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.
Discouragingly inspiring…(LOL)…It makes alot of sense actually. Don’t follow a pattern other than your own. Though “imitation” in some form is inevitbable, do what makes you…you. Find your finger print and embrace it. And as we all know photography as well as being any form of a professional creative artist is hard to even do ok in…..Don’t forget why your doing it (whatever it is) in the first place. The day I open lightroom and images of my kids, camping or action photography don’t give me goosebumps is the day I move onto something else. This is actually my FB profile info:
“Don’t fool yourself….
Success isn’t measure in dollars, a big house or material things…It’s measured in pursuing your own personal happiness………
I would do anything for anyone, anytime, anywhere just to know that they would then do the same for someone else. I want to do everything and be everywhere, sometimes I lose my mind. I have so many goals I want to accomplish, I feel that one lifetime won’t be enough. I want to just live and enjoy my life… not counting my life in days, but rather moments….
I’m not going to change the world, I can’t stop the War but if i’ve ever impacted your life and made it better even for a “moment” then my life is complete.
Were all living to die…I’m just dying to live…..”
Some of that wasn’t relevant but whatever..lol…
This is actually the first time i’ve EVER commented on a blog of any kind. I liked that post alot because it said more that what it was saying…
To me anyways…
Thanks
Mario
Nice – but some very principles of photography still and will always exist ie depth of field, shutter speed and rule of thirds. Like physics gravity still exists not matter what that Rev predicted.
If you aren’t getting noticed you’re doing work that’s easy to ignore and you’ll never get the recognition you desire. The only solution is to start doing work that can’t be ignored. It’s as simple as that. No amount of mediocre work is ever going to be noticed.
3/16…
…looks like i got some work to do
Chase Jarvis says, “Don’t be like ME! Be yourself!!”
TRU-DAT Cjarvis!!!!
– Chase Jarvis inspires me to take pictures!!
– Vince Laforet inspires me to make videos!!
‘Established’ artists often say: “If I can do it, you can do it too!”. And now you’re saying, “Don’t do what I did, you have to do something novel.”
I can’t get past the contradiction. Perhaps I’m focusing more on the logistics and you’re focusing on the art……. Oh well.
my point is that the historic recipe is only part intact. and it’s certainly evolving.
don’t target today, target tomorrow.