Friends in photography,
I wish I could say there is a “worst” part.
I thought about some of the struggles I’ve had over the last 35 years in my career
as a portrait and wedding photographer, but in all honesty, the struggles, the challenges, everything,
including managing people, industry changes, accounting, sales, marketing, on and on, are all part of the game,
any game, in any business.
And they helped make me who I am as a person, an artist and a business owner.
It’s a business, to me. I embrace it all.
So when someone says: “There’s no money..” Well, that may be true for you.
Not I.
And if it were, it’s more of a personal, business and marketing challenge, not a photography challenge.
My attitude matters.
So I could list a long list of things that are worst.
But I can’t.
I love my job, my business.
Everything about it rocks.
And I say that now because I have wisdom, street smarts and enough business savvy.
If you insisted I answer, it would be a short list of things I find worst:
* trying to teach the younger generation. There seems to be a pervasive
attitude of it’s easy, you’re old (even though I make a decent living
and have the energy of a 25 yr old) and entitlement.
* fear of losing my gear, getting it stolen or ruined by the salt air when in Costa Rica
(we spend 3 months there every year and shoot commercial, families, weddings…)
Really. That’s about it.
Yes, it’s hard. But all business is hard, no matter the industry.
In photography we’ve had to completely reinvent. BUT, the basic, core
business fundamentals stayed the same.
I love the challenge. The uncertainty. There is NO security.
That is a complete lie. Illusion.
The only security I have is in my ability to create goals that I believe I can achieve.
That my friend is not something others can duplicate. It’s my super power.
What’s yours?
Yours in photography and success,
Robert Provencher
P.S. One of the things I love about this industry is the constant learning, learning from others
and the challenges.
It’s why I run the monthly Bull Pen print shows….Join me, and Maggie and Ian, our December 21 judges….
Also, sharing stories, ideas and struggles with other photographers is one of my favorite things.
On December 19th, 8:00PM I am interviewing Kirk Saint in another Frontline presentation…..
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