2024 11 11
Itās been a minute since Iāve done a proper Life Update and this week will be no different, however, the topic loosely applies. Iām in the early phase of a Pivot to Video, largely spurred by a collapse in demand for commercial photography, but also aided by a lifelong love of video and filmmaking (itās complicated why Iām not already more focused on it). In this phase, Iām spending a lot of time watching youtube videos. I swear, itās productiveā¦ at least to an extent. Film school is what I keep calling it. Realistically, thereās just a lot of new shit that I need to get up to speed on. Of course, Iām well aware that the only way to be successful at this new venture is not by watching videos but by doing it. Every damn day.
Most, if not all, of the credit to my success in commercial photography can be summed up by putting in the work. Spending the time. Consistent focus and dedication.
In my recent film schooling sessions, I came across a channel by DP Luc Forsyth because he did some camera tests I was curious about. Digging deeper into his channel, I watched this video linked below, which so brilliantly summed up these ideas on success within the industry, ideas I already fully agree with and believe in, but ideas I found interesting specifically because he put them in terms of growing his youtube channel as a working DP. This idea of starting a channel is one Iāve been dwelling on for years now, without taking the leap, mostly because I fully understand the challenges involved. Itās frustrating when I post some photos on Threads and they get zero likes. Itās frustrating when I post a blog to give away a print and get zero engagement. Itās likely far more frustrating to spend hours or your life painstakingly crafting and posting videos for them to go completely ignored by the eight or so billion people living in this world.
Luc summed up his growth projections so well and accurately:
1 year of weekly posting = 1,000 subscribers
2 years of weekly posting = 10,000 subscribers
3 years of weekly posting = 100,000 subscribers
This chart is the sole reason I donāt yet have a youtube channel. I know in my bones itās accurate, if not optimistic, and the sheer amount of time, energy, effort and focus required to put towards making a new video each and every week, without fail, is daunting. The idea that committing to this for a full year, after which you may get you a thousand subs is almost comical. But thatās not the reason to do it. Itās for year three. Year ten. Year twenty.
Iām already in my forties so the feeling that itās now or never, the feeling that Iām running short on time is very real and the biggest thing holding me back from going all-in on video. I still love still photography as well and not yet fully convinced I canāt make it work for another twenty years. Anyway, these are the things I am spending a lot of time thinking about lately.
-Clayton
To be great it takes years of consistent dedication. Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga photographed during a portrait shoot for Chicago Magazine at Wrigley Field. Chicago, Illinois. June, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Itās been a minute since Iāve done a proper Life Update and this week will be no different, however, the topic loosely applies. Iām in the early phase of a Pivot to Video, largely spurred by a collapse in demand for commercial photography, but also aided by a lifelong love of video and filmmaking (itās complicated why Iām not already more focused on it). In this phase, Iām spending a lot of time watching youtube videos. I swear, itās productiveā¦ at least to an extent. Film school is what I keep calling it. Realistically, thereās just a lot of new shit that I need to get up to speed on. Of course, Iām well aware that the only way to be successful at this new venture is not by watching videos but by doing it. Every damn day.
Most, if not all, of the credit to my success in commercial photography can be summed up by putting in the work. Spending the time. Consistent focus and dedication.
In my recent film schooling sessions, I came across a channel by DP Luc Forsyth because he did some camera tests I was curious about. Digging deeper into his channel, I watched this video linked below, which so brilliantly summed up these ideas on success within the industry, ideas I already fully agree with and believe in, but ideas I found interesting specifically because he put them in terms of growing his youtube channel as a working DP. This idea of starting a channel is one Iāve been dwelling on for years now, without taking the leap, mostly because I fully understand the challenges involved. Itās frustrating when I post some photos on Threads and they get zero likes. Itās frustrating when I post a blog to give away a print and get zero engagement. Itās likely far more frustrating to spend hours or your life painstakingly crafting and posting videos for them to go completely ignored by the eight or so billion people living in this world.
Luc summed up his growth projections so well and accurately:
1 year of weekly posting = 1,000 subscribers
2 years of weekly posting = 10,000 subscribers
3 years of weekly posting = 100,000 subscribers
This chart is the sole reason I donāt yet have a youtube channel. I know in my bones itās accurate, if not optimistic, and the sheer amount of time, energy, effort and focus required to put towards making a new video each and every week, without fail, is daunting. The idea that committing to this for a full year, after which you may get you a thousand subs is almost comical. But thatās not the reason to do it. Itās for year three. Year ten. Year twenty.
Iām already in my forties so the feeling that itās now or never, the feeling that Iām running short on time is very real and the biggest thing holding me back from going all-in on video. I still love still photography as well and not yet fully convinced I canāt make it work for another twenty years. Anyway, these are the things I am spending a lot of time thinking about lately.
-Clayton
2024 09 30
Finally made it to a Cubs game this year. The last game of the season. During a lull (0-0 game into the 10th) I saw Shota Imanaga, their star pitcher from Japan, hanging out in the dugout and made a run for it, dodging the ever-present ushers.
I got down real close and shouted his name and his interpreterās name, hoping theyād turn around and recognize me from our cover shoot a few months back. I wanted to ask if he liked the image!
They did not recognize me. Turns out Iām still just an obnoxious fan who the Wrigley ushers do not like š
-Clayton
ShÅta Imanaga photographed for the cover of Chicago Magazine. Chicago, Illinois. June, 2024. Ā© Clayton Hauck
Finally made it to a Cubs game this year. The last game of the season. During a lull (0-0 game into the 10th) I saw Shota Imanaga, their star pitcher from Japan, hanging out in the dugout and made a run for it, dodging the ever-present ushers.
I got down real close and shouted his name and his interpreterās name, hoping theyād turn around and recognize me from our cover shoot a few months back. I wanted to ask if he liked the image!
They did not recognize me. Turns out Iām still just an obnoxious fan who the Wrigley ushers do not like.
See you next season.
-Clayton