PRIVATE PROJECT CONSULTATION

When I was a younger photographer I'd show my work to anyone who'd look. Friends and family would give pleasant "oooohs" and "ahhhhs." But when my photos were critiqued by editors and more experienced journalists, that's when the growth began.

They were unashamedly critical - "you have one good image, now you just need another nineteen," or "you need to spend much longer with your subjects, why don't you move in with them?"

I sought mentors to show my projects to regularly. I got stubborn. I'd visit photo festivals paying $1,000 for a couple of portfolio reviews, and would find scholarships to study under Ron Haviv, Jared Moossy, and Kael Alford.

It was uncomfortable, as growth often is, but without their feedback over the years, I'd still be convincing myself that I'd done enough, spent long enough, pushed hard enough, edited well enough.

They taught me self-honesty, to edit my own stories, and the benchmark I needed to hit with each project for it to sell. From there I landed every piece I made.