What Kind of Photographer Will You Become?

Who we are as artists and photographers is usually a process that takes time and a deeper internal dialogue to understand, and the initial direction we go will almost always be left on the wayside as we develop our abilities and discover our passions. How do some of the most accomplished photographers in the world start in the industry and do they grow into or out of their genres?

Thomas Heaton tells us his story and how he grew from a local professional wedding photographer to an international landscape artist and shares how his passions changed. Many of us who pursue photography as a business and career will change our trajectories several times whether initially or to overcome the market and keep our income at a manageable level. For others, the outlet of photography is an act of creation that grows with the person’s skill set. Eventually, we learn not only who we are as photographers but what we value as artists. This self-realization happens to everyone on their artistic journey. 

Heaton goes on to explain his journey in his video from being a new photographer entering the wedding market to eventually becoming a highly sought after landscape artist. I believe acknowledging your eventual personal growth is very important especially for those creatives who are just starting down the road to what they want to create and what they value as artists. Your growth will be formed by your values and these will nearly always change as time moves forward. It’s a part of being an artist, and it’s a part that we should embrace immediately when our creativity has a direct impact with our happiness.

Have you changed genres as you explored photography? Did you start the profession in one genre and transition to another?