If an incredibly short bio were to be written about me, I think it might read, she will never get to the end of her ‘to read’ list. I read constantly … I mean, constantly.  Some of the magazines I read are more time-intensive than some of the books I read.  There are so many great authors and so many things to learn.  I read not only for knowledge … but also for escape, for beauty, for poetic lines strung together like songs.  A gorgeous writing style is more important to me than a well-done plot.  I still buy CDs in their original packaging and sit with the liner notes … reading every lyric.

I often enjoy re-reading an old favorite.  Over the weekend I re-read Seth Godin’s Tribes.  If you own a business and haven’t read any of Godin’s books yet, I suggest you head to your local library and get as many as are on the shelf.  I have so many things highlighted in Tribes, but a few favorite quotes that guided me during the branding process (and running my business in general) really caught my attention again:

Don’t try to please everyone.  Great leaders don’t water down their message in order to make the tribe a bit bigger.

Most people would like the world to stay just as it is, but calmer.  You’re not going to be able to grow your career or your business by going after ‘most people.’  Almost all the growth that’s available to you exists when you aren’t like most people and when you work hard to appeal to folks who aren’t most people.

A photographer once mentioned to me that she thinks I’m too bold by saying right on my website the types of couples I do and don’t like to work with and what kinds of weddings I do and don’t like to shoot.  But I think that everyone should be doing just that.  I read some forums where photographers complain constantly about their clients and business.  But I think that is almost entirely avoidable … If you don’t cater to everyone … if you target exactly who you want to work with … if you aren’t afraid to boldly state your WHY and WHAT … if you don’t compromise your vision just for a few extra jobs.

I end-up with clients almost 100% of the time who are completely on-board with my vision.  And that means I can hardly complain about my job.  I rebranded in order for my web presence to match that notion.  If you know me, I say it like it is.  I’m not afraid to write on my blog what I love and don’t love shooting — because the people who hire me already know that.  I left a promising career in order to follow my passion and love what I do every single day.  Why wouldn’t I make what I LOVE shooting clear?  Why wouldn’t everyone else make that clear as well?  A friend of mine always says a brand should attract and repel.  And she’s totally right.  The most common question I get from other photographers is, “How do you get such perfect-for-you, amazing & creative clients?”  And I reply that it’s because I’m clear upfront — I am simply not interested in being everything to everyone.  I want to attract and work with people who are passionate about my artistic vision and the work I create.  It’s an amazing little cycle … I only choose to work with people I like and who love my work, because of this I am inspired and able to create work that I love, because of that I am able to present a visual portfolio online that I love and that attracts the same type of awesome and inspiring people again and again (and that repels the wrong people :))

In my other, non-reading spare time, I like to eat good food and shoot it.  Here are a few snapshots of my final weekend before wedding season starts.  Can’t wait to get this new season rolling!  Happy Monday :)