The beginning of this year started out in a mad dash! Though we knew our first photo session of the year would be in the very first week, there were still some things we just couldn't plan for. It is only our first week in after all so how bad could it be? To be perfectly honest, I found myself feeling overwhelmed with some projects right out of the gate, and then the questions started flooding my head. Am I even allowed to feel overwhelmed? Does that make me any less professional? Do other freelancers struggle sometimes? I mean, they obviously do, but why does it seem like everyone else is running along so much more put-together than me? As professionals we sometimes think it will hurt our business to show that we are human, with human goals, human thoughts, and human struggles. We try tirelessly to exceed the competitors in our field and most times end up, barley keeping up. Social media is a great avenue for marketing but seemingly only if you're that especially gifted freelancer that seems to have an endless stream of time, great pictures, and a journalistic flair. We strive for a seamless and perfect image when running our business and when anything less than that takes place, we feel like we are taking on significant loss...at least I do..and I'm guessing I'm not alone. So this is a blog to encourage you all with just a few points that have helped me this week.
It's not the end of the world if you didn't post today. Instagram or your blog will still be waiting tomorrow.
You don't have to do exactly what the business owner (or in my case other photographers and designers) down the way are doing, after all your style and business should be uniquely its own.
Don't compare yourself to others excessively. A little comparison can be a healthy motivator to grow your business but excessive comparison will always leave you feeling like your coming short. The truth of it is, you are always doing better than someone else, and you always have room to grow.
It's ok to ask for help. Asking more experienced professionals for guidance doesn't make you less of one, in fact, by asking questions and learning the answers you are equipping yourself even more.
Remember that the people (clients and colleagues) you interact with are what's important, everything else is just extra.
And lastly, remember that you can STOP and take a B R E A TH.
Don't be discouraged if you're feeling overwhelmed. It's not the actual feeling of being overwhelmed that makes you less professional, it's what we do with those feelings. What makes you a professional is being able to harness those struggles and push through, not giving up when you want to. It's not an easy or perfect process, it's not always inspirational and exciting. What you're doing may not appear as seamless as everyone else's but as long as you're doing it to the best of your ability and you're always looking to grow, you can be proud.