I just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and I hope that 2012 will be one that is full of creativity, happiness and inspiration. Overall I enjoyed 2011. I had some wonderful recognitions but more importantly I felt that I grew as a photographer. Over the past few months I have been thinking about what or where I want to go with my work. I can easily plan the kind of work I want to produce or learn but when it comes to the marketing side, I am pretty lame. I was thinking that all the success I had last year came by chance and not me chasing it. From being published in Ag to being published by Galerie Vevais this year. I didn't have to push myself on to anyone, market or network. I often find that the success, including an upcoming exhibition has come as a happy accident. I have put my head down and worked hard learning my craft and then someone sees my work and either likes it or not & if they do something comes of it.
I hope that doesn't sound arrogant - as my point is that all the things that I have put myself forward in have nearly always come to nothing whether it has been a competition or a magazine. It's quite funny - I just must be a very poor judge of who might like my work, a terrible editor or simply my work isn't good enough.
So, I am going to take a bit of a lesson from this for 2012. I am not going to enter competitions. I am no longer going to pay for anything (in fact I rarely did, it was a condition of getting a studio). I am going to concentrate on work. I already have some wonderful things lined up for 2012. I have a bookbinding course to go on so that I can make some artist books for the Al-Mutanabbi Street Project. I have to make and donate 3 books by July. I am also doing a project with a school in Glasgow and will be assisting the wet plate collodion workshop with Carl Radford (& Alex Boyd, I hope). I will be going on a course to do a platinum palladium course with Kerik Kouklis and I still have a lot to learn with my wet plates. I have a my first solo exhibition later in the year. And, finally I hope to have books published with Galerie Vevais. So many wonderful things to look forward too.
So my New Years resolution is to get working - work hard, learn well. Spend my time and money on creating. What about you? Would love to hear your plans for 2012.
Funny how things unfold.
ReplyDeleteI struggled to find enough time to really immerse myself in promoting my photography in 2011 and had my most 'profitable' (money barely covers costs!) year meaning I sold the most prints ever and had my work used in more places than ever.
As for 2012 - http://jamesdyasdavidson.blogspot.com/2012/01/taking-my-advice-top-10.html
That's great to hear James - it's funny how things turn out isn't it? I read your blog - and wholeheartedly agree with your aims for 2012. I hope you manage to get more time for your photography - it's so important. I also think it is important to remember why we do it and why we started it. Happy New Year James :)
ReplyDeleteThat sounds a wonderful year ahead Deborah...I can really empathesise with your views on marketing, that was my first profession but promoting 'oneself' is very different. Your work is great and I am looking forward to seeing your work develop and hope to meet you at some point in the future.
ReplyDeleteRegards
Penny
It has been such an object lesson in how to take what appeared to be an interesting hobby, into what a large part of your life this has now become Deborah. Do you remember how unsure of where you were going, and insecure about your abilities, your are now planning and mapping out the coming year with the confidence of a true professional who is now confident to take the steps to move onward and upward. Selling and promoting one's work is in itself a difficult area to many people, have you looked at the forums on RB, there are lots of helpful Journals on there, I am sure some may be of help to you. Good luck and best wishes with all your coming projects in the coming year Deborah, you certainly have the product, I am sure the market is there waiting for you. Kind regards.
ReplyDeleteOh gee. Well, I take heart from what you've written Deb as I put myself out there a few times this year and have got knocked back. Such is life. I've also had some sucesses and musn't belittle those. I think my main struggle is as a parent and an artist, if I may be so bold. But, my youngest is heading for school this year so maybe I will have the headspace to think about things. I hope so. I just hope to get better at large format photography - am aiming at practising on friends - and at wet plate. I want to try and find my voice, whatever that may be! As you say, head down - work hard - do stuff for yourself and anything else is a bonus :-)
ReplyDeleteIn no area of my life do I feel I've ever really managed to promote myself well, and much prefer just to do whatever I do. It seems you're maybe a bit like this, but that's a good thing for something like your photography: I think it's key to keeping the creativity fresh. The only person you should be concerned about pleasing with your work is yourself, and entering competitions etc. is about pleasing others. I really admire that you are able to just say "this is what I am doing and you either like it or you don't." All the best for the new year!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you Penny and thank you so much for your comment. Am I right in thinking you do fell running? If so, I have just signed up for the Cartmel run in March - let me know if you are doing it - would be good to say hi - preferably before I collapse ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much George for your lovely comment and for all your support over the past few years that you have given me - I really appreciate it. I do remember how insecure and unsure I was and to be honest I still get those moments, but I feel a lot stronger and a lot more positive. Ultimately I love what I do and that is great and makes me feel how lucky I am. I love nothing more than being creative and chatting on and off line with friends about what we do. Happy New Year to you George - hope 2012 is a great year for you.
ReplyDeleteIt will definitely get easier when your little girl goes to school. It is about having the space in your head more than actual physical time for it. I remember doing a university course and juggling so much around - I must have been so passionate and dedicated and tunnel vision. I still have that passion but now my children at school it isn't such a struggle - or at least it's not stressful - it's enjoyable. Also, success isn't just about being published etc it is also about learning and growing - in some ways my biggest success of 2012 was getting my confidence for photographing other children and getting better with wet plate. Good luck Lucy - you will have a great 2012 x
ReplyDeleteSelf promotion is a very uncomfortable thing Michael. I am ok with doing a blog about my work or posting on my facebook wall or twitter to say 'this is what I have done, would be great if you had a look'. That way I feel I am inviting people as opposed to pushing myself on them. I hope I don't come across as arrogant saying 'this is my work, it's up to you ..' My point is that I have come to take advice/criticism from those I trust and or admire - I don't mind criticism at all. I also think you can be your own harshest critic and also time is great way of learning. I know I look back at my old work and think I would do things differently and therefore I do. Thanks so much Micheal - have a great 2012 :)
ReplyDeleteHello Deborah. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteAs ever, this post made for really interesting reading. You are a constant source of inspiration to me, and a wonderful role model. You couldn't have put it better than 'work hard, learn well' - that's the key to getting our creativity to work for us, in whatever field we choose.
I'm so looking forward to seeing you go from strength to strength with your photography - it's very exciting to see the opportunites which are opening up for you as a result of all your hard work. I also look forward to discussing ideas for our collaboration...!
I hope 2012 is a wonderful year for you, both personally and creatively.
All the best,
Sophie.
Hi Sophie - I am not sure what happened here but I did reply to this but for some reason it's not here - anyway - will see you next week :)
DeleteHappy New Year Deb, may all your dreams come true! Again, your sincerity gives me such an incredibly good feeling. I really believe that the way you've set your priorities is the very best choice, no matter what. I am really happy to see, to know, to feel that there are some other people who believe that the most important thing is to focus on these endless tries of expressing ourselfs, yes, with all the pain, the happiness, with all those uncertainties, doubts, praises...and to keep on our way. Thanks so much Deborah!
ReplyDeleteHi Codrin - I am really sorry but I did reply to this comment but for some reason it wasn't published - as with Sophie above. Anyway, many thanks as always for your lovely comment and I really wish you all the best for 2012 and hope so far it has been a good one for you :)
DeleteHey Deborah, I subscribe to your blog, and a post of yours came through the other day but appears to have been deleted now. I read it, and I just want to say, I hope any critics (and seriously, what are they criticizing?!) aren't getting you down. I loved your post, and like your work, found it to be so inspiring. You, doing what you do. Not for acclaim, but for the love of it. That's something we should all aspire to, doing what makes our hearts sing. I just wanted to say, I love your work and have found you to be very open and honest and REAL. I've enjoyed watching your progression as a recognized artist. It's b/c of you that I've even considered wet plate collodion as something I can attempt (instead of just admiring it from afar). You gave me Quinn's name, and I've recently ordered his book on the process and hope to keep moving forward with it. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi Aileen, thank you so much for your lovely comment - it is so kind of you to take the time to tell me this. I am afraid I did take the post down - I have just put it in draughts. And I am afraid that I did let the criticism get to me - but was caught out with having other things going on, so this probably felt blown out of proportion this week. I don't mind my work being criticized - honestly- but this time I felt like my integrity was and if anyone knows me, I try my best to be sincere about what I do. I am so pleased that you are thinking of trying out the Wet plate process - you will love it. It does feel like getting back to the craft of photography - a sometimes challenging, yet intimate process.
DeleteThank you again Aileen - so much :)
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