Pressing the reset button
Time was nigh. I was up to my neck in websites and instagram pages. Yes until only a few days ago I had 7 different photography websites. Sounds ludicrous. It was ludicrous. Let me explain;
I have been a photographer for 29 years. My career has been a heady mix of editorial, advertising and corporate work. I’ve never thought upon myself as an artist. Simply a jobbing photographer. It seems that times have changed for jobbing photographers. The media/commercial industry that has employed me for the past 29 years has changed fundamentally like so many other industries. The digital age and the internet has changed our reality. The way we work. Or the way we worked (past tense)! For most of us the internet has been a blessing and a curse.
As a result of these changes in my profession, I have been experimenting with a host of different ideas. There are lots of talented former advertising photographers who have had to turn to wedding photography to survive. There are plenty of very good former photojournalists who are now conducting workshops as a means to make a living. We are all having to reinvent the wheel. And I decided to do some experimenting, and in the process I seemed to get myself in a muddle. I mean, who in their right mind would attempt to manage 7 websites with 7 corresponding Instagram pages. But try I did.
Here is my inventory of craziness;
1) RMD Photographer!
This was the portal from which I directed my talents at the magazine and advertising agencies. Yes still thinking there was a way to make a living from magazine and print advertising. Needless to say, none of the magazines or ad agency were buying, if they even knew I existed.
So I then put out….
2) AERONAUTICA Ltd. A completely different website in terms of look and feel. Directed at the hotel and hospitality industry and the corporate and green energy industries. It was here that I presented pictures of hotel lobbies or wind farms in South Africa. I had a corresponding Instagram site. Trying to keep it current. Post. Like. Comment etc. This website still remains important to my ongoing business as a photographer. I’m just not promoting it as much. I only show this to select clientelle. Those who are interested and relevant to the work. It’s corporate work.
3) RMD GALLERY. Been a busy travel photographer for many years obviously I had a glut of pretty travel photos. So I naively decided I would create an on-line gallery to my work. A dedicated website, with an e-commerce face. You know, concept. Hello world. Come buy my prints. Needless to say nobody was buying. Why? Because I wasn’t marketing it right. And my accompanying Instagram page was getting neglected.
4) STARGATE STUDIOS
I began experimenting with what I called POP ART portraiture. The UN-focused idea was selling creative portraits to the public. You know, a glorified family portrait business! With a difference of course. To make it highly unique. Offering you the public, custom made costumes to compliment themes and concepts. Think retro-futurism ! Or heck yes even James Bond. Come get dressed up in a tuxedo. Hold a gun. Pose like James Bond. :-) It had it’s own Instagram page.
5) PAWS (photographing animals with style). I think you know where I am going with this. Again I started a UN-dedicated pet photography focused business, with corresponding Instagram page. Ouch. Oh no!
6) HK PHOTO WORKSHOPS AND TOURS. Yes time to nurture my ‘inner teacher spirit! You know? Share my infinite photographic wisdom with the world. And of course happy to join the serried ranks of all the other millions of photographers out there offering their own unique version on ‘how to take a good photo’. Once again I designed a dedicated website and corresponding Instagram site. I plan to develop my teachiong agenda slowly. It will not be my main focus, but I think there is tremendous value in giving back. Sharing what I have learned. And all the experiences I’ve had on my journeys as a photographer.
7) RMD ARTIST. Finally I decided to hit the reset button and focus on the website that I treasured above all others. The one I called the official website of artist Richard Mark Dobson. And where I presented the images and collections I was most passionate about.
I realized this website was where I could and would BUILD MY BRAND. Build an audience.
I’ll now stop talking in the past tense and it all makes perfect sense.
From here I now reach out to you. Gallery owners, curators, corporate clients, private collectors and buyers of photography. Here I hope to infuse curiosity into the minds of talented art directors working at prestigious agencies working for prestigious brands. Here I want to catch the eye of gifted interior designers, photo editors, infact, I want to connect with all of you who appreciate compelling photography. I
I now call myself a vibe photographer. ‘The vibe is the narrative. The narrative is the vibe’. If you want some vibe on your wall or vibe infused into your visual marketing campaign I ask you to stop and say hello.
I think the moral of the story for me, and if this article can be of any benefit to others out there feeling overwhelmed or confused about their professional direction, is that it helps to be brutally honest with yourself. To clear the table. Simplify. Edit. Cut to the chase. I feel much more liberated and happier now that I have finally made a decision on what I want to present to the word. What I have to offer the world in terms of my vision and craft. Letting go of clutter. It’s a good feeling. I highly recommend it.
