Well, it turns out a lot of you were absolutely delighted to hear I wasn’t booked up for 2023!!
Erm… thanks?! I guess?!
No but really – it’s nice that you think because of past successes or whatever I’d be overbooked and charging millions and running a big associate studio to keep up with demand, but no. I’m just here in my small but perfectly formed office, running my business in pretty much exactly the same way I always have but with a lot less time on Facebook!
So if you do want to bear me in mind for a juicy referral now and again, I’d really appreciate it!
The other thing I’ve had a few chats with people about since last week’s email isn’t the pressure of getting bookings, it’s just this modern stress and pressure of having to ‘hustle’ at this time of year.
So let’s talk about that. I checked all my other 36 issues and I don’t think it’s something I’ve talked about before.
I think there’s this concept in our industry and maybe in creative industry in general that you’re either a complete free spirit who’s in it for the art, or your a business-head who just thinks wedding photography is a great little earner. I’m neither, but I see myself more as a photographer than a business owner.
I was chatting with someone about it the other day – this hustle and graft mentality – and they said “you can just live your life”.
You can just live your life.
It comes back to having everyone else’s life – the real and the bullsh – shoved in your face by social media. And as we said last week, you’ve got to realise there’s a high percentage of bullsh out there.
But if you believe the bullsh, then January means you have to be hustling, grafting, working. And if you’re not then you should feel like a lazy loser and your business will probably crash and burn.
Well let’s stick that judgementalism in Room 101 right now.
I’ve rewound before, but let’s rewind to why we got into this.
I’m guessing it wasn’t because you wanted to feel guilty about not working hard enough in January?
This is my 14th January as a wedding photographer. Every single January I’ve had a mild panic about the year ahead. Some years have been better than others but every year I’ve paid my bills and kept myself in this job for one more year.
We have too much bloody time to think when there are no weddings to shoot. So we notice everything. So we overthink everything. So we go looking for answers. And all we find is bullsh! Mostly.
Listen. You listening? Good. January is a weird time. Rest your tired mind.
Prioritise the stuff that makes your life richer and your mind clearer.
Socialise with the people who you have to say no to when they invite you out on a Saturday in June.
Exercise a bit – you know it improves your mental wellbeing now and long term. I’m about to start yet another January health kick… I really don’t want to but last year was my worst brain year ever (it’s why I had to stop writing), and I know I feel so good when I’m exercising regularly.
Take a week off work.
The best fuel for the best version of your photography is a clear head, and life experience. So while you’ve got the time, I’d prioritise these two things over the hustle and graft.
I truly would you know.
You can just live your life.
We can just go with the flow.
And the bonus to prioritising peace and mental clarity is we’re more likely to WANT to work.
And your productivity when you want to work is infinitely better than your productivity when you really don’t want to work.
There are no rules in self employment. That’s the beauty. That’s why we do it.
I’m taking the day off WORK today (I wrote this email yesterday). As soon as you feel like you can I’d encourage you to do the same. But really take the day off. Call it a day off. Tell people you’re taking the day off. Do stuff that definitely isn’t work. Don’t switch your computer on. Consciously be off work. Let me know how it feels.
You can just live your life your way. And let everyone else live theirs in their own way too.
Thanks for reading.
Adam
PS — I’m going to start entering awards again. I feel like you should know this because I’ve moaned about awards and their effect on me a few times before. I’ll explain more in a future newsletter and take you on the journey with me.
PPS — If you feel compelled (and please don’t feel obligated), you can now buy me a coffee if you like my wordsmithery: buymeacoffee.com/arjphoto
