Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Beginning the Business - Part 2

Ok, so I've created a photography business, complete with a business license and a really nice DSLR. Now what? The questions buzzing around my mind were many. How do I attract new business? How to do I get my existing clients to place bigger orders? What is the best way to advertise on a small budget? And the biggest question of all: How can I learn more and make myself FEEL like a REAL photographer?

At this point, I was still so excited and just thankful every time the phone rang or someone sent an email to inquire about a session. Outwardly, I was confident...I set up sessions, invited clients to the studio, spoke at length to clients about what they could expect at our session. But on the inside, I was still struggling with that very important question...WHO AM I as a photographer?

I didn't even realize that this was an issue until one night as I sat with my kids and watched American Idol. Don't laugh, but seriously, this is how my transformation into a confident photographer began!!

So, I'm watching American Idol and the performer sang, then waited for his critique. Randy, Paula and Simon started speaking, and I realized that their words were speaking to me and could be applied to ANY artist, not just to a singer's voice. They were saying things like: "Dawg, until you figure out WHO YOU ARE as an ARTIST, you'll always struggle" or "You were really connected to that song...it came from your heart" and "A real artist FEELS the song and doesn't apologize for who they are."

Over the next few weeks, I watched AI and listened intently as the judges spoke to the artist. I took their words to heart and began the internal search of WHO I AM as an ARTIST. Some individuals feel that photography, especially digital photography, isn't an art anymore. I couldn't disagree more. It's a creative gift, it's subjective and, in my case, when I connect with a subject it touches my heart and fills me entirely. Singers, dancers, sculptors, painters, etc. would all tell you the same thing. They are wholly happy when they are immersed in their art and that's how I feel when I have a camera in my hand.

I did a ton of soul searching and it sort of consumed my every thought over those weeks. Slowly, it started to appear to me...the pieces started to fit together. I started to understand WHO I am. This realization felt incredibly good.  I felt relief and comfort and could finally say with confidence "I AM A PHOTOGRAPHER!!!"

The process will be different for everyone. Maybe you are fortunate and already know who you are as an artist or maybe you are not. I believe it's critical for your success to know the answer to your individual question: WHO ARE YOU AS AN ARTIST? You can't force the answer...you have to be open minded and let ideas flow through you as you put the pieces to your puzzle together.

If you know me, you know who I am: I am authentic and warm.  I value family, good humor and happiness. I am enthusiastic and natural, organized and reliable. These are some of my personal core values and talents. Once I discovered that these personal traits were the same traits that my business clients valued, I started to understand the REAL me as an artist.

In this process, I read an amazing book that helped me understand myself, as a woman with a business perspective. While wearing my "Office Manager" hat and buying file folders in Office Max one day, I stumbled on the book called "Make a Name for Yourself: 8 Steps Every Woman Needs to Create a Personal Brand Strategy For Success" by Robin Fisher Roffer. Read it. You'll discover youself and the keys to success in the process.

My transformation took place in the Spring of 2009.  I can see a vast difference in the photos I took before this time and after I became comfortable with the type of artist I am.  Before, I wanted to emulate other photographers because I believed I needed to do work that was similar to theirs since they were (are) successful.  After, however, I don't want to be like them.  I want to be like me and find my own path to success.  It's my journey and it will be different from everyone else's...and that's just fine with me.

Below are images taken in the Summer of 2009.  These make my heart sing and my clients were pretty darned happy too.  Knowing myself as an artist made all the difference in the world.  I'm still growing and learning and will always be a work in progress.  But now, I'm true to myself...always.


2 comments:

  1. Yay!That was one of the things in an article about being a photographer said,that you need to be able to say with confidence "I am a photographer."

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  2. Laura- I love your story! As someone who has only really delved into the world of digital photography recently, I feel exactly the same way. Who am I as a photographer? And who do I want to be? I'm still working through that, but know that I'll be able to answer those questions one day. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

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