You're Not a Photographer 

I really resonate here. When I first started out, I never even called myself a photographer. I said “I take pictures.” I think I saw some invisible bar I hadn’t reached yet to call myself that. I’ve journeyed from calling myself that to photographer, to creative, to creative/artist/visual storyteller. Sometimes you gotta call yourself the thing until it feels like it fits. Kind of like when your mom used to buy your clothes a little big for you to grow into, and sometimes you’d eventually grow out of it. 🤷🏾‍♂️

I prefer the term "artist" over "creative". What I always liked about New York's downtown art scene was that people worked within many different disciplines regardless of their training or background. Visual artists made music, filmmakers took pictures and writers made films, etc. I was trained as a graphic designer, studied photography, did the rock writer thing, became a musician (without knowing how to play) but recently returned to photography. I suppose it could easily have been painting but at the end of the day it doesn't really matter. Just do what you feel like doing.

I’m that “somebody” who needed to see this, man. Had a dream last night that woke me in a sweat. I’ve been feeling pigeonholed as a writer since leaving photography, even though I still work on film projects and practice the piano. We are so much more, and I’m glad you’re putting this out into the world.

Daniel Day-Lewis is a boots maker..... He quit his acting career to make boots....British.... Anthony Hopkins,,,, Great pianist, British....two of my favorite ppl on screens of all time. Stunning banff footage, Dave!

Very interesting and dead on. For me I had 2 photography careers (retired in both). Since then I’ve added blogger, podcaster, getting back into learning art, and now an author. You don’t know how much you’re doing until a video like this makes you stop and think about it. Good stuff Dave!

My creativity has changed so much throughout my life. Went to school for music (Audio Engineering, Guitar, Film Scoring). I played Jazz, Rock, Pop, Funk, and made film music on the side. After maturing and realizing that I was not paying the bills in the path I was going I humbled myself and took a STEM job as an Architectural Consultant in the specialty of Acoustics. I was surprised to find out how creative you can be in math and engineering when it comes to dealing with people and projects. This gave me the opportunity to purchase a Leica (which I wanted to buy for a while) and now this hobby has happily consumed most of my free time and I love creating photographs. Although I'm not there yet with the video side, I like the visual medium of photography and I still hone my craft of music and write the occasional film score for shorts films--one even went to Sundance. I think this video really resonated with me in that realization that life really does take you places you never expected and if you are willing to give it your all in every one of those moments or changes, everything will be ok. I'm not sad that I'm not in LA recording albums or winning oscars, but I am happy with what life has tossed my way and am grateful for the happy and sad experiences that have shaped who I am today. Thanks so much for the video dave!

Ebb and flow, peaks and troughs. I find my creative output does this. By just going with that flow state, regardless of direction, helps enormously with my creativity. So at the movement my photography is in a trough, my drawing and music interests are at a peak. Calling yourself a creative is a good positive outlook and healthy for any art you wish to make (or not). Great video Dave.

Great video Dave, totally agree. One of the things I’ve noticed in my own creative journey is that when I’m making my living off of one of my creative outlets, my other forms of creativity need to be amped up to prevent burnout in one area! Great stuff brother

As they say, we can be our own worst enemy at times when we self limit ourselves. Especially when its subconscious. The worst critic is in our own heads. I am trying to transcend the internal noise and create. After that, I want to support this community. Thanks Dave!

OMG I was at that Socality Camp! I'm in the yellow sweater at the 58 second mark! So crazy that we crossed paths somewhere there and I've been watching your RU-vid videos this year! Such a crazy full-circle moment! Love the insight you're sharing and hope to see you at a future Socality (or other) event!

Hi Dave I love your very astute analysis of humanity mixed with wonderful photographic expertise. Thank you very much! This current episode that you just broadcast synced with my current university professor career in which I do research and teach. A demanding job that takes up most of my day and nights preparing for lectures, trying to present complex biochemistry in an exciting way so students learn and are fascinated by science, and mixed with research and mentoring graduate students. As I am nearing retirement, I’m going through the mental challenge of defining who I really am as a person and more than just my career. Luckily I’ve forced myself to make time to do photography and music (sax and voice), which have become things I’m leaning on to make sure I realize I’m more than just this science guy that won’t do any of this when I retire. So your broadcast comes at the very best time for me!! Thank you again! John from Canada

Hugh Laurie was first renowned for being a comedian! In the UK he had a sketch show with Stephen Fry ("Fry and Laurie") and then starred in a sitcom with the same actor.

I ran a photography retail store for clsoe to 5 years, we spoke about bringing me on as a co owner and I also ran the social media and workshops for this shop. Then I was let go, business wasnt doing good and things had to change and the owner came back into the shop to run it. When this happened, I had no idea what to do with myself because of this exact problem youre talking about. I identified as a photographer who ran workshops and a local shop. Take that away form me and now what do I do? Who am I etc? Very debilitating. It has now been over 5 years since I have been laid off and I am only now just realising that photography is just a part of me the same way that enjoying food and wine is, the same way that me enjoying music is. Thank you for sharing Dave

My creativity goes in cycles. I'm a published author, I'm a photographer, I'm a digital artist, I'm a runner, I'm a Druid. These labels are useful for Instagram and other social media. But I just think of myself as a creative person. I don't do all of these things all the time - except running and photography. I run most days. I take photos everyday, sometimes on my big girl cameras and sometimes on my phone. Everything else goes in cycles. At 77 years old i accept that's how i function. Just do what calls to you, don't force it -

Spot on Dave, for years I felt like I had not reached the "label" of artist. I was so interested in all the things I do and learning new things, Custom Motorcycle building, leather work, painting, pin-striping, transitioning to learning bicycle frame building, typography, graphic design, logo creation..... to photography. The point is that since I didn't devote myself to just one thing I didn't think I could ever call myself an "artist"..... but the epiphony came like you you just stated in your video, when you strip all the "labels" off what are you.... a CREATOR and that lifted such a weight off me. I CREATE for the sake of creating, the love of it no mater the discipline. As long as I'm doing what I love and it brings me joy, that feeling that I feel is better than any label that I or anyone else could give me. Thank you Sir for what you do, keep on creating!!!!

For your non photographer viewers, this probably hits! Being a designer, from my perspective I don’t pigeon hole myself at all. Great vid ❤

excellent message- i was gonna say, i've always thought your cinematography deserves some focus cuz your video is very polished and cinematic film-like. i think all creatives have an assortment of different mediums and outlets we dwell in. i'm a photographer but also videographer, musician, illustrator, fix and modify sports cars, driving enthusiast, skater, i make board games, make video games, i make something i call "cold macchiato" - i sense in the force you are also a musician? there's a guy named Toby, another source of inspiration- he was first noted as a musician, music producer- but he wanted to make a game. so he used a code-less game engine to build the game, he created the characters, wrote the story the dialog, he drew all the graphics, he wrote and produced all the music- turned out to be a fantastic game called undertale. it made 87 mil dollars in sales and won multiple awards- it's not the best looking game, not the most polished, not the best gameplay- but it has so much heart in it, so much of Toby's heart in it, everyone who played it was sucked into his world. i think you're right, if we don't pigeonhole ourselves into any one creative outlet, there's no telling what new cool sht we can make that would bless and inspire others

Great set of thoughts-and beautiful create-ographs!

I'm a creative entrepreneur. I have a degree in interior design, was working on getting my architectural licenses but covid happened, and both worked and founded several start-ups from industrial design companies to a brick and mortar retail store. Im also an aspiring photographer, podcaster, vlogger, 3d modeler, and game designer (Im not a writter so please excuse my grammar). When I zoom out to view the whole macro of things I see myself as a student of life with the focus on being creative. Yep, dont let society or yourself pigeon hole you in a box. If not I'd be calling myself a hot mess lol!

THIS! Amazing timing as I couldn't agree more. I have been struggling with what I used to create/be known for(restaurants) to what I create now, which is photos/vids. Someone asked me why I left restaurants, and I didn't know how to answer them. My gut says I haven't left them, I am just on a new creative journey. The idea we have to label ourselves so others better understand us is a burden for most! Creative here with ya.

The need to pigeon-hole has been with us forever I think. Beyond being a creative, be a person first

Needed to hear this. ❤

Nailed it Dave

From this moment on, I’m no longer an “iPhone photographer”. Thank you 🥃

I just had this conversation today. We are multifaceted people, all of us. Locking ourselves into labels or specific hobbies/crafts is probably a bad thing in the long run. We were discussing what a person's brand is. It shouldn't be the output (in this case photography), the brand if you're selling anything, should be yourself. What you bring to the table. It would allow for much more freedom in your creative endeavours.

I’m thinking of the coconut guy in the Monty Python Holy Grail movie; you know, the guy making horse clip clop noises because they couldn’t afford the actual thing. I hope he didn’t become pigeonholed - - whether as a horse impersonator, a percussionist, or a logistics engineer.😊

Excellent video ✨… Much respect ✊🏿 from Angola 🇦🇴.

Useful reframing - thanks for this!

Personal preference: I'm a creator (noun), not a creative (adjective). 😁 (Though I suspect the now common use of the latter as a noun means dictionaries will be calling it a noun, too, if they haven't already?) I spend my weekdays creating software, and a good part of my free time creating photos, and some of my free time creating music just for me on my piano and guitar. (I used to be a quite good trumpet player, but now i just fiddle with guitar at a beginner level and piano at maybe an intermediate level.) (Also, I like creating comments with lots of parentheses, apparently.)

Why was I not subscribed to this channel earlier? Sheesh!

Great video my friend

The thing that you've never forgotten because it 'changed your life' and yet you can't remember who said it?

lol I did this with Rick from “The Walking Dead “