November 16, 2011

When I Realize Photography is Work!

Every once in a while I am reminded that I actually have to work. Yes, being a photographer requires labor. It’s not just about taking photos, traveling, and depositing large sums of cash into your bank account. It’s not about buying the latest and greatest piece of equipment as soon as it hits the market. No, it requires continual education, intense research, extensive planning, and solid effort (see graphic at the bottom of this article). Believe it or not, it can even be stressful.

If you’re like me, there are a lot of careers that look easy, right? Be honest! How many of us entered our occupation because it seemed like simple work? I mean, who doesn’t want to be a landscaper. You work from May until October and you play the other 6 months… I think it is human nature for us to be infatuated with the glamour of a particular line of work without realizing the tedious tasks that are bound to it. When I first became a photographer, I thought I would hang out a sign, take pictures of rockin’ clients, and never have to “work” again. Ha! What a façade!

The truth is we live in a broken world that requires us to work. No one is exempt. Even those who have “made it” with their 401k’s, multiple dwellings, and yachts (if that’s how you choose to measure success) have labored hard to earn it. The wisest man to ever live once said, “Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.”

This isn’t a promise that if you work hard you will be rewarded with cash or estates. Instead, it’s a challenge to be motivated, learn your craft well, and impact the world around you through your work. Not only will you change the lives near you, but you will begin to experience freedom and energy because you’re committed to a cause.

Success isn’t what you have; it’s what you do with what you have, whether it is talent or commodities. Go. Believe in yourself. Make a difference.

Credit and research for the image below belongs to ISPWP