“Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.” - Henri Cartier-Bresson

Allow yourself to be a beginner.  No one starts off being excellent.  As is probably common within any profession, throughout the early years of my career there were many struggles and failures, and the thought of giving up frequently came to mind - sometimes almost daily.  In the most frustrating and self-loathing moments, I had the urge to head down to the icy waters of Lake Michigan to the very tip of Montrose Harbor and chuck every piece of my gear into the abyss.  Sometimes these moments were inspired by genuine mistakes I made, some were the result of an unhappy client - and yet others were simply due to being human: self-doubt, imposter syndrome, etc.  I’ve earned a few credentials over the years, have enjoyed my share of success, and yet there is still the occasional thought in my mind that PPA will one day realize their mistake and someone from Atlanta is going to knock on my door to ask for their awards back.

The antidote may simply be to pick up and carry on.  One thing that has worked for me is to continually strive to improve the art, craft, and business of my photography.  PPANI has been a perfect place to learn, grow, and become part of a professional community through which I and many others have thrived.  In the years that I’ve been involved with this group, my business has grown exponentially, and my colleagues within PPANI have been a part of that success.  In what can be a highly competitive industry, it’s been a remarkable experience to work and grow with such welcoming, supportive, and talented people.

I hope in the coming year you will make PPANI part of your career development.  We have an amazing lineup of workshops, competitions, and we’re starting off on January 21 with one of our very popular Quarterly Meetups - the theme of which will be setting goals and getting motivated for 2025.  The Quarterly Meetups are free but are for members only - more information about events and membership can be found on our website.

Lastly, consider the story of Ernest Shackleton, who, despite numerous spectacular failures, is considered one of the greatest explorers of the modern age and is still revered for his leadership skills.  He is best known for the 1914 first attempt to cross the Antarctic continent, where his ship, The Endurance, became trapped in pack ice, sank, and he and his team of 28 were stranded for more than two years.  Despite incredible hardship, terrible odds, and a grim outlook, he never gave up hope and eventually was able to get his crew home safely.  Shackleton had a reputation for having a positive mental attitude and an unwavering focus on the task at hand.  He kept a diary during the expedition of The Endurance, and one entry in particular may be helpful to keep in mind: “Perhaps in the quiet hours of the night you will feel the little snakes of doubt twisting in your heart. I have known them. Put them aside.”

- Michael Lee, President, PPANI , M. Photog., Cr., CPP, F-PPANI

Photo Credits: Henri Cartier-Bresson/Magnum Photos; Frank Hurley/Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge/Getty Images