From time to time we love to drop in to check out the latest shoots by US Shooter Van Styles (we LOVE his work!). We love reading his answers to the many questions he gets on his Tumblr almost as much as we love checking out his work! So much inspiration, check out this great question and answer we came across.
Anonymous – hi, I’ve just recently picked up a camera (about 8-9 months ago) and love the idea of shooting for a living. What made you take the risk of dropping everything and put everything you do into shooting? (assuming that’s what you did) I would love to do it but it seems so risky at this point in time.
What made me take the risk was a awakening I had. I realized for the past some odd years I had been working for someone else’s dreams. At times I made really good money and thought that was everything. Then the industry I was working in started to take a hit and profits started to drop. I soon learned the hard way that happiness is far more important than money. After seeing what photography meant to me along with having a falling out with my old boss and getting fired I just said fuck everything. I didn’t care anymore. I felt a lot like that guy from Office Space…. I just stopped stressing and worrying. I focused on what made me happy and a positive person.
With this new mind set and realizing I didn’t have any kids and I wasn’t married (or any major type of responsibility) I decided to follow what I love. I think the bigger fear to me wasn’t if I would be able to pay my bills or buy food but rather I didn’t want to be a old man one day and wonder “what if”. What if I pursued it …. I wonder what would have happen. I think it is important to see that nothing in life is permanent, and it is all about taking a risk from time to time. Sometimes they will work out and sometimes they won’t. But better to try than to sit back and wonder what if. I know we are programmed to be safe and responsible adults…. go to college,get a well paying secure job,etc. But what I have noticed is when are you following your own path you feel more alive. In control. If everyone followed the for sure/safe path life as a whole would be uninspiring and boring.
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