At the risk of sounding like I'm writing a Sunday Morning Reflections post on a Tuesday, I shared the quote above this morning on Twitter, and it's haunting me. 

I meet so many photographers who waste time looking in their rearview mirror instead of just looking forward. I'm not saying you should ignore the past.  You should respect it, learn from things you've done but recognize the most significant thing about this industry is your ability to keep changing...and growing. Nothing you do is cast in concrete. Your ability to keep expanding your skill set is unlimited as technology keeps changing, and the list of creative tools you have increases every day.

My buddy Bob Coates is a great example. His passion for the craft is unmatched, but so is his ability to keep expanding his skill set and interests. He's a perpetual student, continually testing the boundaries of technology and fine art. As a result, he's one of the most diverse artists I know. Chamira Young and I just had him on as a guest on "Beyond Technique." Bob shares a lot of great insight into special projects and the importance of diversity. (The new episode airs on June 20 on Photofocus.)

So, here's my point, directed to all of you who keep looking backwards and "shoulding" on yourself. Stop wasting energy trying to undo the beginning. Respect the mistakes you've made and look at everything you do today forward as a fresh start. This doesn't just apply to your journey in life, but things as simple as the shoot you're doing later today.

It's Father's Day 2018, and it's also Sunday Morning Reflections time. Put the two together, and I'm having a hard time figuring out what to write about this morning, but I want to include my Dad. He passed away almost three years ago, but that doesn't change the love I have for him or all the great memories. 

I talked Dad into writing two posts for me over the years, both having to do with business. He was 91 when he wrote the post below. As sophisticated as we all think we are with the way we communicate, social media, business practices, marketing and living in an era of almost instant fulfillment, nothing has changed regarding the fundamentals of good business: customer service, integrity, and a firm handshake.

My Dad was in commercial and industrial real estate in Ohio for many years, before he retired. Much of this post is based on his experiences in not only his own business but growing up in his father's business as well. This post is like a fine wine - it's getting better with age and what better time to share it again than on Father's Day.

I pulled his post out of the SCU archives, and as I reread it, it made me smile. Nothing has changed since Dad started out in business seventy+ years ago. And, seventy years from now success in business will still be firmly rooted in trust, integrity, and relationships.

Wishing all you Dads out there a terrific Father's Day, and time filled with the people most important in your life, the ones that make you smile and your heart skip a beat whenever they walk through the door. Go for those eleven-second hugs and don't forget that without Mom you'd never be a Dad.

And to my own Dad who's been my best buddy my entire life - I love ya Pop, and while I miss you, I know you're watching over us.

Happy Father's Day!

Visibility is a must for any pursuit.  Call it what you like. It starts with a firm handshake, neat appearance and an ability to display integrity. That integrity is always enhanced by knowing the answers before the questions are even asked and that can only come from experience.  All of this has to start somewhere...with YOU!

One of the biggest factors of success, for me, was the rapport with some of my competitors.  With friendly competition, on many occasions we were of considerable help to each other.

Another must of success is visibility and the necessity of going public.  You've got to be involved in your community.  As personal contacts multiply, the rewards will come in the form of your expanding clientele and potential new customers.

Today you guys call it networking and it's everything from attending conventions and local events to social media.   For me it was Exchange Club's monthly luncheons, business cards, a little advertising, even golf now and then, but there was and still is no substitute for word-of-mouth testimonials.

Then there's trust, another critical building block.  The trust you build will be the result of the honesty and integrity you employ.  It's all part of what drives word-of-mouth advertising, especially in a service based industry like photography. Always cherish that trust!  In turn, don't forget that confidentiality is part of that trust. It's so important to retain confidentiality with every client.

Occasionally you may find as I did, competitors bragging about a deal they had just closed. I used to be able to sit down in a booth at the Kenny Kings Restaurant on just about any morning and hear salesmen bragging about the deals they'd put together. The fact was, the transactions had died, along with the confidentiality factor, leaving the vultures to play with the bones that were left!
 
Ralph Cohen, Founder and 1/2 the Creators of Skip Cohen!

Photo Credit: Cantrell Portrait Design

It's one of those Sunday mornings when everything just seems right in the word. While I know that's not the case; there are times when we all need to search out that one place where we can enjoy the solitude of inner peace.

Okay, I get that I'm even more off track than usual for a Sunday morning, but I was having a hard time trying to figure out what to write about. My Sunday posts are ALWAYS live and off-the-cuff, and I stared at the wall in my office for a long time. Then, like a cartoon character with the lightbulb going off above my head, I decided to move to the back porch.

I not only found peace and solitude but the trickle of the water feature in the butterfly garden set against the sweet light of sunrise brought out the zebra longwing above. I had a camera close by for a grab shot. I had no goal in mind except to capture the moment and a new visitor.

And, in an odd way that brought me to my initial point, if you build it they will come. I had no idea the joy and sense of peace planting the butterfly garden would bring. We all live hectic, stressful lives, and for me, it's sometimes difficult not to get sucked into the day-in-day-out pressure of business.

The first year we planted the garden we got a couple of Monarchs right away, but it wasn't until this morning, a year later, I realized how much the garden had grown, and along with it, brought in lots of new "tenants." It all left me with the incredibly simple realization it just took time and patience.

We're all so impatient for the final results. We live in an instant fulfillment world and most of the time fail to appreciate our growth, or how life always proves true to one of my favorite mantras, everything works out for the better.

And, to my second point - we built the garden because we love butterflies, but I had no idea the sense of peace it would bring to our little corner of the world. We all need to step away from the pressures life throws at us. So, while you might not have a garden to melt the stress away, it's so important to find that one place that allows you to be alone with your thoughts, your dreams, and your goals.

So, at the risk of sounding like a hippie headed to Woodstock - wishing everybody a day filled with peace, love and plenty of smiles. Go for those eleven-second hugs with the people you care most about. Most important of all, take the time to give yourself a big pat on the back for all the growth you've gone through over the last year. 

​Happy Sunday everybody!

​I started blogging in 2009, and thanks to help from several very good friends we launched SCU in 2013. The blog has grown, but sadly so has my list of frustrations. While some of you are focused on the ingredients to build a successful business, there are some of you who still don't get it. 

Today I was reading through some of the posts on Facebook, and it was all I could do not to get involved in some of the discussions. I stayed clear, but it's obvious somewhere along life's path a bunch of people took wrong turns.

This is a back to basics kind of time in business when a hand-written thank you note is going to carry more weight than a new design for your home page. It's a time when sincerity tops technology and fulfilling a promise will be talked about long after that new lens you just bought. 

While many of you are motivated, passionate and doing everything you can to build your business, new relationships and your skill set, here are some of the knuckleheads who put me in rant mode:
​

• Photographers who jump all over somebody because they don't like the photo they posted, but their writing is so weak, they can't criticize the image without sounding like Billy Bob Thornton in Sling Blade.  
• They preach about SEO, but their website is difficult to navigate, and their images haven't been updated in years.   
• They know how to focus their camera, but they haven't taken the time to focus on a marketing plan. They blame the competition for their business problems but do nothing to get people to know who they are.
• They've worked hard to have a great website, but they don't return phone calls quickly to their clients. In fact, their phone number isn't anywhere on their site.  
• They built a blog, but their heart just hasn't been into it lately, and the last post they wrote was back in December.
• They're always thinking about ways to reach new clients, but they make no eye contact when they're talking to somebody, and their handshake is flimsy. And, they've done nothing to nurture and build relationships with their past customers.
• They text at the speed of light, but they have a tough time carrying on a conversation.
• They're so proud of the thousand images in their galleries, but less than a hundred are better than Uncle Harry's.
• And they're arrogant, putting everybody down who doesn't think the way they do!

If these sound like anybody you know, let's all chip in and get them some professional help. 

The photographic industry is made up of some incredibly talented artists, and just like all those old westerns I watched as a kid, there's always going to be a faster gun. There's always going to be somebody out there pushing the edge of the envelope. These exceptional artists have a passion that drives them and a desire to shoot in a way nobody else would, and they keep many of us motivated by their creativity.

I found a great quote that seems to fit this post and since my grandfather was the one who taught me about a firm handshake and eye contact:

"My grandfather once told me that there are two kinds of people: those who work and those who take the credit. 
He told me to try to be in the first group; there was less competition there." 
​Indira Gandhi
​

It’s an old Spanish proverb and engraved on a pewter plate I've had for many years. It's one of my favorite quotes, and so often seems to ring true. But, this morning it's got me thinking about the challenges so many of you face in dealing with people who don't understand the choices you make.

Photography is an art form and so often misunderstood especially by family members and friends. They don’t understand your passion. They assume you’re going to starve in the process. They may never have seen your work and question whether or not you’re good enough. They don’t understand why you can’t just go out and get a “real job”!  Sound familiar?

Scott Bourne and I, on the old GoingPro podcasts, talked a lot about surrounding yourself with people who have positive attitudes. You need to block out the “Negators.” No, it’s not out of Greek mythology, but it should be. Negators are people who are so unhappy in their own lives their only joy in life is screwing with yours!

The result is your self-confidence needs reinforcement. So, let’s come up with a few things to help you stay focused, pun intended. You know how to focus your camera, but do you know how to hold the focus on your career?
​

• Look at old images. Here’s an easy exercise and you’ll have a good time in the process. Go back and look at your very first images. It might have been a party you photographed, a landscape while on vacation or maybe just a few shots of the kids. Now compare them to where you are today. If you don’t see a difference, you’re in trouble, but most of you will see consistent changes in the way you compose and expose today. As you get more experienced, there should be some serious changes in lighting, composition, depth of field, and your overall creativity.
• Roberto Valenzuela suggested a terrific tool for practicing the craft on a GoingPro podcast once. He suggested you go back to the last wedding you photographed and look at all the bad images.  “Look for what you missed and learn to understand why each image wasn’t good!”
• Enter some images in print competition. This is a personal favorite. Whether you enter prints or not, at least attend the judging at the next convention where it's open to the public. Listen to what the judges are saying about each print. Use their suggestions as guidance for your own work.
•  Join your local chapter or guild of professional photographers. Sooner or later, everyone shares the same frustrations. A local chapter of other photographers becomes a support group and an essential part of your network. There’s a lot of good comfort in knowing your peers share some of the same concerns and frustrations.  
• Join one of the better Facebook groups where there are groups of people with your same interests. I'm a co-administrator in Facebook Wedding Photographers and Advanced Wedding Photographers, and I'm amazed at some of the questions that come up and the way people help each other. There are also groups like ShutterFest, GoingPro, Gary Box's "Inside the Box," Jen Rozenbaum's Group, and the AIBP Members Group, just to name a few.    
• Surround yourself with positive people. Sooner or later they’ll come around, but for now, those people who are throwing up the roadblocks need to be kept on the sidelines. The only thing they're contributing to your life is stress.
• Listen to your heart. Okay, it sounds hokey, but you know what you feel inside. You know what your gut instinct is saying about your passion for being a photographer.
• Don’t respond to trolls! When you do step out into the public forums and get shot at by a troll, don’t let yourself get caught up in the battle. Don’t respond. Your silence is far more effective at driving them mad!

I'm not sure why the importance of the word trust is on my mind so much this morning. The more I think about it, the more critical the word becomes in every photographer's role, even beyond your skill set.

Think about what it means to be a professional photographer. There's nothing stronger in building your business and reputation than trust from your clients. There's also nothing that will destroy your business faster if that trust is violated. Trust goes well beyond just providing the client with excellent results. In fact, with the exception of the medical community, I can’t think of any other profession that involves such a profound level of trust with an outside “vendor.”

You're in people's homes. You're talking to them about the personalities of various family members. If this is an engagement shoot, you're building trust with a new client. If it's a senior shoot this may be the student's first time working with a professional photographer and most of them couldn't be more nervous.

When working with families, "Mom" has introduced to their children and you've attended family functions. You’ve met the grandparents and the out of town relatives. You're coordinating their wardrobe and often even makeup and hairstyle. There's nothing more valuable than the trust they're placing in you and understanding how they see the world.

Trust is one of the most fundamental building blocks of every artist's reputation. With the busy season of the year starting to ramp up, it's a great time to post a reminder. You've got to work to build trust with every client, even the ones you've worked with in the past.

And, if you blow the trust with a client remember this...

Intro by Skip Cohen

This is one of my most favorite posts from my good buddy Scott Bourne. While his target is the new artist just coming into the business out of school, his advice is the perfect reminder of the things we all need to do as marketing, business, technology and social media keep changing.

We're all part of an industry that never slows down. As a result, we all need to be never-ending students! And, to Scott's point about relationships - Relationship building is your most valuable marketing tool!

by Scott Bourne
 
Commencements are coming up all over the country in the next couple months. As someone with gray hair, I can’t help but have a very different perspective on photography than someone of college age. I am often asked what advice I’d give someone just breaking into professional photography. The usual response goes something like this…

“Be prepared for lots of hard work – sales and marketing should dominate your day – show the work every chance you get – network like crazy – shoot what you love – repeat.”

But while that’s all good advice, there’s more I would say if I were speaking at a commencement.

I’d talk about understanding the high degree of importance graduates should place in each and every relationship they engage in during their career. Whether it’s the mailman or the recent client, these relationships are really all that matters. I didn’t know this when I was young and it hurt me…both personally and professionally.

So obsess over gear and f/stops if you must, but if you really want to succeed, pay attention to the people in your professional life. Build solid, long-term relationships with them. Care about them. Help them. Put them and their interests ahead of your own. You never know where that will lead. You might be dealing with that person 30 years later. They’ll remember how you valued (or didn’t) the relationship when you were young. And so will you.

 Intro by Skip Cohen
  
Many years ago I heard Jay Conrad Levinson speak about the top one hundred things guerrilla marketers need to do to build their business and brand awareness. Right near the top of his list was community involvement. I remember him saying, "People like buying products from companies who give back."  The reality is, you're looking for the community to be good to you, so you have to find ways to be good to your community!

I've shared a lot of stories about Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (NILMDTS) over the years. I used to think NILMDTS wasn't for everybody, but the longer I've been one of their ambassadors, the more I realize it is for everybody! I've heard so many stories from photographers who panicked over the idea of their emotional involvement photographing a dying or even deceased baby, and later describe their experience as life-changing.
 
The NILMDTS video below is still one of the very best ways to understand how you can help, and at the same time start to learn how NILMDTS will help you. You'll grow as an artist and more importantly a member of your community with a more significant passion for family values, love and yes, photography.

I wanted to share the short post below by Jennifer Smith about her experience as a NILMDTS volunteer. She does such an excellent job of describing her involvement, especially her last sentence: "I think it’s important the parents know I’m honored to be a part of their child’s life, I’m grateful to have met them and photograph them. I will remember their child, and I was impacted by them."

NILMDTS needs volunteers at all levels, not just photographers. To find out more about how you can help click on the thumbnail to the right.

​As time winds down for 2017, it's the perfect topic. Most of you have been flat out for the last few weeks dealing with the one period of real seasonality each year in imaging - the fourth quarter.

For the most part, things should be starting to slow down, and it's time to get a little balance back in your life as a business owner. Time is your most valuable commodity, and once it's gone you never get it back - so let's stop wasting it worrying about things out of your control.

Knowing no matter what you do, you're just one person and only have 24 hours in a day and seven days a week, it's time to stop killing yourself trying to multi-task. So many of us take on more than we can do and we're missing all the moments to  "smell the roses."

Here's a prime example: Years ago I realized I was becoming a slave to social media. In fact, I didn't take a real vacation and entirely unplug for over three years. We'd take long weekends here and there but never an actual vacation to fully recharge!

Even when we were away, I spent too much time worrying about things. I was always haunted by the monkey on my back - all the things I wanted to get done. Some were procrastination projects I kept on my list while others were deadline events in the queue. As much as I write about the importance of recognizing the signs of "C&B" (Crash & Burn), I was forgetting, just like you, I'm only one person and can only do so much before I implode.

So, this morning's blog is as much personal therapy for me as it is a reminder for you. It's the day after the long Christmas weekend, and I've got a lot I want to get done. Stepping entirely away from technology I've got a good old-fashioned hand-written piece of paper with the things I want to get done today. I'm going to make it simple, and knock them off one at a time and celebrate when the "whistle" blows at the end of the day, even if I'm not done.

There's a great piece of advice a lot of people claim to have been told by a mentor about paperwork before the Internet, "Touch each piece of paper that comes across your desk only once - make the decisions it requires you to do and then move on."  Well, none of us deal in paper anymore, but it applies to every email, tweet, facebook friend, etc.  Read them once, decide on the course of action, respond and move on!

And, for those of you, like me, who often feel overwhelmed about not having enough time to get the things done you want and spend too much time worrying about it:

​It's the last week of the year, and it's a short one. Make your list of what you want to accomplish and at the end of the day, give yourself a pat on the back for whatever you've finished. Send that "monkey on your back" packing and merely appreciate everything you're doing to build your reputation. A new year is just around the corner. Get ready to greet it with open arms, and recognize you're a year wiser as a business owner! What a kick!

When I first shared this video four years ago it was at four million views. Today it's coming up on eight million. Still, I'm betting many of you haven't seen it. In just over a minute it brings together one famous personality after another, reminding us:

                                                                     "If you haven't failed, you haven't lived."

The same thing seems to happen every year as we go into the fourth quarter, photographers get reflective. Business often picks up to an unreasonable pace, and at the same time things are good, they're not always in the direction you hoped for when you started. I love the way this video puts it all in perspective and reminds us to simply never give up!

The last frame says: "Life = Risk" and it reminds me of the challenges we all take every day as business owners. I've quoted this old proverb before:
                                                                     "Smooth seas don't make skilled sailors!"

Between technology, the economy, consumer trends and each of our own personal fears, we're all sailing through the perfect storm every day. It's time for us all to soar!

by Scott Bourne

As I was looking at some old portfolios recently, I realized that back in the day – I kind of sucked. Don’t get me wrong, I made some good shots and sold lots of images. But I am shocked at how bad some of that early work was. I didn’t have a clue back then. If I’d only have known just a few of the tricks I know now, I could have been so much better. So with that in mind, I’m sharing some ideas now that I wish someone had shared with me back then.

1. Pay attention to the background. A good background can make an average picture great.

2. Know your gear backwards and forwards. The minute you finally truly understand how to use your gear, you’re freed up to start paying attention to seeing. And seeing is everything in photography.

3. Wait on the light. Really. If you think it looks good at 4PM, wait until you see it at 7PM. Waiting on the best light takes patience and provides great rewards.

4. Slow down. Unless you’re a sports/wildlife photographer, chances are you can take one breath before pushing the shutter button. Take that breath and see what a difference it can make in your images.

5. Get to know your subject REALLY well. Regardless of what (or who) you are photographing, take time to learn all you can before getting the camera set up. It will pay off later.

6. Pre-visualize. Try to imagine what the final print will look like before you snap the shutter. This is a technique pioneered by folks like Ansel Adams. It works.

7. Know WHY you’re about to trip the shutter button before you do it. If you can’t answer the WHY question, don’t make the photo.

8. Pictures with pop get noticed. Typically, a good picture that doesn’t pop – doesn’t get sold.

9. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. I took so many boring pictures back when I was getting started because they were safe. The results were competent but unremarkable. To compete in today’s world, where people think they are a gifted photographer just because they have a nice camera, you have to stand out. And you stand out by taking chances.

10. Enjoy your time spent behind the camera. Photography is supposed to be fun. When I first started out, I rushed and worried and stressed myself out thinking about having to MAKE THAT SHOT. Don’t be like me. Relax. Enjoy the moment. All too soon it will be gone. Your career will be behind you, and you’ll realize it wasn’t as much fun as it should have been. I’m still working on this one every day.

Looking back through the SCU archives I found this post from several years ago and the topic this time of year is so relevant! Just because it's the "slow season" doesn't mean there's nothing to do. This is the perfect time to look at everything you do in support of your business. 

For so many years imaging workflow has been a hot topic, but what about your business flow?  I'm referring to the day in day out process of making decisions, answering correspondence, talking with customers and managing everything that comes across your desk or computer.

So, here a few quick tips:

1) The best advice I was ever given was "handle each piece of paper only once!"  Put that in contemporary terms and it means read the email, make a decision on whatever needs to be done and get on with your life. Dump it or archive it, but do NOT delay dealing with the question, request or issue in the email.  Do not save it on your desktop to address later unless there really is some research needed before you answer.

I worked for somebody once who just couldn't make decisions.  His philosophy was, why decide today, when it can wait until tomorrow?  Sure, there are times when you have to give a decision ample time to review all the options, but this was on everything. He'd put everything off, ponder the meaning of life and as a result we often missed some great opportunities.

Today's market waits for nobody.  We're an instant fulfillment society and often not answering somebody mimics the "Can you hear me now" attitude of a Verizon commercial.  Silence is not a strategy and delaying an answer is often perceived as negative.  "No news is good news" just doesn't hold water today.

2) Prioritize your daily activities.  I'm not sure where life turned around on me, but I used to wake up, have some breakfast and then go to the computer. These days I love to hit Facebook and Twitter right while I'm fresh, and then when I've done the things I need to do in social media Sheila and I have breakfast together. Look at the things you need to do every day and get yourself into a pattern.  Once my thoughts for the day are more organized I go to the blog and then to my email.  If everything on the site is working right, I can then start on whatever projects I have in the pipeline.

3) Call people back!  If somebody made an effort to call you and you weren't available, get back to them ASAP.  The same goes for email. Make everything in your business that's related to communication a priority. If you schedule clients during the day then do the same with your outgoing phone calls.  

4) Make marketing a priority!   Part of your workflow needs to include time for developing your marketing plan along with new projects to keep your creative juices flowing. But, it needs to be something you do for a little time EVERY day. Start by building a list of ideas on things to build a stronger brand. It doesn't matter how random an idea might be. Keep building on the list each day and at other times work on ways to expand some of the concepts in more detail.

5) Be a lunch slut!  I've often referred to myself as the biggest lunch slut in the photo industry!  Here's what I love about lunch - unless you're flat out on a project that won't let you take a break, you're going to need to eat.  So, why not do it with a friend or an associate?  Why not use the conversation time over lunch to not only catch up, but bounce a few ideas off of new ears?  You listen to yourself all day long, but you don't get the same response as the expression on somebody's face listening to a good or bad idea when they're sitting across from you. So, add lunch once a week with somebody out of the office to your priority list and workflow.

6) Archive it - File it - Get rid of it!  Being a pack rat is fine, but when you've completed something get it off your desk and away.  It will accomplish nothing to have stacks of papers or tons of handled emails staring at you all the time.  You need to clear space on your hard drive in your computer and in your head.

7) Keep a journal or diary...I'm not talking about the diary everyone's sister had in fifth grade, but a simple notebook of things you work on during the day, notes from phone calls etc.  I've found it really helpful to keep a spiral notebook on my desk and when it's full I start another one.   I can already see those of you who are  iphone addicts rolling your eyes, but for me it still works better to write out the information long hand rather than load it into my computer.  I remember it better if I've written it down instead of typing it.
 
While there are lots of impressive programs like Evernote, I'm still not quite there. For those of you who are a whole lot more progressive in this stuff than I am, it's definitely worth checking out. I love to hand-write everything, including a giant whiteboard over my desk.

8) Last but not least,  recess and nap times were terrific when we were little kids, but how come we forgot about them when we got older?   You need a break now and then, so take it!   You don't have to have a little rug to sleep on like you did in kindergarten, but pulling your brain out of the daily routine for a few minutes and going to "recess" will definitely help you get organized. Seriously, haven't we learned anything from our kids? Recess should be an adult concept, not just for elementary school. I want a bell to ring around 10:00 every morning and it should be mandatory that I walk outside and play with the other "kids" for at least fifteen minutes!  (I think I might be on to something!)
 
The bottom line is stop procrastinating. This is the perfect time to be working on building a stronger foundation for your business in the year ahead. And, if you want to grab lunch let me know!

by Skip Cohen

I wrote a post on a similar topic several years ago, but I've meet so many artists online recently and I'm amazed at the different perceptions they have of their business. With the first quarter trade show and convention season just around the corner, I'll be meeting more in person and I know I'll continue to be surprised at the different levels of enthusiam with each artist I meet.
 
I found a terrific quote a few years ago that Martina Navratilova is given credit for:

 "The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs.
The chicken is involved; the pig is committed!"

Running across that quote recently, it got me thinking about our industry, because we've got too many people who are involved, rather than committed.  Photography is an art form, not just in the capture and creation of the final image, but in the relationship each artist has with their clients and the passion for the craft.

An involved photographer gets the job done, has a goal to at best be average and spends too much time looking at the revenue stream.

Committed photographers can't stop thinking about their images. While they're obviously concerned about revenue, they're more concerned about creating an experience for each client. They're looking for ways to give back to the community. Their hearts skip a beat when they download images from a portrait sitting, commercial shoot or an event. They spend more time listening to their clients than they do talking to them.
 
If you're a regular reader here at SCU you're more than likely committed, rather than just involved. However, odds are you know somebody who's on the fence between involvement and commitment. So here are eight questions to help you define the difference and maybe share to help them better define their goals.

1. Are you excited when you meet a new client? Do you find yourself thinking about the images you're going to capture and create in advance, seeing them through your "mind's eye"?
2. If you're photographing a wedding for example, do you find yourself rushing to download images and watch the way the story unfolds?
3. When you think about the people who you admire most, are many of them other photographers?
4. Do you find yourself sad when leaving a photographic convention or workshop? At the same time are you loaded with energy to apply some of the new things you've learned? Do you stay in touch with people you've met at previous photographic events?
   
5. Do you spend most mornings excited about the day ahead versus wishing you could just stay in bed for the day?
6. Do you feel naked when there's not a camera on your shoulder, in your pocket or in your car?
7. When you look at a stunning image do you find yourself wondering how it was created and then working to find out more?
8. Do you find yourself angry when you see images that were made my photographers who you know simply said to themselves, "That's good enough."

Okay, there it is, my top eight, but there are so many more. Feel free to add to my list via the comment section below and I'll do an extension of this post with your additions.

Most important of all, being committed is about unstoppable passion! There's little else you can see yourself doing.  While it's directed to the topic of relationships, I found a quote that really hits home and being a photographer is about a relationship with your craft.

by Skip Cohen

What started as a vehicle for developing tweet content by posting a morning quote and an afternoon quote has morphed into a daily pattern. Finding great quotes, typically about business and marketing each day gets me thinking about various aspects of my business, the industry and marketing in general.

But, every now and than I find one that just won't fit in 140 characters.  I found this quote three years ago and shared it in a blog post. It's so good that it deserves to brought back as a reminder to each of us about the power we possess to change our piece of the world, one little corner at a time! Steve Jobs may have passed away, but he continues to inspire.


“Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.”   Steve Jobs

It's just a short post. Besides, why would I attempt to add anything to that? 

                         "Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." Anais Nin


While this post is really about photographers, the challenge of courage applies to EVERYBODY in business today. The economy, technology, consumer trends, social media and competition are just a few of the never-ending speed bumps every small business owner is facing.

It's a heavy duty quote above, but now apply it to your own courage in business as a professional photographer.  Think back to how nervous you were when you got that first job - it doesn't matter if it was a wedding, a children's sitting or a commercial product assignment. Your nerves were a little frayed and you might have had serious doubts about whether or not you were going to be able to get the shot. 

Now, take it one step further, and depending upon how long you've been a photographer, your camera might have been loaded with film. No digital and no "chimping" to see if you got the image a split second after clicking the shutter. You didn't know if you got the shot until days later.

Go one more step and take this little exercise: Just think about how much your life expanded with that first paid click of the shutter.  (Check out "Why?" with Dan Cox. He was 17 when he landed the wrap around cover for the Eddie Bauer catalog that was the launch point for his career.)

Well, with that first paid click, just like Dan, you went from amateur to professional. But the step up to being a professional took more courage. You accepted a level of responsibility to your client, your friends and most of all to yourself.  You took that "double secret" oath to deliver quality, to exceed expectations, to be the eyes of your clients and even their hearts, when they were busy looking elsewhere.

The courage you had to launch your career has morphed into a lifestyle, a skill set unique to the way you see the world and share it. Your life has expanded. The places and people who came into your life will continue to help you grow as long as you keep having the courage to learn. You need to be involved in the community and the industry, adapt new technologies, network with new friends and keep your mind open to the challenges that make imaging so incredible.

The legendary Don Blair was once asked, "What's the best photograph you've ever taken?"  His response: "I don't know I haven't taken it yet!"  He was almost 80 when he said that and had been shooting since he was 14!  He never stopped having the courage to adapt, to take on new technologies and in the end, his life expanded beyond anything he could have anticipated!

Just a thought today and maybe an explanation why I have so much respect for so many of you!

We're through the first week of the new year and for most photographers the "slow season" is officially underway. It's the perfect time to stop procrastinating and do some clean up of your site, your blog, even your desk or office. 

But it's also a great time to establish a few priorities for the year ahead...

"If you don't get what you want, it's a sign either that you did not seriously want it, 
or that you tried to bargain over the price."
Rudyard Kipling

I keep finding great quotes and the more I read them, the more they morph into a business application. 

I've heard so many great ideas from so many of you and then later heard, "It just didn't work out!" Almost all the time it's because you started out aggressive, loaded with energy and direction and then lost your patience. You didn't "seriously want it" bad enough or you compromised on your approach, "bargained over the price."

It's just a short post this morning, but I hope it makes the point. Surround yourself with positive people who help you believe in yourself. Don't compromise on anything your heart tells you is right. Pay attention to your mind's eye and when you visualize something, don't rest until you've got it.

How's all that apply to the business of being a photographer? Don't slow down on your education. Keep building your skill set to be the best. Stop listening to negative people who take up space and use up oxygen. Believe in that face looking back at you in the mirror every morning.

Photo Credit: Finger © momius - Fotolia

While I often have something in the pipeline to write about, most often whatever I post is the result of issues being discussed in the various forums, at conventions and in conversations with other photographers. Well, this morning is one of those days where I really wanted to hit the topic of risk-taking, which has come up a lot lately.

A month or so ago I mentioned an amazing little book I picked up, "It always seems impossible until it's done." It's a classic at inspiration-building and well worth having on your book shelf or giving it as a gift this holiday season. Just click the cover and it'll link to the Amazon page. 

There was a great quote from Denzel Washington that I ran across:

A month ago I wrote a post about not using the word "fail" and justifiably got beat up by a couple of people. I was wrong in my approach. It's not about the word, but how you think about it.  The reality is that failures are just speed bumps. Obviously some are bigger than others, but each project or event in your life, that doesn't get the results you wanted, is another stepping stone.  As Denzel Washington wrote, brings you one step closer to success.

In a number of forums lately questions have come up about marketing material, redesigns of websites and blogs and promotional questions. Over and over again there's this hesitancy being expressed by the authors and it's always about taking risks. Everyone seems to want the formula for the "sure thing" and in all honesty, nothing is without risk.  

Most of you need to take more risks, even if business is solid. Risk-taking can be as simple as just changing your exposure, lighting or composition on an image. It can be as complex as your pricing structure or branching out into a new specialty of expertise. 

The bottom line is there's no such thing as a "sure thing", but if you have confidence in yourself and trust what's in your heart, each new step you take will you bring you that much closer to the success you're looking for.

"If you wait until all the lights are " green" before you leave home, 
 you'll never get started on your trip to the top."  
Zig Ziglar

The new year is just around the corner and as you start planning 2015, don't be afraid of taking a few risks. I'm not suggesting you take random shots at new directions...just analyze your skills. Figure out what you need to make your business stronger and then start planning the steps you need to take to grow.

...and if you need help, you know where to find me.

Photo Credit: © Gino Santa Maria - Fotolia

Yesterday's post on confidence was a beginning for this topic, but there are some other sources.

A few months ago we launched a new forum on Facebook called, GoingPro. The whole purpose was to get the help of a dozen or so of the best known educators in professional photography as administrators and  then do our best to help everyone with the challenges they have in raising the bar on any aspect of their business.

Looking over everyone's comments about where they need help, it seems to be in two primary categories, building confidence and marketing. While I'd love to hit on both topics, no one post or one person could ever cover both...so let's pick up on where yesterday's post left off. 

• Read your camera manual. Get to know every button and setting on your camera. Experiment with different settings, understand depth of field, know all of your lenses and the coverage each one will give you.
• Attend every workshop you possibly can. 

• Attend every convention.

• Spend time in the booth of each vendor you use, including your gear manufacturers, lab, album company, frame company, software etc.

• Listen to podcasts, webcasts, webinars on topics related to your specialty including those out of your comfort zone.

• Understand lighting! Not just natural light, but all the various qualities and patterns of studio lighting.

• Be a second shooter as often as you can, especially in your first few years.

• Enter print competition. This isn't for everybody, but it's a terrific learning experience.
• Attend print competition judging, even if you didn't enter. You'll learn a lot from the various judges.

• Jump onto YouTube.com and watch the videos of iconic photographers in your specialty. There are ton of great videos out there, some long, others just a few minutes.

• Look at magazines - this is about understanding what's hot and what's not. While it's not a confidence builder on its own, paying attention to what's going on in the commercial world is going to help you better interpret requests from your clients.

• Join a guild, PPA chapter, camera club...and, go to every monthly meeting. This is about expanding your network and many of the camera clubs host some pretty remarkable guest speakers.

• Rent gear you don't have to experiment with and understand the impact it will have on your images.

• Practice, practice, practice - but remember Roberto Valenzuela's line..."Practice doesn't make perfect. What if you're practicing it wrong? Only perfect practice makes perfect."

• Talk your friends or family members into modeling for you. You've got to practice and often friends and family are the best way to build your portfolio.

• Join some of the online forums that are in line with your specialty and your goals in professional photography.

• Share images in the forums, but have a thick skin. Listen to the suggestions and ignore people who simply want to behave badly. Stay focused on those giving you constructive criticism.
• Do a portfolio review. Many of the conventions and workshops offer portfolio review. It's a great way to get an objective opinion on your work.
• Hands-on workshops are one of the best ways to build confidence. Pay attention to the speakers you've heard the most about and then check out where they're teaching. A great hands-on workshop means twenty people or less with one instructor.
• Use your network - especially your inner core of the people who are closest to you.

One of the biggest challenges with a lack of confidence just comes from fear. The more experience you get, the less there is to be afraid of. Don't let fear get in your way. Get to know your gear, the craft and listen to your clients.

"If you end up with a boring, miserable life because you listened to your mom, your dad, your teacher, your prieset, or some guy on TV telling you how to do your shit, then YOU DESERVE IT."
Frank Zappa

I don't usually quote Frank Zappa, but he hit on one of my pet peeves, people who can't make a move without checking with dozens of other people to get confirmation that what they're doing is right. Feedback is terrific, but most of the time you know in your gut whether you're going in the right direction or not. We all do it, some more often than others. It's all about insecurity and could so often be neutralized by doing more things to build your confidence.

I'm not saying don't listen to people you respect, just stop putting so much weight on what they tell you...this is your dream, not theirs. Listen to what everybody tells you and then boil it all down and put it through the "heart test". This is real simple...if it doesn't feel right in your heart, then put it on the back burner or modify it.

Take responsibility for your career. It's not an easy thing to do and I'm a perfect example. I worked for Polaroid, Hasselblad, PhotoAlley and Rangefinder/WPPI before finally getting the nerve to direct my own destiny. I always worked for other companies.

I was able to head out on my own for two primary reasons...first, it was time. I knew in my heart, regardless of the people who told me I was nuts, it was time to head out on my own. Second, I had a great partner to help me stay focused on my skills and remind me of those things I did really well and other areas where I needed outside support.

I reference my wife, Sheila a lot in my blog posts...she's my muse, often my inspiration and definitely a shoulder to cry on. She helps me strategize, think through new projects and puts her opinion in whenever it's appropriate. She knows the questions to ask in order to help me find my own answers.

This is all about building confidence and believing in yourself, but it doesn't happen overnight. Here are a few suggestions to help you speed up the process.

• Identify a couple of people who know you better than you do yourself, but most important, they understand your dream.
  
• Attend every convention you can find time for. Don't be dollar wise and nickel foolish - in other words, even if money is tight, find a way to attend. At every convention you've got a chance to learn something new and make the trip pay for itself.
  
• Read every blog by every photographer/educator you admire.
  
• Spend some time on YouTube. Just plug in any name in the search box and then watch a few of the videos that come up
  
• Join your local camera guild, club or PPA chapter and go to every meeting. 
  
• Enter print competitions and listen to the feedback.
  
• At every convention, introduce yourself to the speakers. They're teaching because they love to teach and most of them love to meet their students - they're all very approachable.

Hard to believe that I started this post with Frank Zappa and I'm going to finish with Steve Jobs - both great advice and all under the topic of my wife's favorite quote, "To thine own self be true!"

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.  Don't be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people's thinking.  Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice.  And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
                                                 Steve Jobs