Some Never Learn

I talk about photography a lot!  Partially because I am obsessed with it and it is actually a huge part of my life.  There is one thing I truly do not understand about this industry.  First, I will start with a little bit of a back story just so you know where I am coming from.  I have been in this game for over 20 years now, I started shooting semi-professionally back in 1991, technically 1990, but that first publication was seriously just dumb luck!

There has been one consistent thing in both the portrait world and in the entertainment industry.  Bad decisions by people who just don’t know any better.  I have seen people end their careers before they ever even got started based on these bad decisions.  I have seen photographers not make money simply based on their stupid pride.  For some reason, people in this industry really believe they know it all.  I have been around for what seems like forever and I do not know it all!  I am always seeking out new things, I am wrong a lot!  The difference is, when I am wrong, thankfully I do not make any major decisions for my business until I really think things through and find out all of the information possible.

But, as is the whole reason I am writing this post, I am watching so many people I know making a huge mistake with their businesses.  They are making decisions based on what only a few non-educated people say.  There are others who are burning bridges and stepping on people to get to the top, not realizing that the person they have stepped on is about to have a huge break but cannot talk about it at the moment to the general public.

Your ego can kill you in this business, or most any business.  I have an ego, but I do not let it make my decisions for me.  Nor do I ever let somebody else’s ego make my decisions.

Back in 2005, Latrell Spreewell turned down a 3 year contract that would have paid him $21 million.  He basically said, how can I support my family on that? Only because he used to make more money when he was younger and better.  His ego ended his career.

If you think you are worth more, prove it.  Telling people you are and walking around like the world owes you something is just plain stupid.  Following a small group of people who are filled with drama but always claim it is someone else causing it is also stupid.

But, if there is one thing I have definitely learned it is this.  Even if one of these people I am talking about in this post were to read this, they would probably still think it does not apply to them.  After all, they think they’re smart and they think they are making wise decisions.  Oh well, I will carry on and just keep on doing what I do.  I really shouldn’t complain, the herd is thinning itself, it just makes life easier for me.