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.
Love it when you get saucy!! Exactly what I needed to hear, as per usual. Thanks.
The SQ is like a warm blanket on a cold Edmonton night.
What is your photographic vision? None
What is your brand vision? None
What is your business? None
What is your marketing? Me
What are your effing goals? To Shoot
It hurts my brain to think today…………good post anyway 🙂
Love your Blog Chase.
Ive got a circle of friends, youve got a circle of friends. All photogs have a circle of friends and all want to be the shizznit amongst their circle which is their world.
They think if they are the shizzle amongst their friends, they have made it.
People need to leave convention behind and just go.
Im so frickin tired of the “photography industry” its all a numbers game now. Money, making a buck off someone or your adoring followers, which gear you have, how much gear you have.
Most of those “made it” photogs I wouldnt pay to shoot my wifes portrait, theyre stank.
Your post is dead on. I dont care about what low-tech or hi-tech rig your sporting, dont point me to your blog about it, show me your moment. Dang it. Good post Chase, you got me going.
Well said Chase. But its not always that easy 🙁
I guess, or hope, that one main question in an creative life is “do i have, what it takes?”. I’m asking this questions every day and still get no answer, but I alway try changing the way it is and get one step after the other. Thanks Chase, for this post, again. And sorry, if my english is a bit… foreign 🙂