That's what I do. Give up. Throw in the towel before I get hurt...or succeed. Here is why I don't really "know" success...
Because, I give up too soon.
I am really good at giving up. It comes very easy to me.
I just figured this out.
Yes, you heard me...like a few hours ago, I figured this out.
A mini "Aha!" moment if you will.
For the past few months I kept wondering why the things I try just don't seem to pan out. I realized today that I have never stuck with something long enough. I give up easy. When I going gets tough...I don't get tougher. I run for the hills and hide. Kind of like Etsy...after 5 months of no sales...I gave up and closed the account. I have done this over and over and over through out my life.
I have no patience. And I thrive on instant gratification. And when I don't see results...I just shrug my shoulders and quit.
Just like that.
And then I start over with something new...and the pattern begins again.
I need to stop this.
I need to stop shrugging my shoulders and quitting.
But it's really hard. Really really hard.
And I find myself here again with my photography.
Trying so hard to reach out and market myself. Trying to promote my business and feeling like a complete ass.
Wondering...doubting...frozen.
Ready to say fuck this and throw in the towel.
The only thing that is different with this is....I can't quit. I love photography too much to throw in the towel. But I still feel like an whore trying to pimp myself out to get business. This is a hard part and I don't like it one bit! And I suck at it.
How about that?
Take a peek...I am blooming 365 days in 2010
I give up...
33 comments:
I suspect your reactions are common to "artistic types." The personality traits need to create art are not the same ones needed to market it. Are there any organizations or government offices in your city that offer business mentoring to women entrepreneurs? Perhaps that might make a difference?
Don't give up. You have to choose the right audience for your photographs and for your business.
You know better than anyone that it won't be easy. The good thing is your passion towards photography. Maybe you are good being an artist and not being a sales person. Fin the right route to sell your work or even exhibit it in the beginning until you are known in the field.
Good Luck
I have had the exact same realization today. I could think of it as giving up easily or think of it as not having found what I will not give up on.
You have found it too. You cannot give up on photography, and you won't. As for the "pimping out", that's a whole other category. Trying to make a business of your photography, and your photography are two separate things. You can't and won't give up the latter. Maybe it's time to find someone else to do the former? :)
Another thing that you have not given up on. Your blog. Thank goodness for that. :)
Hey- I think that is a great idea...
Do not feel badly for that or anything... remember this is a 365 day-a-year try...
;)
i have this dilemma too - i did great on sales with etsy and then nothing. but to be honest about it, i did better when i was not working and could actively, subtly market my work. since i've started back to work i just don't have the time and energy to do it. and like you, i'm so not a 'look at me, look at me' about my shop...i just can't do it. but...i do know, my instructors have said it's hard to make a real living at photography unless you do weddings or a lot of portraits. otherwise, you have to be in it for the love of it.
I'm happy to hear you're not really giving up. :-) One of the things that struck me about my own sense of commitment is this quote from Karen Maezen Miller's Momma Zen: "There are many things you can do in life, but the things that you accomplish are those to which you commit." It might not make it any easier but the things that are really important to us, we never give up on. They are our personal commitments.
Boy is your honesty refreshing! I relate to a lot of what you are saying. Thanks for putting it out there.
I have found in my life that recognizing and admitting something about myself that I want to change is the first step in making the change.
Congrats on taking that first step :)
From what I have seen here, your writing is refreshing, your photography is delicious and your spirit is alive and thriving. Looks like you have plenty to believe in and a great head start on becoming very successful.
May you recognize the value of your work and find your inner perseverance... real soon. (tee hee) :)
My wish for you.
your truth is not really a truth Caroline...you just don't realize it.
you won't give up...because you enjoy the creative challenge.
lovely post~
I've shown your photography book to a half-dozen people, and every single one of them said the same thing (or nearly the same thing): They all were amazed at your talent, and said that you have an amazing eye and feel for photography. I myself LOVE your photography, and can't get enough of it. So, please don't stop.
I think you need a partner...someone who loves your work and knows all about marketing/selling, so they can get your work to paying customers, and you can focus (ha) on doing what you love, and what you're good at - taking pictures.
i think i'm an easy giver upper, too....that's a technical term you know :)
but not with my photography....it's the one thing that has stayed with me....or maybe finally....i have stayed with something....YES, i have stayed with something and it's called photography.
and you will, too.....i know you will. i can feel it. it's a passion of yours, just like it's a passion of mine and it just keeps on growing, even when we get frustrated.
do you want to shoot weddings ? babies ? maybe rock bands ? i think the hard part is finding your niche....i love shooting seniors, but i have a baby shoot tomorrow since i can't seem to say no or to narrow myself down to just one area of photography....i really do love people in general and would love to NEVER shoot another flower if i could photograph people all the time....but like you, i'm not really into advertising myself...YET and never do I want to feel like i have a job or that i'm working to the point where my passion fades and i grumble about having to take photos....
so hang in there....it's there....it's all there and now since you've voiced it....it will happen !!!
You all are the best! Thank you.
I love taking portraits of women. Real and soulful portraits. Not head shots. But taking photos of women that might not like what they see...and then I can take a beautiful photograph of them and go..."See you are soooo beautiful!"
That's what I want to do!!!!
Caroline,
I love your book, I love your work, I think you are awesome in so many ways. And guess what??? I'm a whiz at marketing, and I would help you grow just because....seriously...ask Jay, he will verify any of it.
You know why you want to quit *this* time? Because as you said, you "love" photography, so your heart is in it. It's not just marketing some product, it's sharing your heart. Naturally you want it to blossom. And *that* is why you are going to be so successful....because it *is* your heart, it is beauty some people can't fathom, on a page...
so contact me (or don't *grin*)
And let me tell you this...way back when you had dreamweavers it was *my* dream you had on that board, and it's morphed into bigger, better than I could have imagined...
I'm right here Caroline...call me, lets make you a rock star for sure:) or guess what? if you do say f' it and you walk away, that's cool too because already you've changed lives and the next thing you try will just be another facet of that:)
You know what my motto is recently? *Smash it* smash that old mold to smithereens, rubble, dust and be who your heart wants you to be....
Caroline, don't give up. I was just telling my husband about how you just started your photography business and he could see how talking about you lit me up and inspires me to want to do the same down the road.
I'm an entrepreneur at heart. I love being in business, but like you, I've never been good at selling myself. My P.I. business lasted seven years and was very successful, but that is because in the beginning I hired someone to help me with marketing. We created a marketing brochure and he did all the follow up calls and stayed on top of marketing my business. It really helped a lot. Once people tried my services and liked them they spread the word and it didn't take long to get regular clients. I think the same thing will happen for you. All you need is just one customer who is happy with your service to spread the word. Word of mouth really is the best marketing there is.
Perseverance is the key. If this really is something that you love and you are on the right path, the universe will give you what you need. Hang in there. It's not easy but you are good enough to sell your services. Maybe your husband can help you out with the business end.
I was already envisioning you shooting my sister and I together. You see, my sister is going through chemotherapy right now and I want to do something special for her and I thought about your business. So, don't give up.
You can do it. Persevere. If you don't get business right away, don't think of it as a failure, think of it as a learning experience and how you can do something better to market yourself.
Network. Do you have business cards? If not, get some. If you do, give them out to EVERYONE you meet, etc. Take a girlfriend with you to a chamber of commerce meet and greet. Whereever you go, talk about your photography. If someone asks you what you do for a living, instead of saying, "I'm a photographer" say something like "I help bring out the beauty in women." It will intrigue them to find out how you do that. It will hold their interest.
I didn't notice a posting on your facebook page. Use that as a marketing tool as well.
Just do it. You will be great, because you already are.
I sense you are being too hard on yourself - and also you seem to want instant success. Look - we know - YOU know - you are great at photography. But it is a very competitive market. You sound like you know what you want to do. Take small steps towards it. That's how you climb big mountains - small steps. There is some great advice in the comments above. Networking - you are doing it here on your blog very successfully. Keep going - word of mouth takes TIME. Be patient, know that all the photos you are taking now are all useful and will be in your catalogue or are at least practice. Ok so you want to photograph women - have you tried leaving business cards in beauty salons? Or how about taking a volunteer and using her image on your leaflets that you are going to make - just a couple of ideas. How about advertising in wedding magazines - how fantastic for a 'different' pre-wedding photo of the bride?
I love every photo you've ever shared with us! I agree with Genie that maybe it's time someone else do the marketing and you can focus on the art.
LOOOOOOOVE all the suggestions...
Thank you!
Actually have been thinking about doing something for breast cancer survivors...
Don't ever quit - everything worth having is hard work. Try different avenues, styles, get expert advise and do what you do best - creating and let others do what they do best.
Good luck, all you need is more hard work and a little luck.
I'm so touched by your honesty to admit that you've been a chronic give-up-er (if there's there's such a word!) It requires lots of courage and tenacity to expose oneself like that.
And this is my message to you. DO NOT give up yet. As you have pointed out, you love photography so much that you can't see your life without it. This is great! You've found your "language" and no one or anything in the world could take away from you.
Seeking gratification (instant or distance) is all but natural. Me too, if you read my blog, I was so blatant to grab a badge which said "your comment fuel my blog". I wouldn't become an "artist" (even an emerging one) without the so called instant gratification (i.e. people's comment).
Give yourself the time you need to not only become an artist but also the time to get used to the idea to market your business. I know it's difficult but you can do it.
If not, any chance to make use of some form of marketing facitilies or network with group of photographers to seek an "agent".
The important thing is to believe in yourself and knowing that it is going to take time and effort to achieve your dream.
I'm here to support you, my dear fellow creatives ... :D
Holy shit... I'm so much like this. You made me shiver when I read your story. It's like reading about me...brrr....
But you ARE brilliant when it comes to your pictures, and your stories. So do have patiance, feel the guidens because something beautiful has to come out of this one...I know it will. YOU will be bigg. Believe me. But most of all believe in yourself.
Thank you so much for being so totaly open about it. I'm even to chicken for that...so no running up the hills at all for my just straight away ducking....and hiding.
I'm sorry I've missed so much of you and your live. Sorry for not being there and reaching out, for you to lean on my shoulders....I'm sorry. But I'm catching up.
Warmest hugs ever Dagmar
Don't ever give up!! You are a great photographer, and you love what you do. It's the best of both worlds. Stick with it, no matter what!
I can't market myself either and so I don't nor can I charge what I really should.
I wouldn't call 5 moths of no sales on etsy giving up too soon.
I am not the quitting type, I go on and on and on even when it's all over red rover.
some times you need to know when to quit.
I guess there is a fine line between not quitting to early and knowing when to throw in the hat.
xo love to you...
Ah....it seems we have something else in common....
Having never succeeded at anything either because I suffer from the same affliction, I will not attempt to offer advice. There are lots of wise words spoken on this very subject. Here's one example I saw today that made me stop and reflect on it.
"Pain is temporary. Quitting is forever." Lance Armstrong
You have a wave of support behind you Caroline, and the swell is building, preparing to lift you up. Don't get out of the water, just yet. Wait for it.
xoxo
Carolynn
I didn't see this until now (Monday afternoon).
Caroline, you are a gifted photographer. And like you, I'm not making sales on etsy. I have my prints there, but it's ok with me (sort of) about the lack of sales. I've had the account for over two years, so is it really worth it?
Because of your love of photographing people, which I've learned about you, why don't you open shop as that?
Sometimes I will see a photo of yours and it just stops me in my tracks. What am I saying, sometimes . . . it happens a lot.
I'm the same exact way with everything. Skateboarding, quitting smoking, photography, painting, pretty much everything I try/do.
Ever since I was a kid I jumped from thing to thing but it was different...my interests never changed...I just hate being a failure, my expectations are too high of myself, I know EXACTLY how you feel.
It's so bad, I've been considering selling my Nikon D40 and 15 - 55VR.
This is what helps me to stick with it.
I think of what i'm offering is of service and there are people out there that can benefit from what I have. That lessens away the whole icky feeling that can plague me with marketing.
Also I double the time things I feel will happen. If I think it will take 3 months, i give myself six months to let something manifest.
Hang in there. I know I sometimes give up before success because I get scared. Move forward boldly.
We're here for you :)
Oh Caroline,
Here's the good news, the really good news, which you have probably already picked up on reading everyone else's messages "you are not alone in this!!!" This is a very common and recurring experience to many creative people. It is so easy to become disappointed and frustrated when our creative pursuits have a long cultivation period (and truly, most creative pursuits do). By recognizing this in yourself and stating your awareness before witnesses you now have spiritual buddies to stand by you so that this time you can feel supported...this will allow for change to truly begin. We believe in you. YOU are such a gifted photographer...don't give up!
I've just been reading about north/south nodes in astrology here http://www.elizabethspring.com/
the sign south node is in is about old patterns/karma to recognize & release.... bet you any money the theme of giving up & fear to go it alone come up in yours! the north node is about your true purpose... but we tend to ignore/fear these messages!! worth a search around to help understand why you act like... ?!
as for marketing... try a search for 'innerpreneur', also 'the heart of marketing' (a lot on the site without buying the book)... tink that might help resolve some of the issues about selling...
your not alone on this. it's the story of my life.
it's different now though, for you and me, maybe. we have found something that lives in us~ photography.
xoxo
With no doubt, another has said this. I was told long ago, Never leave the dinner before the desert.
Eye opening photography, Caroline! And beautiful.
I was totally feeling this as of late. But I figured, WTF, since I will always shoot (it's not something I can stop) why not keep putting myself out there?
Hang in there. From your later post, it looks like *big* things are in the work. :-)
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