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.
So glad that other people find this true. The point isn’t to throw the traditional route out the window, it’s to make calculated decisions and stay focused on the end goal.
Yeah, I know.
It’s figuring out what (and how) to do something that’s different that is the hard part.
How about a list of things to inspire creativity?
At first sight, this scared me Chase. But gradually am finding sense in what can go wrong with any of these points. I guess your point is not to blindly follow this path and wait for wonder strike.
Well, another thing that has been bothering me since a while is how do we as photographers get to market our services? Is direct marketing on the roads only the cheap way? Its odd to do and is extremely rejection prone. Plz help!
I get your point Chase about aiming for Tomorrow not Today, and obviously somethings like:
Take lots of photos.
Sell your prints &
Buy a better camera.
Are a given as necessary to success and there will be somethings that maybe don’t even exist yet that photographers can use to set themselves apart from the rest, as Getting on Twitter and starting a Blog did for you.
Which things on your list would you suggest to a photographer setting out today are likely to aid their chances of success for tomorrow ? Some are surely more likely than others.