In my first few years of photography work, I couldn’t (wouldn’t?) call myself a photographer. Imposter syndrome, they call it. I experienced the real kind, not this wolf in sheep's clothing.

I’d say “I take pictures.” Like, for real. Lol. That was my verbal work-around.

It took a few years for me to adjust my language, and even then, I’d say something like, “I do some photography work,” or “I work part-time as a photographer.”

Eventually I owned it. Interestingly, at that point, I started…owning it…with my work, as well. I had a title I needed to live up to.

That’s it. I’ve just been thinking about that. Owning it. Living up to it. I like that better than “fake it ‘til you make it.” More like, set the bar and go for it.