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.
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. We have to recognize that there cannot be relationships unless there is commitment,
unless there is loyalty, unless there is love, patience, persistence.” Cornel West
1 Comment
Rebecca Trosper
12/21/2016 08:07:35 pm
I'm an amateur photographer and I've been doing it off and on for ten years now and I always struggle with having confidence in my work, it's not that I have a low self esteem I guess it's just that I want my pictures to be something that people will remember. I still learning how to edit because use to I would just show people my raw image. People tell my I'm a great photographer but I have a hard time believing them when I look at my pictures because I look at my images and tell my self "I could of done that different and it would look so much better." So in thinking that I was afraid I wasn't committed to my passion but after reading this and answing your questions I feel more confident about things I feel in my heart that I'm not involved but I am committed. Thank you
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Our Partners"Why?"Check out "Why?" one of the most popular features on the SCU Blog. It's a very simple concept - one image, one artist and one short sound bite. Each artist shares what makes the image one of their most favorite. We're over 130 artists featured since the project started. Click on the link above and you can scroll through all of the episodes to date.
Categories
All
|