I’ve been spending all my life with just a few rules. One of them, probably the most important ever says:
– never let the people tell you what you should do… translated in an artistical way could be: never let someone to tell you how to shoot and how to create your images.
That was the reason I always refused any kind of invasive art direction coming from magazines or advertising agencies.
Since the very beginning when I shot a Vogue Sposa campaign at 21 years old and where everyone is telling you what to do and how to shoot… I always rejected after that period of time any form of submission.
A creative job should be a co-operation between professionals giving everyone the permission to express their creative point of view.
Today I’m 50 and I can be happy that I still think the same. And I’m not working if someone is telling me how to do my job.
I know I could have been doing much more money in my life just saying yes and being more fake… But that’s not me.
We all know that the most part of the mags are looking at the low cost photographer and that’s ok if you think a cheap quality is good for your magazine. We all know everyone can get any editorial job if the price is good, but that’s not bringing you anywhere. Work for free as I did many times at the beginning of my career but believe in what you do and ask the clients to believe in what you do…otherwise… better do something else.
So, for the newcomers, let your mind be your only rule in this business.
