Real Friends are Priceless
[by Todd Joyce]
A photographer friend of mine tells me that his business is doing very well. Mine has been slow, but seems to be improving. I don’t mind saying so, but last year was my worst year since being in business. I admit that I ignored my business too much and my friend reminded me of that several times throughout last year… he watches out for me in many ways. We tend to watch out for each other actually. In fact, there was a time when he was having a slump and he reminds me that I helped him through it too. He tells me, “I am simply returning the favor – that’s what friends do. ”
I have another photographer friend who talks about business and what we can do to stay ahead of the curve. He’s been very helpful in what I term as a rebuilding of my business. We also bounce creative ideas off each other and talk about how to market our work and which buyers we need to see. It’s quite a great relationship. We show each other work for critique too. It’s amazing what another person can see in your work that you may not be able to see. They have an objective view that is very valuable. And, if you have a good and honest relationship, they can tell you what they think without fear of hurting you. It’s taken years to achieve, but it’s incredibly valuable.
I laugh when I hear another friend of mine tell the story, but he credits a conversation he had with me about 12 years ago on my deck as the turning point in his career. We talked about visions and goals and life. I suppose counseling could be in my future, but in truth it was just an honest conversation with a good friend.
If you know me at all, you have probably guessed by now that these friends are fellow ASMP members. We met through ASMP and have been friends for many years. Now, if I were just looking for friends, I’m sure there are lots of other places I could find them, but it is not just about having friends. This is about surrounding yourself with people who understand what we do and what we need to survive. I prefer to surround myself with creative people, because I want to be creative. I surround myself with people who run an ethical business, people who want to share, who understand the process and who have unique perspectives, all for the same reason. I can honestly say that these friends have helped my business and my creativity through the years. I’m sure I would not be the artist I am, nor the business person I am if it weren’t for the network of friends I’ve established through ASMP.
Todd Joyce is a recent Past President of ASMP and specializes in conceptual people photography for advertising. See Todd’s work at joycephotography.com and contact him at todd@joycephotography.com
2 Responses to 'Real Friends are Priceless'
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Nice post, i have a friend just like that! It’s paid off, over the years, in more ways than I could have imagined! Name 5 Nobel Piece prize winners, now name five of the most influential people in your life . . .
Tony Bynum
http://www.glaciparkphotographer.blogspot.com
Tony, thanks. Since this is a business blog, a post about friends may seem a little off topic, but it’s amazing how much my professional friends (who are also personal friends) have influenced my business. Surround yourself with good people and good will come.
BTW – naming my friends who have helped me would be a very long list. Five is too limiting.