One of the big lessons I stumbled upon quite early in my photography time-line, was that you should take every oppurtunity you a presented with - low pay, no pay, high pay, whatever. Occasionally when I am very busy I forget this slightly, but today I was so busy and had a massive reminder that DAMMIT ROSIE - the way to get more jobs, to feel secure is to take EVERY oppurtunity.
I've gotten wedding photography jobs from writing my website on a piece of paper bag on a train, just yesterday I saw a Boots sales assistant was wearing an engagement ring and often get into chats with anyone regardless - it's so surprising but when people have just a nice, no pressure chat with you, they naturally want to help you succeed. No advertising, no "mega value deals" - just niceness.
Here's a quote I LOVE:
"All things unequal, people will always buy from a friend. All things equal, people will still always buy from a friend."
This is stupidly true. Luckily I fell into this mantra the right way - not being nice to people to get something out of them, but being nice to them because it's nice to be nice. But it's such a wonderful thing, and has opened so many doors!
Today I shot with clothes sent to me by American Apparel on their suggestion (awesome!!!). Last year I shot the album cover for Maroon 5, a band I am a stupidly massive fan of. I've had emails from Samsung, done book covers for Penguin books and lots of work inbetween. And I'm pretty sure none of this, and I mean none of it, would have happened if it hadn't have been for those little doors opening along the way.
And I'm not talking about massive blogs wanting to feature me or knowing the "right" people. Seriously I knew/know no one. But the every day people, you and me. It just clicked. For every email I reply nicely to, that's one person who might have a smile on their face. A smile on their face generates a click next time I post somethin' up. A click results in a feature somewhere - flickr explore, or a higher google search. And then BAM Maroon 5 see my work on a google search! Job booked, Rosie falls off chair, people everywhere send emails - I GET RESPONDING.
It's not a case of getting something out of people - that "thanks for your lovely comments" email might never lead anywhere, and I'm pretty sure the awesome high schooler who made me a wicked video sure doesn't have Beyonce's phone number. But niceness PAYS off! It does! There's so much negativity on the net, and it baffles me! So many people who want to be successful - the key is just to get talking! Send compliments, post interesting thoughts, have a go, fail, have another go, send thanks, send questions - and bang, watch those doors start opening.
Everyday I think I'm learning more and more the importance of the "unimportant". I'm so excited to release editing tutorials, and I hope they help people out and I'm so glad people are willing to actually buy them (for a noice price ;)). But more than anything I owe everything to the people who click, to the people who email and support even though they don't have to.
For all you guys out there who are waiting for your doors to open - send an email! Like a friends' facebook photo. Do a shoot for free. N-e-t-w-o-r-k. Don't expect anything back, be grateful if it comes back atcha.
I've got so many ideas, help and help alike ones! :) I'll be posting some of them up here
and I'd love opinions on the ones people would like to see me complete :)
Thanks for readin' and thanks for the click :D
Rosie xxx
