Photo Marketing Mentor

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Recently I held a teleseminar where I told my participants that if they want to succeed not only in their photography career but in life they need to step and play a bigger game. What do I mean by “play a bigger game?”

What I mean is that anytime in life where you want to have an impact you have to step up, you must show up regardless of whether you have the training, all the tools, all the knowledge, all the contacts, whether or not you’re in the physical shape you want to be in or driving the car you want to drive etc, etc.

The first step to playing a bigger game is to first “get in the game”. So many times we think that we’re in the game just because we “show up”. And that’s true to an extent but it’s the same as playing full out. Showing up is the first step, but that’s not what I’m talking about here. No, what I’m referring to is taking the time to see what areas, what causes, what actions you could take and commit to that would put you out there in a big way. Let me give you an example.

Recently I had the honor of participating in an a global event called Help-Portrait. Help Portrait is an organization where photographers around the world for one day offers free professional grade portraits to people in need. The one day event was promoted to churches, local community centers and out reach groups in each of the cites where the event was hosted.

As a result people came out many of whom have never had a professional portrait made of the themselves. The energy created by this event was nothing short of extraordinary and everyone could feel it.

I especially felt it because I realized that at the same time we were here in Los Angeles changing lives I knew that my fellow artists were doing the same in cites Paris, Sydney, New York, Atlanta, San Francisco, Nashville and other cites around the planet. I have to tell you the experience filled my heart with such pride and joy that I and many of the other photographers in attendance can’t wait until the next event.

This is a prime example of playing a bigger game. Getting outside of your comfort zone, doing something that transcends your temporary needs, to be in service to someone else and using your gifts to me epitomizes what I mean by playing a bigger game.

So I ask you, what are you doing right here, where you are? How are you going beyond mere showing up? Whose lives are you touching by your gift and your passion for photography? How many transformations are you witnessing because you stepped up and out?

Think about it for a moment as we conclude 2009. Regardless if this past year was one of your best -or- one of the most challenging, think about whose lives you touched with your work?

Who looked at your images or listened to the words you shared and was inspired? Who re-discovered a renewed since of themselves, thought bigger and better of themselves because of the gifts you shared. That was the thought that came to me.

The joy that came from this event was a mutual exchange of giving both for the photographer and the recipient. The receiver of the portrait had to step up in order to allow themselves the experience of letting someone look at them in new way.

And the photographers had the opportunity to get out their heads for a while, put aside their worries and concerns and “hold space” for the people who showed up. Many of whom were obviously uncomfortable, uncertain and perhaps a little leery of the experience in the beginning.

At the end the day everyone left feeling better about themselves. The receiver now has a memento they could share with family and friends many of whom they had long since lost contact with. They felt special and left feeling like superstars. I’m sure after seeing their portraits for the first time many felt like they too could play a bigger game.

The bottom line if you commit to using your gifts to help someone become better in their lives, you do the same for yourself. It’s karmic and everybody wins.

I’ll leave you this, as we enter 2010 as you create your goals for the next year commit to doing the thing or things that you we’re most afraid of this year. Write them down, tell someone (so there is accountability) and then do them. It’s the quickest way to play a bigger game.

If you need help, support or just an accountability buddy I’m here, feel free to contact me.

Let’s make 2010 rock!

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