Monday Blues, Doldrums and breaking OUT!

Its Monday. Dreading it somehow. My shoot cancelled and my bed is calling...so what did I do today? I wasted 4 precious hours trying to finish the design of my new business cards. Its harder than you think. Im sure you can understand.  Every company has different sizes, bleed lines and you think you FINALLY have it done, just to upload it and find that its gets chopped off JUST at the exact wrong place. Bugger. So you go back, change and re-upload. After a whole lots of cursing and explicatives, its done and dusted. Passed on the fridge magnets and coffee cups this time, but who knows...maybe I'll be back there someday.
Next is something pretty personal I have to say. I think that as a commercial style photographer I can follow and brief and capture what is being asked of me. But I am feeling compelled to step out of that comfort zone these days. I dont event know what you would classify as fine art, but I think I need to explore that side and be more adventurous. I have some ideas brewing, some people Im gathering and hopefully if the brooding weather coopertates, I'll be able to get out and do the first image this week...putting ideas into action are alot more difficult than it may appear. And if its easy, why bother?

Werribee Mansion & Spa

Winter is here in full force, so here I go...bundled up and ready for action!

To Market or NOT to Market...that is ONE of the questions this week...

Perhaps you have heard of this most recent self marketing guru named Ramit Sethi (www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com). If you havent - you SHOULD - IMMEDIATELY!

Many years ago I started down the self help path (aka spiritual path/self awareness/self improvement - whatever you choose to call it). Have studied a wee bit here and there and have integrated many bits n bobs of technology, advise, and of course a mainly autodidactic method of study.
So its when i came across this guy that I started to get SERIOUSLY jazzed again about my self learning path.
Many people need to have it all spelled out in front of them. They need someone to hold thier hands all the way. And in sorts of ways Ramit does that for you. But you have to reaaaaallllly want it. I mean really. Both on the commitment side to money, time, and personal achievement. In other words. You gotta want to be a winner. The last program on offer from him - Dreamjob - costs $4000. A miniscule investment in the long run for you financial and spiritual satisfaction.

I missed out on it. But. Its not too late. I can do what I can figure out and learn  - I love workshops, they are a great way to update your knowledge (AIPP does great continuing education), www.creativelive.com just did a great marketing course and of course you can always get your RSS feeds up to date with the most current blogs and websites offering free marketing information.

What is my point you might ask?

It's not going to come to you while you are sitting on your arse complaining. You HAVE to be aggressive and go out and SELL yourself. Work all your networks and when they are exhausted, go network some more. Send out letters,  follow up calls. Plan on spending several hours every week blogging, updating your Google+ and facebook page with new images. Intertia will carry you the rest of the way. If for no other reason, it gives you a day at home in bed with your pajama on ALL day.

Freebies - there are TONS of them out there for information and marketing purposes...perhaps that should be my next post...phew.

Oh...and dont be afraid to ask for what you want. A little effort goes a loooong way in this business.

A Few Brave Steps...

This week I have been drooling over a few new webinars and marketing/self promotions ideas that heave really challenged where I currently sit in my comfort zone.

BMW, Google+Photography Conference

Guy Kawasaki makes it easy to believe that you can armchair your way to a successful photography business. Facebook does not. Blogger - meh. Twitter - not bad...
The reality is that until you REALLY step out of your comfort zone, the jobs aint going to come to you.
So begins my semi obsession with Ramit Sethi and his very expensive ELITE performers programs in how to get the job you want, negotiate thousands more in salary, and use your contacts to win big.
I would LOVE to be able to sit in my little bedroom office all DAY and twitter, blog, facebook my way to millions, but it is becoming clearer that marketing does NOT work that way in this business. In fact, I think it will land me into the $200 wedding business, hi res DVD's and all *shudders*. The trick is where to start. A few weeks ago, I started updating, cleaning up and polishing my social media profiles. They now all (except SOundcloud (heh)) include information and links about my photography with proportionally representational images and material. Google+, FB Twitter, LinkedIn, Blogger and a few others. After doing a little Google search I noticed how much of the representations were about my DJing and a few other inappropriate, highly personal, private, non relevant information. Let the cleanse begin.
So now Im jazzed up about how I can start writing my scripts for successful meetings, coffee connections, and keeping my eye on the prize. Letting people know who I am, rather than just random searches, flickr images. Cuz in the end, I already have YOUR attention right? Maybe you have something little to offer me. But I know that I have my eye on the BIG prize...and have big inspirations, big plans, big motives, and the gumption to go get it.

How has your week been so far?