“No one want ordinary photographers anymore. No one wants regular photographers. They want someone that can bring some kind of special lens or special expertise to the conversation.”
“You have convictions, you have ideas. They may not be perfect, but just get them out there. Give them a shot.”
Want to make a living in commercial photography? The above quotes are my adaptions from some brilliant strategic minds within advertising. While I was watching this video, it occurred to me that nearly every sound bite applies equally to photographers and photography, as it does “planners”, the subject of this video. Simply substitute the word “photographer” for “planner” and you’ll see what I mean.
Yes the video–and the forthcoming video series over at PSFK–talks about “planners” (a position within an advertising agency that creates strategies which subsequently drives an agency’s creative pursuits), but if I were you, I’d tune in to what they’re saying. Because it applies to everyone in commercial art. No in advertising one wants anything ordinary anymore, whether you’re a photographer, a director, a planner, or hell, even a client.
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Does anyone know the name of the video or if it’s still available online somewhere?
I enjoy looking at the under-belly of things, so I'm curious: why is it that in Chase's previous 7 blogs, he has averaged over 50 comments? Why do we all come back over and over again to Chase Jarvis blog, gobble everything up, comment and debate about it, etc?
Surely it is not because Chase is just a 'regular' photographer, 'ordinary' artist, or is just plain 'simple.'
Sure, he may just be a regular person (I don't know, I've never had the personal pleasure of hanging out with Chase), utilizing 'simple' techniques in his work (we all have foundations) using 'regular' equipment (available for each and every one of us to use) but obviously there is something else that draws our attention.
Pardon my alliteration: but perspective, point of view, and highly notable (something that is constantly talked about, yet often overlooked) is passion.
Another thought – perhaps 'ordinary photographer' isn't talking about your pictures themselves. Perhaps it is what it says – talking about the photographer as a whole. Personality, Process, Teams, Presentation, Execution, Branding, Networking, etc…
You can be an ordinary photographer, make a decent living, and survive, no doubt about that. My problem is I personally have an extremely hard time settling for survival when I find that I was innately created for living. Maybe we all were, and maybe that's why we all migrate towards the 'purple cows' if you will.