I think there’s a misconception that artists, photographers especially, live this glamorous life. I was surely mistaken when I first pursued photography. I thought it was going to be all lights, camera, action! And when I found out otherwise I became mildly depressed. Quit photography for a while and didn’t really know what to do with myself for quite some time. Until I realized that this is normal. This is the real thing. It’s not like what you see in the magazines. The hustle is not glamorous. And when I came to accept the messiness of it all, I came to accept myself. I was turned off when I felt I had to keep this facade of having it all together when I first started off. I don’t really care anymore. I allow myself to be the broken, confused, messy artist that I am. In fact, I like my photos a little messy and imperfect. It’s more of who I am. And I like being me.

by Jason Lam