I have a horrible habit of being really hard on myself when I hit a snag in my shooting or processing. Anytime I'm in a rut, things can go haywire. I get depressed, don't feel like working, and become pessimistic. I know it's the same for a lot of other shooters too.

One way I get over it is to go back and look at images from way back before I was shooting professionally.

During a recent trip down memory lane, I thought it would be fun to ask a few of my friends in the industry to do the same. What follows is a gallery from some of the best in the business. Each of the following photographers is a professional with years of experience and they were all willing to share their progress with all of the internet. Besides, isn’t it great that I get to use a public forum to embarrass some of my friends?

I've gotten their first photo, (or as close to it as possible) and something recent that they're proud of.

One glance at the following images will prove even the best started somewhere.

I'll start with my own:

One of my first photo from about 7 years ago

Something more recent from my trip to Japan with RIDES Magazine

An old photo from the legendary Webb Bland

Webb's latest work for Fiat.

Early work from Oliver Hirtenfelder



Newer work from Oliver.

Dale Martin's early work.

Dale's more recent work.

Early work from Jeremy Cliff.

Jeremy's more recent work.

Early work from Nick Schultz.

Nick's more recent work.

Early work from Armin Ausejo.

Armin's more recent work.

Early work from Clifford Sutrisno.

Clifford's more recent work.

Early Product Photography from Jeff Creech.

Jeff's more recent Product Photography.

Early work from Gabriel Milori.

Gabriel's more recent work.

John Zhang's early work.

John's more recent work.

Early work from GF Williams.

GF's more recent work.

Early work from Dejan Sokolovski.

Dejan's more recent work.

Early work from Ronaldo Stewart.

Ronaldo's recent work for Vossen Wheels.

Early work from Gijs Spierings.

Gijs' more recent work.

An early rig shot from Matt Magnino.

Matt's more recent work.

Early work from everyone's favorite German, Frederic Schlosser.

Frederic's more recent work.

Early work from Clint Davis. (on film too!)

Clint's more recent work. (He still loves this composition.)

Early work from Joshua Coleman.

Joshua's more recent work.

Early work from Johan Lee.

Johan's more recent work.

Early work from Patrick Lauder.

Patrick's more recent work.

Early work from Linhbergh Nguyen.

Linhbergh's more recent work.

Early work from Josh Mackey.

Josh's more recent work.

Early work from Pepper Yandell.

Pepper's more recent work.

Early work from Brad Sillars.

Brad's more recent work.

There you have it. Some of the best at what they do, side by side with where they started.

Next time you're doubting yourself pull this post back up and remember that everyone starts somewhere!