Tracing Through Wood

Not to beat a dead horse here but the events this week I feel need to be shared not so much for the situation itself but more so what that type of person will always do and maybe how to handle it and probably how to handle it better.

So the internet is pretty awesome especially for most of us like me that have been able to grow a business and career from it. The upside is everyone can see what you do. The downside is everyone can see what you do. It brings a vulnerability that most people will never deal with. Your career and business is your baby. You’ve most likely created it from nothing and depending on what you do and put out there into the ether can garner a lot of criticism. It’s expected for sure or at least it should be. Now in saying that there are those that for absolutely no reason and with no context of what you do, where you came from and how you built this business of yours, that will try to tear your hard work down just because they’re having a bad day or life. No matter what you say or do they will have the same opinion of you they built in their head, a person they’ve never met, they’ve never seen your work till they tripped over it cruising the internet and decided to be a cunt. It’s nothing you did it’s who they are.


Recently I had a guy by the name of Stephen Taylor who is a supposed “photographer” stumble upon my business on Facebook and decided to take it upon himself to start commenting rude shit on one of my posts. Calling me a stealer of artwork, a tracer and asked me to “prove it” otherwise. Armed with zero context as to why he was making such allegations or any proof to make the claims. In fact had he done a little investigating and I mean very little by scrolling to see what I do he may have just went along his way. However there was no “proving” anything because he had a bone to pick for whatever reason, I have a feeling I know why even though he didn’t admit it. I feel, from a few other convos had between him and a few of my clients, that one of his photos had been used by some other individual that “photoshops” all of their art in the same fashion that may look similar to mine. But that remains undetermined by him. Either way this angry individual stumbles upon my business and decides to make me his target for all that anger.


Unfortunately I allowed this individual to get under my skin because he was trying to tear down a 12 year business I worked my ass off to build. Not something I take lightly. And what should have happened was to just ignore, block him and move on. The lesson I learned after the fact is pretty much expressed at the beginning of writing this. These individuals do not care. They’ve come from a world of little consequence which the internet realm caters to. People that feel they can say whatever without fear of being hit. Which I don’t know about you that’s the world I came from which is you say stupid shit or be disrespectful you got hit. But having said that I feel sometimes it may be warranted to call these types out for a few reasons. One it’s not ok to say whatever you want without consequence. ESPECIALLY from a business standpoint because what you do in and out of your business reflects back on your business reputation. People may be more reluctant to work with you or buy from you if they know you’re an absolute piece of trash to towards people behind the scenes. Something a “photographer” should know. The the other is people get more comfortable living without consequence that is visible to others who may embolden others to do the same. The ultimate realty is people are going to be people no matter what but I believe setting boundaries shows it’s not ok to do especially for small businesses that take hits when dealing with these types of people.


Now if you’re just a shitty business owner you’re bringing this on yourself. There’s a difference between working hard and getting criticism and working hard but being a trash human and getting criticism. I wanted to share this because I know people get this from those that are just angry and it sucks because again they’re trying to tear down something you’ve worked extremely hard on. And depending on the type of person you are like myself it’s going to have an effect on you. I get it. If that is you and you can’t just let it roll off your back try your hardest to do just that because there’s always going to be those types and guess what they are not even 1 percent of the following and customer base you’ve built from all of your hard work. I think we forget that sometimes and really need to remember that from time to time. They’ve shown up for you and support you. That’s what really matters, not people like Stephan that are just angry human beings. Regardless continue to work hard and grow because the more you do the more people like this will crawl out of the woodwork with a bone to pick with you for whatever reason. And remember this that no matter what people may tell you it is possible to trace through wood because Stephan said so. I tried proving you couldn’t but here we are🤷🏼‍♂️.