Consulting in Shenzhen, China – 24 June 2026

Yesterday, I was in Shenzhen, China, carrying out my duty as a consultant for a media company, advising their team on-location lighting techniques and practical setups. Watching them work, I suddenly remembered a saying someone once told me: "Don't work and get too close to foolish people. If you stay long enough, they may eventually turn you into another fool."

It made me pause and think. As photographers and consultants, we share knowledge, solve problems, and help others improve. But there is always a fine line between guiding people who genuinely want to learn and repeatedly fixing the same mistakes for those unwilling to think or grow. At some point, one has to ask whether time and energy are being invested wisely.

Perhaps it is simply a moment of fatigue after another long day of consulting. Or perhaps it is a reminder that every professional should occasionally reassess where they dedicate their expertise. Maybe it is time to consider whether this duty still aligns with my own creative and professional goals.