So, I set out for Montana to meet up with my friend and go to Big Sky. At that point, I felt that business was going great. It was slower than normal, because of the weather being cold, but still going great. I knew though that I wanted to be making more money. I felt that I was not charging enough for the time that it was taking me for each session. I just wasn't sure how to do it. I figured I would be told how to deal with that during the time with the business coach. Wrong. What I got was so much more. During our time with Jeff, we went deeper into the message that defines us and what we really want to accomplish with our business. Photography is more than just taking pretty photos.. if that's all you do and think about, you will burn out. All of a sudden everything I had been doing up until that point, felt wrong. We had to go deep into who we are as a person, what inspires us and what we are passionate about and how to make our business mirror that. We talked about specialization and my mind couldn't seem to wrap around the concept of just shooting one type of session. I loved babies, seniors, children, brides, couples, etc.. How could I ever narrow it down to just one category? My business would die. No one will book me. I was a generalist. The person that does it all. Loves it all. And saw nothing wrong with charging little, booking a lot, and having nothing to show for it at the end.. Wait. What? CHARGING LITTLE, BOOKING A LOT, AND HAVING NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT. Does that really sound like working happy? Looking back now, no it doesn't. But at the time that was all I knew to do. Isn't that how a lot of us start our journey in the photography industry? We try it all out.. it's like college you have to experiment right? Well I never experimented in college.. but you know what I mean.
Why would one want to specialize? This was a new concept to me. Basically, if you are able to hone in on one specialty, you are able to perfect and market that one area a lot easier than perfecting and marketing every area under the sun. It is helpful for clients too, because the more of your message and the more of YOU that you show, the more you will attract clients that are a good fit for you and that you will be a good fit for them. This doesn't mean you have to stop shooting everything that isn't your specialty, you just don't market anything that is outside of what you want to attract.
I think when it comes to art it is hard to distinguish between a good decision for you, and a good business decision for you. My mind went into business mode. I wanted to get more business. I wanted to do what I felt was right for my business. What could I specialize in that I knew I could successfully market and get me more business? Obviously I missed the point of the training because that was not how you are supposed to think at all. But it is hard. We all have bills to pay right? It just doesn't seem logical at times to just forget about the bills you have and follow your heart right? Well I got that wrong too.
I found myself all of a sudden panicking because I didn't know what I wanted to specialize in that would make me successful. How could I not know? I mean, I know myself, but yet I couldn't decide what I wanted to do or what made me the happiest. Why?! It was frustrating... I still felt caught in this trap of doing it all. I would shift my focus to one area that I felt I thrived in, wait a little bit, and if it didn't work I would shift gears. I wasn't paying attention to the time frame or giving anything enough time for any of it. Yes I am one of those people that just expect things to work and pick up as soon as I put it out there. That just sounds crazy doesn't it? I have a good feeling though that a lot of you have experienced the anxiety of putting something out there, and not having it work. And in this business it is so easy to take it personal. I try not to go there of course, but how could you not go there? Rejection in any form will feel personal.
Well doesn't this all sound horrible? I think it does.. and to be honest, I am a little scared of just putting this out there. Because now I look back and see my mistakes. I am still on my journey to discovering where my message fits in this industry. If you have been thinking about specializing and feel like you have been caught in the trap of generalization as well, make sure to come back to my blog on Friday for another post with some great advice I have received that has changed my whole mind set and put me in the right direction.
A huge thank you to Kelly Kirksey Photographer for talking me into going to the Big Sky Photo Summit. And thank you Jeff Jochum for asking the questions that made me question my why and purpose in this business. You are all welcome to join Jeff's group on Facebook, Team X cafe for advice and help from others on their journey or that have already specialized.
