Livin’ the Dream

I’m sitting on my boat in the Caribbean, listening to waves gently lap against the side as the yacht softly creaks. The sun is gently beating down on a perfect day. It isn’t too hot–it isn’t too cold. Charlize Theron hands me a cool drink and gently leans forward to …

BEEP…BEEP…BEEP…BEEP…BEEP

I smack the alarm clock, only to come to the realization that my cat is licking my face and telling me ”It’s time for breakfast!” Yuck! I wipe my cheek clean of cat drool and force my eyes open. Another day in Atlanta.

This is the curse of dreams: waking up. Reality. The dream world is gone, and daily life takes over. At first glance, this may seem to have nothing to do with photography; but believe me–it certainly does. I meet so many photographers who desperately dream of shooting full-time. They say it is their dream. They treat it as a dream, as well.

The truly successful photographers are not dreamers–they are visionaries. They have a vision, and they set out to make it happen. That vision becomes a part their everyday reality. There is no waking up. It isn’t something that is set aside until the realities of fleshing out daily life are through. Making this vision become a reality is as much a part of their everyday life as their “day job.” They don’t wait for the day job to finish and then start dreaming again, only to once again face “wake-up time.”
The ultimate test in finding out if you are a dreamer or a visionary is this: What are you doing to make it a reality? Taking pictures has very little to do with making shooting full-time your reality. What are you doing to contact potential clients? What are you doing to get published? What are you doing besides talking about plans or dreams? How are you fleshing it out?

I have met so many dreamers through my workshops. They tell me how they want to be a fashion photographer or glamour photographer. They tell me how much they love photography and how it is so much a part of them. That passion is wonderful and inspiring. The love of capturing a beautiful image is something not everyone truly understands.

Think about it. You are photographing a beautiful model. She is moving gracefully, and you are really on top of your game that day. Everything is going right. Her makeup is perfect. Her attitude is great. The wardrobe matches the perfect environment. The light is magnificent. Dead on! The shoot concludes.

BEEP…BEEP…BEEP…BEEP…BEEP

Now what?