Redefining the Spectrum of Success in the Photographic Realm, Moments of Mood, 1.5

What is success?
How do we measure it in the context of photography and the arts, and does it even matter?
These questions often find their way into my conversations with guests on the mood podcast, and this is often a question they find difficult to answer.
In today's world, we are often confined by our social constructs how we're brought up, what values we have been taught, intra-family pressures, societal pressures, labels, identities from educational materials, self-help books, podcasts like these, tv media and many more variables that seem to mould who we are and how we see the world in our little bubble.
And it's important, I think, to always remember that you are the only one that's in your head.
You are the only one that knows you and understands you, and because of that, you're always in your own bubble.
Some people are more in a bubble than others.
For example, if you don't have the ability or means to be exposed to various forms of education, ways of life and different people, the longer one goes without escaping that introversion of your own perception, the deeper you will sit in that bubble, and that's not a criticism, just an observation.
In fact, it's often what makes art art, and it's an observation that's important when we talk about exactly what success means to you.
After all, for many people, this is the source of another social construct Happiness.
As this is a photography first podcast, though, let's look at photography for now.
Photography is a diverse field with countless genres, from portrait and landscape to wildlife and documentary.
Success means different things to different artists, but at its core, it seems to always be about achieving one's goals and finding fulfillment in their work.
So I wanted to break that down a bit and see if it applies to all of us and if we should even care about it.
For some, just being known and venerated for their work is enough to achieve success, but for some photographers who didn't get into it for being revered for example, portrait photographer Annie Liebervitz success is capturing the essence of their subjects and translating a story through their lens, using the art of photography as a kind of tool for tales.
Her iconic portraits, such as the one of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, have etched themselves into the annals of photographic history.
But was this her goal?
Well, I don't know her in order to ask her, but having studied her for a few years, I can confidently assume no.
Her definition of success lies in her ability to connect with her subjects and, as such, whether she is able to reveal their vulnerability, their honesty and their stories.
If she achieves this type of success, then she knows that everything else takes care of itself because she does it for the right reasons.
So by realizing her macro and immediate definition of success in photography, ie with each shot, she is able to give herself the best chance to evoke emotion in any viewer and leave an indelible mark on the world in some form or another, whether the images get seen by 100 or 100 million.
With a generic view of success across all demographics, industries, societies and cohorts in mind, let's look at examples that photographers would call success.
A lot revolves around money, obviously, and therefore how much business they can book.
Most photographers are self-employed these days, and it is extremely common for photographers to conflate success with the amount of money they have in the bank.
Well, it's sad, but true and, of course, understandable.
Again, our world is made up of societal constructs that create a system when money wins or at least ensures the best chance of survival.
When we look at a theory such as Maslow's hierarchy of needs, we're always looking to climb up that ladder.
Even though there are a lot of environmental variables that impact our subconscious, it seems to be our human nature that drives our want for more, and I emphasize want, not need.
If you are unable to support your own life from photography, then just those first few rungs where essentially just survival is at stake means that just making ends meet from photography would be considered a success at that time, and so on and so forth.
It's in our western nature to always want more, more and more will with time.
Once one definition of a goal is achieved, then we set a new one, and again and again.
But until when?
It is important to understand that often you as a person will change your definition of success, often throughout your life.
Your idea of success 10 or 20 years ago is not the same as it is now.
Right, success takes various forms, even within a single genre of photography.
In the world of portrait photography, for example, someone like Richel Avedon's definition of success centered around his ability to reveal the true character of his subject.
He saw success as establishing a profound connection with the people he photographed, capturing their inner personality in a unique way that transcended traditional conventions of portraiture.
Just like Lieberwitz with him, success was achieved when those emotions he captured through his lens resonated deeply with his audience, leaving a lasting impact.
In street photography, dido Moriala found his own triumphs by immersing himself in the gritty, raw and often chaotic urban landscapes.
His definition of success was deeply rooted in capturing the pulse of the streets, revealing the energy and human experiences that unfolded in these bustling environments.
Moriala believed success was achieved when his photographs not only depicted the raw reality of the streets, but also made his audience feel a part of the dynamic urban narrative.
In both cases, these photographers defined success through their distinctive visions and artistic goals, where the act of creating images that resonated with their own understanding of their subjects and the world around them was at the core of their personal definitions of success.
And some can define success as just being able to continue doing what they enjoy.
What a great one that is.
But how can it be quantified?
Not 100% of what you do you'll enjoy.
So where's the cut off?
All of this points towards fulfillment.
Is that the same as success?
Well, maybe many photographers' definition of success is to be fulfilled and to make an impact or, even better, a difference.
For such a vocational craft.
I can't imagine there are many that take up photography just wanting it to be a job that passes the time and pays the bills.
We're lucky like that, but with the saturation of the market, quicker, cheaper and easier ways to pick up the craft, it isn't very easy to become a leap of its or an Ansel Anum or Steve McCurry.
So how does one define and find success in today's world?
Well, managing expectations is key, and this is not a negative outlook.
There is a fine balance between dreams and goals, with achievability and realism.
I feel it's more important than ever to not lose sight of reality, the conflict of interest for photographers when dealing with today's challenges, such as what many would call a necessary evil social media.
In today's digital world, social media platforms have become powerful tools for photographers to showcase their work and connect with audiences, but with that comes a new dimension of success, where likes, shares and followers play a role.
Is this reality, and should it even matter?
Well, it depends on how you use it and what you expect to get out of it.
Like many things in the digital sphere, it's a tool, a powerful one at that, and one that can be leveraged to boost your photography career and deliver many forms of success that you might define.
Conversely, it can have the opposite effect if not understood or managed well.
Unfortunately, many photographers want the continuous dopamine hits of being liked in the metasphere, and we all do to some extent, after all.
That's probably why we share our work.
But having this as a definition for success ie how many followers or likes is, in my opinion, an extremely dangerous game.
Where does it end?
What is the opportunity cost your happiness?
Because there's one thing for sure, I think you can't achieve fulfillment or happiness through growing your Instagram account.
Those photographers who I think are achieving success don't necessarily have insane amounts of followers, but utilize the platform to a showcase their beautiful work in their way, not to fit around the algorithms, and b give back and aspire in some way or another.
Names that come to mind in this space here are Pat K, daniel Corden, trevor Cole and many, many more.
Photographer Gris Burkard, known for his stunning landscapes, has mastered the art of leveraging the digital age.
For him, success transcends traditional metrics and is rooted in his passion for the outdoors.
It entails sharing his deep love for nature and inspiring others to explore the wilderness.
It's about making his work accessible to a wider audience, fostering a community or like-minded nature enthusiasts, and using photography as a vehicle for environmental advocacy and awareness.
His success is measured by inspiring and motivating as broad a range of people as possible to connect with and protect the natural world, rather than simply amassing his own followers or accolades.
Will he ever know if he realizes this specific success, and how many would it take for him to call it a success?
For this, I don't think it matters.
Just the level of purpose one can gain from setting these types of levels is, I think, paramount.
Without some road towards something, then, does anything matter?
And will you be lost?
In any type of pursuit, in any field, having purpose is a bit cliche and overused, I think.
I don't think it's ever that simple.
It depends on what you believe and how you see the world, but having belonging and meaning in your little bubble is certainly a precursor to happiness, and isn't that really the true essence of what we're talking about here?
But yes, let's be honest.
Many people would define success in a monetary way, where financial gain is the indicator of one's status, level or success in life.
It's not mine and I don't necessarily share or agree with that perception, but it is the majority and I don't denigrate that.
Many photographers aspire to make a living from their art and success in this field, offered into twines with business acumen, and good for them.
I, of course, take nothing away from that.
In fact, I'd like more of that myself, and portrait photographers seem to be pretty good at this.
Someone like Sue Bryce springs to mind, who has achieved tremendous success by not only creating compelling images, but also teaching others how to turn their passion into a profitable career.
For some, like the late Ansel Adams, success is in the lasting impact of their work, a legacy that can transcend their lifetime.
Adams' pioneering efforts in landscape photography led to the establishment of many national parks, and a legacy that endures today.
I mean pretty epic right.
As I ramble on and on, though, it's clear there's no one-size-fits-all answer, but if you're driven by creative expression, social influence, conservation or financial reward, your path to success is uniquely yours, and that's such a privilege, isn't it?
From that privilege, I feel it's important to remember a few things before stepping foot in a certain direction.
1.
Define your own success.
Try not to be swayed by external pressures or expectations.
Set your own goals and measure success based on those.
2.
Stay true to your art.
As you chase success, remember the essence of your craft Not about recognition or profit, but also about the joy and fulfillment that creating brings.
It's really difficult.
3.
Connect and inspire.
Many successful photographers have made their mark by forging deep connections with their subjects or their audiences.
To share your passion and inspire others, embrace the tools that are available and often free to you.
4.
Adapt and embrace change.
In the digital age.
Staying relevant and successful often requires embracing technology and new platforms.
Don't be afraid to evolve or explore.
I'm thinking of something like AI here.
Lastly, leave a legacy Something I had a disagreement with Joiella about, but I do believe, even if you're not thinking this in the moment, whether through your art, your teachings or your impact on the world, consider the legacy you want to leave behind.
Isn't that the true story or message we want to communicate to others?
So what is success in the world of photography and the visual arts?
Well, it's a complex and deeply personal concept, something that you can absorb and be patient with.
In the end, it's about setting some goals and finding out where you want to fit in the world when it comes to your photography, also when it comes to your message and your evolution as an artist.
You can then work towards achieving these goals, whether they're creative, social or financial, and finding fulfillment and, hopefully, success in the process.
So I encourage you to reflect on your own journey and what success means to you.
Let it be a guiding light, a source of motivation and a reminder that, in the end, your success is yours to define and celebrate.
Thank you for listening.
It's my privilege to have you as an audience and until the next one, which I promise will be a guest podcast, happy shooting.