Just making sure here... did you turn off "true tone" on all devices?
BeefJerkyHunter
High speed rail throughout most of the US. I drive to where I want to photograph, but I hate every minute of it. I would rather sleep or edit while traveling.
Cool, hope you get more opportunities!
Hang products on string/wire or shoot through glass maybe?
Not weird. They want to be paid for their knowledge. Whether people pay is a different discussion.
If you go looking for competitions and awards, that's all you're going to find. In reality though, most of us aren't going to come across that many competitions.
Just like how people gossip about a "style" being too prevalent; the customers may never know that more than one photographer shoots/edits that way.
It's "Rich dad, Poor dad" for photographers. The material does nothing except tell you to "teach" your own class/write your own book on how to be super successful.
Eh, I just post on Instagram, Facebook, and my blog. For the most part, the attention I want most is on Facebook since that's where the people that matter to me are.
If you look for others doing the same thing that's what you're going to get. The same thing.
Keep in mind that the people who will care about your work may never see another person's interpretation. So I don't think you need to be all that concerned about doing the same thing as others.
Unless if getting interactions on your photos is paying you (like YouTube), then stop caring. Actually, just try your hand at YouTube as an experimental creative thing.