When I talk to creators and survey the industry landscape, I see a zillion creators trying to have all their work liked by all the people. This comes from our social animal DNA, but it’s the completely wrong approach to success – whether that be measured by your work being licensed, sold, etc, or by getting hired, shown, talked about, displayed, whatever.
Simply said, by trying to please everyone, you end up pleasing no one, especially not yourself.
But fear not (or fear less, perhaps). The answer is simple.
1. Shoot what you love.
2. Relentlessly share that work.
3. Repeat.
People can smell whether you love what you’re shooting or not, love what you’re promoting or not, love what you’re doing or not. So you might as well effing love it for real. It’s all you’ve got.
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So quit with your shifty eyes, looking at what everybody else is doing. And do your own shiznit. Yes this means you. If your work is priced…… appropriately, be it fine art, commercial, editorial, wedding, whatever, all you need is 10-50 people each year to dig what you make. That’ll come from doing what you love, and that will make for a great year. Of all the damn people you have access to with the innernets, there are 50 people with money who like what you do. Of the 1000 or 10,000,000 who look at your site, your book, your whatever, those “likers” can be a pretty low percentage. Bet on it.
I agree. Take pictures you love to see and show off. Why photograph what everyone else is doing or the current trend to make a buck. If your doing that your always late on the trend and never photographing what truly inspires you. Look at your work… Like what you see? Or do you have lots of half arsed shots of crap? Why the hell not? It’s your work. We are creative first and for-most to feed our soul, F everything else and do it.
The sentiment that feels pimpin’ your work is the same as getting people to like it is totally off. Pimpin’ your work is to get it in front of other people, Essentially asking them to spend some time to look. The more “pimpin'” the more people see your work the more chance of both haters and lovers of your vision. The lover’s are those that will pay to do what you love to do as they can’t hire someone else to have your vision. Your vision is unique to you.
Great post! Thanks:)!
i have been taking photos since i was 11 “Zenith E Camera”, not even the EM,couldnt afford that one. Im 47 now and People have always ask me “what do you shoot?” and i always ans the same PHOTOS, i dont have a Genrie “thinks thats spelt wrong” but you know what i mean, i just love taking photos, weather its a football match, babys, flowers, the wife anything, and if i like it,, GREAT its my camera lol. great Blog and webight by theway
Words from the wise. A true artist doesn’t care what “everybody” thinks! 🙂
Love it, so true!