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I agree with you 100% but I am tired of thinking about it. Here's why...I am a professional photographer and I am constantly thinking about what my voice is. What am I trying to say? Am I unique enough? Am I a fraud? Am I technical enough or creative enough? It never ends in my mind. It's so stressful sometimes that I feel like giving up although I know I won't. I worry about these things because I don't get hired as much as I would like and that leaves me wondering why. While I do earn a living as a portrait photographer, I feel I should be much further along in my career which makes me think "is it my work?". I know it's important to reevaluate what you're creating but it's not helpful to stress over it which is something I do. I always wonder if I don't have a distinctive style or if I'm unique enough...I really don't know. But what I do know is that I can take a photo that I enjoy looking at and am proud of. I also know that I am dependable, hard working and easy to get along with. All those things matter just as much as your photographic style. With social media it's very easy to compare yourself with others which is a disaster. So when I start worrying I try to focus on my achievements, being patient and knowing there's a place for me and what I do. More than anything, I've started trusting my intuition when taking photos, and to make the photos that I want to look at.

I'm a musician and this advice transcends photography. Well said Scott.

You've quickly become my favourite channel. Another musician here, getting into photography/ videography and I feel so thankful for people like you giving actual solid advice instead of selling an amazon product haha. Thanks Scott!

I literally had a therapy session 30mins ago and this was like hearing an echo of what I was talking about and what I wanted for my photography. Thanks for backing up my thoughts and feelings

One of the most honest and real channels I've seen, thank you! 🙏🏼

It’s so hard to believe that “what I think is good is valid” in todays world - this video helps so much! Thank you!

This might be one of the most invaluable pieces of advice you've ever put in a video. I agree with this so much I want to find a way to describe how much more I agree with it than anything else you've ever said (which I usually love and agree with anyway). I've always felt this way about photography overall, but never filled in that missing piece of how your voice can be used like this. This explains why I shoot the way I do. I'm gonna ponder this and start exploring. Thank you so so much as always, Scott.

This video should be incorporated in every single photo/art course and university degree out there. Brilliant! Thanks Scott!

This is key! and seeing the changes in visual arts in the last 6 months, the AI wave, I firmly believe that those with authentic and unique visions will not be shoved away by the machines. This was a fantastic video Scott, thank you!

There is exceptional value in this video. Thanks so much for sharing. Had to pause several times and started writing down a full page of thoughts on my style, my voice and my own photography . This really helps to find clarity fast. Thank you 🙏

Always great to watch your videos, Scott! Loved this.

I keep rewatching this so much meat in this short video....taking a plate of this can truly make you more self aware about your business in any field but also your customers and why they should hire you. Thanx. Going to try and follow U on the gram.

This is so true. As a street photographer, I see this all the time. I do it too, more often than I'm proud to admit. Shots of hats, the lights in Soho, Chinatown. Great advice, Scott. Of all the videos you've shared, this one resonated with me the most.

From someone who’s been struggling creatively, this is a really useful bit of advice. Thanks for sharing.

Great vid and so true! You need to find that inner style. I'm lucky that mine came out while I was in high school studying art in the 80's. Your inner visual style comes through no matter the medium you choose. If I paint, draw, photograph or film, it's there. It's strong, it's bold, it's enticing.

Just discovered you and I'm so glad that I did. I saw nobody talk about these things on the internet before. You've earned a subscriber, and a fan.

That’s great advice and I think you can apply it to every profession/thing in life. This is what I am currently trying to figure out and must say it’s the hardest thing to do. It helps having someone that really knows you to figure it out. Personally, might sound weird, but my therapist once looked at my pictures and helped me a lot going into the process of understanding my inner voice 😂. It’s still ongoing and I think it will take me a lifetime!

I found this so useful. Thank you. For ages now, I've been thinking to myself "Where is my photography going? What is my voice, what is my niche?" All the questions you ask in this video. I've got quite a few of the answers. I'm not even a professional photographer, so it's not as if my livelihood depends on it! But lately I just seem to have been taking photographs for the sake of it with no real direction. You're right.. I think there is no going back!

You just nailed it! This is exactly what I needed in my search to what I like photographing (but also other things)

Thank you for always keeping things real.

One of the best photography videos I've ever watched. It really inspired me and helped me with some issues I've been having with my own photography. Thank you.

Thanks for bringing your photography to your videos -- each example speaks its carefully-curated thousand words.

Probably the most helpful video on photography I ever consumed and I have consumed tens of thousands. THANK YOU.

I'm amazed that how my motivation of photography has common sense with you. I've started with Instax photos, sharing moments, then i realized I wanted to experiment the captures and that motivation turned into a desire you have mentioned in this video. I'm glad my that my motivation of photography is not fad, but something need to explore. Thank you man. 👍

Precious advise and is coming from the heart, is coming exactly from the place where inspiration, hard work and love are born... Ten years... Ten years of inconformity until find the photographer sleeping inside. For some people will look like a lot of time, but when you know that something is missing and you really want to find it, in that EUREKA!!! moment when you breath deep and say "Wow, that's me" the ten years of searching, disappointments, and little victories are the best ten years of of our lives... Blessings and thank you.

So true. Best video about photography I came accross at youtube for ages.

I am enjoying your channel... this video made me think a lot about my direction, but at the end of the day I think I am in the right spot FOR me! Thanks!

Great conversation I think you’re 100% right most photographers don’t understand what is style in a Picture. it’s so easy just to take a picture of somebody famous and everyone goes ooohhh!

Scott, this was everything I needed to hear. Thank you. 🥂

I absolutely agree 100% with what you said. As being a late 80s 90s kid myself from the Midlands I can definitely see what your voicing in your photos.

This is the most important video I have seen about photography, by far. Well done!

Well spoken ! Another great video !!

Well, I take many photos. Quite simply, I don’t share them on social media. I enjoy them and occasionally show friends or family. Social media is anti social, creating far too much a competitive world. I take photos for me. When I die they won’t find my photos but I will have enjoyed them and that’s all I ever wanted.

Brilliant... something to really think about

Absolutely spot on man. And your work which I’ve just been looking at is wonderful. Great video and website dude.

❤ my voice of photography is when Im happy when Im looking at it for the first time. Without any influence. Thank u and well done.

Thank you. Needed to hear this today

This is probably one of the few photography channels that doesn’t drive me nuts ! Other KZfaqrs should be watching this as a priority.

Love this message. Agree. Thank you for listing out what I was trying to figure out!!!!

Brilliant, enlightening.. Thanks for reminding the inner voice!

This was great. Nectar of wisdom. Thank you. Applied to so much more than just photography.

You spoke to my soul

That trolley image reminds me of an old restaurant we used to go to in N.Y. City. They had a dessert trolley there, and it was always fun and exciting when the lady in her black cocktail dress would wheel it around. Sadly, the place is gone now. Fond memories.

Listening to this video actually cut through all the artsy-fartsy jargon I've heard from hundreds of articles and videos and made me actually see what the driving force behind my genre of photography is - thanks!

This is really well explained. I’m happily surprised about how helpful and insightful this is. Thank you.

Love your videos totally agree with everything you say, I just feel like I’m watching the same videos over and over again

It takes a great deal of introspection, but perhaps also a great deal of bravery.

This is absolute gold. I'm looking at trying to expand my voice in photography and this is just what I needed to hear. Thanks!

I needed this video. Thank you 😁

Great advice. I hit the subscribe button and downloaded the video for review later. Nicely said. And true authenticity as trite as it might be is still rare to find

Great advice for life. If you are going to do any job well you need to start by knowing who you are, what makes you unique and how to put that into your work.

Great video, and really love your style of photography. I'm still looking for my "inner voice". Beautiful studio too!

Perfection! Same for the fine arts.

An fascinating take on photography and one I will try to follow. Your photos are truly extraordinary!

whoa! Have to let that sink in! That was deep! Thx!

Dope! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

I love what you're saying. And the way you say it. And your beard.

Excellent way of putting it, one of the best I’ve heard I think. Very endearing!

thank you! Your video and words were very insightful.

Love it, this can be said about graphic design as well or art in general for that matter. Sean adams said in one of his classes that the worst thing you can be is boring. So its better to be bad but interrsting than the same ass boring shit as everyone else.

@TinHouseStudioUK, Scott, As a northern lad of the 50s, your story resonated with me. Much food for thought! Sorry. Thanks again for adding to my artistic education, it's much appreciated.

Thank you! Well put.

Love the message - maybe I would say Voice for me is values & strength as an individual, but like you said just semantics! Thank you for sharing and actually your message applies to any creator.

I love the message ❤very helpful video as always

You remind me of Chris Harris. Same 'straight to the point' tone. Love it. Thank you.

Much respect and spot on!....I still struggle with what my niche is because I have shot everything and after 20yrs am still a jack of all trades, master of none.

Thanks for the video!!

Thanks so much for your creative inspiration

Absolutely True Sir . Love your Confidence , Love your Style . Have to be Different. Thank you.

Truth was spoken 👍

one thing i like to do (for example i’m a sports photographer but i love to shoot landscapes and street) i’ll use instagram to find locations that might be cool to shoot photos at, however i refuse to use instagram to get inspiration for a specific photo, i just like to go an survey around the area, it allows me (for some locations) to get what i feel are unique photos

Great video. @scott In terms of developing your voice now that you've found it, how long do you feel that will last as a voice and have you thought about the different avenues you could take it down in further years. I say this as someone wrestling with trying to find my voice while doing an MA course.

Thank you. I know who I am and the photographer I am along with WHO I want to become. I need to write it down. I really appreciate what you share in your videos

I do like your videos. I too came from a working class family. I remember Sundays. Mum would bake wonderful treats. Have you had butter tarts with currants? It’s been thirty years since I had one, but can taste it today. Wasn’t just the currants. Thanks for suggesting I think back. Always like photography, but Engineering paid the bills.

Really appreciated your your presentaion. I am a graphic designer that has been adding photography to my skill set. Been taking classes and it's been awesome. Developing your own style often grows out of copying others at first. Steve Jobs: “We have always been shameless about stealing great ideas... good artist copy, great artists steal.” I say, "give glory to God". I commented to a musician a few days ago saying, "loved you keyboard playing. Your singing is also good though if love to hear you sing with more authority." She said she's a keyboard player. I said, "you have a beautiful voice". I had just meant that I didn't believe what she was singing. Conviction is also another good word too. But your drawing forth your journey into your work is very well said.

You are right. Thank you.

Brilliant video! 👏 Most people can explain the What and the How of what they do. Most people can’t explain the Why. I borrowed this from Simon Sinek, but it rings true here!

This advice actually made me think about why I favor b&w (no matter the genre). I now realize that it's because music meant a lot to me growing up and the music magazines I read then (NME, Melody Maker) often had b&w band pictures and fanzines only had b&w.

The recent website/portfolio updates are noticeable - lookin' good!

Awesome advice. I think I was missing that advice. I've gone to my About page, wiped it all out, and started again with a more frank and honest descriptor! Speaking of Jam...I estimate I have 10 years on you in terms of era so Jam and Rice Pudding was a common pudding for me in the 80s and early 90s before affordable ready made trifle, ready made chocolate cake, and ready made everything else was a thing! When I see Jam, that is what I think of - Jam and Rice Pudding.

I like this a great deal, thank you for sharing.

A compelling message as usual Scott and it was great to meet you today for pint 👍

love it!

We had a trolley like that when I was a kid, reminds me of Christmas 🙂

great video on direction and purpose in this visually highly saturated world. Enjoyed it thank you.

Your photos are amazing!

Man O Man I dig your JAM!

Superb and timely advice…love your work…time for me to evolve…the future is unwritten (Strummer)…un-photographed…what am I trying to say with my photographs…I currently have no idea…my inner voice is mute!

Some good points.

VERY WELL SAID

Good advice. I read once that after the age of about 8 years or maybe 12 years, our brains start the process of forgetting - that is the neural pathways that are regularly used are preserved, others that are not used are dropped or fade out. Think of pathways through a forest that fall into disuse while others become roads. Anyway, that's what I was thinking when you explained how it took ten years to discover your own voice. It's almost like we have to unlearn and get back to those childhood things. I'm sure Picasso said something similar. 👍

Very motivating video. Thank you.

excellent discussion applicable to any art or expression. extremely intelligent but very real.

Agree with you, be the signal, not the noise. Images without voice are that, just noise.

Dear Scott....... I love your personality, this is your best video! (oh btw I'm from the sixties)

Haha, just days before heading to Paris - and a lot to think about!

ive just learned from everyone on HOW TO USE MY GEAR, some techniques, lighting, etc... just to find out that my style is close to simple and plain and i dont need all that extra stuff. The vision is already in me! i just needed the vehicle to get it out.

I agree with your style development method, but clients want what they want and creating your own style/niche will set you apart from everyone else with regards to your personal gallery and portfolio. What I’ve found is clients want current content relevant to their product or goal, style sometimes is not at the top of the priority list and there’s cost too. Beautiful work!

You know what , I’ve heard some bollocks on these sites . For once this isn’t bollocks , well said Tim 😎