Glass Ceilings

glass ceiling

 noun 

1. an unacknowledged barrier to advancement in a profession, especially affecting women and members of minorities.

I am not a minority, nor am I a female.

But as a 40 something male photographer I am certainly subject to prejudice by certain members of the community.

Below are some real world examples of factors that contribute to the glass ceiling I have encountered in the last few years.  Many more have remained unspoken. 

I am not too concerned with it in all honesty.

I have contingency’s to deal with it, some are practical, some are long term theory's.

It is what it is, I have to suck it up buttercup.

“A grown man taking photo's of teenage girls”.

That was actually said to me by a stepfather one night when myself and my two daughters went to pick the potential model up.

I don’t blame those perceptions.

There are allot of dodgy blokes about. We all see it in the news.

I walked away.

I don’t need drama, there are 60k people in Invercargill, 4 million in New Zealand.

But only one me.

You miss out. I move on.

I will continue to build my brand, and second chances in this industry don’t often come cheap.

But I am not going to try and argue and defend myself.

I have done nothing wrong, and the problem is in your head.

You good sir are a bigot and good day.

“You are too old and you will freak people out”

I recently inquired of a position of bar photographer at an establishment of the ILT.

Now I admit I don’t have the bubbliest personality out there.

I am usually focused on the picture not the person.

But they didn’t even try to find that out, it was a decision they made BEFORE they have even met me.  The only thing that mattered to them was my age.

Contingency. Get gud.

Again, build the brand.  Get noticed and do stuff others cant do. 

Already people approach me “Your that photographer”, and not “Your Tim”

I am a specialist in low light photography.  In fact, I am a specialist in light. 

Wether it is a wedding reception, speedway under lights or a fashion show.

I do not need black and white conversions, nor make excuses for 'digital noise' grain and make crap up about it being 'my style'.  Flash photography is a choice, not a necessity. 

I deliver sharp results.

I know my gear inside and out, I have invested heavily in the best gear and can push that biatch to the limits.

I am good at what I do.

So, Mr ILT.

Sure I will cover your gigs in the future, but it will cost your more than the $50 bar tab voucher that your think is sufficient in this cut throat photography world.

In the mean time, continue to exploit your young inexperienced photographers with their entry level gear, and get the results you pay for.

You have no idea what you are missing out on. 

I look forward to hearing from you in the future. 

“Dad with a camera”

When my daughters were mid teens I encouraged them out of their comfort zones, because of I knew it would result in their heightened self confidence.

One particular exercise was cat walk modelling for SIT students.

I was also covering the event as official photographer, and due to lack of communication I was challenged to my role being back stage with a camera.

Again fair call.

I have actually learnt from that experience. Communication is the key.

If my services are engaged by marketing and promotion, you better damn make sure the rest of the team is aware of that situation.

Identification also helps, a lanyard with ID, even a high visibility vest allows people to perceive your proper role, not their assumption.

If I was a bubbly 20 something female there is no issue.  But I am not.

People think the worst, I need to be smarter, more professional and be safe. 

“Public places”

I wish to bring senior portraits to Southland.

It is big in America, the final year at high school. The transition from child to adult.

Last chance for Mum and Dad to boss Sally or Tommy around before they leave the nest. (The kind of thing you see on the high school office walls of the high achievers.)

I wished to use my son as part of the promotion, as he was into underwater hockey it was off to the local public pool.

I didnt go in half ass'ed. Full kit, off camera flash, umbrella's the works.

I introduced myself and sought permission at the front desk.  

I thought did everything by the book. 

Even seeking a vacant part of the pool did not stop the challenge from a wandering employee.

Now I know my rights, I am a professional photographer.

I wasnt even taking images of the public, it was of my own son.

(From the NZ police website)

However, you can take and/or publish photos or film of people where there is no expectation of privacy, such as a beach, shopping mall, park or other public place.

and

(Furthermore public place defined in the Privacy act 1993)

Public place means a place that, at any material time, is open to or is being used by the public, whether free or on payment of a charge

How many mothers with cell phones are challenged at public pools?

“You must get permission from ME”

Redneck Southland at its finest.  I am glad he never got me worked up over that one.

There were no mitigating factors in his assumptions. Just a pompous twat.  

He backed down, and so he should have.

“I will stick that camera up your ass”

This incident isn’t entirely applicable to a glass ceiling.

It could have happened to any wedding photographer regardless of age, sex or gender.

It was a 'grumpy old man' incident, in particular the father of the bride.

But still it knocks my confidence.

When I see a cool/cute/significant memory at an event, it is a 'should I, or shouldn’t I ?' moment.

Although I am mindful that I am present to record the memories, not be part of them. 

It is about the future and not the present.

You looking at your photo's in 10 years time is more important than that awkward moment here and now.

I am here to do a job.  

And that is the key to going forward…

There is a click in my head when I pick that camera up.

I am no longer Tim, I am Exordium.

I do what needs to be done. 

I will continue to be that socially awkward, aloof chain smoking dreamer who is good at what he does. Because that is who I am. 

But. 

I will step outside my comfort zone, suffer the slings and arrows of society's media driven perceptions and assumptions, and move forward.  

I will deliver consistent world class results and blow your expectations out of the water.

Glass ceiling?

Yeah…………….

Lets smash that sucker

#notmanyifany

 *Click me*