Friends in photography,
People lie to you. They lie, because they love you.
Your mom is the worst. But she loves you the most. And that’s cool.
They also lie to you because they want to help you. They don’t want to lose your respect.
Maybe they tell you lies because some day if and when they need a photographer they know you owe them.
They want to be in your good graces so they can can get a good deal. Maybe free.
With your photography. By feeding your ego.
“You’re the best photographer around this area!” is the message.
You keep posting images on flakebook and the likes, and love keeps pouring in. Man it feels good! And the dopamine hits!
All lies. For the aforementioned reasons.
Of course they’re gonna tell you you’re great, your images don’t suck. You’re amazing!
They love you, right? Don’t want to hurt your feelz.
It’s what friends and family do. Protect you.
Problem is, it feels good. We love the attention.
When you can see through the hype and BS, and look at where you are, and look objectively at your photography AND your marketing, you will have one of the best advantages out there.
It’s called reality.
And reality doesn’t suck. Reality tells you where you need to go.
Like a map. Direction. I like direction. (maybe ‘cuz I was so lost for so much of my life.)
I pursue it, push for it, seek it. I hire coaches, take programs, attend group therapy, try new things, push the envelope. It hurts sometimes, but it’s a good hurt.
Let’s put it this way. You need, and want to grow. Both as an artist and in business.
Right?
So, in other words, you want to create and make moolah.
One works with the other. But you have to keep it real.
This industry is eyeballz deep in BS and ego. But you don’t have to play that game.
Most folks will.
They drink the koolaid and take the blue pill.
But you can take the red pill.
Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher
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