Professional photographers' commoditization covered in mainstream media | Potts' Photo-Marketing Blog

Professional photographers' commoditization covered in mainstream media | Potts' Photo-Marketing Blog:

"What did those professional photographers do to survive? Every single one of them refused to focus on what was wrong with changes; they focused on the opportunities! They use a business slow-down to reinvent themselves. They update their portfolios; become proficient in new software; grow their business network; and learn more effective sales and marketing techniques.

I’ve also seen brilliant photographers stagnate-and even sabotage- their careers because they spent so much time wallowing in anger and blame over the facts that “things changed and it’s not fair.” They’re not out shooting new work. They’re not connecting with clients to find out what problems and pain their clients are experiencing. They’re not updating their web presence. They’re not getting marketing help. They’re not helping anyone else. They’re perpetuating their own downward spiral by focusing on the half-empty view of the world.

I am not suggesting it is easy to switch to “the glass is half-full” view of the industry –given how dramatically and how rapidly someone “moved the cheese” (to mix a metaphor)–but it is one of the most effective strategies anyone can employ when facing a change of this magnitude. I’ve seen the results of the power of shifting an attitude too many times to dismiss it’s seaming simplicity. Sometimes it’s the most simple actions that have the most profound effects."