Who Are You?
A few months ago, I had a great conversation with ASMP NY member, Gail Mooney. Gail is a still photographer who began working with motion imagery about 20 years ago, first with film and then with digital video. When I asked Gail about this transition, she said something to the effect of “Well, I wasn’t a visionary or anything. I got into photography because there were stories that I wanted to tell and one day, I realized that I could tell some of them better if I incorporated sound and motion.”
Gail may not see that as visionary but I give a lot of credit to anyone who takes the time to question their own assumptions. You see, Gail didn’t get into motion because it was the hot thing or because it was marketable. She got into it because it furthered her goals – she wanted to tell stories and this was just another tool.
I encourage you to grab a sheet of paper and answer the question “Why am I photographer?” All of your answers should begin with the word “To” and each of your answers should take you to a deeper level of understanding your true motivation for choosing this career path.
Understanding where your passion really lies frees you to explore other avenues, other media, and other ways of looking at your career, that will allow you to redefine who you are in broader terms and explore new markets. The ultimate goal, after all, isn’t to live within some preconceived notion of who you are and what you do, but to figure out what you find truly satisfying and find ways to earn a living doing as much of that as possible.
One Response to 'Who Are You?'
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Wow Judy, I’ve had such a crazy schedule lately that I just now read this. You nailed it.