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.
I do and would like to be better in photography because I simply love it. The passion while doing it and the results you get when out of the hundreds, one turns out to be something makes me feel good and heps me feel ease after a week of scheduled routine in the office.
Maybe I haven’t thought about going up or taking the next level yet because I’m still a newbie. But this post really makes me think twice and self-contemplate.
Post was/is mostly about techniques to market onself or get/keep work etc.
I think similar could be said about style and “inspiration”.
Was just reminded of this post and thought it might be relevant.
http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2010/03/26/ask-anything-copying-other-artists/
About the whole craze in levitation type shots. Why do people think it’s so unique these days…. Yes it may have been crazy and different at one point, but that time is long past.
Or I’m seeing so many fashion shots with faked multiple exposures. I don’t like it to begin with but the fact that so many people are doing it just makes it repetitive.
(rant over)
Chase, man… you are give me hope, please follow up and if you care tell me what do you tink…
1. Take lots of photos.( I dont, I print all my shots, cant affort it)
2. Get on twitter. (already trapped on FB, enough)
3. Start a blog.(me no speak english very well, nobody will follow my blog)
4. Assist for another photographer.(this is an hard one, my ego will get in the way big time)
5. Buy a better camera. (I prefer to buy a better lens)
6. Create a “style” that’s all your own. (no way, why re-envent the wheel?)
7. Hire an intern. (I prefer to be a landlord than a tenant)
8. Get an agent. (who?)
9. Do behind-the-scenes videos. (please dont take this off from me)
10. Get a studio. (I dont like studios, its like to go to the gym, prefer outdoor location)
11. Franchise your business. ( I only manage to see one photograpy business in Australia get a franchise and when I pass by I feel like to stop and order half chicken & chips)
12. Live off your stock library. ( I dont think that I never had one)
13. Sell your prints. (NO WAY!)
14. Get some gear sponsors. (That would be nice, I hope will happen, but at the moment my T-shirt “SELFSPONSORED” fits me well)
15. Teach workshops. (I went to one, they try to teach me that to make lots of money in photography, you have to put the camera at 10fps and P mode, forget about M mode is old school. I failed)
16. Do a book. (Books are beautiful, but the spelling thing gets in my way again 🙂
17. I added this one , Having bacon and eggs every morinig will blow first your liver and after your career as a photographer….
Now you’re confused. Im actually not, lots of hope in this blog, I’ll let you know if Im going to get something good out of this.
I do have the impression that the “thinking out of the box” concept is a common ground for lots of people to talk about, but reality is that there are more people in the box than out and you have to deal with them every day.
Always a pleasure reading from you, keep up with the outstanding work, you make the difference.
Ciao
A,