Developing: Frustration & Photography

by Adam Kocka-Patchik

At a recent going-away party for a friend whom is moving to France, I struck up a conversation with another friend discussing frustration and burnout surrounding photography. More specifically the loftiness in longing to be a “successful photographer” (whatever that may look like).

This friend mentioned a photographer that often makes self deprecating and negative comments regarding their work. Going so far as to delete their portfolio from online existence out of frustration for not “making it”.

While I understand the frustration, I felt that my recent perspective on this subject carried some importance worth sharing with anyone willing to read my written work.

Through my own journey I’ve approached photography with great tenacity and persistence for the work. In pursuit of more work. My thinking was that while working, practicing and honing in on my skills the clientele and success would just materialize. That is far from the reality and it lead me to some low points when I questioned why clients weren’t coming to me. This feeling was the product of my own naivety albeit having a strong work ethic has paid off.

You see photography is a medium in which everyone can grasp; especially in 2023. Being a photographer and one who pays the bills solely with photos is a tough career choice that will require a lot of self sacrifice. And if I’m being honest it takes some selfishness to continue pursuing it in some of the tougher moments.

If you want to be a photographer to be known or to make money, you’ll wear yourself down chasing your own tail. Asking yourself if you capture photos because you love the process or if you do it for some external gratification is maybe one of the biggest questions that will change your mindset and potentially your career trajectory. If the measure of success in this craft was quantifiable then the democratic, almost anarchical, community of photographers wouldn’t exist the way it does today. I’ve met some ‘very successful’ photographers with less than 300 total Instagram followers. I’ve also met fantastic photographers that have little to no online footprint for whatever personal reason. Photography and success are personal. And success looks different for everyone.

To use myself as an example; If you asked me in 2018 what it would take to call myself a Photographer (capital P) I would have told you that paying my bills fully with money from photoshoots would make me a Photographer. Today my outlook has changed rather drastically. I AM A PHOTOGRAPHER. The compulsion to make photographs will never leave me. Like the many New York street photographers that Paulie B interviewed I’ve realized that diverse income streams are ideal to consider in your photography journey. You have a day job to keep the photos going. Just enough to float you but remember your time and how you use it is the real currency.

To put it plainly; being a successful photographer means you live it. Don’t just work it.

THIS… is an invitation to dance. So dance!