Unpopular Photography Advice
We have all heard the phrase “jack of all trades master of none”. This saying is usually used to describe someone who does a bit of this and a bit of that to an average level but does not specialise in one thing or is an expert in one thing. This phrase is generally also used in a negative tone to suggest that one should specialise in a single pursuit and not dabble around. Although I agree with this saying in theory, I am also not fully behind it for reasons I shall explain in this blog. This applies to photography and life in general.
Now and then when I find myself a little bored I ask myself, what does a full life look like. In other words what does a life well lived look like on paper. Regret is a bitch and when I am on my deathbed, the last thing I want going through my mind is “I wish I did this and that when I could”. I know this is not photography related but stay with me, it will make sense soon. So whenever I ask myself this question, I start listing out things that are important to me and things I want to do. Here is what this list looks like now.
Travel
City breaks
Hiking trips
Train journeys
Beach holidays
Adventure & expeditions
Road trips
Safari
Photography
Street photography
Travel photography
Nature photography
Wildlife photography
Health & fitness
Running
Swimming
Cycling
Hiking
Weightlifting
Work
YouTube
Photography
This blog
Own products
Freelance work
2nd business in the future
General life:
Ample time with family and friends
Perhaps even my own family when I’m older
My own home
Plenty of time to read
Live a simple and slow life
As you can see this list is very extensive and it is not even everything. This is just what I managed to think top of my head whilst writing this on my way back to London. If my life is a nice balance of all the above elements, then I would consider it a pretty full life. However what price do I pay for having all of this? The price of being average at most of these or perhaps only being good at a few and average or below average at everything else. Perhaps many of these pursuits will never be done to the best of my ability and many I will simply dabble with now and again. However if I wanted to become a master or an expert in anything on this list, I would need to dedicate my entire existence to that. Take any master operating at the highest level in anything in life. Be it photography, sports or academia. Chances are they are world class in one thing but don’t have too much going on outside of that.
For example if I wanted to become a bodybuilder, I would need to prioritise a routine, a specific diet and a lifestyle that is supportive of building a physic. This will probably mean no backpacking trips for a month, not skipping a regimented gym schedule and not spending time trying different cake shops. My existence will revolve around counting calories, macro nutrients and keeping track of all my workouts. Of course all this comes at a price. The price is less time to do other things and even saying no to some things entirely. Is this a price worth paying? For many people it is. For me it is not. This is why I go to the gym a few times a week and happy to skip a week if I have something going on. I will still workout enough to not be fat and have enough muscle but that’s it.
Moving towards photography and we are often told to specialise in one thing. If you’re a landscape photographer, just shoot landscapes. If you’re into portraits, all you need to focus on is photographing people. We are told that the only way to be a successful photographer is to be super specialised in one niche and not touch anything else. I am here to say that for 95% of you, this advice is shit.
Let’s start with the 5% to whom this advice applies. Do you want to be a high flying portrait photographer? Do you want to command a premium rate for your commercial food photography? Do you want to be known as a master of street photography, as one of the great landscape photographers or as that wedding shooter who’s always fully booked? If you answer yes to any of these, then ignore everything I am saying and hone all your time, effort and energy into that one specific niche.
However for 95% of you, dabbling with some street photography, maybe the odd portrait session and taking your camera on a hike for some landscapes will yield a more fulfilling relationship with photography as opposed to trying to be the best street photographer known to man.
I know I can’t speak for others so let me speaks for myself. Most of you know me for street photography and YouTube. This is where it all started. However as many of you have seen over time my attention has been diluting away from that and into travel, writing blogs and eventually more landscape photography, hiking and nature. I am sure if I gave 100% of my energy to YouTube, I will have a bigger channel. I am sure if all I cared about is street photography, I would be more recognised within that genre. If I have a YouTube video to finish but I haven’t been to the gym, I would prioritise the gym. I would prioritise taking a day to chill, read, go for a walk and see friends over grinding out another YouTube video. I would rather do everything to 70% of my ability but have a healthy variety of hobbies, interests, income sources and pursuits. I am here to live a full and balanced life and not be a master of one thing.
So my advice is to not get too hung up on only being a street photographer, landscape photographer or whatever it is that you do. Try different things, have different hobbies and I believe you will enjoy a healthier and more balanced life.