Whatever it takes

3 weeks into the month of January and I find myself still planning for the rest of the year, a series of events and travels nearby and abroad for work should be in order to bring home the bacon and to seek growth in all avenues. However, as you grow older or should I say garner experience, we eventually understand that not everything goes according to plan. Time is speeding up at an unprecedented rate that we feel that one day is not enough to do the necessary tasks. And even if some would preferably say that we should just wing it in life, it never hurts to have a plan, a dream, or a goal.

When you finally set standards on your photography, it becomes a milestone. An exclamation point that signals your growth as an artist who wants to strive more to achieve a certain level of prowess. Goals are claimed and finished in the future, and so we must never lose sight of the now, the ever present situation that we have. For what we do day in and day out defines the direction and speed on when, where, and how we will finally summit that mountain of challenges.

Climbing mountains excite me more than climbing the social ladder. Nothing beats hard work, smart decisions, and patience. Between fame and fortune, the practical approach would always be the second choice. I still doubt myself, asking If I’m good enough when compared to other professionals in the field. Seeing their smiles in different events, places, and enjoying the best of life can offer, I feel a sense of urge to work harder. Instead of moping around and being jealous of other people’s accolades, we should churn it as fuel to further ignite our passions. Give credit where credit is due, but never forget that at the end of the day, its always you versus you and not them. Your peace with yourself matters. 

 I’ve always been weak with marketing myself, with the genesis of my career starting off with such humble clients, all I’ve known is the work and nothing more. The pains of being a freelance photographer is no joke, you are your own marketing team, technical working group, customer support, chief financial officer, student, and at times counselor. What other people see is only the surface of a hard fought daily battle to make ends meet. And although I’ve learned from two of the finest photography business icons in the country, I’m nowhere near such brilliance.

It will always be a norm to doubt yourself from time to time, a necessary phase to address your weaknesses and fears. But never linger there for too long, it gets harder to escape every minute. Recompose yourself, set out your plans, and execute. In a world which is heating up through issues, eventualities, and climate change, don’t be a snowflake. Handle the heat and carry on. Our fate and destiny will always be in our hands, shown to us until the moment is right.

Photography is more than a career, a passion, or an industry. It is a way of life which needs to be respected, pursued, and practiced. Remain humble in your success and be patient in your failures, nothing lasts forever. But the legacy that we leave through our body of work can and will be an impact to future generations. Do not confuse art from personal motives, it may brighten your candle but never touch the lives of others.

A week more and a few days and the 1^st month of 2020 will end, how we’ve grown and used our time will always be up to us. Our hustle should always grow stronger than our self pity, never let the fear of striking out keep you from winning the game. When plans go awry, get up, plan again, and find the fuel to redeem yourself, whatever it takes.