Since starting this blog (with the exception of 2011) I’ve written what I like to call call my Janus Post. it’s a post that looks back over the past year and forwards towards the next. In 2011 I didn’t do this for several reasons I’m not going to explain here. But now, as we enter into 2012 I feel it’s time to revive the tradition albeit with a slight twist: this time it’s going to be split into two parts, this one looking back over the last 12 months and another looking forwards to the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013.
2011 – The Year that Was…
2011 was, without doubt, simply amazing. 2011 was the year I acted on the commitment I made in October 2010. It was the year I turned my back on a 25+ year in software engineering and made the jump to becoming a full time, professional fasion photographer. 2011 was the year I made the decision to go. 2011 was the year I went.
As I sit here, now, writing this post it feels good, really good. I’m glad I made the jump and I’m kicking myself that I didn’t make it earlier.
Why 2011?
In october 2010 my employer made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. it truly was the chance of a lifetime. It came completely out of the blue and literally a few days after I’d paid off my mortgage. I had reached the Rubicon and was staring across the murky waters contemplating (potentially) the decision of a lifetime. Should I cross the Rubicon? Could I cross the Rubicon? I’d never felt so scared in m life. Deep down I knew what the answer was. It had to be “yes”. There simply wasn’t another alternative. If I’d said “no” I probably would have given up on photography altogether. So I made the decision, I made the commitment, I decided to go.
Looking back it now seems like a momentous decision but at the time it was really simple. It was just a binary decision. Black or White? Which side of the fence? Simple. I’d never even contemplated how easy it was to decide to go until just now.
That fork in destiny was October 2010. The next few months were quite surreal: wrapping up my duties and responsibilities with my left hand whilst simultaneously trying to build a business with the right. My workload suddenly increased exponentially and things were just starting to hot up.
2011 Begins…
The year started with a bang. I had a lot of shoots, albeit test shoots but a lot more shoots. Why? Because my availability increased significantly. I took advantage of the sudden increase in free time during the week to do many more shoots and take the fashion photography course run by the incredible Bruce Smith. If you’re thinking of taking one of his courses, jfdi. I had a great time. The a few weeks later I found myself in prime position at the end of the runway for the Fashion Mavericks catwalk shows during London Fashion Week courtesy of my good friend Ande Dilema and the kindhearted show director, Jacqueline. I was on cloud nine. I learned so much in the first two months of the year.
Saying Goodbye…
My last day at work was March 4th, 2011 but I never made it into the office. Instead I was over the other side London, doing a test shoot with no less than 7 models from the Dilema Agency with two LFW designers’ collections to shoot. Wow. That was a great day and probably one that I’ll never forget. I did drop by the pub on my way home to say a few goodbyes though but by then I was so detached from my previous life it felt really surreal.
And so the year continued, getting stronger and stronger as each week went by.
Looking Back…
I’m not going to go into nauseating detail about every facet of 2011 but it was a great year and I’ve included some of the images from my favourite shoots in the video above. I feel I’ve grown. As a photographer. As a person. As a businessman. I’ve learned a lot of lessons too but I wouldn’t trade that year for anything.
Looking back, the most difficult adjustment was learning how to cope with the uncertainty. I’d often remarked to a former boss how one gets trapped by one’s salary. It’s like crack cocain insofar as its incredibly addictive. It only takes one or two salary checks before one becomes completely dependent on that regular cash injection into the bank account. Take that away and it requires a big shift in attitude as you learn to adjust to the uncertainty. One thing is for certain though. You become more driven as a result as you are acutely aware that your future lies solely in your own hands and not those of a faceless executive deciding your fate.
Do I have any regrets? Yes, that I didn’t jump earlier.
Would I do it again? Yes, you bet.
Did I meet my goals? No. I exceeded them. I achieved significantly more during 2011 that I could ever have hoped for. There is still a long way to go but I feel justified in referring to myself as a Commercial and Fashion Photographer now.
