Working fastidiously in what can be an infinite vacuum and sort of bottomless pit is tricky. At times marketing is overwhelmingly void of validation, understanding, recognition, or reward. Tossing rocks into the abyss to test how close we are to gaining the affection of the next art director is at times the only way to know anything about the unknowns of marketing and assignment shooting.
Marketing food photography can feel imprecise. The unknown, the unpredictable, and the unseen can be agonizing. Great anticipation and expectation precipitate eager wanting for the results of the last e-mailer to return; or the last blitz of postcards to yield droves of phone calls from art directors, art buyers and creative directors. Our ears hunger for the expected... hey there, I got a job I need you to shoot; send me over an estimate.
Having a meeting with Ms. Angela Krass of FOTO & ART PROJX sobered us to a few basics. We were reminded that good things come with effort, consistency, hardwork, and discipline. It sounds so boring and square doesn't it? Most decisive in our time with the divine Angela Krass alerted us to the vital importance of reinforcing the internal reserve of inner validation. This inner validation is a sort of recognition that lives in the heart, mind, body and of course, the spirit. These areas of existence get easily shuffled aside when it comes to business.
But just a few weeks ago, we got a call from a new client we'd being pursuing via mail, email, and occasional phone calls… for 3 years. Instant gratification happens but it's not a permanent fixture in the world of assignment photography. The internal reserve of private validation is the one constant you can count on.
Angela spent a generous portion of time sharing her experience, insight, understanding of photography, the business of photography; the art of photography, and the significance of creating compelling imagery that speaks to its viewers with passion, emotion, and soulful connection.
As we brought our meeting to a close with Angela Krass we both felt such an elated and comforted state of mind that we didn't want to let Angela go. We wanted to keep her in our hands to nurture us, validate us.. Encourage us, pat us on the backs, and shout good job team!!
We were reminded to get out of the studio mentally and to solicit outside voices from professional peers, critics, consultants and others of the like to initiate dialogue about the work. We also realized how starved we were feeling for validation. Oops did I say the V word~~ ?
Community, connection, interdependence is the wave of now. It's also a tool which dilutes a desperado need to validate ones work. We often talk about forming a local group to rap about assignment photography share work, have portfolio dialogues and critiques.
Angela's presence reminded us of the significance of having our peers critique the work we produce.
Reflecting on our a-z list we concluded we are kicking some noble booty on all borders from intangible marketing, electronic mailers, Search Engine Optimizing, networking in person and on the phone, shooting for the book, stock, optimizing the roadmap, the mission statement, yadda yadaa.. the list continues.
In the presence of an angel like Angela Krass we remind ourselves to shoot the things we love, the way we like to see it, in the light that speaks life, love and truth. Because we are photographers we can do anything. We bow to Angela Krass of FOTO & ART PRJX for connecting with the IMSTEPF team.
connect with FOTO & ART PROJX ANGELA KRASS
