Comments on: You Gotta Wannit.

By: Steve Stanton

Steve Stanton — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 21:35:27 +0000

I am absolutely loving not only your work but your heart and passion for what you do.

By: melissa hayes

melissa hayes — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 04:15:37 +0000

nicely stated. great post.

p.s. i like the comment box layout.

By: Patrick L.

Patrick L. — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 10:28:10 +0000

I agree with Leeman that passion will only take you so far. There’s so much more that is needed to push it to the edge – motivation, drive, encouragement, confidence, hustle. Nick, you’ve said it many times before about putting in a crapload of hours and working your butt off and I guess it comes down whether you want it bad enough. Yes, we all have different priorities and responsibilities but I’d like to think there are always 2 sides to a coin. This may sound trite but if there’s a will, there’s a way… if you want it bad enough =P

By: admin

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 23:56:42 +0000

I hear what you’re saying, and really it’s about knowing what you want and putting the puzzle pieces together to get there. It’s different for everyone, and I can only speak to the path that I’ve chosen and been given. Everyone has a different situation and variables. You have to decide what is priority to you, and what things you can sacrifice to get to where you want. I can’t tell you what that is for you, only you can tell you that. You are the only one that knows what want and what you can give up to get you there. For me, it was choosing to not have stable income, and other things. For other people it’s other things. It’s all about creating more time while making more money. You have to take your current reality, and piece it together to achieve your dream.

By: Leeman C

Leeman C — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 23:48:55 +0000

So what happens when you are faced with responsibilities outside of yourself, that others rely on you for financial support and/or you didn’t get the breaks you did when it finally took you to the big brand names? Do you still try to go after your passion and your dreams, taking as long as ‘possible’ selfishly or do you brush those aside and go for what needs to be done first?

I think it’s great you have a passion, using it to fuel the requirement to complete your work, but picking and choosing what you want to do is completely different than what you have to do and that’s the thing I see coinciding photography as a career. If you do it as a hobby, great, no worries, no stress there, but if you take it professionally, you’re bound to have days and nights where even your passion becomes work. That’s reality. Even if you love what you do, passion can only go so far in the face of responsibilities. Of course, a natural ability is a huge bonus.

By: ian flanigan

ian flanigan — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:18:23 +0000

Oh totally. I was a designer at first too and had the same realization you did.

By: Rick Wenner

Rick Wenner — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:22:13 +0000

I agree with what you’re saying here 100%. You have to absolutely want it to make it happen. I am currently in “the early years” of my photography career, transitioning from graphic design, and am “working” my ass off to make the transition a successful one. I say “working” because I love what I’m doing and find it to be more fun than actual work. Great post Nick!