How to say goodbye to copycat negativity

Hey Anna!

Thanks so much for your comment :) I think it’s so easy for all of us to get distracted by the “competition” so my advice has always been to change your mindset about it, know that the world is infinitely abundant and if you can’t – get that person out of your line of sight! :) Glad you are in agreement with me, girl!

And another great point you mentioned – when I did my autumn shoot with the dress of leaves I thought I was so original until one day I found another girl did something similar. My initial reaction was – OMG SHE COPIED ME! But then I looked at the date and her shoot was done BEFORE mine! haha. I soon realized that it was stupid of me in the first place to even claim a dress made of leaves as “mine” haha. :)

BIG HUGS!
xoxo

Alex,
This was amazing. I really like your viewpoint and I believe it to be very true. I have been photographing for years, but only months ago did I begin shooting weddings. Throughout this process, I have had “so called” friends/family members say/do very unsupportive things. They would critique my work in a way that wasn’t exactly helpful, “you use way too much photoshop” and “wedding photography needs to be more clean, crisp, and traditional.”

At first, I listened. I was so insecure that I started to change my style, trying to convince myself that I loved this new work I was producing. However, my lies to myself proved unsuccessful. I didn’t LOVE my new work. In fact, I love the exact opposite of what I was producing.

I love images that often do require a good use of photoshop to give them a painting/vintage/surreal quality. While these may not be the traditional wedding photographs that many photographers produce, I don’t think I should have to sacrifice my style to be appreciated. Because although many people may not like it, there are billions of people in the world…and a niche of beings is bound to be drawn to it in the way I am. And often time, one is more successful targeting a small niche than targeting everyone. No one is particularly drawn to a Jack of all trades because the Jack of all trades isn’t particularly great at any one thing.

Anyways, I ended deleting this person from FB, which is awkward being that it was a family member. But you know what, my life has been way better ever since! I have been able to focus more on ME and my the future of my business, without all this negative noise.

Although someone has yet to copy me…I have to say that I think it is a huge compliment. My style has been inspired by several photographers out there- W. Scott Chester, Rosie Hardy, Brooke Shaden, and many many many more. Before them, I was producing something completely different. I didn’t know this type of photography (the kind that leaves me in awe) even existed because I hadn’t done the research. Since I didn’t know, I thought I loved images that I NOW find to be bland. I guess this goes to show how much other people can influence your style.

So…in conclusion to my seriously long post: I would not be offende if anyone copied my work because although my work isn’t really a product of my idea; It is a product of several ideas inspired by countless photographers out there.

Hope to hear from you Alex. I really love your videos and you really inspire me. I think you are about my age (early 20s?)…which I find to be SUPER inspiring. I keep thinking “if she can do it and she is my age…so can I!” …haha.

<3 Elyana

So true… there are lots of other work that inspires me and I take away a method here and there, maybe some colour inspiration, or follow instructions on how to make something. Unless you really ARE the first person to invent something profitable, then it’s kind of silly to refuse to share your secrets, because they’re not even secrets!

I guess the truth is, a person who copies will always be a step behind and his/her stuff is always going to be old news.

Hey Courtney!

I’m so glad this resonated with you! I was so scared that the “You didn’t invent the wheel” would be a bit too harsh, but it’s so true isn’t it? Tough love, baby! We always feel the right to say “mine! mine! mine!” when really it was never ours in the first place and we have better things to focus on! haha. A little change in mindset is all we need to pick ourselves out of the “copy cat monster” mode as you called it.

Thanks so much for your comment, I so appreciate the feedback!
Big hugs
xoxo

Hi Elyana! (I love your name)

Thank you so much for your amazing comment! I love it so much because you are SO RIGHT about everything you said!

Not only is it important to stay true to your artistic style, but this is what makes you UNIQUE and helps you to stand out in the crowded marketplace! Good for you that you realise that and have decided to create the kinds of photos that YOU love to create, and not necessarily what everyone else wants you to create!

I, too, have been in a similar situation with family members who think my work is “too this” or “too that”. The truth is – you will NEVER be able to please everyone, so the number one person you should make sure is happy with your work is YOU. Your opinion of it is just as valid and important as anyone else’s! So happy that you know that :)

Keep creating from your heart, girl!
Big hugs!
xoxo
P.S. Yay for the power of early 20s! :)

Melissa – you are 100% right!

“I guess the truth is, a person who copies will always be a step behind and his/her stuff is always going to be old news.”

LOVE that you said that, the person that copies will never live up to her true potential and truly be herself – which is what brings us all to true happiness and success. Love it!

Thanks for the inspiration!
xoxo <3

Hi Anna!

Thanks so much for your comment :) I love that you “prefer to laugh than be angry”! Great outlook :) The first time someone stole from me I was FURIOUS. But then I realised that there was absolutely NOTHING I could do but move on with my life and focus on the positive things that matter in my business instead of the negative! :) Seems to me that you’ve got that down! :)

Big hugs!
xoxo

Hey Stephanie!

It TOTALLY sucks, I know the feeling all too well. I’m the kind of person who LOVES credit for the things I do, the ideas I come up with etc.. but sometimes I need to remind myself to get off my high horse and that the world does not revolve around me even though sometimes I think it does ;) The ego is such an interesting thing, and sometimes our worst downfall for this precise reason, so I try not to take myself too seriously.

Try not to feel used, just feel good and relish in the fact that you inspired an event :) YOU are an inspiration.

Big hugs
xoxo

Alex, I can’t tell you how much I needed this!
A couple of close friends just recently decided to start a photography business after originally asking to work with me. When I proposed they sign a contract to prevent conflict of interest, they flipped out and our relationship changed. After that I could feel it brewing and sure enough, within a week of my move (I guess thinking I wouldn’t notice all the FB posts) they were launching a website and undercutting my prices.
I felt like everything I taught them or shared about my business was used against me and I will admit it hurt.

To hear you talk about how now one can be “me”, was exactly what I needed. I’ve created my own style over time and no matter how much I want to be unique, I will always have imitators or my style will reflect the work of other artists. This was a shot to my ego from both sides and frankly, just what I needed to get back on track and focusing on what I love.

Thank you so much!
DeAnna
http://www.facebook.com/greenorchidimages

Do you think you’d ever be able to post transcriptions of your videos for the deaf and hard of hearing? Youtube does an alright job of closed captioning their videos but I feel sometimes it may miss a few things.

I agree that if you get your work copied, it is a compliment. I used to copy people’s work when I was just starting out because I genuinely didn’t know what else to do. I was insecure in my own abilities and just needed something to work with. I didn’t publish it as my own though, I guess that’s the kicker for most people, when they don’t get credit – but it was a great learning curve for me. A challenge to see if I can do it too. To be honest, I actually became so frustrated trying to do things someone else’s way, that I just said “screw it” and did it my own way and in my opinion, my best work came from my own ideas. I truly believe that there’s no use in being angry at copycats. They still need to discover who they are as a person, and being kind to them is the best thing you can ever do to help them come into their own. I think if someone is copying you, and they are still trying to put their own spin on it, it’s a cry for help, because they are trying to figure out who they are and testing things out. They will realize it’s not working for them sooner or later. No one person will do anything exactly the same as another if they are being true to themselves.

I love this!! I’ve had times where I felt copied and times where I unintentionally copied.

I think as artists at one point or another we’ve all been on Google for inspiration. However I’ve had incidences where I’ve had a couple of people copy my website or a special I’ve done word for word! At first I got mad, because I had that mindset of “Oh they’re going to ruin my business because they’re copying me” But You’re so right when you say, You are you, no one else can be you! There was one girl who just wouldn’t let up, so I personally messaged her and then deleted and blocked her.

It’s important that we keep a positive mindset because what you think about is what you bring about! If you constantly think oh this person is copying me, this is going to effect my business then that is exactly what you’re going to get. Only you would have done it to yourself because only you can let yourself be defeated!

- Tina

I want to respond for the people that are being declared, “Copycats”, by this post and the people that black ball future photographers. Its very poisonous. I’ve seen photographers lose their creativity and purpose to work because other photographers that had said, “my style was copied by him/her. Why can’t they just stop it”. If your a photographer and you have friends that are photographers then expect to see some of your work to be showing on their work because of this.

Blocking them on multiple websites isn’t going to make them go away but telling all your photography buddies that they are not to be trusted and don’t talk to them is taking it to the extreme.

I’m mostly here wanting to defend those that are called “copycats” and are hurt by those people that are framed to be “not original”.

Your video is great to mend those that feel that they are dealing with copycats but it somewhat gives those that are still trying to find their own style of photography a loss of chance. It also makes them to be afraid of making photography friends so that they just be called a copycat and lose all chance of making it somewhere in the field.