What does community over competition really mean?
If you’ve lived in the creative industry for more than a day, I’m sure you’re familiar with this phrase. No matter how you feel about it, it seems these words always float to the top of any conversation between two photographers. Once you hear it, you can’t unhear it.
The concept was first thoroughly written about by Elizabeth Palmer Peabody in 1843. An American philosopher and education reformer, Peabody utilized the phrase to unite the working class against extreme individualist American ideologies. In the midst of new technologies, a business boom, and a thriving American economy, Peabody wanted the middle class to stop working against each other competitively and start working collaboratively.
In her essays about a utopian society from The Dial, Elizabeth wrote that in order to achieve “Christ’s ideal view of society” that ‘community over competition’ needed to be incorporated in all areas of life, from the farm, to the school, to the business. She also wrote that these ideas could ‘only be made alive by Christ.’
The phrase then began to be used by law schools, and found itself in many textbooks. “Community over Competition” continued to thrive and stayed connected to the working class.
In the 2010’s Natalie Franke, an east coast photographer, has become the poster for all things ‘Community over Competition.’ Between her retreats, podcast, and brand new book, ‘Built to Belong; discovering the power of community over competition’ Franke launched the phrase back into small business owners every day life. It currently dominates the industry, and can be found on trendy coffee mugs, pins, T-shirts, and stickers. Her book takes Palmers ideas to the next level, writing that we perform better and have greater successes as individuals when we are connected to the collective.
I’m not shy to the cooperative concept. Growing up in the church these ideas were instilled like second nature. I always associated my church to be like a cathedral of redwood trees. Connected by the roots, and growing strong together. Redwood trees remain to be some of the oldest and most resilient specimens on this earth, some being more than 2,000 years old. One individual tree is capable of moving hundreds of gallons of water to its other communal trees. This process is credited to the incredible lifespan, promoting strength between the collective. Groups of trees have been able to withstand thousands of years of earthquakes, mudslides, wildfires because of this incredible generosity.
To be quite honest, I’ve never really had a competitive spirit. While I’ve always felt motivated to excel in areas that I’m passionate about, but I was the type of kid to give out stickers to my friends during recess while the other kids brutally battled each other at soccer. When I did finally launch my business full time, I was absolutely shocked by how ruthless and cruel other photographers in my area could be. Facebook groups were riddled with posts of other creatives putting one another down, giving out harsh criticism to one another’s work, and causing blatant drama in potential client’s posts all the time. I was completely shocked to see this, having been protected by a genuine and fairly mellow group of creatives my whole childhood. It was then I realized how important the launch of Natalie Franke’s book was, her having been a photographer herself. Feeling immediately isolated and discouraged, the phrase “Community over Competition” began to resonate with me only hours into building my own business.
So how can we put this in to practice?
Desperate for some introduction to other photographers, I hosted my very first styled shoot mid-pandemic, in March 12, 2021. With two vendors and a kid who had no idea what she was doing, it turned out to be a phenomenally smooth shoot. It was my first taste of what a genuine community could really look like, and I met incredibly talented artists that continue to inspire me to this day. In the same time I started my “Two Photographers, One model” series on instagram, which shows me shooting alongside another photographer to showcase a unique approach, posing, and editing style. While the videos continue to flop on instagram, they remain my favorite pieces of content I have to offer. Feeling connected to likeminded artists, who are more focused on the creation of art than empires, has inspired my own work more than ever. The ability to learn and grow alongside these people has been one of the greatest joys this little business has given to me. The only way you can succeed in your own business is by the help of other people. Whether that be support from friends and family, clients booking with you, and continued education by more skilled individuals around you, we truly rise by lifting others.
Here are my favorite ways to support and get connected with other photographers.
Stop being shy! I had to put my fears aside and start pretending like I was already friends with the photographers in my area. So many conversations started because of this. And hey, we both have cameras! What a perfect ice breaker! Join shootouts, slide into DM’s, invest in mentorships. Anything to get you out of your one room office and in the company of like minded individuals.
Offer the knowledge you do have without judgement and condescension. Mentorships & education programs are a great way to diversify assets, but a beginning photographer will never forget the time you offered a favorite location to them, or helped them with a contract question, free of charge. I try to be an open book to those who need it. The learning process never happens in a linear way, and you may be surprised to find gaps in your knowledge that can be filled by someone less experienced than you.
Celebrate each other in new victories! Hype each other up on instagram, engage online and in person, and empower the next photgragrapher to find their niche and refine their business. So many artists crave validation in their work, and they won’t forget those who earnestly offer it. Be the type of cheerleader you would want for yourself.
Look for opportunities to create new partnerships. Not only is this so beneficial to building a strong community, but it’s just good business sense! Isolating yourself isn’t going to bring referrals from other vendors. One of the first things I started doing to promote my new business was walking to the other small shops on my street and asking if I could photograph things for them. Some of these early connections have been the best investments I’ve ever made.
Give credit where credit is due. The strongest leaders know when acknowledgement is required. Being transparent in your work is an ethical way to build trust with vendors and clients. Tagging your team, crediting a styled shoot host, thanking a second shooter, or showcasing an artist that continually inspires you. Giving credit comes in many different forms, and often brings back a rich reward.
I’m no expert on cultivating or caring for a large community of people. But I do know I have never felt safer or more cared for than by those who I have worked with in person. Those face to face conversations are some of the most important in any small business’s life. Honest connection with others will not only help your business stand out in a sea of competitors, but make those competitors your allies.
“Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
