Comments on: How trashing my best work made my business stronger

By: Michelle Nicole

Michelle Nicole — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 21:27:00 +0000

i would be dancing too. :-) getting nothing done.

By: Lyndianimages

Lyndianimages — Sat, 12 May 2012 08:25:00 +0000

Gosh I needed this post….. thanks so much for helping me to get my act together. I started a folder of my work & was using it as inspiration before a shoot, but then I went on holidays, got out of the routine & forgot all about it – & checked out other photographers before my last few shoots….. big mistake. Thanks for reminding me. Also, less is more is now my motto, not only in showing my images to the public, but in style. I quite weddings 6 months ago because I really disliked the post production section, but recently was offered a retail outlet for a very cheap price to show my work with the wedding planner. Opportunity was there, I was so tempted, but realised after a couple of days that I was stressing about it. I love shooting kids… & seniors – thats my plan now. thankyou, thankyou thankyou. best wishes Lyndal

By: Andrea

Andrea — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:56:00 +0000

This is fabulous and just what I needed to read and understand! Thank you for finally putting into words what I have been trying to figure out for some time now. It all makes perfect sense. Thanks for the push to get me going again in the right direction. I was feeling like giving it all up and now I just feel like I need a good purging…a cleansing.

By: Amanda Reynaert

Amanda Reynaert — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:32:00 +0000

So. I LOVE THIS! This is SO where I am at, and have just come through. So. Flipping excited to have read this. I’m now bookmarking and will come back once I’ve got my work done for the day! AWESOME post!

By: elizabethhalford

elizabethhalford — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:16:00 +0000

Hi Michelle! Thank you so much for getting in touch :) You’re absolutely doing the right thing. Don’t be rushed because the people who rush you…where would they be if the whole thing fell apart? Do what YOU think is right.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 09:05:00 +0000

Elizabeth,

I have been following your posts now for a few months and have to say this article has hit the nail on the head! I am a budding photographer, early in setting up my business but very aware of what image I want to portray when I am ready to ‘put myself out there’! So many others are rushing me to go live with marketing and my website but finding my style has been more important to me than compromise. I struggle most days thinking I can’t do this, i’m not talented enough, today I read your blog and it gives me so much inspiration to keep going, Elizabeth ta v much for doing what you do, Michelle x

By: Lynn Gorham Clark

Lynn Gorham Clark — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:53:00 +0000

Everyone tells me I need to shoot weddings. That I’ll never make a living NOT shooting weddings. That if I try to make boudoir my main line, the fad will run out and I’ll be back in my just-retired-from full-time gig lickety split. I also don’t love shooting families and have yet to come back from a session revved up.

I don’t want to shoot weddings or families, but apparently I “have to.” (oddly, I rarely hear about wedding-only photographers getting bullied into shooting portraits, or pet photography.) I love photographing women, newborns to kindergartners and couples. That’s what fills me up. And that’s what I want to do. When these are my subjects, my work is great. It looks like me and feels like me. When I shoot weddings or families, it feels derivative and doesn’t feel like me.

Since I am just now full time in this career after 20+ years in my previous public relations/journalism career, I’m terrified that if I don’t do what “they” say I’ll fail. It’s a matter of experience and self-confidence. Any yet, I know that if I would have followed the advice I got straight out of journalism school (PR is evil) I wouldn’t have had a very successful and fulfilling career in nonprofit communications, where I did a lot of good.

So maybe instead of listening to “them” I could listen to my own experience. I’ve never failed when following my heart. This blog is a great reminder about that. Thank you, Elizabeth.

By: jackie Spellen

jackie Spellen — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 05:44:00 +0000

OMG. I am so happy and glad you posted this. I have been going back and forth trying to find Jackie Spellen Photography, Picture Me 2, or Jackie’s Camera for the longest. I find myself taking pictures just for the money and not enjoying photography as I once did.
I lost all the joy in taking pictures that I had to stop and find me, my photography. I was the go-to person in my town for event photography, photo shoots, portraits, kids portraits, weddings, clubs, and headshots. I made sure I read every book or watch every video that inspired me to do what other photographers were doing. NO MORE! I was being unfair to myself and to my clients. I now know what I want to do and it’s strictly Headshots and Portrait Photography.Elizabeth, your points are dead on and I have a lot to take away from this post. I am now subscribed and a regular on this site. You really hit home –>straight here in NYC as I sit in front of my Mac reading this article. You really hit home.My photography is me and my camera, capturing and controlling what I love.Thank you. Thank you.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:13:00 +0000

Who needs to shoot for money when you link to such expensive books that offer NO evidence of their content.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 06:03:00 +0000

I’ve been thinking about these same issues for awhile. I revamped by website tonight after reading your article!