What inspires you?
What makes you want to do the things you do?
What makes you ENJOY what you do?
What makes you DIFFERENT?
This is where I’m at. This is what I’m struggling with right now. My desire is to be DIFFERENT in my life and I want my photography to reflect that.
These days, the cost of D-Slrs have come down so much in cost, it has made it easier for everyone to just pick up a camera and “instantly” become a photographer. Everyone’s doing it! They get it, and they think that instantly they are going to go into business to make a quick buck!
(Don’t hate…..I see them…..I see what they are doing……I see the photos they are passing off as quality. {shudder})
And don’t get me wrong, I thought to a small extent, (I emphasize SMALL) it would be easy too! I have this expensive camera, expensive cameras do all the work right? I just have to push a button! Line up the clients, I’m in BUSINESS! Shoot in AUTO, let the camera do all the work, I won’t have to do a thing! Instant business! (again, I emphasize SMALL because I knew it would be a lot more work and learning than that.)
And these are the ones that will come and go. People will come, get shoddy pictures, and they will go, never to return.
So, how, in this oversaturated-with-get-rich-quick-photographer market, am *I* going to stand out? I’m not in this for a quick buck, I took forever to charge even a little bit! I built my portfolio for 2 years before I went into “business” (and again, I use business in quotations because I’m doing some soul searching with my “business”).
I’ve spent 3 years learning my camera. Learning what makes it work to create the beautiful photographs. I’ve learned ISOs and proper exposures, lighting, white balance, apertures, bokeh, incamera metering, and all of this is even BEFORE I get it off camera into photoshop!
And I still feel stuck. Knowing all of this stuff is really good for taking proper photos, however, it says nothing for the creativity and the ART behind the photo! I can copy another photographer out there, I can shoot anything and everything someone else has done before, but where is MY artistry?
It does help that I was an artist before I ever picked up the camera. Did you know that? I’m a painter? I’ve done portraits and landscapes, still life and abstract. I’ve worked with oils, acrylics, charcoals, watercolors, india ink, and anything in between! So I’ve learned composition and what makes art interesting to look at, at least to me.
So now, I’m left with trying to find myself in the Art of photography. I don’t want to be run of the mill, I don’t want to look like every other photographer out there! (Especially the UNtalented, uneducated ones!)
So, I’m looking to find what makes me happy. What makes me LOVE shooting. What my niche is. What is MY style.
Be kind……..and figure out who YOU are!
Great post. I am having the same struggles. I have spent so much time learning, and growing but yet I feel like I have so far to go. Recently I had an ‘ex- acquaintance” decide that what I do is obviously easy and she is now copying my every move.Including duplicating a photo shoot so exact she even had the same poses, in the exact location. She invited all the people on my facebook photo page to join hers as well .I was mad at first , then I realized that she really isn’t good at all( used on camera flash in a shoot lol). My passion for the art, and the love for kids, that I have , will ALWAYS shine through. I feel like if they look at my photos, then hers, and they choose hers, they will get what they are paying for. In the end I will keep doing what I am doing, stretching, and growing, and learning, and loving what I do!
Dana…I am not a photographer…but I have some of the same thoughts as you do…the blogging world seems saturated with wannabe photographers…I am not able to judge because I do just take point and shoot digitals myself… lol…but every other blog seems to be pushing their photography…
Great post about finding yourself…I don’t know what the answer is… I think those that have the real passion will keep plugging away…and their work will be show their ability!
In any case…I love your work…good luck on you venture!
I have seen some seriously horrible stuff lately. ugh. One thing Amy Wenzel stressed in her workshop was finding your niche and not copying other photographers–so I think you are on the right track. I want to develop what I’m doing and use it for God’s glory–whatever direction He takes me. He knows my niche–at the moment, I do not. So I will just keep practicing and staying open to what He wants until He shows me where to go.
Girlie – I so know what you mean. I’m not one of those “want to be a photographer” because I feel like I don’t have an eye for it (which is even more important than the technical aspects and editing, I think). But I know that I pick up my cheap DSLR and I pray for a good shot and feel limited.
(Thus my terror at meeting up with you and PamD, LOL!)
And it cracked me up that you said “oversaturated” in reference to the market, and I was thinking of maybe a particular OVERSATURATED photographer, LOL.
It is true that the longer I look at pictures from photographers who have an eye for it, the more I see the differences between them and the wannabes.
Can I say that I think that something that is undervalued is the photogs ability to relate to the subject? I mean, the expression in Brooklyn’s eyes in that head-on shot (you know the one I’m talking about… it’s legendary), goes so far beyond a “good photo” because of the pure emotion that was expressed toward YOU – not your expensive camera.
Okay – now I wanna see more of your art!
Girl, I think you HAVE found your niche. Did I spell that right? You are an amazing photographer and every photo you shoot is more than just the average joe who picks up a DSLR. Namely me. Now that I have a DSLR I know exactly how hard what you do really is. It is so much more than just picking up the fancy camera and clicking the shutter button.
I think I can look at a photo and see it’s one of yours. Please don’t ask me to explain how since I am definitely one of those uneducated in art – but you DO have a “look” – can’t put my finger on it – but I think you’ve got “it”.