One blog I love reading every day is Seth Godin’s. His blog post yesterday, Imperfect Substitutes, hit on a subject every photographer (or business person) needs to be mindful of today. Seth’s post gives a perfect example of why photographers need to have their own unique vision.
Laila Ali by Matthew Jordan Smith Copyright © 2015 All Rights Reserved
Without a unique vision, all photographers get lumped together as just another person with a camera who can produce a decent image. Without a unique vision photographers are just commodity producers. Commodity products compete based on price and the lowest price often wins. However, with your own unique vision, expressed through your photographs, you become a specialist with a competitive advantage. If someone wants your unique vision, they have to come to you and you can charge what you (or your agent) believe the market will bear.
Matthew Jordan Smith Copyright © 2013 All Rights Reserved
Some will try and copy your vision and claim it as their own, but they can only copy your style, not your vision and way of seeing the world. When others try and copy your style, think of Pablo Picasso. This week an original Picasso painting sold for $179 million, the highest price ever received for a painting. The value is with the artist with their own unique vision, not the copycat.
Always Dream Big!
To learn how to find and use your unique vision, sign up for One-On-One classes with Matthew. There you will learn how to find and use your creative style to become the best artist or photographer you can be.