The Hidden Cost Of Chasing Success In Photography: What They Don’t Tell You

The Hidden Cost of Chasing Success in Photography: What They Don’t Tell You - Erik Almas, E89

2d ago 1:05:27

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“I Don’t Think Photography Will Survive — But I Will.”
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Erik Almas is a legendary photographer known for his cinematic composites and emotionally rich commercial work. With a career spanning 25 years, he’s shot global campaigns for brands like Audi and Pfizer — but beneath the surface lies a deeper story about artistic identity, mentorship, burnout, and the search for meaning.

In this intimate and revealing conversation, Erik unpacks how the industry has changed, why he stepped beyond photography, and what legacy really means when everything fades.

Things we discussed:

The one photo that changed Erik’s entire career
How mentorship shaped him — and why it’s missing today
What “finding your voice” actually means as a photographer
Why commercial photography is shrinking — and what to do about it
How AI is changing everything (and why being real matters more than ever)
What Erik would create if no one was watching

Find Erik's work on his platforms:

Website: https://www.erikalmas.com/
Instagram: @erikalmas

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Chapters

1. Introduction (00:00:00)

2. Creating Emotion Through Different Mediums (00:02:43)

3. Finding Your Voice as a Photographer (00:13:05)

4. The Evolution of Commercial Photography (00:21:38)

5. Navigating AI in Photography (00:32:04)

6. Success, Legacy and Personal Fulfillment (00:41:21)

7. Photography, Family and Finding Balance (00:55:55)

104 episodes