what makes This photographer happy
Well, first, what comes with the job:
Here’s a bit of an insight into the mind of a long-time photographer. Of course, the first things that come to mind are good captures, interesting places or people, and unique experiences that only a photographer can sneak into. A presidential motorcade comes to mind, or riding the Duck Boats with The Patriots and Aerosmith; these go into my “I got real lucky” file in my experiences memory. These were indeed fantastic experiences; however after many years of it, this aspect of the “job” isn’t really where the happiness comes from, for me anyway. These big moments are satisfying and make for good stories, but this is really just part of the job which includes similar stressors like any other occupation. Also, because I work for myself, and I freelance, there’s no one to fall back on: there are expectations to meet, clients to appease, and like any other artist I still have to push myself past the fear of failure. These are the facts of life and stressors that make my profession a career and not a hobby.
When experience separates you from the crowd:
Heres’ a great example of a time when I overcame a near-gig disaster. The foreign press snagged and drove off with the van the organization had arranged to transport them and myself around, leaving me behind. Now this van was on its way to the statehouse at the moment where I was supposed to cover a presidential visit to the governor’s office for the meet-and-greet with him and other officials for the organizers, a vip situation. Now I was stuck, away from the secret service and security that knew and recognized me, out in the awaiting crowds with state police and again secret service blocking my way (the van had my press pass). I endured many laughs and was at the mercy of some of the crowd as I tried to talk my way past the Statehouses’ security; I had rage-face on strong that day. In hindsight, this was a proud moment for a then-struggling photographer, I was like a Jedi passing storm troopers -, and I eventually made my way past legions of cops and guards, into where I needed to be, on the statehouse steps covering the fan fair and even front and center in the Governor’s office. Handling and negotiating that situation successfully comes from nothing other than years of dealing with it.
The boiled-down sources of happiness and primal well-being:
In the moment, that situation was stressful and ultimately satisfying however, while it did provide a nice check, this is not where the happiness comes from. The happiness comes not from the act of photography so much as surviving off of it, that’s where my magic happens. Happy clients after the fact, new enthusiastic clients inquiring in email, nothing makes me happier, to know that my crazy plan worked, is working, and hopefully continues to work. I will mention this is also my wife’s cray plan, she is quoted saying that I have no choice in the matter. On top of that, we’re able to have a cool little life, we love our house and each other, I can have a fire outside, our cats are fat, there aren’t many more things I need to be fairly content. To me, my primal urges are fulfilled by gaining a new client, it is like a successful hunt in a way, and gives my brain the same reward., By this, I am able to stake out my homestead and help provide for my/our family. There is never a guarantee of a next client, but damn it feels good when there is one. The sea of life is a harsh mistress, she givith and she can takeith, but there is no better place for me to be than riding her waves (like any of us have a choice.)
