Piece of My Mind: Sacrificing Style

Posted by Matt Lange on Apr 28, 2009 in Information | 0 comments

Someone recently sent me an email and asked me this:

*How often do you think you (or photogs in general) have to sacrifice your own craft in order to meet a clients wants/needs?

I liked this question. Different from the ‘how to’s’ so I’ll post it. I’m never against sharing anything. So feel free to email me whenver.

This has two answers really. A lot and not a lot at all…

I think a lot of photographers will shoot whatever someone tells them to shoot, or how they want them to shoot or mimic other styles A LOT to get started in the business. It’s an easy way to get your feet wet. But it can also backfire and lock you into a certain group of photographers, and you may not want to be there. Sometimes clients may just need something to look a certain way, and if you need the work, you’ll do it. I don’t think in that way it’s a sacrifice. Just doing a job.

But you need to know your style. If you can create a style or a certain look, then you’ll be sought out for that. No one will probably ask you to make you do something a certain way that isn’t your own then. Take guys like Chase Jarvis. I’m sure he isn’t told what to do. It’s more of a collaboration at that point. When you reach a certain level with your style, it’s not about what they want to tell you to do, its that they want your style and your input into projects.