how to make a better me! Not just me with someone else’s ideas!
Cheers!
yes!
SQ has never loved me. I’ve always been an artist. I went to ‘Art School’ — but when I started to express myself with a camera, a group of friends would often say: “You know you’re not a photographer, right?” AND in the next breath they’d ask for the photos I had just taken. You know, I might not have had the best gear starting out. Maybe I don’t have it now. But I know I take GOOD pictures, and I’ve always believed that I could be whatever I wanted to be… ever since I was a little kid. I’m still taking pictures… but I’ve since let go of the frienemies. Great post Chase. Food for thought.
Just be your self! Keep it up..