HOW TO KEEP YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY FRESH

From time to time, I hear photographers ask a question about how to stay fresh.

I hear this all the time from wedding photographers.

And I can understand this. For me? I’m starting year 20 as a professional wedding photographer.

I've been at this a long time.

But I feel like I love wedding photography MORE now than I have ever have before.

And the key?

What's the difference in THIS than any other "job?"

The difference is?

We can control what we create.

Case in point.

Lets talk about another cool job.

Lets say that you were a musician.

People are fans of you because you sing, "Shot to the heart! And your to blame! You give love... a bad name!"

Ok... So you're Bon Jovi.

Now that would be a cool job.

But how many time do you think Bon Jovi can sing that song and not get bored?

5 times? 50 times? 500 times?

Since that song came out? Bon Jovi probably played that song on stage a thousand times.

And probably three thousand in practice.

And that's what we came out to see him sing.

But the point is?

Jon Bon Jovi is still on tour today.

And Fortune Magazine has him something like in the top 15 or so top grossing entertainment acts this past year.

How does he do this?

He comes out on stage and says...

"Check this out. You came here to see THAT... and I'm going to rock that out."

But at the same time? Check out THIS!"

And he plays his old stuff...

And he rocks it.

Because that's what we came out to see.

But then he tries out his new stuff.

Some of which is good. Some of which is not so good. 

But the point is?

He rocks out his old stuff. And then he introduces is new stuff.

When you get hired for a job?

Your clients hired you because of your old stuff.

They LIKE your old stuff.

They like exactly how you did the last wedding where you shot their best friend's wedding.

So you go out there and you rock that like there's no tomorrow.

But then you get out your acoustical guitar and say... "Ladies and Gentlemen... thank for listening. This is a tune off my next album."

And then you go out there and try something that you NEVER tried before.

Or something that you only tried in PRACTICE.

Something you only THINK others may like.

THAT is how you stay fresh.

And THAT is why this job is the best in the world.

Because your fans dig your old stuff.

But then you slip in the new stuff.

NEW stuff. For good, bad or downright ugly.

But in the process... you love it. And you stay fresh.