Over the past 18 years, I’ve come to realize that being a photographer requires an incredible amount of versatility. Not just in shooting a variety of subjects or adapting to different situations, but in navigating the ever-changing landscape of styles, client expectations, technology, trends, and even the whims of the stock market. While these are all important, I’ve been thinking more about a different kind of versatility—the ability to shift between entirely different roles. Moving between blue-collar and white-collar work, from artist to technician, from business owner to friendly neighbor. This, I’ve found, is the hardest part of all.
Back when I was a photo assistant, I used to joke that my resume would be ten pages long if I listed everything I was asked to do. Set building, lighting, styling, carrying gear like a sherpa, managing files—oh, and let’s not forget being everyone’s personal assistant and gopher. It was mostly blue-collar work, and I loved it. The hands-on craftsmanship, the physicality, the immediate satisfaction of problem-solving on set—it all made me feel like I earned my dinner at the end of the day.
Now that I run my own photography business and work directly with clients, my responsibilities have multiplied. I’m no longer just focused on capturing great images—I’m also handling accounting, marketing, sales, customer service, legal compliance, finance, research and development, human resources, production, editing, and everything else that comes my way. One minute I’m an artist, the next I’m crunching numbers. One day I’m directing a shoot, the next I’m negotiating contracts. It’s a constant balancing act, and some days, when my snowboard or bike is calling my name from the corner of the room, the business side of things can feel like a chore.
But I have to remind myself—this versatility is what makes the fun stuff possible. It’s what allows me to keep doing what I love, meeting incredible people, and capturing the world through my lens. The ability to seamlessly transition between roles, to adapt to the needs of each moment, is what keeps a creative business running. It’s not always easy, but it’s necessary.
I’d love to hear from you—how do you navigate wearing multiple hats in your own career? What’s the hardest transition for you? Let’s start a conversation.
Dustin
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