Ups and Downs in the Photography Business!

Things don't always go smoothly for you? Many photographers experience ups and downs in their business. Jobs get canceled at the last minute, a client that’s not satisfied, and getting new clients in is a real challenge. This can take a toll  not only on your motivation but also your self-confidence. There are times when you just want to throw in the towel. But such times are part of the job and of being self-employed. Now you may ask yourself: How do I deal with this? Anyone can, and it's not that difficult. Colleagues, close friends or even a coach can be really good supporters in such moments. But did you know that you can also use some simple methods to combat your self-doubt?

Are there days when you just want to throw it all away and quit? Maybe you are annoyed by a piece of software, someone who just does not return your calls, or worse, you lose a client or meet an unhappy customer. On those days, nothing seems to go right. A photographer recently told me about his long-standing relationship with a well-known German company. He had done a series of portraits for the website of the board of directors. But after the CEO changed, the new boss was obviously not satisfied and commented on the pictures with the words "You can burn them!” Rough, isn't it? This kind of feedback is not easy to digest. Of course, you ask yourself why he didn't like the pictures and you take it personally. Aside from not wanting to lose your customer and looking for solutions, there is a good way to deal with such comments and feedback internally. It may take a while to get over it, but please don't fall into the impostor syndrome trap! In short, impostor syndrome is a psychological phenomenon in which self-doubt takes over and you believe that your accomplishments are worthless and based on luck or chance. Sufferers are constantly afraid that others will recognize their supposed incompetence and expose them as frauds.

How do you handle a setback? Instead of moping or getting lost in a never-ending stream of negative thoughts, focus on your strengths. Reflect on what happened: stay neutral and look for the causes, not the culprits. Stay present and in touch, don't withdraw. Ask yourself constructive questions and take responsibility. Don't rely on hope, but learn from the situation. Reflect on your strengths and qualities. Think about what is going well and the challenges you have overcome. Be aware of what you are really good at and make a list of your strengths.

One way to find out how others see your work is to ask for feedback. Ask trusted professional contacts what they think of your work and how they felt about working with you. Be careful - the request for feedback and the questions should be well thought out, preferably in writing.

Another method is the "headstand" method. Ask yourself what you could do to make it all worse. Yes, you heard me - worse! This may sound paradoxical, but it is very helpful in finding out which behavior is harmful or useless and which behavior will actually help you feel better in that particular situation. This also works very well in the area of self-marketing.

It's funny how our society often focuses on weaknesses rather than strengths. But remember, positive events and experiences strengthen us and carry us through difficult times. In the end, the photographer was able to have a good laugh about the CEO's feedback, and did not fall into the trap of impostor syndrome. So can you!