Lately I’ve been finding all sorts of inspiration from random sources. It almost feels like everything I read somehow applies to photography or my photography business. I never felt this way when I was in engineering, but that’s probably because I didn’t really care. Just like my coworkers would notice things wrong with every building they looked at (because of their building engineering jobs), I noticed how things would look in photographs. Now it’s happening with advice and ideas in general.
I recently auditioned for a play. I didn’t get the part, but it was fun and I learned a passable Irish accent. Leading up to the audition, and after a bit, I read this old book called The Audition Book by Ed Hooks. I have the edition from 1996 (it’s amazing how many of his predictions regarding things like the internet were correct). It’s really interesting to read about another industry, but beyond that, I’ve found some ideas that apply to my business as well.
Here’s a quotation from the book about being nervous about auditioning, which I think fits perfectly for having meetings with potential photography clients (and in some ways to the actual work itself):
“The avoidance of failure is not the same thing as the pursuit of success. When you go into an audition, step out boldly, give them something to choose. Don’t worry that you will make mistakes that will cost you the job. I mean, you already don’t have the job, right? You might as well try something because, in reality, you have nothing to lose.”
And this one that speaks to the idea of taking chances on your photo shoots (something I’ve been pursuing more this year, but still not enough):
“In the same year that Babe Ruth set the record for the most home runs hit, he also held the record for the most strike-outs.”
The above also applies to going after work and ties into the previous quotation. If you’re fully yourself and show what’s different about you to potential clients, you’re going to lose some, but you might end up winning even more. Nobody wants to buy the generic brand when it comes to wedding photography. At least not anyone thinking about spending a decent amount of money. The image in this post is an example of not being afraid to strike out. Any time I use my tilt-shift lens, there’s a decent chance that the image will be out of focus or the wrong part of the image will be in focus, but the dreamy quality of this photo makes it worth a shot.
To depart from the book slightly, but stay on the subject of acting, I read this interview with Brendan Gleeson today. They asked for his advice to his sons who are actors and I think it perfectly applies to photographers:
“Make your own work. Hire a room, round up 30 people, at lunchtime or whatever, and put on a play. Being at other people’s behest is the worst part of this job, so my advice would be to actually practise your craft: just do it.”
If you’re not already out there shooting constantly, get out there. I direct this advice to myself too, as I’m drowning too much in editing and the business side of things, I’ve felt like I haven’t had the time to shoot for myself. But if I don’t make the time, then it’s just not going to happen. The best way to improve your work is to work.
All of this unlikely inspiration reinforces the idea (found recently in another acting book) that in order to be a good artist, you need to be educated, be observant, and have experienced life and culture. So, get out there and live, read, watch, and learn. Inspiration is to be found everywhere.
