I’m still amazed at how many photographers I meet who have entirely no vision, or they’re merely short-sighted. They have huge hearts, are well-motivated, even passionate about their desire to be a success, but they’ve never taken the time to stop and think about how to achieve their goals directly.
I read a lot of Melody Beattie’s work to help stay focused on what’s really important. One of her thoughts hits home in a big way. The thought was, Let Your Visions Guide You.
“A vision is a small glimpse of light that shines and shows us our path,
It is a quick flash of something that hasn’t happened yet….
the more conscious and clear and direct we are,
the more we can tune into and help create the highest vision for our lives.”
Melody Beattie, From Journey to the Heart.
Some of you are just getting started on your journey in photography, while others are more established. However, every one of us has a vision of how we want our lives to be and how we want to turn our skills into a career. Photography is about creativity, art, and your heart. You need the “trifecta,” to be successful! You can’t capture images that tug at people’s heartstrings if your own heart isn’t in it!
Here are few questions you should be asking yourself:
What am I doing to keep building my skill set as a photographer? Technology is continually changing, and that means you never get to rest on your laurels!
Am I confident in understanding the process of capturing an image? Can I envision what I want to create in my “mind’s eye” before I click the shutter? Do I know my gear well enough so I can completely focus on creativity rather than the process itself?
Am I creating images that are my very best and different from my competitors? Do I put in the extra effort to help define my work as art and not just another photograph?
When I click the shutter does my heartbeat pick up just a little in anticipation of the finished results? Am I passionate about photography, my clients, and new technology? Spend a short time at the next conference or workshop and talk with a few of your favorite icons – you’ll find their enthusiasm has never slowed down.
These questions might seem pretty fundamental, but so often I’ve found myself talking to photographers who lost their vision! They’re not sure what direction to go in, and with so many different paths to choose, they’re caught in “analysis paralysis.”
Want to stay focused on your vision? Surround yourself with positive people. Interact with people who share some of your passions. Read blogs, attend webinars and workshops, listen to podcasts that can help you fine-tune your skill set and grow. Most important of all, take the time to recharge your battery. If you’re a parent, then you know the signs of a sugar low when your kids are out of gas! It’s no different as an adult, be it a sugar low or just a passion low!
“Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul,
the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.”
Napoleon Hill
