We were loading our plates with a second serving of fresh fish tacos (the little corn tortillas), and I asked my friend how his work was going.
He sat down, and artfully wrapped up his burrito. He said he grew a nice network last year, allowing him to do the work he loved, which was showcasing residential architecture with his impeccable photography.
His photos are featured on websites, in magazines and on social media platforms for his clients, allowing them to tell their own story.
Photography began as a passion, three years ago. But a lot of photographers have passion. And it turns out, just having a passion to do something isn’t enough.
It’s important to take the first step in any new project seriously:
What’s your story? Who are you for and what’s their story? What’s the specific change you want to make? Why does your biz need to exist?
It’s tempting to skip straight to the websites, logo, brand colours, instagram stories, or a new opt-in that gets a couple clicks, because these small metrics “feel” more like progress, but this can become a trap.
Because my friend was intentional at the start, he was able to take each step with purpose.
Once he knew the particular transformation he wanted to make for a particular type of client, he could see a path. He knew exactly who to connect with, and the type of work that might resonate.
When he met the type of people he wanted to work with, he could speak up with conviction, as he had something to say, and something specific to give.
Tactics are helpful, but when we aren’t clear on the underlying path of where we are trying to go, they also can be little more than a dopamine trap.
