Watch Out in the Photo Business!
Love it, change it or leave it - from problem to solution

Do you know how it feels? The client is annoying, the job goes badly, or even worse, the job goes to the competition? Welcome to the everyday life of a photographer! Sometimes it feels like everything is working against you, and suddenly your mood takes a nosedive. When this state of mind becomes permanent, there are consequences: your motivation is shot and your energy - at work and in your personal life - suffers noticeably. Not just for you, but also for those around you.

It can be particularly difficult when you realise that this is not just temporary, but your whole career as a photographer is at stake. What do you do? Should you dwell on the problems or question the meaning of it all? Many in the industry do the latter, especially now that the business does not seem as stable as it once was. But if you only look at the problems, it's hard to clear your mind for new ideas.

Let's face it, who hasn't been on the verge of throwing their camera away? The competition is slashing prices, and they get all the jobs, and budgets are getting tighter and tighter. And as if that weren't enough, the pressure to keep costs down is also causing us sleepless nights. And when the acquisition doesn't work and the fees on offer are simply ridiculous, you ask yourself: what am I doing this for? Many professional photographers are currently struggling with similar issues. The pressure, the changes in the industry and the rising expectations can make even the most experienced professionals waver. But before you lose your motivation completely, it's time to ask yourself what you can do to change the situation.

When you feel like you're up against the wall, the 'play dead' reflex kicks in: you stop doing anything, hope the problems will go away, and block everything out. But hey, that won't get you anywhere! Many photographers remain at this stage until they are incapacitated and completely caught up in the problem. Of course, it's human nature to withdraw and repress at first - but in this case it's counterproductive. If you bury your head in the sand, nothing will change. Instead, think about how you can get out of this phase. It's time to get active and find solutions that will motivate you and get you out of this hole.

It sounds simple, but it's not always easy: solution-focused thinking. But it's exactly what's needed to get back on track. If you keep digging around in the problem, you'll soon lose sight of the bigger picture and the energy to look for a solution in the first place. This is where the 'solution focus' method of coaching can really help. Instead of wallowing in the problem forever, you briefly analyse the problem - 'acknowledge' it, so to speak - and then move straight on to finding a solution. What's cool about that? It's not about someone from the outside telling you how to do your life or your job. You develop your own solution that fits you and your values. Why is that important? Because you can only really commit to change if it comes from within.

Sometimes all it takes is a slight twist to see things differently. It's called reframing - the art of looking at a situation from a new perspective. A classic example is the famous glass that is either half full or half empty. The same reality, but a completely different perception. A concrete example from the world of photography? I just can't bring myself to cold-call my clients and make an acquisition. How about rephrasing that: When and why do I actively choose not to call my clients? This simple shift in perspective puts you back in control. You are no longer a victim of circumstance, you are actively influencing your actions. And what's great is that once you've adopted this new perspective, it becomes much easier to take the next steps.

Change is often hard, but sometimes it's just what you need to get back on track. While it may be easier for many young creatives to be flexible and adapt to new demands, even seasoned professionals should have the courage to break out of old habits. This could mean developing new ideas, changing your approach or repositioning yourself. Evolving is not a luxury, but a necessity if you want to remain successful in the long term - especially in a fast-changing industry like photography. Sometimes this self-reflection reveals that it's not just about small adjustments, but perhaps a radical new beginning. And yes, that's okay, too! But before you say goodbye to the photography business for good, you should at least try to change things. Switching jobs or even quitting altogether are options - but why not have the courage to try new approaches first?