Sunday, August 29, 2010

Ideas, thoughts, and randomness...

In January, things were sketchy. No computer, another hard drive crash, lost images (which still feels like a punch in the chest when I think of what is gone forever). Doubt, insecurity. Gradually, I made some decisions. Gradually, slowly, I took small steps. Other than in October when I registered LHP legally, there was never a point where I thought "THIS IS IT" and went all-in. I still haven't. I still feel like I could back out if I wanted to.

I don't want to.

What an amazing summer. Inch by inch, step by step, things have progressed. I've had phenomenal clients, amazing support, and gorgeous weather. I still don't feel that moment of 'all-in'. I still feel like I am taking small steps, but I feel growth and forward movement, even if it is slow. It is a pace I'm comfortable with.

I've been watching an amazing, epic event at creativeLIVE with Jasmine Star, Wedding photographer. Although it has confirmed that I have no desire currently to subject myself to the stress of photographing someone's wedding day, it has a lot of value in other ways, particularly in learning about her work ethic, marketing techniques, and branding philosophy. I'm definitely a person who takes what I can use, and leaves the rest. I have heard before, and will hear again that it is best to brand yourself into a niche, Family Photographer. Pet Photographer. and have separate branding and websites, etc for that niche. That doesn't work for me. As a client, I am a huge fan of 'one stop shopping'. What can you offer me, all in one place, thank you very much. Don't make it hard or confusing, or I'll just be annoyed and go somewhere else.

My philosophy is that I want to capture memories, moments and connections. (weird - I think I just came up with my 3 words - also a J* marketing/branding idea) and that happens with babies, pets, families, married, single, gay, straight, black, white, special needs, PEOPLE and RELATIONSHIPS. Cutting myself off from a group so I can be thought of as specialized makes no sense to me. So, this verbal diarreah that I have on the blog after 8 months of silence is to try to find ME inside my business. Try to find the parts of me that I want represented in my marketing. Marketing is the one part of the business I haven't focused on (and with joy I can say that I haven't needed to. unreal!) But true growth happens when you put yourself out there. So that's my 6 month plan... to finish the website and blog, and to start adding content relevant to me and my business.

In the inner workings of my brain, something about the separate branding kept coming back to me. It wasn't an exact fit, more like a rounded cornered block into a circular hole... no sharp edges but almost could work... so one of the things that I'm considering will be posted next, to keep things separated. (gotta keep 'em separated)

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