Gabe Ford shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Gabe, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity. I’m never going to be the smartest guy in the room. I’m probably never going to inspire hundreds of people with my charisma. But I will do what I say I’m going to do. I will own my mistakes and find a solution that doesn’t negatively impact the product or the client. I will follow through to get it done and will follow up regularly to ensure satisfaction. I will be honest and sometimes a little too candid. My hope is that everyone can and will see me as an honorable person.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a commercial architectural photographer. I have the great pleasure of traveling all over the country photographing incredible spaces for architects, interior designers, engineers, general contractors, and developers. My brand is pretty simple, it’s just me. Thankfully, I don’t have to use social media to gain business. It’s all thanks to the incredible network of clients I have around the country that keep me regularly busy. I prefer handshake deals and working with folks who are easy to work with.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Becoming a parent dramatically changed my worldview. I’m incredibly grateful for the privilege of being a husband and father to three young boys. Each of them greatly enhances my clarity of the world and they challenge me daily to ensure I’m making it better for them. My business and my art are secondary to my family and relationships. But I hope my business and volunteering create a better community for my sons.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Gratitude. Before becoming a photographer I tried to build a career in the music industry. Being told no by key-holders and taste-makers every single day was really deflating. Transitioning careers was a huge risk but an incredible blessing. I’m so grateful for the incredible clients that I work with and how encouraging they are about my work.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
Imposter Syndrome. Most of us compare ourselves to our heroes and competitors. We measure our value and self worth against those who we think are better than us. Many of us try to justify our unworthiness. We’re afraid that we’ll be “found out” as frauds who are just faking it until we make it. We forget the years of hard work and dedication and sacrifice that got us to where we are. We’re all different varieties of apples. Some folks (clients) prefer red delicious and other prefer zestar apples. Choosing one or the other doesn’t change our self worth. Imposter Syndrome is the biggest lie in our industry.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope it will be clear that my life was in service to others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fordphotographs.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fordphotographs/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabefordphotographs/
Image Credits
All images and copyrights are held by Gabe Ford/Ford Photographs
