Non-Conformity and the Modern Photographer; and My Library of Photography Guides is Growing
There are no fees for the materials. They are there to help anyone who needs a little push.
Hi, and welcome to my little Substack corner. I write about photography, art, design, and the craft of living creatively. I am glad you are here. Consider subscribing to keep up with what I am doing. I promise not to bore you. If you would like to support my efforts, that would be amazing and so appreciated. Either way, I am super happy you are here.
Welcome everyone.
What a week, ya know.
I spent some time on the road this week and found, astonishingly, that people are still good to each other, people are still mostly kind, and no one wanted to cancel anyone else. At least in the places I visited and spent time in.
As it should be.
I haven’t been on Twitter, so… whatever.
I have been focused on a lot of different things for the next year.
One of them is to create a place for photographers to work together, to help one another, and to stay focused for what looks to be a bright future in 2025.
The humdrum has lasted too long. We are seeing signs of more and more marketing dollars discussed for the coming year.
And let’s face it, they have to do something.
Photography is the winner, or course. No other medium is as expressive or as universally understood.
But photographers must beware. It will remain a tough mountain to climb if we stay isolated, frustrated, and cocooned.
Shit happens.
It will happen tomorrow, it will happen when you least expect it, and it will be nasty and pull your ass down to the ground faster than Mike Tyson's right hook.
My mentor told me to always be ready for failure as it was always a possibility. He had backups for his backups. In gear and ideas. Nothing stopped him from getting it done.
I believe in planning as best I can. I sketch ideas. I make notes. I challenge my brain with the 10 Ideas a Day system.
Keeping this regimen in mind, I have begun doing these ‘Brain Dumps” of information that you can use to help keep your plans alive.
They are free for everyone.
The latest is a follow-up on my post about the importance of Personal Projects.
I am going to give you a link for each so you can go, read them, download the PDF if it is available, and otherwise get the information.
The Client Acquisition Class
This class is a series of recorded webinars, downloadable PDF’s, and Articles to help the photographer who doesn’t know where to find clients in their localities. If you cannot answer this question; “Who wants to buy my work?”, this is the class for you. LINKA Numbers Game
Understanding the power of reach and frequency will give you a head start in your photography business. This is what you do in coordination with the ideas from the Client Acquisition Class, and watch your commissions grow. LINKPricing Strategies
One of the most difficult parts of this business, and the area I get the most questions on is “what do I charge?” Here is a pricing guide full of strategies and ideas you can use to build a strong pricing structure that your clients will understand. LINKPitching Editorial Clients
If you want to shoot for magazines or websites that have visual stories, this guide will help you understand the pinching process. LINKThe Power of Personal Projects
With a recorded webinar on how doing a personal project can help your photography, ideas for projects that you can use as models and a deep look into how to plan and execute a personal project, there is a lot of material for you to use immediately. LINK
I am also doing a series of webinar meetings for anyone who wants to attend. They are held on Zoom and are recorded for posterity. Here is the page to bookmark.
The Non-Conformist Photographer:
Why It Matters More Than Ever
I know most of you are photographers, sooo…— this one's for you.
I want to talk about why we must ditch conformity and embrace a little rebellion. Too many of us believe that non-conformity is a philosophy for philosophers in long flowing robes with little flowers and bird print and cool hair, or perhaps a slogan on a bumper sticker.
For those of us who reject the well-trodden path, it's a way of life, our ticket to artistic freedom, and a career path with unexpected doors that can open without warning.
This is why non-conformity is the legend of standing out in a business oversaturated with visuals that all look the same.
The Art of Standing Alone
Ralph Waldo Emerson, the grandfather of non-conformity, had a real, multi-generational viral moment when he said that true happiness comes from not conforming to the expectations around us, but forging our own way into the world.
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
We photographers face a constant barrage of societal norms: trends on social media, the expectations of clients, and the all-too-familiar temptation to do what everyone else is doing, just to get a few extra likes or maybe secure the next paycheck.
But there's a cost to all this blind conformity—a heavy cost.
Look, when you conform, you risk losing your true photographic voice. You might start producing images that please others, but leave you feeling as hollow as those little straws they give you at the convenience store when you buy your fourth Diet Pepsi. Judge not, infidel.
Emerson tells us that when we follow someone else's script, we're living someone else's life. How many of you have shot a photo that technically hit all the marks, but felt empty to you? That's conformity draining the soul right out of your work. Personally, I find living my own life hard enough without taking on another person’s.
True art comes from authenticity, and you can't get there by imitating others. Being a non-conformist in your work means exploring what genuinely moves you, not just repeating the trending poses or editing styles that clog up Instagram.
Take some time in solitude—away from societal noise—to understand what kind of photographs you want to make. That’s where personal strength grows abs to die for and where unique visions are born.
Society's Lies and The Courage to Say "No"
There’s great power in rejecting societal lies, and boy, does photography need this now more than ever.
The industry is full of them:
"More gear equals better shots."
"The only successful photographers are the ones who shoot for Vogue."
"You have to please everyone to get ahead."
"Most photographers drive Lambos."
Let me tell you—none of that is true.
When we allow these lies to dictate our decisions, we find ourselves working for things that don’t bring us joy. Maybe it’s the endless chase for new equipment or the belief that your work only matters if it fits into a certain niche.
This kind of conformity is exactly what leads to burnout—and the feeling that you’re just another shooter in a sea of lenses. Rejecting these lies doesn't just help your mental well-being; it can transform your art. Tell ‘em “no more lies, dudes,” then go make the photos you want to make. Rent a Lambo.
When you work from a place of honesty, your images reflect that truth, a humble but honest truth. Your shots become less about perfection and more about connection—real human stories told from your unique view, your unique connection.
It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Fear of Rejection and Embracing Criticism
The toughest part of non-conformity is overcoming the fear of ridicule.
Let’s face it: putting your work out there, especially when it’s different, takes guts. And society—or, more accurately, the algorithm—isn’t always kind to those who veer off the well-trodden path. But what if that’s precisely where the magic lies?
It really is.
The best photographers, the ones we remember, are those who chose their path regardless of whether others followed. Think of people like Richard Avedon or Gregory Crewdson—they’re not trend followers.
Their style is personal, raw, and fearless because they embraced the discomfort of disapproval and kept pushing forward. When you put your true work out there and it gets a lukewarm response or even criticism, take that as a sign that you’re onto something different—something uniquely yours.
I’m not saying to disregard all criticism, though. Criticism can reveal deep truths about our character. As photographers and artists, that critique can show us where we’re growing and where we’re clinging to safe patterns. Use that feedback to sharpen your eye, not as a reason to change direction toward the safer, more accepted path.
Unfortunately too many react to a critique rather than respond.
(If the doctor tells you that you are reacting to a medicine, that isn’t good. But if you are responding to the medicine, then the bowling league won’t have to replace you for a while.)
Non-Conformity as Career Strategy
Non-conformity can also fuel your career. In a crowded market, standing out is everything.
Conformists all look the same. They create images that fit neatly into whatever the popular aesthetic of the moment might be.
And sure, they might book a few jobs. But the photographers who break the mold are the ones who get remembered—the ones who clients reach out to when they want something truly original.
And that is where you want to have at least some of your brand… stuff that you are uniquely qualified to do.
Clients see your authenticity. They know when your work isn’t just another copy of the latest Pinterest board. And if you can offer them something unique—something only you have because you aren’t afraid to be a non-conformist—you're not just a photographer, you're their photographer.
That’s when clients start to trust your vision instead of just dictating what they want. Suddenly, you’re not just hired hands with a new Sony; you're creative collaborators.
When you get known for being unique, you open doors to opportunities that the conformists simply don’t have access to. Brands, agencies, and publishers don’t need more of the same—they’re starving for authenticity.
They want voices that can tell a story in a way nobody else can. When you commit to non-conformity, you set yourself apart, and in a world of noise, being different is the most valuable currency you can have.
A man must consider what a rich realm he abdicates when he becomes a conformist.
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Stick With It
Embracing non-conformity isn’t easy.
It’s a path filled with uncertainty and a lot of self-doubt. You’ll feel the pressure to fall back in line, to create work that fits in rather than stands out.
I’m telling you that non-conformity requires discipline, and let me be clear, that’s true in spades.
But the reward? It’s freedom—creative, personal, and professional freedom.
You’ll discover that, as you cultivate your strengths and reject the expectations others have put on you, your work will resonate more deeply. You’ll find yourself making photos and creating art that matters—to you and others.
And that, my friends, is the whole point. Non-conformity can make you a better photographer—it can make you an agent of change in an often chaotic world.
It empowers you to express your inner truth, a truth that society desperately needs to see. Do the work that only you can do—the kind that comes from rejecting what's expected and embracing what’s real.
Not only will your art grow, but you’ll etch out a career that’s built on authenticity, originality, and a damn good story.
One that isn’t sipped from a convenience store straw.
When you are ready, here is how I can help you succeed.
Group Mentorship: a small group of photographers who meet to show images, work on their portfolio, and build their businesses with help from a wonderful group. Lifetime membership for one fee.
NOTE, I have three openings for the Mentorship Group. It is a one-time fee, and you are a member for life. We meet every week live, answer questions, review images and portfolios, talk about business, marketing, and artistic endeavors. If you are interested, please contact me or visit the Group Mentorship page for more information.
One-on-one Mentorship: You and me - working together in an intense 6-month push to get you on the way to over $30K in additional revenue. The work we lay down will help you increase and scale your business for years ahead.
Thank you for supporting my work.