Ya know, I started taking pictures because I hated most of the photographers I dealt with doing Blue Blood in print. I swear I might even hate them more now that I shoot. I am sick to death of people who do not want a two way street. I try to be supportive and positive and publish other photographers and, more often than I like, I get competitive bullshit in response. Especially Pacific NW photogs. They are always emailing me and asking me about what I do and asking me to hook them up with the publications I shoot for and asking for my models’ phone numbers and wasting my time pretending they are asking questions because they want to contribute to http://www.GothicSluts.com/ or http://www.BarelyEvil.com/ when really they are just looking to use underhanded methods to compete with me. What amazing scumbags.

I was a publisher long before I was a photographer. I’m sure this gives me a different perspective from most photographers. As a shooter, I do understand some of the things which make photographers difficult to deal with. Amateur snappers simply do not comprehend the order of magnitude of expense for pro photography. That said, I still really do not understand the whole competition thing. If you have your own vision, if you are an artist, if you shoot to express anything of any importance, then the issue should be your creations and getting them seen. It should not be trying to figure out if there are any ways in which you are superior to the next guy or can knock the next guy.

–Amelia G