Stop the fake til you make it as a photographer and artist

I’ve heard this phrase so many times and to some extent, I agree with it. The problem starts when we try to take it too far. You can’t fake talent, knowledge, or skill. Especially when it comes to photographic art. It takes talent, knowledge, and skills to create photographs that are more than mere snapshots.

I certainly don’t wish to discourage others. I don’t want to discourage others from dreaming big. At the same time, I want to encourage those to be humble and stay grounded. When you try to pass yourself off as the “Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz”, eventually, just as happened with the wizard, the truth surfaces. Now you’ve damaged your reputation unless like in the movie those who pulled back the curtain to reveal you are understanding. In business, that is often not likely to happen.

I am not the greatest, most talented, or most knowledgable, or even have the best skills. What I have, though is a community to help me along the way. After all the years I’ve been a photographer, I haven’t always been a photographic artist. For years, I was a picture taker. A snapshot shooter. In recent years, I have become passionate not about photography but about photography as an art form. It’s more than setting up dozens of photo sessions and taking hundreds or thousands of pictures. It’s about telling stories, conveying messages, showing emotions, and capturing personalities.

Photographers who truly want to rise to a level above where they are, be they beginner or advanced, should spend some time on self-reflection. See where you are, objectively, and then decide where you want to be. Develop your skills, knowledge, and creativity. Hone your talent. Only then will you be able to rise above the crowd. The fake it til you make it, is a false god. Learn it til you earn it.