Dear Younger Me

We asked eight photographers who’ve built legacies in their fields this hypothetical: If you could go back in time, what words of wisdom would you share with your emerging creative self ? In response, they each wrote themselves a personal letter of advice.

COMPILED BY LIBBY PETERSON AND JACQUELINE TOBIN

Fer Juaristi Rf 30 Rising Star 2012 Revered Mentor

Hey Younger Fer, It’s Older Fer. On your path, you will confront fear, doubt, an existential crisis and tons of anxiety because what you do is so intangible. You think you have what it takes, you think you have talent.

Truth be told, you need preparation, a good support group that pushes you, and you need to believe in your project more than you do. Your friends are going to play a bigger role than you think, your wife is going to become a beacon of light, and nostalgia is going to become your biggest inspiration. You’ll travel more, which will make you cry in more than one lonely hotel room but also make you stronger.

To the outside world, your success will look amazing, but you know that’s only a consequence of the work you put in. You are not doing it for recognition. You want to have a life that makes you proud of who you are and inspire your kids to believe in their own personal destiny.

Navigate without a map, trust your gut and your loved ones. Close your eyes; one step at a time will take you to your destiny.

At every event, you will start from zero. Awards, reputation and fame between your pack does not translate on a wedding day. You have to win your right to create your vision. Earn the trust of each couple and never hesitate to ask for what you need to create that fi nal image, because in the end, the pictures that you remember the most are the ones that you were afraid of taking.

Never take yourself too seriously. You’ll always feel like an amateur.

Look for inspiration outside the wedding industry. Don’t become a mix of the top ten trends; become a mix of your visual heroes and honor them.

In the end, how would you like to be remembered? Think about that.

Rob Greer WPPI Double Master SEO Guru

Hi there buddy, Since we miraculously invented time-travel in 2020, I’m sending you this message in the hopes of making your future life as a professional photographer much easier.

First, stop eating chicken fried steak, hamburgers and ice cream. You’re going to get chubby, and that makes your life as a photographer much harder. It’s easier to lay on the ground, bend your knees and jump on furniture if you’re not carrying around extra pounds.

Next, stop using Rogaine. You’re going bald. It happens. And clients will still hire you even when you have no hair. Some folks will even say you have a nicely shaped head—whatever that means. Stop going to the barber and invest in some nice professional clippers. You’ll save hundreds of dollars every year.

After that, sign up for speed light workshops right away. Experiment with your fl ashes. Try them on-camera and o -camera. Put your practice time in on that equipment fi rst. You’re going to use your speed lights on almost every job, so it’s as important to know and understand your fl ashes as it is to know your cameras. Cli Mautner teaches a good workshop. Take his class fi rst. If you don’t, you’ll struggle with speed lights most of your career.

And stop buying the latest camera. Or lens. Or magical pixie dust.

In fact, before you buy anything, ask yourself if buying that piece of camera equipment is going to make you more money. If it won’t, go buy something else. Or better yet, put your money in the bank and keep it there for when you really need something.

Also, be nicer. To everyone. All the time. That includes being nicer to your friends, your clients, your family and the folks you run into every day. Even when you’re in a bad mood. Even when you’re hangry. People like to hang around nice people. And they like to work with nice people. So be nice.

Finally, go to the 2019 Kentucky Derby and bet every cent you have on Country House to win, Code of Honor to place, and Tacitus to show. Then you’ll never have to work again. The end. You win.

Rob Greer ’s WPPI Platform Class “ Photography SEO: Make Google Work for You!” takes place Feb. 27, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m., at Mandalay Bay.

Bambi Cantrell Nikon Ambassador WPPI Triple Master

Hi Younger Bambi, As I reminisce over the 30 years I’ve spent in the photo business, I think of the many opportunities I’ve been afforded and am forever grateful to those who believed in me. In retrospect, though, there are some things I would have done differently.

I would have said no more often. I used to say yes to everything—yes to photographing every event, yes to teaching everywhere at any time. I didn’t listen to that little voice inside my head that said to take time for my family and children. I worked just about every weekend (all weekend) and missed out on so many wonderful opportunities.

I also wish I had said no more often when being asked to teach photography… What??? That sounds crazy, right?

As much as I would want to deny it, my ego was stroked. I was everywhere! The problem with this kind of mental attitude is that it feeds the ego but not much else. Teaching takes time and energy. I should have been better at counting the cost of my absence from the studio. While I’ve had the very best second shooter, when it was my name on the door, clients wanted to see me. Being gone a lot (one year I was gone roughly six months of the year teaching) means less marketing, less schmoozing and less attention to details.

So just relax and stop trying to take over the universe. I’ve finally learned the benefit of four little words: ”I wish I could”—a nice way of saying no!

Elizabeth Messina Editorial Maven Author

Oh Elizabeth, Try not to worry so much… You fell in love with photography, and while I am not sure you have any idea what you are doing, that is a good thing: You are free to define yourself and your business as you evolve as a woman and artist.

You will doubt yourself, always wanting to be better. You will work hard for many hours, for many years, before anyone knows your name. It will feel lonely at times. You will someday find yourself in distant lands, capturing beautiful moments between people in love. You will feel lucky. You will feel tired.

Most of the time, you will feel like you are juggling. You will raise three children. They will get a lot of you, and sometimes your heart will break as your work takes you away for weeks at a time. You will cry, they will cry and they will be absolutely fine.

Lots and lots of people won’t hire you. You will feel unsure. Somehow, through the rejection, your eye and your determination will remain intact. In turn, you will be hired by lovely people who value you, by national magazines to shoot their covers, by well-known fashion designers to shoot their campaigns. You will pinch yourself, but you will still push yourself.

Your wedding photography will open doors into other types of work. You will develop a body of work focused on women, capture lots of boudoir imagery, and pregnant women’s growing bellies and their families. You will be trusted by celebrities to capture some of the most intimate moments in their lives.

You will still find deep joy when creating images many years later. However, you will never really feel successful.

No matter what happens, do not give up. You will feel more connected to humanity and the world around you through your work. Try and take time to enjoy the positive moments and not get too down when things are hard. All of it together is an exquisite journey—the twists and turns add texture and richness to your life.

It’s worth it, truly.

Roberto Valenzuela Canon Explorer of Light Author

Dear Younger Self, It’s been a little over 15 years now since I made the decision to leave my comfortable and reliable job as a high school business teacher and dive full throttle into the unpredictable but exciting photography industry.

Today, I am writing this letter from my dream photography studio in Beverly Hills. What? How crazy is that? And it’s a beauty! I’m also sponsored by Canon as one of their Explorers of Light, I’m a top-selling author of five photography books, and I’ve traveled almost every corner of the world multiple times for the last eight years for photo-related assignments. It is hard to believe that this is is where I would end up when I decided to enter this career in photography. But after all I have been through to get here, all the gear I purchased, all the connections I made, all the weddings and portraits I’ve taken, and all the platforms I have taught at, I’ve learned many invaluable lessons along the way.

A successful career in photography requires living with a healthy dose of paranoia about where you next job(s) will come from. No matter how good you have it today, and how strong your connections are with the people that can get you work, that can disappear in the blink of an eye for reasons that you might never know. Keep making new connections and make the ones you already have stronger. That said, don’t make the mistake of making connections with someone just because of their influence. You want to go after the people that you feel a great connection with, even if they are not at the top of their influence ladder.

“You must hire your clients as much as your clients hire you. It has to be a natural fit.”

Also, remember that not all clients are worth taking in. You have to put your heart and soul into the photos you take. Remember that the way you were raised and the experiences you’ve had guide you like an invisible hand to the photos that compel you. That’s what defines your style and this is how you discover it. But remember that the client-photographer relationship goes both ways. You must hire your clients as much as your clients hire you. It has to be a natural fit. In the service industry, a bad client experience travels at the speed of light. The money a client pays you is not worth the long-term damage you will sustain if a client goes after you because they were not a good fit to begin with. As soon as you meet with the right client, it will be like you guys have been friends for a long time.

Do not do it all yourself. I know money can be tight at the start of a photography business but if I could do it all over again, I would delegate work from the start. Photography is mostly an emotional business. People get highly emotional and excited about their photos and therefore want to see them 10 seconds after you finish the shoot. The more you make them wait, the more you will lose them and the potential profits that could have been. Learn what it takes to go through your workflow—editing, or designing books— and then pass it on to a person you know or a company that specializes in those services. The cost of delegating work should be included in what you charge for a job. In photography, being a perfectionist will lead you to a road of fatigue and possibly failure.

Don’t get trapped in the gear race. Chasing the juicy new gear and trying to justify why you need the latest and greatest is not a game you want to play. Clients don’t hire you because of your gear. High-quality gear is worth the investment, but replacing your perfectly good gear just because a new version is out is a dangerous game. Most high-quality cameras should be replaced around every four years. Most high-quality lenses can last six to eight years. Avoid buying the cheap knockoffs just to save a few bucks. Treat the gear well, maintain it and it will last you a long time.

Lastly, skill and education will help you not only survive but thrive. YouTube is no substitute for high-caliber eucation. Read books, attend well-respected workshops taught by experienced and reputable teachers, get your hands dirty and practice what you learned. Invest in your education no matter how good you think you are. Everyone has a camera in their pockets these days, so people have become accustomed to being photographed or taking photos. The filters on our phones make the photos look decent, too. People willing to pay for a professional photographer expect to see results that far surpass the look and feel of a smartphone. No phone can do the posing for you, right? Do what it takes to excel at that, and lighting, composition and post-production. Add in a high level of good business practices, and this is how you get where I am today.

Enjoy the ride! It’s a good one!

Roberto Valenzuela helps you unleash the financial potential of all weddings in his Platform Class on Feb. 25, 8:30-10:00 a.m. Also learn posing, lighting and composition from Valenzuela during his all-day intensive on Feb. 23.

“ The biggest dangers lurk within yourself.”

Joe McNally Nikon Ambassador Acclaimed Photojournalist

Younger Self, So, what do I say to you, all these exposures later?

Oh, you know, the usual. Try not to worry, even though this is a worrisome thing to do. Be frugal and conservative on the money side of things, even though this business requires a degree of entrepreneurial risk that practitioners of more sober-sided endeavors would look upon as positively quixotic, even downright foolhardy.

Try to relax! Even though the slightest quiver in the weather patterns can dash your hopes for a picture, thus imparting to this profession a certain level of ambient anxiety. Be comfortable with uncertainty! There are many unseen dangers out there lurking in the pixel forest. Ahh, but the biggest dangers lurk within yourself.

So, get over yourself! That’s a good and important one, and one that many a shooter simply cannot seem to manage, even when faced with insurmountable evidence that being more light-hearted and less self-involved would be a good idea. Remember that lip service about your pictures and how fantastic they are is in abundance. Serious support is scarce. It’s tough. Photographers can fear being inconsequential as much as many people fear death and dismemberment.

I have been to many gatherings of prominent photographers, both real and self-appointed, and one hears a generally intoned mantra mumbled in between cocktails and an increasingly disappointing and economically minded offering of hors d’oeuvres about what we do as being “important.” (Upon my first cover story for National Geographic, I hosted such a gathering, honoring the longtime tradition photographers upheld there by throwing a cover story party. It was de rigueur at that time. I went over the top, so giddy was I about the cover, spending about $1,000 on shrimp and vodkasoaked sardines or whatever. Those cover parties rapidly receded into the realm of boxed wine and Ritz crackers, and thence to no observance at all.)

And of course, what we do is important, massively so. But then, a cautionary note always creeps into my head. If what we do is so important, why do the people we do it for treat us so poorly? Those increasingly drab cover parties marched in lockstep with the downgrading of contracts, predatory rights grabs, layoffs, and a variety of indignities manifesting themselves in restrictions in field expenses.

So, how to weather this long-term, never-ending storm? Let go. Be happy. Realize the trappings of photographic ego are heavy indeed, like carrying a massive tripod around with you on a shoot. To a reasonable degree, care not about the fee or the deadline or the unrealistic expectations. Be lighter of heart about all this, for photography itself is not designed to be ponderous and dark of mood.

Revel in the sound of the shutter; it is the exclamation point at the end of the sentence, “I am a photographer!” Understand that being a photographer still requires you to take a walk, whilst others labor seated at computers. Accept the glorious fact that what you will do today with a camera will almost certainly be inconsequential, but that sliver of hope still gleams in your head and heart that the next frame is the one.

And the beautiful thing is, whenever you pick up a camera, there will be a next frame.

You can look for light in Las Vegas with Joe McNally during his Photo Walk on Feb. 24, 3:00-5:00 p.m. Tony Corbell Wedding Photographer WPPI Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, 2002

Tony Corbell Wedding Photographer WPPI Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, 2002

Dear Younger Tony, My photographic path was far from resembling a straight line these past 40 years. It was more like driving the famous Lombard Street in San Francisco with its extreme twists and turns. Seldom did things go smooth and straight, but I followed my instincts and went for it! In my 40-year career, I have photographed some of the most recognized faces, including three U.S. presidents, world leaders at the UN, fashion models, celebrities, NASA astronauts and more.

Remember the following:

Lesson #1 Go out of your way to place the word “quality” in every single thing you do. There are so many people that leave clients unfulfilled or fail to deliver on their promises. Don’t be that person.

Lesson #2 A true education in photography and light is critical. Studying with the top professionals of the day has made a difference I cannot deny.

Lesson #3 Never lower the value of your price; it is not the answer to your client’s economic situation. It will be terribly difficult to bring your rates back up after that, if not impossible.

Lesson #4 Work harder than anyone else but also have a little fun, connect with like-minded people, laugh often, drink a little wine and never stop looking at life from your own unique perspective that no one else possesses.

Sue Bryce Portrait Master Founder of Sue Bryce Education

Dear 1989 Sue, I know why you chose photography as your career: It’s exciting and fun, you’re 18, and you have the freedom to just walk towards joy and whatever lights you up.

And even though you have no clear direction yet, that is also a gift because you have no expectations and no adult responsibilities that will hold you down and warn you to “be safe.” You also have no commitments or burdens (those will come), so for now, enjoy the journey, feel your way along the path and take time to explore all the areas of this industry, including printmaking, fine art, multimedia, awards and levels of accreditation and business.

Remember, stay laser-focused on what you want and do not let the fears and restrictions of others become your truth. Sadly, you won’t discover how to master this for about 20 more years.

That’s why I’m writing this letter to you. Because I want you to know that you will be afraid, a lot! You will feel the weight of responsibility like never before. You will feel exposed, unsure, overinflated, deflated, weary and disappointed many times on your journey. You will also find freedom, self-power, accomplishment, your inner strength and resilience. But mostly, you will find yourself.

Focus on mastering your craft. Mastery takes certainty and conviction but it’s the consistency that will bring you to your true path. Nurture your confidence, both inner and physical. Find your true voice and hold your space—you have earned the right to stand in this room, and your gifts are to be shared.

Learn the power of true service. This is not about you; this is about the person paying you. Stay present with them, make them the center of your attention, give a feeling of importance to people and they will line up to work with you.

Learn about money. You don’t realize you are afraid of it because you don’t have any yet, and you have some blocks around receiving. Clear those as soon as you can. Business is an equal exchange. You provide a service of value, and people who value this craft and service will be drawn to you. Feel value in everything you do! Be valuable. Act valuable. Do not stop learning. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel; just keep growing and replenishing your joy for what you do every day.

You probably will not understand the significance of what you are doing and learning right now, but that is only because you are young and you are yet to have the life experiences that will help you understand the value of not only who you are but what you can give back to this world. I’m telling you now, girl, when you start to realize, or rather, cultivate it, you will find your way. You will need courage, yes, but what I really want you to know is that you do not need permission, you are enough and anything is possible if your soul is willing.

P.S. Oh…and don’t get that tattoo!

“Nurture your confidence, both inner and physical. Find your true voice and hold your space.”