Attitudes

I have a basic living/working philosophy that it is better to assume the best in people than the worst. So, when it comes to our industry, that means I believe the following:

1) most art directors always want to make the best creative they can;
2) most ADs also want to work with creative collaborators (not dictate to a techno-droid);
3) most art buyers want to use the best photographer for any project, and even though they may be restrained by budget at times, they still want to find the best creative they can within their budgets;
4) art buyers, art directors, designers, etc., are not out to get photographers, even when they act like total jerks (they may be facing serious pressure from bosses, for example);
and
5) if you treat every person you encounter in your working day with respect and kindness rather than fear and aggression, you might get burned once in a while, but overall your business will grow and grow more healthily.

A codicil to all this is: sometimes enough is enough. You don’t need to make every single dollar/euro/pound/whatever out there; you just need to make as much as you need/want (whatever goal you set for your business). Now, I don’t see anything wrong with setting good, aggressive financial goals, but if making every penny means you have to be a paranoid jerk who lives in fear that the AB you are talking to might have another grand in her budget that you aren’t getting, even though you’re already getting 5- or 6-figures for the project, then you’re giving up too much of your humanity for the lucre.

For some people, these ideals don’t mesh with theirs, and that’s fine (it’s still a mostly free country). But, if you want to work with me, you should know this is what I think.