[One week ago] — It had been a long day of set-photography in the middle of the desert. We were tired, we were grody, the sweat was toxic, making the car fantastically rancid. I'd been away from my phone all day, and my friend brought up the vid.
"Yeah it's crazy, you got like, 17k views on it."
"...what? Um nooo, it's at maybe like, 7k...and my friends' wedding videos get that much."
"Ummm....maybe. You might want to check again."
"Whaaaaaaaat..."
And so started the crazy. The social media by-products started happening...hundreds of random strangers were friending me, still more random requests were peppering my inbox...along with totally rad requests like permission to be featured on PetaPixel and SLRLounge (<< that one tells more of the story behind it and how it started). It made other unofficial appearances on DIYPhotography and ResourceMag. Still, I feel honored to have been part of it for a bit.
I'm extremely grateful for my family and friends—addressing the inevitable trolls, bringing me flowers, or posting it on reddit, etc. Noooo I'm not famous (who wants that pressure anyway?), but as much as you guys have been excited with me and defended me, I most definitely wanted to let you know how much it means to me, and to thank you :)
To the rest, I'm still learning a ton about Photoshop, but I'm glad you found enjoyment in my process so far. Thanks for your happiness :)
To what's next—a new one is on the horizon but is waitlisted at the moment; I have to catch up on editing from the summer (see, life still keeps going, lol), and do my research for it. But rumor has it, it'll be in a fantastical Wonderland.
My parting bit of wisdom on the subject: Be kind. I can't stress this enough—people tend to forget that those names on FB actually represent people. Comments, of course I saw them and yeah I took them personally at first, but seriously dudes. The next time you're about to comment negatively on a viral video, remember that they're probably like me...sitting in my pajamas eating breakfast and reading the awful. Be nice.
You can be the sweetest peach in the world,
but there will always be someone who hates peaches.
Coincidentally, I had peaches and cream to celebrate, lol.
And lastly:
CELEBRATE WITH ME!! :-D Success is not to be hoarded, but shared, and there's a way that something as simple as a Star Wars picture can have a lasting impact on someone.
A friend recently got back from the Nyarugusu Refugee Camp in Tanzania where they met Peter, whose wife passed away. He now lives 15 hours away from his 4 daughters to be able to work and support them, and my friends are trying to raise money for the girls to go to school.
Be excellent, and God bless :)
-T