Random Thoughts About Business

A post with a few random thoughts deserves an equally random photograph, but here's the fun of this one. I've been playing with Panasonic's LUMIX GH3 and I'm blown away by what the camera can do in low light, along with a dozen other features. This was taken at the New England Aquarium through the glass on available light with the 12-35mm F2.8 lens.

by Skip Cohen

You focus your camera thousands of times every week, but how about having a day when you just can't seem to focus your thoughts? That's where I am this morning and the points are a little random.

I found an old post recently where I was talking about the challenges that come with trying to be upbeat all the time. Well, it takes twice as many muscles to be miserable and frown than it does to smile. So you might as well just smile more. Plus, instead of asking people how they are and hearing about all their aches and pains, tell them they look great and the response will always be more positive. 

And for those of you who keep complaining about business being bad - take a break.  Then, do what so many photographers who are surviving today do, think about how to re-invent yourself.  Listen to what your customers are telling you - you can't create images that tug at people's hearts if your heart isn't in it yourself.

My favorite tip on looking at your market comes from good buddy Terry Clark, near Pittsburgh.

"The best thing to do to survive and thrive is find what everyone else isn’t doing and do that thing.”

And if you can't get yourself out of the rut, instead of pulling back, maybe it's time to spend a little more on advertising, promotion and networking...maybe it's time to invest more time...maybe you need to hang out with other photographers dealing with the same challenges, like IUSA in January, THRIVE starting in December or WPPI in March.

The biggest thing is to not give up and that means I get to, once again, share one of my most favorite quotes:

"Most people give up just when they're about to achieve success. They quit on the one yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game, one foot from a winning touch down." Ross Perot

Wishing everybody a terrific weekend!