Sitting In A Pile Of Lenses, But Nothing To Look Through: Advice On The Business Of Photography

I've decided to switch things up a bit on my blog.

Yes, it will still have photographs of the wonderful people I have had the honor to take pictures of, but it will be a bit more than that.

I see photography blogs all the time that have advice, and 'how to's' for photographers, and I'd like to make my own spin on that.

So here it goes.

My first post for Photogs

I've been doing photography since high school.

I took my first photo class my sophmore year, and haven't been able to put a camera down since.

I love learning new techniques, and improving my skills.

I love looking at photographers before me and learning about them.

It's my passion.

I swore in high school I would NEVER do portrait photography.

Ha.

I started doing it, or rather trying to get into the business when I came up to college.

I thought it was fun, and couldn't see why I vowed never to do it before.

But then something happened to me.

I began to realize just how many "photographers" there are out there.

Like seriously.

around every corner.

It frustrated me.

I began to realize how easy it has become to be a photographer now.

anyone can buy a decent camera now, and with the advances in internet...heck anyone could look up "how to take a good picture," and wham! They're a photographer.

I started noticing people that I had known in my younger years picking up cameras and all of a sudden starting a business.

and i'm thinking..."wait a second...you never showed interest in this before!?"

These feelings of bitterness began to consume me.

Photography, which had once been my escape became a competition.

I wanted to have more clients than others did.

I wanted people to tell me my photos were exciting and new.

Not theirs.

I wanted all of my friends to ask me to take their wedding, engagement, family etc. photos

Not anyone else.

I found myself getting so angry every time I would get on facebook, or the internet for that matter because someone always had some sort of photo up and they were getting praise for being a "great photographer"

NO

I needed a slice of humble pie

I needed to get back to my roots.

I remember looking through old photographs I had taken and thinking, "wow...I was actually decent"

then looking at ones I had taken recently and thinking the exact opposite.

I realized then what I had become.

A giant, green with envy,

photo hulk.

What was wrong with me!? 

By becoming this jealous and bitter person my talents and skills were declining and weakening fast.

How did this all start?

It started when I let jealousy of other's successes get in the way of why I stood behind my camera.

I had completely lost sight of why I started.

I was looking at GOOD photographers, and blaming them for my failures.

The business I had started was only a competition.

It was no longer a passion.

That was my slice of humble pie.

I still needed to get back to my roots.

I decided at this point that I was going to stop promoting my business.

If people asked me to take their photographs I would, but I wasn't going to actively advertise it anymore.

I was going to just drive like I used to, and stop to take a few photos on the way.

I started reading books about photographers I loved.

I started trying to learn the very basics of how to use my camera again.

I started looking at modern photographers work, and instead of judging I asked myself what I liked, what I didn't like, and how I could improve. 

I got back to my roots, and started loving this art form again.

Now I'm not saying this happens to everyone.

I'm not saying this is the cure all solution either, but it did help me.

I feel like as photographers in this modern day it is easy to get bogged down with the "business" side of things, and the competition of it all.

Who has the best camera, lens, lighting equipment etc.

What we really need to worry about is ourselves and making the most out of what we do have, and what we can improve on to make it better.

So, if nothing else

at least ask yourself as you are sitting there reading this,

why did you get started?

get back to your roots, and you'll find the right lens to look through.

"You don't take a photograph, you make it"-- Ansel Adams