05/19/2026
I think one of the strangest parts of ācoming of ageā as a photographer was doing it in a time where everyone felt guarded.
Back then, community over competition wasnāt really the norm. A lot of us learned to keep our heads down, protect our ideas, and expect distance instead of connection. I remember trying to connect with other photographers and feeling shut out more often than welcomed. Iāve been blocked by photographers I admired without ever understanding why. Iāve had people ghost me for sessions the second they found out I was also a photographer. I learned very quickly that creativity sometimes came wrapped in insecurity and scarcity.
To be honest, I also carried some of that mindset with me for a long time without even realizing it.
Now I look at the younger generation of photographers and small business owners, and Iām genuinely impressed. I see people sharing opportunities, hyping each other up, recommending one another when theyāre booked, collaborating instead of gatekeeping. I see artists openly teaching, encouraging, and building friendships instead of walls.
That shift matters because being creative can already feel vulnerable enough. Thereās room for more than one artist. More than one vision. More than one successful business.
I think a lot of us older creatives survived in environments where we thought we had to protect our seat at the table. But this newer generation is building bigger tables altogether, and I admire that deeply.
The older I get, the more I realize community is worth far more than competition ever was.
