From the moment I first picked up a SLR a number of years ago I was totally captivated, hook, line, and sinker. I was SOLD! It was like I was shot through the heart with cupid's arrow. Ok enough with the metaphors, but seriously I was in love with photography, and a new passion was born. This passion has lead me to spend countless hours shooting, practicing, learning photoshop, lighting, and every other facet of this remarkable trade. Something about it has just felt right since the day I first held a "good camera". Yes I was one of those guys who picked up a pro camera, (it was film and not even my own) and knew in the blink of an eye I wanted to be a photographer. (haha I can hear the multitudes of groans from the people in this business.) But you gotta start somewhere right? This passion has given me an insatiable appetite for knowledge, and google has been the ultimate instructor. Through this wonderful world of information I've had the privilege of training under the tutelage of some of the world's best photographers, and have also learned a ton from other average joes just like me. All for FREE!!! What an awesome age we live in.
In the beginning I received a lot of encouragement from a couple of photographers who saw promise in my work, and I also received a lot of discouragement from photographers who explicitly told me all of the perils, and pitfalls of this business. I was told that there were too many photographers already in this area (eek over-saturation), how every sap with a digital camera thinks they're a photographer (meaning me lol), how I'd most likely never make it because most people fail at photography (that's an awfully poor attitude), how I just wasn't quite good enough (ouch!), how maybe I should pursue stock photography (um..thanks but no thanks), how I had to know everything first (like that's possible), and have the best gear available to take stellar photos like them (so not true) etc... the list goes on and on. I found few people who were willing to help me or show me any of their so called "trade secrets". Well thankfully I ignored the latter group of pessimists, and listened to the few people who gave me a glimmer of hope that I actually had what it takes. This hope has given me the ability to press on through difficult times when I really felt like giving up. Yep it's true...I've actually thought of throwing in the towel, waiving the white flag, kissing my camera good-bye etc... In fact each winter I spend the "dark days" as I call them, looking at last year's work wondering if it's really good enough. Did I achieve what I set out to do? Was I successful? Did I improve? Then I read, and practice, and read, and practice, and read, and practice... as I prepare for the new year. I diligently push myself to improve my skill set, and raise the bar for fear of failure. I think we all somewhere deep down have these fears, and when they reveal their ugly faces we have two options...fight or flight... We can face our fears head on or draw back and cower. I choose to fight. Sometimes we even have a fear of success, and the pressures, and demons that can come with it. (arrogance, pride, or worst of all the dreaded "rock star" mentality etc...) Either way if you feel discouraged inwardly, or are receiving negative comments outwardly, I encourage you to press on. This just may be a sign that you're on the right track, and perhaps even perceived as a threat. (yeah right!) Sometimes things that seem so bad at the time, can actually produce so much good in our lives. They can help us see who we don't want to be, or maybe give us the fuel we need to push forward. Sometimes it's difficult to see the positive stuff in the midst of the storm, but when the clouds subside hopefully we can learn and grow from the experience.
So why am I a photographer? Simply put, because I love photography. I love expressing myself through the imagery I produce. I love working with people. I love editing photos. I love driving in my car "location scouting", I love making people laugh and smile, and most importantly I LOVE my wife and son (and my two soon arriving daughters WOOHOO!!!) and something tells me they love seeing me happy. (: I hope I don't ever lose focus on what got me started, or forget that moment my passion was first ignited. It took me over 30 years of living on this earth to find something to be passionate about. If I had to hear the question, "what do you want to do for a living?" one more time, I might have finally snapped. You really never know how life is going to turn out. I just may become an overwhelming success, or I may fail miserably. Or perhaps God may have other plans for my life, but for now I'm a photographer. I didn't start my business to get filthy rich, to receive praise, or to gain popularity. I did it for me. I also didn't know that personal attacks from the hands of other photographers, and a few internet crazies (beware, they're out there) was something I had to look forward to. Accusations of using "their" locations (they must own a lot of property), to copying "their" style (I wish I invented every style of retouching), to using "their" poses (how do you copyright a pose?), to speaking with "their" potential clients (say what??), to just existing in "their" territory (well paaaaaardon me), to using "their" website (it's a template available for anyone who buys it lol), to using "their" website music etc... Ridiculous!! me, me, me, me, me, is it really all about us? All I can say is this...if you want to, and can copy me, go for it!! I really don't care, and wish you all of the success in the world because I don't believe my talents, my skills, my business, my camera, or my money is really mine anyways. It is all from the good hand of God, and I want to do the right thing with what I've been given. I'm not out to copy anyone, and I love learning all styles of photography/retouching... from classic, to vintage, to grunge, to commercial edgy off-camera lighting stuff etc... I just don't ever want to be that guy who is so consumed with scouring the internet to see who is copying his work, with how many facebook comments he gets, with how many people are in his group, with how awesome he is, with how he's saving the world with his amazing gift of photography one shutter click at a time lol etc... I don't think any of these things hold any weight to who I am as a photographer, or as a man. Why do I do what I do? Because I love it, and the process that comes with it. If you catch me doing vintage or off camera lighting, or any other style for that matter... please rest easy, and don't flatter yourself. I'm not copying "you"!! Perhaps I "also like" these "popular/trendy" styles of photography and retouching. I've hardly "arrived" or mastered the art of photography, and am always learning new things/styles, and striving to be better just like the next guy. We all look around for inspiration from time to time, and I believe you can give two artists all of the same tools, locations, etc... and they'll always create something unique. Sadly there are some people in this world I'll never be as good as, (because their talent level is just through the roof, over the top, incredible...) but it won't stop me from trying. If you ever have any questions or want to know any of my "trade secrets" just ask... because they didn't cost me a penny, and what's mine is yours. (or if you don't want to talk to me just google it... cause that's what I did). I think real and lasting success is loving your family, loving God, and serving those less fortunate than yourself. That is the legacy I want to leave behind, and if I can take a few decent images in the meantime, and make some people smile that totally ROCKS!
When a professional athlete plays their particular sport as a child, they're not concerned with getting signed, trade deadlines, contract negotiations, or the multitude of other issues that arise. They simply play "for the love of the game". That is why I do what I do, and if by God's grace some success is a byproduct of this, then may I remain humble, and thankful for whatever comes my way.
Sorry for the heavy post folks...and thank you to the "internet crazies" who've caused me to stop in my tracks, and reflect.
Have a Merry Christmas, and an incredible 2011!!! (:
Shane
Isn't he PRICELESS?? :)
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