| | | | | increase with the number of close and positive |
| Regrets, Advertising Assignments, and | | | | relationships you have. |
| Relationships | | | | |
| | | | | |
| I don’t have a lot of regrets at this point, but | | | | Exotic Video Cameras, Helicopters and Blend |
| I do have a few. And one of those regrets is not | | | | Images |
| keeping up friendships. Due to a variety of | | | | |
| factors, divorces (eeks…plural), being a | | | | A close relationship with my primary computer |
| workaholic and so forth, I have lost touch with | | | | vendor has resulted in the opportunity to shoot |
| many of my friends both in business and in my | | | | with exotic video cameras, and to play with |
| personal life. | | | | cutting-edge storage systems. A relationship with |
| | | | | my knee surgeon resulted in one of my best |
| If I had it to do over again, I would have retained | | | | paying stock shoots ever, using his facilities as a |
| more friendships. One piece of advice I was given | | | | location basically for free. A relationship with a |
| as a young photographer, just entering the world | | | | helicopter pilot led to countless opportunities for |
| of advertising assignments, was not to look a job | | | | aerial shooting…and a heck of a lot of fun! And |
| as a $3,000 dollar day (back then day rates were | | | | relationships with a couple of my peers resulted in |
| in…I chose $3,000.00 because that was what I | | | | my becoming one of the founders of the stock |
| was asking at that time), but rather as a | | | | agency Blend Images (that was a big one…). I |
| $100,000.00 relationship. | | | | have many such stories, but have let many more |
| | | | | get away by failing to nurture and maintain |
| | | | | relationships that had the potential, but that I |
| Relationships and People You Genuinely Like | | | | neglected to death. |
| | | | | |
| Obviously it is important to keep relationships | | | | |
| healthy and alive for one’s personal life, but it | | | | Who You Know, and Things We Can’t |
| could be useful to take a look at the role | | | | Imagine |
| relationships play in our photography business and | | | | |
| careers. These relationships range from bankers | | | | It is sometimes said that it isn’t what you |
| and accountants to models and fellow | | | | know, but whom you know. I think what you |
| photographers to art directors, designers and, | | | | know is vitally important, but it often is whom |
| yes, even your non-photographer friends. It is | | | | you know that allows you to put what you know |
| important to realize that in a good, healthy | | | | into practice. The people you know can provide |
| relationship you will not be taking advantage of | | | | you with opportunities from locations, to models, |
| people. I think it is important to cultivate | | | | to inspiration to guidance to things we can’t |
| relationships with people you genuinely like and | | | | even imagine. |
| respect…there are plenty of them out there! | | | | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | Nurturing Relationships |
| Art Directors, Communication Friends and Fun | | | | |
| | | | | How do you nurture those relationships? You give |
| Of course, it is obvious why you would want to | | | | of yourself. You give your time, your enthusiasm |
| cultivate relationships with Art directors and other | | | | and your heart. You do your best to see the |
| clients. It is more fun to work with friends, it | | | | world through their eyes. You give them honesty, |
| fosters better communication and teamwork with | | | | an ear, and respect. If you do that with no |
| a trusted friend can result in better work. But | | | | expectation of getting something in return… you |
| good things can come from unexpected places, | | | | will be amazed at what does come back. |
| and the chances of those good things coming | | | | |