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.
So very true!
Chase – as always – bringing important topics to light and taking action… this will continue to ring in my mind.
-Cooper
Absolutely true Chase. And that’s something I need to work on a little bit at this point. So thanks for reminding me of that, and I’m going to try to take some chances. Thanks a lot Chase 🙂
I agree. To some degree, it’s good to be uncomfortable and to push yourself.
Truth be told, creativity is something you’re born with…or not.It’s not something you pick up along the way.Getting inspiration from others , those you admire in general, is a good thing but it has to have boundries.Actually being original in your work takes huge effort and involves locking yourself in a room with…yourslef.I’ve been trying to get my inspiration somwhere else for a while.Start with books, movies, music, whatever.I think this kind of stuff brings you closer to who you really are a an artist/photographer than the work of others you have as rolemodels.