Jay Maisel, Bernie Boston, Hugh Morton, and George Tames. Four famous photographers in my book. I took this at the Southern Short Course in the 1980s.

Most photographers want to be known for their work. Most everyone I know wants to have their work judged as significant.

I have tried numerous times, as many other photographers have been attempting, to get hired by National Geographic Magazine. I wanted to cover important stories and to well known.

Bill Fortney emcees a photo event in the 1980s.

Then one year, I met Bill Fortney, who gave his thoughts on the subject. He pointed out that other than maybe Ansel Adams, most other “famous photographers” who walked into a local mall would most likely not be recognized. I think he is right.

Fortney went on to talk about how his pursuit of being a “famous photographer” was probably a big mistake. When he was diagnosed with cancer, he came face to face with the demons of pride in his life.

Don Rutledge, my mentor and friend, for the most part, enjoyed working as the fly on the wall. Sure he liked recognition but learned to let the focus be on the story. He knew he had to diminish for the story to be center stage.

Don Rutledge, my mentor and friend taught me a great deal about being a photographer. I have yet to see anyone masterful storytelling with a camera. I also was impressed that he would talk with anyone and help anyone who asked him to help. Rutledge helped just about everyone he met, even those just starting.

The Road to Success

I have spent most of my career figuring out the steps to success. As a result, numerous books help people climb the corporate ladder. But unfortunately, there are no photography career books outlining steps to success.

What I continue to see over and over is “The Secret.” Most everyone one of the books was helping me to realize that to succeed, I must serve. However, this formula left a bad taste in my mouth. The message was more about how to rise to the top rather than how to live in the moment.

It continued to bother me that the only reason all these authors were writing the book was to tell everyone to do this for a while, and then you will be in charge.

What Don Rutledge Taught Me

Don wanted to tell stories with his camera, but because he was so good everywhere he worked, they wanted him to manage communications departments. Don knew he was not gifted to lead but had a talent for visual storytelling.

People around him were mad at him for not stopping doing what he was good at and leading the division.

I was learning from Don that if I were a ditch digger and good at it, there is no reason I couldn’t make a career out of it.

Finally, a book about how to be your best

Order it here on Amazon

While in Hawaii, I met Jack Hart. Jack was the art director for many years at CBS for TV shows like The Price Is Right.

After talking for a while, Jack said he had a book I needed to read. But unfortunately, I had to run off to teach a class, and just before I started, Jack came into the room and handed me the book The Chicken Farm and Other Sacred Places: The Joy of Serving God in the Ordinary.

It is a rapid read, and you can also get it as an eBook.

Here is the first book I picked that outlined what I learned from Don Rutledge.

I believe the key to success is being joyful in life where you are now and not where you might be in the future.


What does this have to do with photography?

I have been working on a book to help students and those starting in this profession become successful photographers. I believe one of the key messages is learning to connect the eighteen inches between the head and the heart.

The connection of why you do what you do can make all the difference in your attitude and your mood is what makes people want to hire you over and over. 

It took me many years to understand how important the question “why” is to a story. I was asking Who, What, Where, When, When, and How, but I was filling the holes with the information. I needed to be like a child and ask, “Why is the sky blue?”

Why does the story need to be told? 

Attitude Adjustment

I have come to see that it is the photographers who understand they are here to serve others. They operate by helping others communicate effectively using visuals.

When you are a freelancer, you will have a client occasionally insult you- or it feels this way. They may demean your position or some other way you feel offended. You have a choice to respond and set them straight; sometimes, this might be necessary, but you must ask yourself if it is worth losing the account.  

As I read Ken Barnes’s book, I came across this quote he had from Gordon MacDonald in his book Rebuilding Your Broken World.

“You know whether or not you’re a servant by how you react when you’re treated like one.”

Do you seek significance? Do you want to be recognized? Is this getting in the way of your joy in living?

Chick-fil-A is one of my best clients. They are my best for many reasons, but one that I have come to realize over time is teaching me the value of service.

Dan Cathy, president of Chick-fil-A, helps clean up trash at a Habitat for Humanity built in Columbus, GA.

Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A, had trained his children that whenever they came to the restaurant, they come in to pick up any trash. Truett also does the same even today. He will bend over at 91 and pick it up if he sees something.

Chick-fil-A trains their people to do any job joyfully; this includes the bathrooms and the dirty dishes.

Will you become a “famous photographer” if you serve others–maybe. But, I think the real question is will you be happy in the role of a servant only when you discover the joy in it?