I'm Back!!! Today I want of talk about the Business of Photography or anything else for that matter. There is a lot of Ppl out there saying I do this and do that, I am a business, I do things this way and I make all this money ......but dont know what a form 1065 is. How in the hell are you doing "REAL" business and have no clue about what it takes to run a business? It's the American way! When I first started I thought I would set up shop and BAM I'm off and running, not the case. In fact it's been the hardest journey I've traveled thus far and I've been in 5 combat situations, Army and Navy!

Being that I didn't come from a wealthy background or had access to a silver spoon I have to learn as I go and this Ish aint no Joke! When it comes to owning a company the Government expects so much more form you, ie: TAXES. I've file so many forms in the last year that I feel like the clerk of courts.

The reason for my post is this...starting a business is hard! If a person is doing what it takes to make a business successful they don't have time to gloat and hype whats they are doing. There is paperwork, Marketing, Business Models, Scripts, Banking, Filing, Development, Receivables, Book Keeping, Cold Calling and lets not forget doing the actual job.  How would one have the time to brag when here is so much to do?

It's ok to let the world know you're doing something you love, I get it you're proud but be cautious of your delivery, you may come across as a Hypenaholic. To much of anything will kill you.

I had the privilege of photographing the amazing and talented Make-Up Artist, Ethan Mugler. His style is truly as good as his work. Check out his Facebook Page www.facebook.com/EthanMuglerMUA

Courtney Weathersby

Its been a while since I last posted but I m excited to tell you about my new Muse! She is very new to the game (Second shoot with me) and her name is Courtney Weathersby. The thing that I like the most about this new talent is that she has an amazing ability to listen and perform. She comes from the lone star state of Texas, where everything is bigger and the same can be said about her future in modeling. Its rare that you find talent with natural beauty and a god given frame to match, she has that "it" we all look for. I encourage everyone that can help in her pursuit of the Modeling industry to give her a shout out or hit her up for work.
Again, Amazing talent with a bright future.

Shut the hell up and do you!

I'm starting to realize that there are a lot of Photographers out there that are full of shit! I'm getting really tired of the BS. Get over yourselves and do you. If you are feeding your family then Congratulations! That's all you're going to get from me. That is the end result right?. Just because you have over 3,000 FB friends or you lie better than the next man or you are from the old school and shot with film doesn't make you a Guru of all things Photography. Neither does your time in the craft! There are so many people out there that have made a mockery of the put in time concept. The whole idea of you should do it this way and I'm right because I say so doesn't work well with everyone. If you want to truly change the mindset of the craft work hard enough to put yourself on a national pedestal and touch the mass'. Until your work garners the respect of the entire craft.....STFU and do you! At the end of the day this craft has and will always be about business not self-centered opinions. Art is how we view and create things and business is what we do with the art.

You don't have to be a "Guy With a Camera" to be a GWC.

What is a GWC you ask?


GWC is an acronym for a "Guy With Camera." It's a derogatory term normally used when describing amateur photographers. It is also implied that the GWC is only interested in photography in order to get Women naked. Sounds straight forward right? Not for me.


There's something I've found really funny about this whole "GWC" thing, the Pro's produce the same images as the GWC! All I see from so called Pro's mainly in Facebook groups and Model Mayhem is scantily clad (if clad at all) Women. Most of the images I see have no rhyme nor reason just a naked Woman doing something stupid like, laying on the floor with her butt in the air in a pile of candy. Or the image of the totally naked Woman just standing there covering her nipples. If that ain't "GWC" like, I don't know what is. What are these images for? What are we to get from viewing these images? Most of these images have no artistic value or dramatic lighting what so ever, just a nice body standing there naked with heels on. SMH at some of you GWC's....I mean "Professionals".




Now I have no problem drooling over a very well built frame on a beautiful Woman from time to time, hell that's what we as men do but at what point does the line between GWC and Pro Photographer get blurred? Well I'll tell you. The line gets blurry when the image has no value, when it cant be used for anything other than sharing in Facebook groups and other social media outlets. I see a lot of these images floating around more often than not. I'm not so sure that the term GWC should solely be reserved for amateurs. Some of the pros produce the same images.


As an emerging Photographer I have questions. I see things through a different lens because I haven't bought into any doctrine or common practice in Photography. As for now my thought process is this....if your image doesn't fit into the category of Fashion, Beauty, Commercial, Photojournalism, Portrait, Wedding or any other category of photography that consists of wearing clothes you're a GWC suspect.


Naked or scantily clad Women in images that aren't for some sort of Publication or Professional use equals a GWC behind the lens. I'm just saying.......these are just my thoughts.


I wish you all God Speed and Peace!

What's driving you?

What drives your success? Passion? Money?

If money drives your success, greed will consume you.  

Are you the kind of person that is always looking for the next big break or the quickest way to pad your bank account? Do you use your pseudo- ingenuity on how to turn paper into an art form regardless of the medium? Do you cut corners?  Do you steal ideas instead of getting inspiration from them?  Is your bottom line the top dollar?

If you allow money to propel you, you will fail before you fly unless you are a day trader, a banker or the government.  The risks to gain the reward are far too great when you allow the dollar to drive you. A capitalistic approach only works when your medium IS money.  

If your passion drives you, your success will follow you.  With passion comes earnest desire. Desire is a powerful motivator.  

If you have a passion  for photography, what are you doing to become better?  How are you educating yourself ?  How are you promoting yourself?   How are you at networking?  How much time and sweat equity are you willing to invest? How much money are you willing to invest?

As passion pertains to work, I define passion as doing what you love regardless of monetary payment. The payment is in the pleasure, the finished product, the satisfaction and happiness of your subject(s). 

Photography is so much more than snapping pictures and delivering an invoice. Let the passion drive you to victory. The only place money driven success will get you is a one way ticket to destination failure.

  Between me, you, and the lens:  Don't be the picture that never develops because you didn't take the time and proper steps. Passion first, money last.

Funny how thing turn out!

Today I posted some work of mine in a Facebook group accompanied by a chart to show my light set up. The funny thing is.....the same guy I got into an internet beef with about (Me calling myself a photog because I'm under 9 months) liked what I had done. I'm confused? Was my work not that of a photog or was it just the time I've put in so far? Tiger Woods was on Ripleys Believe it or not at the age of 5, was he not a golfer because he was so young in the game? Lol PPL are funny. Time doesn't make you more or less of anything if you have a gift for that craft. At the end of the day do what you like the most and mostly like what you do. Always room for improvement! Ha