Influence Or Imitation?
A Tip For Finding Your Voice
To develop a lasting career in this business, you need to cultivate a unique point of view. Ironically, one of the best ways to find your own voice is by imitating others - up to a point.
Photography scholar David Campany advises in an interview, “I think… you [can] try on many, many, different hats. What would it be [like] to go out and make a picture trying to be another photographer? It’s never going to be exactly like that photographer and the difference between the two is probably your voice, if you’ve got one.” (Italics mine)
This idea, that your voice emerges from the disparity between your imitation and whomever you’re trying to imitate, is extremely valuable. It requires, however, an awareness of what you’re trying to do. The distinction between influenced by and copying, may reside in this very understanding, in being able to recognize where their point of view ends, your point of view begins, and then being able to capitalize on the difference.
Realistically, imitation is an indispensable skill to have when you’re starting out. Being younger, scrappier and willing to accept lower fees, while also being able to produce work that looks a whole lot like the work of more expensive veterans, is a time tested rite of passage… much to the chagrin of veterans.
On the other hand, there’s this from photographer Larry Sultan, “ Be careful not to resurrect another artist to battle your fragile growth—stamping it down with someone [else’s] finished work.”
Taken too far, imitation leads to limitation. If all you’re doing is copying the work of others, eventually, clients will catch on. Now, if you happen to be the very best imitator out there, you might do just fine. For everyone else, at some point, you’ll need to start paying attention to what separates you from your heroes and begin the challenging task of developing and applying those differences.
Ideally, if you can establish a unique point of view, one that transcends mere style, you’ll be able to put some distance between you and the imitating horde. Then, fingers crossed, you’ll come across enough clients who recognize and appreciate the difference.