Not Just Another Photography Course

So here goes.

For years now my partner, Jenn, has been after me.

“You should be blogging and sharing your knowledge.”

I usually rolled my eyes. I didn’t want to be THAT guy. I had seen countless of them and wasn’t sure I wanted to be one. Someone with a catchy pitch who, it seemed, spent more time making money off other photographers than they did practicing their craft.

Cue Imposter Syndrome

I once told a friend that I didn’t want to be seen as an expert, as someone whose chief interest was trying to take from our profession more than give. But I also had this other little nagging fear, one I never shared with anyone: that holding yourself up as an expert left yourself wide open to criticism.

Cue the Imposter Syndrome, cue the fear of failure, send in the looming meltdown.

Imposter Syndrome is something I think nearly every creative who makes a living from their talent suffers from in their career (or even if it’s just a side gig!). It can be a topic to talk about just in itself, so more about that later.

For now, all I really want to do is introduce myself, and start something.

I make a living at it, I’ve worked hard at it, continue to work hard at it, and I love it. I mean I really love it. It took me a while to discover it was what I should be doing with my life, but now I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Well, unless Nat Geo comes calling anyway.

Just recently I was on a road trip for a wedding and getting lots of what I call CWT: Contemplative Windshield Time. For me it’s one of the luxuries of travel by car. Anyway, in the midst of this CWT, I began to think about Jenn’s advice, and my future, and how I enjoy teaching and helping others, and just how in the world I would ever go about doing that without portraying myself as an expert.

Then it hit me.

I don’t have to be The Expert to share. I can just share. And just maybe I can create a community, or help someone move forward, or maybe, oh wow…inspire someone? Me?

C/O ‘Contemplative Windshield Time’

There are a thousand different ways to make a living as a photographer out there, and mine is just one of them. But, it works for me

It might work for you, too. Or at least bits and pieces of it. You get to choose.

I really don’t know exactly where all this is going, but I believe in it. Just like you’re reading this, I’m starting a journey. Down the road I can see articles, and videos, and podcasts, and who knows what else. It’s an idea evolving and growing.

They say (who are “they” anyway?) every journey starts with a single step. This is mine. I hope it can help be yours as well. And if you are here, that means you get to travel along from the start and be a part of building it. Maybe even get some side benefits.

Come along?