CREATIVE VULTURES

Lately, I’ve been hearing stories of these mythical creatures. Trust me, they really do exist. I’ve seen them with my own eyes. I’ve seen them swoop down on friends and business associates. I’ve seen them tear apart marketing materials without so much as a nod forward. I’ve seen them instill fear into the most confident of beings with the simple drone of their voice.

These are the creatures that will tell you everything that is wrong with your marketing materials without you asking, and in too many cases make you believe it. They live on your doubt and fear of business success.

So with that said, I’ve devised a list on how to spot creative vultures and how to dismiss them (as many of my friends and business associates have practiced).

HABITS OF A CREATIVE VULTURE:

• Creative vultures lurk on the outskirts of networking meetings (they’re not regular guests at these gatherings, but pop in on occasion - usually late).
• They introduce themselves with a great deal of over-confidence (while their samples provide limited creative ability).
• During the social aspects of the gathering, they’ll swoop in and tell you everything that’s wrong with your business card (brochure, flier, photos, etc).
• When you inquire about their business, they’re evasive as to their core business (ie: will share nothing more than a business card, website always under construction, etc).
• Their thought process is SELL, SELL, SELL (they have no interest in building relationships).
• Their SELL process is fear (you can’t be successful without their services).
• They promise you the best product for the least amount of money (don’t forget to ask about the fine print).

HOW TO DISMISS A CREATIVE VULTURE:

• Listen politely and smile (and move away as quickly as you can).
• Tell them how you really feel about your creative materials (especially if they’ve insulted your creative ability).
• Ask them for further information (and see if they can supply it).
• Tell them you’ll be in touch (whether you have any intention of doing so or not).
• Kindly excuse yourself (and quickly find someone else you’d rather talk with).
• Tell them you already have a designer/photographer (whether you do or not – though this will no doubt lead to questions of pricing).

HOW TO AVOID A CREATIVE VULTURE:

• This simply isn’t going to happen. Just except that they exist in our world of business and follow the cues above.

If, unfortunately, you’re stuck with a creative vulture lurking in your shadows (they either won’t accept that you’re not interested or they just can’t take no for an answer), you may have to swoop down on your own and tell them to shove off. Be brave my fellow business people. These creatures do exist, but remember, you have the final word as to their staying power. They’re actually quite harmless as they usually don’t have the ability to provide what they promise.

NOTE #1: While these creatures do exist, this article is written tongue in cheek (can’t take life too seriously, you know).

NOTE #2: If any of my business associates ever observe me acting as a creative vulture, please, please, please just tell me to stop (eventually, I’ll thank you for it).

THAT 80/20 THING

I came across an article the other day about becoming a successful artist. It was the 80/20 thing and why artists often fail at business. The 80/20 thing means you're supposed to spend 80% of your time on business (marketing, networking, etc) and 20% on art (you know, the fun side of all of this). My business manager has been telling me this for years. I know the 80/20 thing, but there are times it just doesn't fall into place. This week was a perfect time.

This week was more like a 20/80 thing. But I guess it's really a matter of how you look at it. The week went something like this:

Tuesday - One hour networking event; afterward, three hours roaming Fredericksburg capturing its charm.

Paddle Boat at City Dock - Fredericksburg, VA

Physick Garden behind Hugh Mercer's Apothecary Shop - Fredericksburg, VA

Thursday - Two hour networking event (that offered a great opportunity for photography while networking).

Home grown plants at the Market at Courthouse Village

Scratching it off the bucket list - the inside of a hot air balloon

Harry Wilson (of Harry & Larry & Buck) on the vibraphone

Friday - Look 3 Festival of the Photograph in Charlottesville (and while I missed the ticket sale before it sold out, I did find time to take a shot or two).

Outside cafe in Charlottesville, VA

So all in all, since the photos go in the portfolio and the majority are for sale, and since two of these shoots were associated with networking events, maybe it was an 80/20 week.

DR. JEKYLL & MS. HYDE MEET TWEAK

So, now that I've taken the studio to a new level, went completely business and all, well, business and art, but mostly business while the art stays ever present in the background, I'm having conflicts. Kind of feel like a I have a split personality. There's Kerri the artist/photographer (we'll call that one Ms. Hyde) and Kerri the business woman (and we'll call that one Dr. Jekyll). And while Kerri the business woman was always there, Kerri the artist/photographer was the presence behind the business. Thing is, it's more than fine art these days. It's commercial with an art twang. Transferring things to the business side, let's just say Dr. Jekyll's been busy, but Ms. Hyde wants to come out and play.

And with that, I want to introduce you to Tweak and discuss the etiquette of common courtesy. Yeah, that's right, common courtesy.

MEET TWEAK

As I said, Dr. Jelyll's been busy and a lot of that busy has been networking. I attached my camera to my side on the last networking outing because it took place by the water, docks and boats and all that, along with the occasional passing Amtrak train across the railroad bridge. And if you've every looked at my shots, you know I love shooting railroad bridges.

OCCASIONAL PASSING AMTRAK

I was lingering on one of the docks taking this shot of the red and blue boats...

RED & BLUE BOATS

...when I spotted this guy walking around with a small dog in a front pack carrier (okay, I really don't know what they're called - but according to the label, Outward Hound). So I made my way across the dock, keeping my eye on his movement, cause I wanted to get a shot of this twosome. When I came upon him, I introduced myself, handed him a business card (it was a business event) and asked him if I could take a picture of the two of them. I mean, you have to understand - here's this cute little chihuahua with goggles over his dark brown eyes so patiently hanging out with dad. Dad was very obliging and I kindly asked him if he could lean up against the rail so I could get the angle I wanted.

TWEAK & DAD

Quick notes on Tweak: He actually did ride in on a motorcycle (and I thought my dog was spoiled). He was fine with the goggles and never had any problems with them once he realized they protected his eyes. This is the kind of information you get when  you take the time to talk to someone when you want to get their photo. Oh, and according to dad, Tweak got his name because he's always "tweaking".

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Now, this is where the courtesy (or lack thereof) comes into play. At that moment, I swear three to five camera phones swooped in and took over. Cut right in front of the shot. Dr. Jekyll was not happy (and Ms. Hyde wasn't too thrilled either). So I stepped back and waited for these inconsiderate phone photographers to finish their "gonna post this on Facebook" snaps (and who never once considered asking the twosome if they could take the shot) and started working with dad again. Patience paid off as I got the whole Tweak family. It's a Life (family) Portrait.

THE FAMILY TWEAK

This is where the conflict plays out. You see, Dr. Jekyll, as a professional business woman, would never complain about the inconsiderate behavior of others. But you know, Ms. Hyde, the artist/photographer, has no gripes about it at all. Don't get me wrong, Dr. Jekyll will always be the professional on every level of business (as in asking a complete stranger if you can take their photograph), but Ms. Hyde must always capture the art (and complain about the process).

And a big thanks to Tweak and his humans for allowing me to capture these great shots.

RESOLUTION

It's that time, you know, when we make all those decisions to change ourselves, to upgrade our lives, to become the person we think we should be. Happy New Year!

I'm not one to make resolutions. It seems pointless to make changes at the beginning of each year because we can. When I decide on change, that change happens with the decision, not with a date. And with that, though it is the beginning of the year, I have made some changes.

This was a tough decision I've been working with for several months. I've dumped the Magpi Studio Facebook page. At some point, the decision had to be made on how I was going to balance my time and where I was going to focus my business, and with that, I've decided the focus is not on social networking, but rather on the website, the blog, shows and plain old simple networking.

Photos will still be available on the blog, and the blog will be available through the website and my personal Facebook page. Bottom line, if you really want to know who I am and what's going on in my life, friend me. If you want to look at the photos, RSS the blog. If you need services, go to the website and email or call. It's all a real basic process.

And to all my Facebook fans, thank you for your support.