Inspiration

Listen to what you need right now without pressure. That is where your true success will come from.

Another week of this craziness, and here we are—taking it all in and figuring out where we’re going with it. Last week, I posted about the importance of not letting personal issues overwhelm the business. My coping mechanism involves acknowledging when I feel down, taking time to be with those feelings, and then harnessing the motivation when I feel uplifted. This balance helps me manage both my personal and business sides.

Tomorrow, I’ll be doing a webinar with APA LA. Please tune in if you can; it’s a way I’m propelling my business in an organic way.

In my post last week, Maura Sir Dans, a fantastic consultant, made a great point about not feeling pressured to do more right now. Instead, focus on reflection and pausing. If you feel pressured to become more or do more than you’re currently capable of, that pressure might stem from personal issues rather than the needs of your business. Pay attention to what might be uncomfortable but could truly help you move forward.

As understandable as it is that we are all seriously freaked out right now, we must keep our business hats on and rise to the occasion. 

Don’t forget to notice the difference between the personal and the business. 

The time is now to distinguish what parts of us are running the show.

There’s a lot of change going on, and it affects our business. We have to be careful not to let personal reactions or stress take over our business mindset. Our business needs to remain separate and focused, without being derailed by personal issues.

We have an opportunity right now to understand and adapt to what clients need because they’re also experiencing changes. For instance, I spoke with a client this morning who noted that their meetings are now virtual via Zoom, which means they need more visual images to showcase their products. Previously, they used to bring their products to meetings. This shift might be something smaller clients need to address depending on the type of work we do.

On the other hand, I talked to a larger client yesterday who is still bidding for jobs as if they will happen in June and July. Each client has a different approach, so we need to stay attuned to what they’re going through. This requires clarity and motivation, and we can’t let current stress diminish our focus.

Remember, our business is always about change—whether we’re freelancers, photographers, or creatives of any kind. It’s about adapting and moving forward. Keep your head in the game, remember your purpose, and continue to do what you do best.

This is a time in our life and careers we will never forget. 

If you want to know what to do right now, it is all about you. 

This is your time to check-in, to sort through what changes need to happen to become your best. Look at the ideas and interests you did not have the time for. Go with it and take inventory. 

Be the creative artist that you are, and plug into your work zone no matter what the condition of our industry is right now. 

Ask yourself the questions that will help guide you to whatever ideas or decisions need your attention. Create the head space to listen to your answers. 

The time to enhance and propel your business is right now as clients are open to your ideas. 

Dive in to your overall plan and Busta Move*. 

*implementation of unexpected strategy (80’s slang)

I’m noticing that this period of quietness or downtime is actually a pause in our lives and businesses. However, it’s not a complete standstill. There’s a buzz among photographers who are forward thinkers and are coming to life during this time. This is something I’ve always encouraged as a rep: to bring out the best in my photographers and help them be the biggest they can be.

It makes me happy to see people using this time to discover what they might be missing, what they need more of, and what wasn’t okay in their lives but went unnoticed because of their routines. Everyone is unique, and finding your own way to bring to life what you need for long-term success is crucial. This is the time to do that.

DEFINITION of

“pho-tog-ra-pher”

/fəˈtɒɡrəfə/

ACCORDING TO ASKSTERNREP:

An artist who is bravely inspired to experiment imagery by virtue of what he/she/they do not yet know.

There’s some confusion about our jobs as creatives. I’m representing creatives and you are creatives. It’s a business but you are also an artist. What does that mean, other than trying new things that you don’t already know? There is this balance of business and artistry that you have to incorporate more into your business if you want to keep going.  You are the ones being hired to be an artist on the set. That’s why they’re hiring you. They want to know you’re going to bring new ideas to the shoot.  Are there ideas and ways that you aren’t yet getting the artist out of yourself into your career? How can you be more of an artist?

Cultivate, develop, flourish. 

Show clients how your maturity will work for them, and not against them. Keep up with the times. 

Established photographers have that challenge because a lot of their work might look like yesterday. We have to keep it fresh and innovative. Photographers are hired by clients to be the innovative thinkers that you are, that inspired you to get into this business. The look of yesterday is not what they want. They want tomorrow’s look. I’d love to know how photographers out there, after you’ve been doing this awhile, keep going beyond the trend of today, and inspire yourself to try new things and show clients that’s who you’re going to be. How do you do that? I’d love to hear.

I had a client who wanted to be on the pulse of someone new. We paid that someone–who had never shot an ad campaign–$25K a day. 

-Guest Post: Anonymous Art Producer

There are definitely many changes in our industry. One significant change is that someone who isn’t yet well-known now has the opportunity to get their images seen, thanks to social media—something we didn’t have before. Another change is that budgets are generally decreasing, but that’s not always the case. You can still get paid well, so sometimes it’s important to be a bit more creative and make the most of the opportunities available. That’s what we need to focus on.

Repeat after me…

For 2020 I own all the bells + whistles that I can bring to my career as a creative person. I will explore beyond what I already know, learn new things, and be open to a new level of greatness.

Be thankful for what you do for a living. Your job is to stay in your creative zone. How lucky are we?

What are your inspirational idiosyncrasies?

I mean when/how does your best work happen?

You are an artist and to succeed you must incorporate what makes you tick and call that your “business.”

I’ve been thinking a lot about this because I notice it in photographers, though it’s probably true for everyone. My focus is on photographers, and while everyone has their own style of making things happen, there are sometimes challenges that get in the way.

I want to tell everyone to listen to what’s blocking you and figure out what will help you thrive. What will make you flow and accomplish what you need to in your business? Do you need to delegate tasks, play music loudly, open the door and go outside, or meditate? Identify what you need and respect that you need it to feel more alive, stand out, and achieve your goals. Do the things that will help you succeed in your business.

In any business interaction, remember to follow up immediately so you are believed and taken seriously.

When I meet someone for the first time on the phone or in any other setting, I want to know that they will follow up quickly and express that the meeting was important to them and that it went well. Everything they said should be followed up on promptly—ideally, right away. This quick follow-up makes the interaction feel real. Even if we have a great meeting, we might wonder if it was as good as it seemed or if we should hire this person. How they follow up acts like a test. So, do it as soon as you can.