I don't. I know we start out depending on friends to help build up a portfolio, but the cheaper you are and the more you give away; it just defines you and your business. I never left the area I grew up in, I had a small graduating class, you'd think small town, people would support each other, nope. Now, if you give it away, probably. But, it does hurt to see people who were friends in high school, class mates etc, take their kids someplace else for their senior pictures, I won't lie, it hurts. Now, if my work sucked, if I hadn't earned that Certification, if I was a nasty uncaring person, well, I wouldn't care. But I do care. I also know that to the majority of the population, it's just a picture and the cheaper they can get it the better...doesn't even have to be good. I just remind myself, you just got what you paid for. But, someone out there is going to appreciate a good professional portrait created just for them and about them. Those are the people in my business who really matter.
So, as I grow even thicker skinned, I remember, I own a business, it's not a hobby and as a business owner, I can actually pick who I want to do business with. I do it by pricing myself to make a living and offering customer service that is all about my customers. So, while that CD and online pics look great now, I'll let you explain to your kids why there aren't any portraits of them to show their kids or share at the 25 year class reunion walk down memory lane.
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