You are not entitled to a career in photography

Somewhat in response to the discussion about AI. I’ve always found it interesting that people seem to expect photography to be this magical viable career path that lasts a lifetime. It’s not. And it hasn’t been for a very long time.

This industry is FULL of incredible careers that exploded in the 90’s, early 2000’s, 2010’s, last year. only to fizzle out and fade away. It happens all the time, for a variety of reasons.

It has NEVER not been a hyper competitive, difficult, emotionally grinding career path, and anyone who has tasted even a modicum of success should be grateful everyday that they even got to. I thank my lucky stars every fucking morning that I somehow made it this far.

I am constantly fighting dwindling budgets, younger photographers working under rate, people shooting “work for hire” without understanding or caring what it means. And I’d be lying if I wasn’t that young photographer at one point in my life too. Hell, I still shoot under rate from time to time because thats simply the nature of the industry. If I said no to every job that didn’t pay me my full day rate with limited usage, covered expenses, processing fees, crew etc, I’d be a bartender.

My point is, a lot of people seem to come here bitching and whining about whatever perceived grievances they have about an industry that has been in a state of constant change for the last three decades. Welp - guess what? The industry doesn’t owe you a happy easy career where everything stays kush forever.

But the work is out there, and if you care enough and know how to get it, and don’t spend every opportunity moaning about why it doesn’t fall in your lap exactly how you want it, you can STILL make a decent living doing this. And it is my belief it will remain that way for those who understand how to adapt to the tides. Is it easy? Does it make sense? Nope. And what’s worse is that optimism and hard work and determination won’t guarantee you shit either! Fuck! Oh well.

Nobody forced you to become a photographer. If you chose this path and didn’t prepare for the possibility that it won’t work out, that’s on you and you alone.