I’ve been shooting since 1983, with the better part of that time spent in the commercial arena. I was fortunate to have worked with many wonderful photographers who were willing to share their “street smarts” on the business of photography as well as tips they learned from years of shooting.
One thing that most photographers strive for is the definition of their “look”. That element that makes a shot yours and easily recognizable to the rest of the world as an Eric Meola, Robert Mapplethorp, or one of the other masters whose work represents their unique style and has helped define their careers.
Not all photographers are successful at that and land in the group comprised of wonderful photographers that just do good work. That is not such a bad thing. In fact, to be in the company of others whose work is seen in the everyday lives of people across the world without their name being tagged to it is just as important as the first group.
I would say that I am in the latter group, without trying to be or worrying about it. My goal as a photographer is to make myself happy with my work. Since I am probably the fussiest person when it comes to photography, if I am happy with a shot my clients will most likely be as well.
We all strive for perfection in our visions. We study and experiment and test to get closer to the point where we can say “man, that is a great shot!” But no matter how close we get, there will always be something that can be changed or improved, and that is why we keep trying.
Cory
