Hello friends, 

It’s almost 1AM Indiana time, but only almost 10PM Cali time, therefore I cannot sleep. I thought I might write what’s on my mind this evening. I know if I post this, at least my mom will read it, so I can count on one view. 

I was scrolling on my phone earlier today and came across someone posting a photo that they had taken. I know this person is relatively new to photography and I found myself internally judging them. Laughing at how they attempted to sound so “pro” in their posts. This was just about the worst thing I could possibly have done. 

It got me thinking to how I’m the same as that person. They are just as much a photographer as I am, possibly more. I thought back to how I started. I shot with cameras in my free time, but I’d rather put my face in a blender than let any of my high school friends know that I even owned a camera. 

It seems that in my head, and maybe others as well. It’s tough to let people know the early stages of something you’re pursuing, because it isn’t cool yet. Failing isn’t cool. Carrying around a camera isn’t cool if you aren’t “successful” or making waves with it. 

If we could all just pick something up, then fast forward to the part where people respect us because of that thing I think we all would. I know I would. There’s this part of doing something where you get started and you’re a bit insecure of people knowing about it. 

Now I live like my entire life is a photo shoot and if people ask I’ll tell them, but it took me a lot of jobs, a lot of shoots, and a lot of time to get to this point. BUT REALLY THAT WAS STUPID. 

I’m telling myself this now, years later. If you want to try something, do it. Have fun with it. It doesn’t matter. There is no universal success meter. You’re cool just for being you and trying something. If people judge you for that then that is their problem. 

I was young and weak and hid what I was working on until something good happened. Then I was like “Okay I guess I’m cool enough to embrace this.” 

Maybe this makes sense to you, maybe it doesn’t. It made sense in my head, and that was a cool enough reason for me to write it. 

Matt Shouse

Wannabe Basketball player, baseball player, golf player, rapper, filmmaker, photographer, poker player