Just Be.

When I first started out in the photography business, I worried that I wasn’t good enough, or that XYZ studio was standing out more than me. In fact, last year, I found myself irritated that my business wasn’t appearing to be as successful as so-in-so’s and I even blogged about that, I believe. If I can give one piece of advice from the road I’m currently on, it’s: Just Be.

So, by that I mean, stop following a bazillion Facebook Pages and blogs. Stop. For one, it’s a time suck! Secondly, you’ll constantly find yourself comparing your work to theirs. I know this first hand. I now have a couple of photographers I follow blogs for because they provide really nice articles and tutorials. For me, it’s not just really their work but how they share with other photographers. They aren’t paranoid that their competition is going to take their ideas or anything. They believe, like me, that sharing is caring.

Sites like our own, Inside the Locker, can give you a little piece of what others are doing without you feeling like you have to follow each and every person we feature, whether on Facebook or their blog feed. I know there are wedding sites out there as well, like Style Me Pretty. Those are the perfect blogs to follow because they can certainly help you and not kill your self-esteem.

I know what you’re thinking though, “HOLLY! We are following your blog!”

Yeah, I have been trying to figure out how to answer that. I certainly enjoy having the “numbers” to show for followings. But, I’m realistic in knowing that’s not accurate because if you’re like me, you mark a lot of blogs read in your feed reader when your schedule is too busy. If 10% of you subscribers actually read my blog, I hope it’s really for more of what I can share as a photographer and business person and not so much because you’re obsessed with being like me. Trust me, this is all surface anyway, if you want to really know me, you’d run for the hills! HA! Besides, I try to post more than just my photography. I’m a designer that sells to other photographers, so yeah, that’s the answer to that!

Anyway, I’m a big believer now in just “being” and doing your thing. Honing in on your style, educating yourself, being strong in your customer service and what you can bring to the experience of your clients is what makes you desirable as a photographer.

Life is too short. Instead of finding yourself following everyone in their brother on FB or overflowing your feed readers, get out and shoot. Make new photographer friends in town. They may be your competition, but did you really think you could shoot everyone in town? You’ll want those people on your side. Trust me.

PS. I just found that image through Google. Know the creator?