Considering the past, planning the future

Wasn't going to post but to hell with it

Build up the hype. Time limit your offerings. Create scarcity. Sell sell sell. That's not going to work for artists. How can it? Certainly can't be a lifelong method. You'd burn out.

I have gathered up so much information via podcasts, books and direct advice only to find myself resisting. Instead I will continue to do my work, make my photographs, edit, sequence and build my wee books. I will endeavour to show my workings and methods as I go. That way potential customers can either connect with me and the work I produce, or not. But also, fellow artists, be they hobbyist or professional, can try my techniques and see if they can be enveloped into their practices. They might even improve upon them and I then can learn from that. It's all part of the creative expression eco system. 

I'm not going to promote print sales for a while. I'd like this to come naturally. I need to continue what I'm doing with my books to secure more repeat buyers. Let an audience for prints emerge naturally from the book collectors.

Making photographs and turning them into handmade books is the thing I will do for the rest of my life as long as I am able. The tweaking, experimenting, making mistakes and learning, so much learning, will continue. 

I've fumbled through so much of my photographic life, from the news beat to long form project work, residential and commercial property assignments, self-publishing and more besides. Never quite latching on to a particular area. Never quite hitting the heights that my skills and education would suggest. And there are all kinds of reasons for this - parenting, periodical crisis of confidence, emigration. Such things that cripple many artists. 

I guess I'm more of an artist than an assignment photographer. I'm not really very good at realising others' ideas. And I'm okay with that. Wasn't always but I am now. I've found my place and my audience. That it takes so long is one of life's conundrums.

I'm trying very hard to take responsibility for the mistakes I have made over the years, to own my talents and to harness them artistically and professionally. I currently work 20 hours a week at Apple Regent Street amongst many very clever and talented people. I am learning copiously and colleagues also learn from me.

My book sales are growing as will print sales soon enough. I am getting many requests to teach and I will eventually offer workshops in person and online. In time my practice will be self sustaining.  

Over the coming months I will prepare books on a range of subjects for sale on my website so that there is sufficient choice along with a rotating permanent print collection. This will require more time making and less time photographing. In mid to late Spring I will return to scheduling particular days for working on new material across London. But I will need my audience to support me in this. Be that through encouragement and feedback and / or purchasing books and prints that strike a chord. 

That'll be all for now. 

Thank you for your time. 

- Paul.