How to Succeed in Commercial Photography : Insights From a Leading Consultant

PART6 / FAITH

will support you during a shoot, that your stylist will show up with

the right props, that the models will give you the look you want,

that your clients will pay you, and that the mailman will deliver the

check. But having faith in others begins with having faith in

yourself.

“For me, when I have faith in myself, I am then better able to

accept faith in others,” says Furman. “I guess I feel that it is inap-

propriate to ask for support from others until you are willing to

support yourself.”

Often the support, the faith we seek, is not in response to

daily tasks but is a reaction to an extreme situation or life-

changing scenario.

For photographer Paula Lerner, faith came calling in what

seemed like a royal twist of fate. A very successful editorial pho-

tographer, Lerner is one of the founders of EP, the editorial

photography organization that has given a powerful voice to

editorial shooters nationwide. It was during the onset of a very

personal photography project that Paula was introduced to the

power of faith. In her words, “It changed my life.” She shares

her story with us.

It’s coming up on two years since I was asked to

collaborate on a book about breast cancer walks and

the people who participate in them. Many walkers

are either survivors themselves or have a loved one

that is, or have some other personal reason for

making the commitment to walk. As my mother and

stepmother are both breast cancer survivors, I had

my own personal reasons for wanting to take this

project on.

I began shooting the book in the spring of 2004,

working together with editor Deb Murphy. I was moved

and inspired by the people we encountered and their

stories. So many of them had faced so much adversity,

and yet they were still reaching out to help others.

A month into the project I went in for a routine

mammogram. It came back “suspicious.” After another

month and a surgical biopsy, I myself was diagnosed

with breast cancer. Nothing can prepare you to hear the

words, “You have cancer.” Life just turns upside down.

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