Chatting with a friend the other day. He’s 68. Photographer most of his life. And he’s contemplating retirement.
Somewhere in the convo, on this topic, he says about retirement: “I don’t like the way it feels.”
I get it, sorta.
In my imagination at least. I have not experienced or contemplated retirement. No desire to. Why? Life is good. And I still to this day maintain a steady cashflow and volume taking pictures.
Yes, taking pictures. Sounds too simple don’t it? I’ve always thought it amazing that my main tool, in a sense, was my right index fingers…click. sale. click. sale.
I like the way that feels. And I am grateful. Even in a pandemic. We’ve had one of our best summers yet. Even though weddings have gone, we’re still busy shooting pop up weddings, families, commercial and fairies. Oh yea, loads of fairies.
Here’s the way I see it:
- My wife and I created a new product, pop up weddings. This is weddings, evolved. And it works. They’re selling and keeping us busy
- Families are still valued. Good thing, especially since many want and value nice family portraits
- Fairies…are nothing more than child portraits evolved.
- There’s a neurotic, relentless drive to keep going. In a sense this is good. Many entrepreneurs have these qualities. Having the drive, the constant desire for financial freedom, and of course, creativity, is our reality. Ain’t so bad. Keeps us young, vital and our coffers swollen with profits.
These areas are where we maintain the majority of our volume. Marketing is key. Marketing is fun, exciting and creative.
Giving this up for retirement is not something I see as an option. Who would? We’re having a blast.
Robert N. Provencher – Your Master Coach Marketer
“If you want to be a profitable and successful photographer, then study profitable and successful photographers.”
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