A photo journal comprised of my thoughts on motherhood and other life happenings, as well as some of professional work as a photographer. Southern California is home.
Taste is not something you can teach, it’s just innate. I heard an interesting interview with Jerry Springer on a morning radio program a while ago. They were asking him about Kim Kardasian and why he thought she was so successful. Jerry went on to explain how the entertainment industry has become democratized. Stay with me, I’ll tie this all together. He said, back in the day, people used to listen to radio programs because of the DJ. Then people started calling in and all the sudden people were listening to the radio to hear what the callers were going to say. Then talk shows became big and people were, once again, watching to see how the audience was going to react. Then shows like American Idol came along and all the sudden the audience had complete control over who was going to be the next star. Gone are the days where a bunch of big-wigs sit around an over sized table and decide who the next big star is going to be. So, ya see, it doesn’t always have to do with talent (or taste) so much as it has to do with appealing to the masses. And in so many cases, especially in terms of art, the general public lacks taste. Hence, why Kim Kardashian is successful.
Let me digress again. I’ve done a lot of traveling to a lot of poor countries where people idolize me for simply being American. Then, when I return home and venture to the middle of butt-fuck-no-where I look around in disbelief at what makes up a HUGE core of the US… people like honey boo boo… I think about those people from those poor countries who have this fanatical ideal of the US and feel sorry for them… someone has obviously pulled the wool over their eyes. We aren’t all we’re cracked up to be.
Back to my point. I will always value quality over quantity. I may get 20 more photography gigs if I start posing newborn babies on lily pads with pearls around their necks. But it’s not my style. Someone else can do it better in me and see the beauty in it. I don’t. And I’m okay with missing out on those 20 clients for the 1 that respects my approach/style/taste/work. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and everyone is going to have different tastes. That’s what makes it all the more magical when you do find a client that is right for you. Like love, there is presumably someone out there for each of us. The debate then becomes are you willing to sacrifice your own taste to please a broader range of clients? What I’ve learned is that you have to follow your own instinct and try your hardest not to even look at what anyone else is doing, whether you like what they’re doing or not. Just do your thing.
I completely respect and applaud you for sticking to your style and saying screw it to the rest. I have a love hate relationship with photography right now. I don’t have an established style yet. Not even close. It’s frustrating because I know what I like when I see it (for example, your work blows my mind) and I know what I’d like my “style” to communicate…but I just can’t produce it. I’ve had a few shots that have come close to what I want to portray, but nothing that particularly surprises or impresses me like your work does (and so many other great talents out there). But I totally catch your drift here, my husband has been experiencing the same thing with his clients. He’s been building and maintaining ponds for the last 15+ years and over the past few years, he’s been coming to realize that he doesn’t want to take on any client and/or pond. He has a particular vision and style and quality that he wants to stick to and if someone doesn’t vibe with that and only wants the bare minimum, cheapest product…he won’t work with them. Sure, they’re an extra paycheck, more money…but accepting their terms means compromising his work. His name will forever be attached to a shitty, substandard product and it will always be problematic from here on out…causing more headache for him down the line. So now he’s much more picky with who he works with. Anyways…the point of your post here I think relates to so many different fields of work, not just photography. Don’t compromise your talent for anyone who doesn’t “get it”.
I agree with what you’re saying. If you’re an artist and you’re going to make art that’s tasteful, then you might not have a line of people waiting to pay for your art. Especially if you’d agree that Kim Kardasian or babies wearing tutus, sitting on lily pads don’t qualify as tasteful art. If you decide to make your art your only means to a living in the world and you want to be true to who you are, then sometimes you’re going to have to go without.
I love this. Such beautiful and true words. I agree with you, just do your thing and take pride in being you. The reality is, no matter what you do, there will always be someone out there to criticize you, so you may as well enjoy and take pride in what you are doing so you then truly don’t care what the naysayers have to say.
Taste is not something you can teach, it’s just innate. I heard an interesting interview with Jerry Springer on a morning radio program a while ago. They were asking him about Kim Kardasian and why he thought she was so successful. Jerry went on to explain how the entertainment industry has become democratized. Stay with me, I’ll tie this all together. He said, back in the day, people used to listen to radio programs because of the DJ. Then people started calling in and all the sudden people were listening to the radio to hear what the callers were going to say. Then talk shows became big and people were, once again, watching to see how the audience was going to react. Then shows like American Idol came along and all the sudden the audience had complete control over who was going to be the next star. Gone are the days where a bunch of big-wigs sit around an over sized table and decide who the next big star is going to be. So, ya see, it doesn’t always have to do with talent (or taste) so much as it has to do with appealing to the masses. And in so many cases, especially in terms of art, the general public lacks taste. Hence, why Kim Kardashian is successful.
On point. Well said.
I love your words and opinion. I am with you on every word.
I completely respect and applaud you for sticking to your style and saying screw it to the rest. I have a love hate relationship with photography right now. I don’t have an established style yet. Not even close. It’s frustrating because I know what I like when I see it (for example, your work blows my mind) and I know what I’d like my “style” to communicate…but I just can’t produce it. I’ve had a few shots that have come close to what I want to portray, but nothing that particularly surprises or impresses me like your work does (and so many other great talents out there). But I totally catch your drift here, my husband has been experiencing the same thing with his clients. He’s been building and maintaining ponds for the last 15+ years and over the past few years, he’s been coming to realize that he doesn’t want to take on any client and/or pond. He has a particular vision and style and quality that he wants to stick to and if someone doesn’t vibe with that and only wants the bare minimum, cheapest product…he won’t work with them. Sure, they’re an extra paycheck, more money…but accepting their terms means compromising his work. His name will forever be attached to a shitty, substandard product and it will always be problematic from here on out…causing more headache for him down the line. So now he’s much more picky with who he works with. Anyways…the point of your post here I think relates to so many different fields of work, not just photography. Don’t compromise your talent for anyone who doesn’t “get it”.
I agree with what you’re saying. If you’re an artist and you’re going to make art that’s tasteful, then you might not have a line of people waiting to pay for your art. Especially if you’d agree that Kim Kardasian or babies wearing tutus, sitting on lily pads don’t qualify as tasteful art. If you decide to make your art your only means to a living in the world and you want to be true to who you are, then sometimes you’re going to have to go without.
I love this. Such beautiful and true words. I agree with you, just do your thing and take pride in being you. The reality is, no matter what you do, there will always be someone out there to criticize you, so you may as well enjoy and take pride in what you are doing so you then truly don’t care what the naysayers have to say.