Professional / Photographic associations .. where would you be without them.

Big learning curve today. 

I joined the AIPA (Advertising and Illustrative Photographers Association) this month and jump in on a pricing workshop.  It was like opening my eyes to see how far out from industry standards I was.  I can totally recommend a helpful association for this kind of support and education.

Knowing the lay of the land means you and see where you fit in the business landscape and get the jobs, and money that you deserve.  These days everyone, and I mean EVERYONE has a camera.  Either on their phone, or even a DSLR that can take some pretty mean resolution pics for under a $1000.  This is something that should make you stop and think.  

Should you be panicked?  No, and here's why.  If you're a professional, and I don't mean you do jobs for shits & giggles, then you take this seriously.  Here's my quote, please quote me.. go on!

"Any job is easy if you don't care about it."

It's true for anything that you do.  The more you care the more effort you put into it.  That for me is the difference between an amateur and a professional.  The time you stayed and extra hour or three to get that shot that no one else did.  The extra distance you walked, waded out in to the sea, climbed the hill, getting there that little bit earlier, you get the picture.  

So this care and effort means your work, your creativity is already miles ahead of the part-timers.  For potential clients who know they need a good image, and one that works for them, then you are the kind of person they're looking for.  Nothing can help those who are price driven.  They don't know or care what message the imagery they use says about their projects or business, and good luck to them.

The effort you put in can be for the actual physical effort you put in to your work, to the continuing education you engage in, whether that's in the creative side or the business side.  It all counts.

Joining the AIPA is one of those things that means I'm making the effort to be more professional.  I go to courses, national meetings, Image Nation, read the newsletter, etc etc.  I've even organised a coffee for the local A.I.P.A.'ers here in my district, just to put faces to names, make connections, and make the effort.

I think the sit down and talk with a coffee in your hands was great because we started talking shop, business, what's it been like out there for you.  I can't say we spilled the beans on what each one of us is doing, but it was great to get a feel for how the market place is doing.  It also gave me a feeling on who I could pass jobs that I can't do on to, and who I couldn't.

SO here's to professional associations.    

Good shooting.