Of course I was joking around with most of that post, all is true except the entroage part.
As far as, changing my name, however, I do think your screen name is very cool but, I think it best to use your oun name in the photo business, as it shows you stand behind your work, which many of the flakes don't. Most of them are long gone anyhow. You need to put your name on it.
From the things I put in that post, I have photographed your boss, years ago, and photographed and spoke with the Sultan, search my name and so if you play your cards right you can work magic in this industry. Never in my wildest dreams could I imaging everything doing what I have.
The problem for people now, is I started decades ago, with so many things different mostly shooting on film stock, and now I would find it almost impossible to duplicate my efforts, with all the post 9-11 security in place, and all the people who get a camera and think they are professionals, plus I started in a small town with big people in it and they helped me out so I was just lucky, to tell the truth. Had I started in a big town I would have had a lot more to deal with on a daily basis.
Now, I would recommend people not to invest in their photo business like I did, I own everything outright, because I never wanted to rent unreliable gear, so I put some of my profits back in the company, still do as we bill pretty high and owe it to out trusted clients to always show up with the latest gear, with plenty of spares and backups, so if something was to go wrong, they never know it. which paid off as we can shoot anything involving people and events of any type, along with architecture, and fashion. you have to specialize like any other professional does, you can't do everything, and should not even attempt it.
For instance, I can't do what Don McGizmo does, and he may not be able to have a photo op pool spray of 30 seconds to shoot the president, before you are cut off even happen to get off one shot, or that one second you have disembarking Air Force One. Mostly I can direct my subjects, he can't and there are moving. Two of the most interesting areas you can specialize are underwater and surfing. Surfing is one event I have never tried but I love good surfing photos. That takes real skill, however everyone with a waterproof cell case is a surf photographer now.
Photography for a career has always been tough and will be, I went for over twenty years without a day off. But, I loved every second of it because I owned the company, and was not like really working as everything we did was fun, and no two days are alike.
I could in no way have got to the level I am without my wife, she is a mathematical genius, and holds masters degrees in the computer sciences, and is an award winning photographer, herself, and my second camera. Post production photoshop manager and takes care of all pre print and printing.
I met her in my early days, and she knew nothing, I trained her, like I trained myself. And the most amazing part was that all photographers who went from film to digital are pioneers in a new medium, and that happens very, very infrequently. It was an amazing time, and it is what made us most of our money. Mostly because a gigantic amount of photographers did not believe in digital, did not want to bother to learn it properly, and were flat out scared to death of it. Quit over it, and could not grasp the computers and software. Thought it was not as good, and so fourth. We not only saw digital coming but embraced it, thus were pioneers in something, an amazing feeling. I loved it from the first day. We did extremely well in the period of the switch, for corporations you could name any price, and they did not care, and the ones we have kept the same is true. We did mid six figures for years until it settled in and leveled off, but what a run.
You can do very, very well it is Just trickier now for local shooters, with what we call GWC's, translation: Guy/Girl, with camera, and they are clueless, and have run a lot of very good photographers out of business because they charge little or nothing and when the Great Recession hit, they wiped out a lot of Professionals. Who worked in local markets. They could not do to much to us at all as we work on the national and global level.
The GWC just wants to play professional with all settings on auto, and I had one GWC tell me he stays away from the cameras manual. How can you not read your cameras manual, I don't know? Mostly they crave the glamour and want to get into things for free. Publicists have caught on to them to some degree, however they still hurt local and regional Pro's. Again giving the photos away unedited, because photoshop scares the hell out of them. But free is free if they can be fixed in post production (I dislike the term 'Workflow,' sounds like a radio station term).
Normally, don't post here in the photo area it should not be a place for working professionals. It started as a joke with Mr. Halo, and it Now is a semi manifesto for people looking to maybe work at taking photos for a living, and maybe it helped? I don't know?
I'll cut now Star but, I always thought your work looks cool.
Carry on, and a always best wishes,
NR