Are they copying you?

You know that sinking feeling when you look at your Instagram feed and spot an image exactly like one of yours…but it’s been made by someone else?

Or that sickening punch in the gut when someone shares an idea you’ve spent months or even years working on (and sharing)?

It’s even worse when it’s someone you know, or you know is following you.

This week I received an Email from a photographer who’d had this experience.

And to be honest, I’ve been there too.

The fact is that half the time the ‘perpetrator’ probably hasn’t seen what you’ve done.

In ad land, this happens all the time. I know, because when I was an agent we sometimes received identical briefs from two competing agencies and brands. Who in their right mind would want to put out the same ad that another brand is making?

We are all looking at, absorbing and getting inspiration from similar places, and sometimes those ideas can land in more than one brain.

Usually, by the time they’ve been developed and executed, they look quite different.

But occasionally, some images and ideas can look very similar.

Sometimes you are the ‘influencer’.

If your work is very powerful, it WILL seep into the brains of anyone who sees it.

You can’t stop that happening, and influencing others when you’re good at what you do.

All you can do is trust you’re way further along your path than anyone else.

And they’re not you, so all the other pieces (approach, delivery, purpose, personality, etc) will be different.

I know you know this, but copying is the ultimate flattery.

And comparison is the thief of joy.

Take that time invested in comparison and invest it in honing your own unique ‘spin’, making new work and outreach to clients- new and old (perhaps even with your version of said image/ project).

You’re bloody amazing and have far bigger fish to fry.

Thank you to photographer artist Frank Schwere for the image above from his early 2000s series ‘Detroit- Remnants of an Industrial Metropolis’. Soon after he made this series photographers Yves Marchand and Romain Mettre photographed and released their version of the exact same places, and were able to get theirs to the press earlier. In the end, Frank’s work still garnered him lots of attention, artist representation and some juicy big ad campaigns.

If you’re an experienced commercial photographer who’d like some help understanding your own unique ‘spin’ – style, purpose and direction, you can apply for an initial free call with me here. We’ll get clear on your direction, identify the areas you need to work on and discuss next steps.