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Like I said in instalment #1 of On Turning Pro:
So in the past year, people have been asking me: “Fook, you’ve been spending quite a bit of money into photography, are you going to turn pro?” Honestly, I have thought about it for a while now, and here are some of the reasons why I believe I am not ready to turn pro.
Let’s talk about style, which to me, means consistency. This applies to both the portfolio as well as the results that a photographer presents to their clients.
When I first started photography, I joined a local photography club and spent some time with the executive committee. One day, a famous street photographer, Eric Kim, came out to speak to us. His YouTube channel is very active, and, in my opinion, one of the channels that inspire people’s wanderlust. He spoke about being selective with what you show to the world. On a basic level, a photographer should only show his best work. On a higher level, this means that if a photo does not fit a photographic series, it should be cut from a set. In the professional world, many great photos have been lost as a result.
I don’t think that I am committed enough to be so selective. If I have a good photo which I am proud of, I’ll publish it. And, I don’t believe I am that consistent. Looking at my library, the only real trend I see as a trend is that I tend to take a lot of pictures of beaches. I love beaches. I live in Sydney.
Maybe I have yet to develop a particular style. While I might be critical of myself, I believe that by remaining an enthusiast, I am not forced into developing a style, and can choose to shoot what and when I want.
TLDR: Style is something that separates the greats from normals. In my opinion, the most important aspect is consistency. Great photographers have it. And in part, it comes by sacrificing great pictures that don’t fit into a set’s style and aesthetic. Actually having an aesthetic is key. I lack consistency and haven’t a personal aesthetic, so don’t think I will ever be a great photographer.
And again: I don’t think I’ll be turning pro.
Relevant links:
ohm image: Friday Fook: On Turning Pro - Defining the photographer
ohm image: porridge to the Sony a7r
ohm image: Sinaron Digital Macro 120mm F/5,6 and extreme movements
ohm image: dSLR to mirrorless to SLR - one Man's Fujifilm conversion
ohm image: How to: iPhone bokeh