Comments on: The ins and outs of your first impression (part 1 – work in)

By: thestudiosource.com » The ins and outs of your first impression (part 2 – look outward)

Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:07:11 +0000

[...] you’ve had a little time to banish objections and self-made intimidation. This next part is simple—come up with one thing to improve your first impression. One. Here are [...]

By: Stacey Cornelius

Stacey Cornelius — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:30:22 +0000

Nice way to start a new year, Kathy.

By: Stacey Cornelius

Stacey Cornelius — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:29:32 +0000

You know, Sally, people wanting to buy the work you love yourself is exactly what most professional creatives dream about. Just saying.

By: Sally Mack

Sally Mack — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 15:50:07 +0000

The most difficult part for me is also the most liberating: not selling much. You bet I’d like to be able to make a living through my photography and many people assume I make a lot more money from it than I do.

But not selling allows me to take pictures that I want, not having to consider whether or not they’re salable or if a client would like approve.

To complete the circle, I find that, on the whole, people like the photos that I take “for myself.”

Would selling more influence my vision and the pictures I take? I like to think not.

I’ve learned that my best pictures come simply from my liking the way something looks. I may have to work to produce the photo that “replicates” (or represents) a scene or subject and it may take several tries but that’s what being a photographer is about.

I’ve also learned that I can’t force or fake liking the way something looks.

So, for me the “chicken voice” = freedom to photograph the world the way I see it.

By: Kathy G

Kathy G — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 01:52:17 +0000

Interestingly, Lydia, you have actually inspired a big shift in this “chicken voice ” area for me…I decided that I don’t HAVE to have a something to sell…this is such a relief after years of feeling like I needed “something” to sell…that has kept me from just offering what I have to offer which is not always something to sell.

By: Stacey Cornelius

Stacey Cornelius — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:52:01 +0000

Lydia, I have to confess I chuckled to myself when I asked about favourite objections, but if we didn’t love them so much, we’d send them away in a heartbeat.

Value is highly subjective. Perhaps your currency isn’t cash, but something else. Your growing audience certainly seems to think so.

By: Stacey Cornelius

Stacey Cornelius — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:48:36 +0000

Libby, I hear you. Sometimes I feel like I’m shouting down a well. But yeah, the freedom is fantastic, and the Internet is a big candy store full of ideas.

Enjoy Atlanta.

By: Lydia, Clueless Crafter

Lydia, Clueless Crafter — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:33:33 +0000

My “favourite objection” (love that I’d even have a fave) is that I am not selling anything, so I tend to think my work has a lower value. Despite my efforts to see the value in craft, that it is a process and a mindset and that it is not always about the final product, I feel less of an entrepreneur if I’m not hawking my wares. Like I didn’t sweat enough to get paid.

I am glad that I don’t let that duppy hang out over here too much. It comes up every once in a while.

By: aneyefordetail

aneyefordetail — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:31:37 +0000

The most difficult part of work for me is being alone. Mind you, I chose this many years ago… and in so many ways I love it. I love not having to say “good morning” to anyone; love, of course, not having to report to a boss; love the freedom of time etc etc. I don’t work in my house. I abandoned that many years (and three offices/studios) ago. I now work in a building with some really nice people, so that helps. But still…..it is lonely work.
I’m getting ready for the Atlanta Mart this weekend. Trade shows REALLY energize me. I socialize. I show my stuff. I make new contacts.
And last, but really most important, is the internet. WOW. What a difference that has made!