The Importance of Personal Work.
The day to day life of a commercial photographer is typically not at all what most people think. For every hour I spend behind the camera shooting, there are countless hours at my keyboard, on the phone, in the car or in meetings trying to work towards those hours behind the lens. Don’t get me wrong, I love it, almost all of it. But that slog will take its toll.
One of the best pieces of professional advice I ever received was from a coach a few years into my career - specialize. She backed it up with a couple of examples as to why, and it stuck. As a photographer who specializes in food and architecture, and one whose look is consistent throughout those genres, I’ve developed a very deep level of knowledge and expertise on those particular subjects. I’m sought out by clients whose vision and needs line up with mine. But one of the downsides to that specialization is the atrophy of other creative skills. Creativity is like a muscle, use it or lose it. And while I’m whiling away shooting interiors and menus, other creative skills are languishing. And I like those skills that are fading, they make life more fun, and beautiful. I don’t want to lose them.
Taking on personal projects are an important part of any working artists repertoire. Sometimes it’s a long term project that spans years. Other times it’s a day or two hiking around a park. It can be as simple as asking, “What happens when I do this?” Or committing to capturing the same subject over years. The important part is that it’s personally important to the artist, and it’s not a job. The second part is something that often gets lost amongst commercial artists like myself. Personal work is not the same as testing. Testing a new lighting technique, or lens, or shooting style are all important and ongoing parts of being a commercial artist.
Personal projects help artists express views that they might not get the opportunity to in their day to day assignments. They’re a good outlet for creative expression. And they’re a good way to keep creative skills sharp and useful. Also, they’re solid business practice. And they’re really, really fun.
