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.
Chase, I’m a massive fan of yours and you’re the reason why I bought my first camera (Nikon D7000) and what you’re talking about here is the reason why I have photographers that I look up to and admire but I never follow their work too closely (no offence). I just want to go out there and shoot my own stuff, make my mistakes and learn from them. That being said I’m no photographer just another kid with a DSLR and wants to take better pictures.
*Self promotion* – Check out my blog! 🙂
I’m told constantly to research other photographers, at Uni, for inspiration but nothing ever comes of it. I’m so embroiled in the research that I don’t have time to think about what I want from this, thus causing me to have no individuality. There is a market out there thats being swamped by thousands of photographers and people do need their individuality. I have much to learn and your mentoring is eye opening. I hope one day to get there. Thanks for all your insights Chase.
Ok, time to kick some ass, thanks for the kick up mine!
@ Natalija- I lived in Germany for a while and loved the expression they had for “us” Americans. They would say, “We speak through the flowers!” Sometimes I think this is what I do with my photography. I show the safe and pretty side. I am just dying to take a step beyond that! My husband and I call our business Frayed Edge for crying out loud. For some reason, this blog is confirmation that I am playing it too safe.
This blog is music to my ears and stirs my photographic soul to the core. I am so eager to push the envelope and see what happens. Thanks for this, Chase!
JM
@ Jill – I’ll have to ask my husband about that phrase, but I truly appreciate the honesty he gives me even though sometimes I don’t want to hear it.
Totally the pep talk I needed today!
Thanks Chase!