Here’s a sure-fire way to blow your career in photography: 
1. Take lots of photos.
2. Get on twitter.
3. Start a blog.
4. Assist for another photographer.
5. Buy a better camera.
6. Create a “style” that’s all your own.
7. Hire an intern.
8. Get an agent.
9. Do behind-the-scenes videos.
10. Get a studio.
11. Franchise your business.
12. Live off your stock library.
13. Sell your prints.
14. Get some gear sponsors.
15. Teach workshops.
16. Do a book.
Now you’re confused.
Ok, so my point is NOT to avoid doing any of the things on the above list – there are lots of good things in there. My point is that old recipes die hard. And guarantees are few and far between.
By following some old-model plan for how to be a photographer, a filmmaker, a creative whatever, you’re surely doomed. Because there isn’t one anymore. If you’re not……actively looking for a way to differentiate, to blaze your own path, to nuke the mold, your chance of survival is slim and your chance of raging success is even slimmer.
If I was a betting man, I would say one particular northwest gig harbor photographer fits that bill to a “T”.
Your right on the money here – Some of the best photographers I’ve seen are now packing shelfs at the local supermarkets because they never learned how to sell themselves and no one has a clue anymore.. I work at a studio lighting company – so I get to meet everyone who is into photography at some stage in the industry. my boss even met you once in Sydney Australia and gave you a small porty light to test and tell us what your thought of it..
not by chance you are looking for an assistant?
😉
Yikes!!! So here I am working my way through that checklist and now one of my photographic heroes says to stop!!! Eeep! Okay… I know innovation and differentiation are major buzzwords and what you’ve said is the reality of that, not just some handy marketing catchphrases to make you sound clever…
I can’t deny that working through the checklist is often done with a nagging doubt that all this has been done before, why am I so different?
Oh yes… I’m not!! Back to the thinking and drawing board I guess? But then, that’s where a lot of the fun is, right? Heck, I use a 5 year old Pentax… being different is right up my street 🙂
Didn’t your mother tell you? Stop playing with your food.