We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Paul McDermott. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Paul below.
Paul, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?
I have always been a photographer. Since I was 14 I’ve been mastering the craft and now, 20 years later, I am just truly coming into my own. From day one I devoted myself to being the best. I decided that I would learn as much as possible. I would grow as much as possible. Every time I got stagnant I would shift to a new genre and, once again, start fresh and grow as much as I could. If someone asked me if I could do a certain type of shoot the answer was yes – even if I wasn’t confident. I would then turn to who I considered the best in the field and ask to go work with them until I was capable.
Everything I’ve done comes through in my fine art photography as a combination of all the elements I’ve learned over the years. It’s the gift that allows me to adapt and create in any situation. I am confident in saying I am one of the best at what I do. Few have experienced the diversity that I have in photography and have the skillsets to be able to accommodate the way I can by air, land, or underwater. What I do is fun but most importantly I have complete faith in myself and my ability to create.
I wasn’t always confident and have detoured at times for other learning opportunities in life. What I appreciate most about myself is that I always lived in a world of possibilities. I did what others saw as impossible. The most dangerous thing I ever did was listen to “others” rather than my own heart. I know now that they were just giving me feedback of my doubt. I started believing that things “should” look a certain way, that there is a certain way to do things, that I need to run a certain course to generate success. I had gotten too smart and began intellectualizing my emotions rather than actually feeling through life. It is difficult to discern (until it isn’t). If I had stayed on track with the way I feel – that excitement of possibility we all know as a child – I could have accelerated the process faster. I would have missed some amazing learning experiences, though, so when I reflect I need to admit that it’s all perfect.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
Paul is Everywhere became my brand based on a joke. “Paul, you’re everywhere!” or “You’ve been everywhere!” became common phrases when I would share my photos and the stories about making them. After so much teasing about never being home by friends I decided to make it my brand with the slogan, “The World on your Wall.” It pretty much says it all – I go everywhere, make photos, and produce artwork for your home, business, yacht, or anywhere else you want beautiful photography.
When I was strictly a commercial photographer I would travel on jobs. My theory was that if I was already in Europe I should spend a few extra days there. It became my business model to create my own projects while in impressive places. I have always been passionate about travel so when I was working I’d be traveling and in my own time I would travel more. I love life and the camera gave me an opportunity to be present with everything whether scuba diving with manta rays or making portraits during Carnival in Venice. No matter what life presents in front of me I tend to see beauty and I love to capture it. This is why my work is so diverse but it was also one of the most difficult things for me to accept about myself. I saw this as a weakness – there was no consistent narrative. Now I see it as my biggest strength – I document AWE.
Most of my work is limited edition. This gives value to my collectors and also inspires me to continue creating. As each piece sells the next gets more expensive but I do things a bit differently than other photographers. When I say 10 there are 10 pieces of art produced – no more. Many photographers will release different editions of different sizes. For me regardless of the size or print finish I cap it at the 10. Each of these is completely customized for my collectors as well. I do bespoke sizes and adapt images to their space.
I always forget to mention the awards that I win so I’m going to throw a few out there. It’s the social proof that others love my work, too, in case you need it. In both 2022 and 2021 I’ve been featured by Hasselblad for my underwater photography. During 2021’s Miami Art Week (Basel week) I was awarded the Spotlight Award. In 2020 I won the Silver Award from WPE Photographers International Awards. My greatest personal accomplishment, though, was replacing Peter Lik’s photography on his own yacht when the new owners bought it.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Society can best support artists by holding them to high standards. The starving artist mentality is what kills people. As long as we accept that it is ok to not produce results we enable people to struggle. It is the only job in the world that people so regularly accept failure. What if a doctor, lawyer, chef, salesperson, or anyone else wasn’t good at their job? We would fire them. The world is very mothering nowadays and we want to shelter people from feeling bad. Experiencing the failure is actually healthy. Failure becomes fuel. The best thing that ever happened to me was loosing every job and every bit of income during the pandemic. It forced me to decide that I create success selling my work.
The other way society can help support artists is to buy something you love and are passionate about. Buying art as an investment doesn’t support creativity. Your artist put love into making that piece and that love is meant to be conveyed in every experience of that artwork. As a collector who experiences gratitude in the piece you evoke that in those you share it with. These heightened emotions make the world a better place.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My mission is to live fully self expressed with purpose and passion.
To me, I live a dream life. It’s taken a lot for me to realize that this is how I operate. I don’t need excuses or reasons. This is how I am built. I thought everyone wanted to live the life I do so I wanted people to go out and experience the same magic that I do the same way that I do. I missed the mark that they don’t have the same purpose and dream that I do.
Everyone has a dream that is right for them and their unique purpose. There is so much beauty in this. What’s right for me is not necessarily what’s right for them. I recognize, respect, and love seeing people living their original expressions of greatness and being their true selves.
Every shot I take is a profound experience. When I share the photographs it conveys that experience to the viewer. My purpose is to share that awe with everyone.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pauliseverywhere.com
- Instagram: @pauliseverywhere
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pauliseverywhere
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauliseverywhere/
Image Credits
Photo of Paul: Veronica Nagy Yacht interiors: M/Y Stealth All others: Paul McDermott, Paul is Everywhere