Happy New Half Year! And So, I Begin Anew...

Ok, I'm not the kind of guy to make a lot of resolutions on New Year's Eve.  Yeah, I try to clean up my act, good intentions and all that, but I purposely keep those kinds of promises to myself fairly vague, so I don't feel so bad when I blow them off.

I do however, believe in the power of the calendar when it comes to planning the goals in my life.  I'm not really astrological in the spiritual sense, you know - the whole fate and destiny kind of thing based on the alignment of various heavenly bodies and all that, but I do (like a lot of people) think that the beginning of a day, or a week, or a month, or a year makes a logical starting point for my various life activities, especially if I plan on making changes to them.

In this case we are talking about the start of July: the beginning of the second half of the year 2013, and I know and feel this moment has a great significance.  It will mark the first time in over a decade that I can devote my time and energy and resources full-time to my career as a photographic artist.

And so, without giving a boring history lesson on hopes and dreams in the past that I was unable to accomplish for a multitude of reasons, let me just say most all of my shackles have been removed, my career and business begins anew, and we are all finally going to find out what I am capable of.

By the way, not to brag, but working only part-time with a great many constrictions placed on me by my family responsibilities and inability to travel, I was still able to snag a handful of photo award hardware in the time I've been up here in Central Florida, including one Editorial Magazine Cover of the Year in 2006 in a national competition.

I also managed to keep my gallery resume going with an assortment of group and one-person exhibitions at various venues and times throughout the area since I've lived up here.

Not bad for a guy with one hand tied behind his back...

Now, I don't know about you, but personally, I cannot wait for all the good things that lie ahead! Wish me luck!

Now, Where Was I Before I Was So Rudely Interrupted?

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions" ~ancient proverb

"From life's school of war: what does not kill me makes me stronger" ~Friedrich Nietzsche

Well, I have to tell you, I really thought my spring would be more productive. And while I did indeed have the best of intentions of getting a lot of things done, life -in its inimitable way- threw up (and yes, if you want to take that literally as gastronomical, feel free) a few unexpected road blocks that I had to go around. Or maybe they were hurdles I had to jump over?

Ah, "hurdles" might actually be more accurate, as I certainly do not jump any where near as well as I used to!

Regardless of semantics, it's involved challenges galore, and they were (and are) obstacles that made me not only rethink the way I worked and organized my career, but had me questioning my very life as well.

The major event, on February 10th (a date that will live in infamy!) happened only a few days after my last blog post. Without going to great lengths to explain the details, suffice to say it was a major medical event, and had me laid up in the local hospital for over a week.

Now, those of you who follow me on Facebook have probably already read a lot about this ordeal, as I've made quite a few posts on both my personal page as well as my photography fan page.

The good news is I seem to be basically fine, and well on the road to recovery. Hmmm, come to think of it, if I'm going to use that analogy, maybe these are roadblocks after all.  The bad news is my balance and equilibrium are still a bit hinkey, and continual physical rehab seems to be the order of the day. So, while running and catching a thrown frisbee is probably a no go for me, I am back to driving, and working out, and most importantly...shooting a camera! Believe me, there were times during the last five months I wasn't even sure I would ever do these things again.

Thankfully, my LIFE INTERRUPTED, however briefly, is moving forward again!

Speaking of thanks, again I cannot thank my friends, family, clients, and acquaintances enough for all the support and well wishes I've received recently. The positive vibrations and white light aimed in my direction has had a profound effect on my progress and motivation!

So, let me end this post the way I began it:

Where was I before I was so rudely interrupted?

Yes! That's right! Now I remember! More to follow...

'The Mouth That Roared' Is Here To Stay...

In this New Digital Dawn, everyone and their cousin thinks they're an expert on social media and how to use it effectively. Especially when it comes to business.

And, as much as I enjoy hearing a wide variety of opinions and views on most anything, I rarely take someone's advice on such important matters at face value. Rather, I kinda soak it all in, repeat my mantra of "consider the source" a few times, then try to decide if it makes any sense for my situation.

Many of us have very different business and career goals, so a blanket or one-size-fits-all policy on how to harness the vast array of social media resources out there is rarely going to be the best one to latch on to.

Yet, every so often a precious nugget of wisdom that would appear to be universal rises to the surface, so I greedily grab it with both hands, and simply wonder why anyone would not want to add it to their toolbox.

What am I talking about? A quote from a true social media expert (at least IMO) that basically gives me the green light to do what I do best, and tells me I will very likely be more successful for doing it.

Now, I must apologize, as I cannot remember where I read this or who even said it. I know that's bad, and I would love to give them the credit they deserve, but truth is, for the sake of this post, it doesn't really matter.

And so I will paraphrase heavily...

This person basically said that the key to effective use of social media is to have an impact: project your knowledge and personality in a fun and large way that sets you apart, gets people's attention, and makes them want to participate in what you have to offer.

Fun and large way. Makes them want to participate. Interact. Establish a dialogue...

I know what you're thinking. How is that profound? Everyone offers that advice. It's just common sense. True, but I haven't gotten to the profound part yet.

This person goes on to say that the single biggest mistake someone can make using social media is to abandon that boisterous voice and softly water down their message in an attempt to be all things to all people.

Water down their message in an attempt to be all things to all people.

As someone who has been guilty of doing that very thing on my Facebook Page, this pronouncement quickly got my attention.

The worlds of commercial and fine art photography are truly wonderful, with great rewards for those that have the talent and the work ethic to stay the course. But they are also highly competitive, often superficial and petty, and absolutely cutthroat at times.

I believe in a strong sense of self and purpose, the art of defending and persuading, sticking to my guns, and most importantly, fighting the good fight when its called for. It's called debate, and I think we are all the better for it when done properly and with respect.

Still, not everyone has the stomach for these sorts of battles, which is why overly defensive and soft and fuzzy I'm OK! You're OK! personalities abound on the web, at least when it comes to photography, with the message that no one should dare say anything the least bit critical, lest we hurt someone's feelings.

My mistaken reaction to this "everyone's photography is awesome" mentality has been to soften my stance, in effect lower my standards so as not to ruffle anyone's feathers, in some misguided attempt to get as many people to like me as possible.

While this game plan did in fact win me many new fans, it also effectively muffled much of my personality and voice, effectively blending me back into the crowd with all the other "nice" people. And in some ways I was miserable because of it.

The world of mediocrity was being shoved down my throat, and I was suppose to muzzle myself and not speak up.

So, you can only imagine how liberating my social media friend's magnificent words were to read and ponder. It was literally a glorious validation of my very heart and soul.

Don't get me wrong. I don't take this as a license to be mean-spirited or hurtful. I have never been, nor never will be those things. It is possible to be critical in a constructive way and still remain nurturing and positive. Trust me on this one...

But what it does is give me permission, better yet, tell me it's my sworn duty to stir things up!

You heard me. STIR THINGS UP...

In my book, yeah that means maybe smacking people around verbally on occasion, but always in a thoughtful or maybe humorous way, the goal being to help those that truly seek it and want to grow in this business. It is absolutely acceptable to point out someone's mistakes in an attempt to help them learn from them.

And so, with all due pomp and fanfare, I hearby declare that I WALK ON EGGSHELLS NO MORE!

Some of you will thank me for this later...

An 'Image Creator' No More: My New Photography Business Plan - Part 1

I was pouring through the latest issue of the ASMP Bulletin (American Society of Media Photographers), and there in Director Eugene Mopsik's commentary column, it hit me. Square in the face. The "inconvenient truth", one I have tried desperately to avoid facing for so long, reared its ugly head and looked me straight in the eye.

According to Mopsik,

"Recent changes in the industry, economy, and society have created a perfect storm — the transition to digital capture, digital distribution, the explosion of digital media outlets, the rise of the talented amateur, all coupled with a dilution of effective copyright protection have made it virtually impossible for a commercial photographer to sustain a career solely as an image creator."

Please read that last part carefully.

Virtually impossible...to sustain a career solely as an image creator.

If true, that, my friends, is a bit of dream-killer. A snuffer, if you will, of one's long-time career goals and lifelong passion. Including mine.

In layman's terms - simply the end. Game over. Give it up. Time to get a real job...

Now, normally someone in my position - a longtime freelancer, struggling but determined to get my career rolling again - would read this "doomsday prophecy" from a knowledgeable industry insider, and immediately get nauseous, light-headed, and quite possibly faint. Or maybe cry a little. After all, who would blame me for taking this news badly?

I had become The Little Engine That Couldn't...

Fortunately, I am a "glass is half full" kinda guy. Not only that, but I can actually see the waiter coming over to fill it the rest of the way. Let's just say I try to stay extremely positive, even under the most stressful and challenging circumstances that life throws at me.

I continued reading...

Mopsik goes on to say,

"While the photography community is working diligently to navigate this new world and take advantage of the enormous new opportunities it presents, the print-to-pixel revolution has been as disruptive to professional photographers as it has been to publishing and electronic media. For many, survival is contingent on the establishment of multiple income streams."

Well, there you have it! Mopsik's dire observation is quickly tempered with a logical and hopeful solution!

I'm saved! We are all saved! Huzzah!

Seriously, it is worth repeating:

Survival is contingent on the establishment of multiple income streams.

And with that declaration nestled firmly in my brain, the "real" truth finally emerged, and I realized it was not inconvenient at all.

Nothing Mopsik disclosed was a surprise to me, let alone a shock. Deep inside, I knew his words were true, and had known for quite some time. In fact, the writing on the wall had taken place literally years ago. At least if you were paying attention...

So, to salvage my sagging career, it is not a question of suddenly taking his advice to heart and coming up with a new plan to "establish multiple income streams", but rather just keep working on the plan that I already have in place. A plan that I'm pretty damn sure will work.

And what exactly is that plan? Well, to learn that, you'll just have to wait for Part 2...

"Endeavor To Persevere..."

Sometimes this simple quote is enough to keep me going. Especially considering the original source...

Spoken by wonderful Native American actor Chief Dan George's character Lone Watie in the classic Clint Eastwood western, The Outlaw Josey Wales, it has become one of those larger-than-life movie quotes taken from Hollywood but applied often to real life. George's role in the picture, while played mostly for deadpan comic effect, closely mirrors that of actual American Indians throughout our history.

And so, for him to continually utter the phrase in the face of his monumental struggle, it becomes easy to transfer it and its meaning to the more mundane challenges we face in our modern lives.

Endeavor to persevere. Strive to make the effort. Keep on keepin' on. Never give up. However you want to package the words, they remain a potent reminder.

Not of the solution. But of those first steps towards it...