The Most Important Message From WPPI For Photographers Is… (D194)

FOLLOW YOUR PASSION.

A close second is… JUST BE YOU.

Among all the seminars, workshops and rockstar photographer presentations and events at WPPI 2010 in Las Vegas, the overriding messages I heard were the ones above. Yes, lighting, technical skills, framing, composing, marketing, and social media are all important pieces of the puzzle. But the picture of a life and living that you’re putting together is about your passion and YOU.

Each piece of equipment you add, every blog post you write, every marketing message you send, every contact you make, are all just pieces you need to complete the puzzle you’re creating with your life as a photographer. Forget about copying anyone else or trying to be a rockstar, if you’ll just be authentic, tell your story and share it with the world, that’s where success lies.

As my friend Dane Sanders said in his presentation on The Anatomy of a Creative, what matters is what happens at the intersection of who you are and what you do. Who you are needs to affect everything you do. So while it’s great to listen and get ideas from other creatives who have paved the way, there is no “right” way for you to become a successful professional photographer.

And while we’re talking about that, can we just scrap the words “successful” and “professional” and just be photographers?

Can we get rid of the divisions that keep us apart and find the connections that bring us together—for support, courage, and change?

Can we just be creatives who see and interpret the world through a glass lens… then share that view with a world dying for true connection?

Today’s image: I love the way that Pictage captured that message in the bracelets they handed out to everyone that visited their booth… and what fun, bright colors to boot! Such a great way to remind ourselves to follow our passion! And can I just say that we had an absolute blast at the women’s panel at the Pictage booth on Wednesday? So many talented, brilliant and creative women came out to chat with myself, Mary Marantz and Jules Bianchi. I’m telling you now that you will want to join us in New Orleans at Pictage PartnerCon in November… we have got something absolutely amazing up our sleeve!

Manual: Page 99

Images: Photo Trekking… I love this book!