The title of this post is part of a quote from this BusinessWeek article about the Pro v Amateur creative websites, especially photo ones. The quote is spot-on for all creatives–you need to be moving up the value chain or you will, sooner or later, be out of business.
Generalists, I’m talking to you. I’m talking to any of you who are too afraid to drop all the crap images from your marketing. If you don’t have the cojones to believe in your own creativity and go out there and sell it, you might as well start looking for your next career.
This is an opportunity! Now you have the chance to make the kind of work you love and to get it out there. You just need to do it.
Last night, my husband (the creative architect who is just starting his biz) was telling me about his frustrations because he has all these ideas, but doesn’t know what to do with them. I suggested using his blog to just put them out there. Don’t edit them, don’t over think them–just share with the world the “crazy” ideas. I suggested making it a self-assignment–post at least one idea every day. Potential clients will, over time, see how he thinks and he will get projects because of that–because the good clients will want someone who thinks like he does…not just some guy who knows how to use CADD.
Same goes for you photographers. Put your vision out there, target the right people, and the work will come.