So you want to be a professional?
Photographer. Director. Golfer. Belly dancer. Designer. Waiter. Model.
If you’re wondering if you’ve got what it takes to go pro, try it. Seriously. Quit what you’re doing now and go there. You’ll know soon after you’ve tried to go there whether or not you’re in the right spot. If you don’t have what it takes, it will be obvious – going pro will be too hard, other things will seem more interesting, more pleasurable, more fun.
On the other hand, if you do have what it takes, you will be reborn. All setbacks will seem small, all goals achievable, all hurdles put there only to keep out the others. You will know you’re on the right path.
One thing for certain is that both paths–trying to go pro and steering clear of going pro–will be full of fear. In one case the fear is that you’ll fail and not be good enough. In the other case the fear is that you’ll never have lived your dream…
When you think of those two, which one is worse?
Chase – Awesome post. And so timely for many personal reason. Thanks for always sharing your insight and truth in such a meaningful way. Keep it coming.
Case 3: You pursue your dream and it turns out to be a nightmare. I used to really want to be a graphic designer. Now I am, and it’s just another kiss-butt hack job.
The introduction to the Elliot Erwitt book “Photographs and Anti-Photographs” contains an excellent essay, “The Man Who Kept Something for Himself.” Unfortunately, not all of us manage this as successfully as Erwitt.
You da man, Chase!
It’s not easy to call it all in , especially when the place you live doesn’t exactly have the market or the visual culture to support many careers as a photographer.I don’t want to be a wedding photographer but it seems that’s what 98% of the people around me do ( I mean those who make a living with a camera).It’s not very encouriging.I have a dayjob in a photo equipment store .It helps pay the rent, but the dream is out there.