"If It Wasn't for Change, There Would be No Butterflies"

by Skip Cohen

​Many years ago, Sheila and I visited the butterfly exhibit at one of the Cleveland Museums. It was my first time, and it left an impression on both of us, along with the desire to someday have a butterfly garden. Moving to Florida gave us that opportunity. We built the butterfly garden almost six years ago, and now, depending on the weather, we see butterflies nearly every day.

Yesterday I grabbed a shot of these Monarch caterpillars feeding on milkweed. It reminded me of being in Las Vegas over the years, with groups of us hitting the legendary seafood buffet at The Rio. At one point, seven caterpillars were munching away. It's hard to believe they turn into the stunning creature below.

Okay, so that's the backstory, but watching these guys got me thinking about what we've all been through over the last two years. That, in turn, brought to mind the quote I used as today's post title.

Here's my point, it's been a challenging year for everyone, both professionally and personally. But, sometimes you can't appreciate where you're going without a look in the rearview mirror and giving credit to where you've been.

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IUSA is coming up this weekend, and I couldn't be more excited to be with old friends and make some new ones. I know it might seem hokey and even tacky to suggest the convention is my "butterfly," but it's simply the way my mind works. Am I a little apprehensive about health issues? Of course, but I've had my vaccines; I'll mask up; never be without hand sanitizer, and I've stopped watching the news. There's already a drop in new cases, mostly the spike from the holidays.

So, whether you're headed to the convention or not, look at the new year as your butterfly. There's a renewed sense of family in this country because of everything we've all been through over the last two years. It's creating an opportunity for photographers to do what they do best - help people capture memories and turn the intangible into the tangible. There are opportunities everywhere to build your business and get revenue back on the right track, from weddings to maternity, children, family portraiture, and pets!

​Hope to see you at IUSA!