Just got off the phone with a good friend of mine. She’s an actress / model. She was a bit worried about an audition she has in the morning, and the part may require speaking Spanish. 

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And what talking with her made me realize is how almost comfortable I’ve gotten with being in over my head. I can’t think of really anything in my entire life I’ve ever been ready for. 

 I’ve got a car full of products I need to photograph for a client and I have no idea how I’m going to light it or edit them. But I’m going to figure it out.  

I’ve just realized that the opportunities in life aren’t going to wait for you to be ready for them. I’ve become a yes and we’ll figure it out later man. That being said, it doesn’t always work out. I’ve had to call other photo / video friends, borrow equipment, apologize to clients etc. But I believe I’ve gotten to where I am by saying yes to every opportunity I thought I could possibly pull off. 

I think the best way to get better is to push yourself, and learn how to make it work when it comes right down to it. This is the least fun part. My close friends know how I am. I’m always like “Why can’t these people just pay me to shoot what I’m already good at.” 

Instead I get jobs shooting girls in bikini’s on a white backdrop with the camera set up vertically, shooting sunglasses that have mirror lenses, or retouching 160 photos in 24 hours. None of which I was good at beforehand. 

So I say go for it. Figure out just how far you can push yourself. Well, I need to go figure out how to light these products, and I have 62 more photos to edit by tomorrow. 

Talk soon, 

Matt Shouse  

BELOW - This is the face I typically make after accepting a job I know I’m going to have some things to figure out for.