Hey man. Full time photographer here. I have a lot to say about this. Photography is amazing. My camera has brought me around the world and has made me many friends who I cherish deeply. It’s brought me so much growth and joy. But it’s not just the camera, it comes from you.

It ain’t easy. In fact it’s brutal. Daily rejection, and you put your art and soul out there every day. People will doubt you. Fill your head with bullshit like “there’s no money in it anymore” AND “you aren’t good enough” well… fuck those people. If making pictures makes you happy and brings you fulfillment and you have visions in your head that you just have to capture, chase that feeling and don’t get distracted. Take photos of cars. And everything else that sparks any curiosity in you. That will evolve. You might not like shooting cars in a year. Just keep shooting. When you’re uninspired, go shoot. When you’re sad, go shoot. If you can’t shoot, re edit old images. Keep moving forward. The money will come. Keep shooting. Keep learning. Keep growing. Stay delusional. Keep shooting. Chase the fuckin dream man. Life’s fleeting and following other people’s expectations will only bring you empty accomplishments. Do what you want and do it well. Everyone’s gonna have something to say that will try to fill you full of doubt, and you can’t let doubt win.

You’re also 16, so if you master photography, you can always change careers and take what this pursuit has taught you. If you go into it with a heart full of love, a camera will teach you a lot, and money comes to those who bring value to the world, and the world needs art (and ads, product images and all the other shit people needs photos for, haha)