BetterPhotoJim

Learn to Say 'Yes' to Your Creative Dreams!

During my Creative Confidence Webinar Weekend, you'll learn proven techniques to help you realize your potential! The next edition of this virtual workshop takes place September 24-25, 2011.

In this exciting event, we will be online together - on live calls in which you can ask questions and interact with me personally! You will see my computer as I present my visual program, and work with PDF printouts to do the exercises.

The last webinar was just so wonderful. Read these thoughts from a recent participant:

"The material was excellent, and Jim’s honest enthusiasm to help us succeed was infectious and fun! Interacting with the others on the calls was inspiring. Even in just 2 days, my confidence has grown more then I ever thought. Thank you so much, Jim and the CC Team! I would recommend your webinar to my friends and anyone wanting to take the next step to making their dreams/goals a reality!"

Get the creativity webinar details here...

Gain the Secrets of Success from Master Photographer Deb Sandidge

I got to have an enlightening phone call with one of my favorite BetterPhoto instructors recently -Deborah Sandidge.

Deb first approached me about becoming a BetterPhoto instructor when I was speaking at a library in Florida. She and several other members joined me for a cup of hot chocolate (some had coffee) and I told her how difficult and unlikely it will be to join our elite corps of instructors. 

But she rose to the challenge.

And that is one of Deb's key strengths. When she realized she needed to become a public speaker to enhance her photography career, even though she was terrified of public speaking, she took the bull by the horns and mastered her fear.

Listen to the interview for more insights about life in general and your own creative photography:

Click here to listen to this audio interview of master photographer Deb Sandidge

Enjoy!

Gain the Secrets of Success from Master Photographer Vik Orenstein

I have the good fortune of having Vik Orenstein on our team of photography instructors at BetterPhoto.com. Recently, I had the pleasure of talking with Vik about the mindset of the successful, creative artist.

Click on the link below to hear what Vik has to say. Listen for clues on how you too can rise to the top of your game when it comes to your creative photography:

Click here to listen to this audio interview with master photographer Vik Orenstein

Vik talks about her extensive experience as a portrait photographer, as well as her focus on being a creative artist, her mission to communicate authenticity. 

Enjoy!

Go from starving artist to affluent owner-entrepreneur...

In this video, I refer to being an amateur. By that, I am not referring to "amateur photographer" or "amateur musician". I am talking about how you think about and treat your work and business. 

I want you to engage and get out on the playing field. Say "Yes" to that dream, that big idea... shape the vision, understand your purpose, identify a few first steps, and take one. Become a professional; become an owner. 

This one shift in mindset and how you approach each day will bless you enormously.

Note: I'm not saying quit your day job. That is an entirely different decision. You may need to keep you day job while you assume the title of owner and entrepreneur, working on your dream business on the weekends and evenings. That is how I built BetterPhoto for the first few years, until it got so big that I HAD to work on it full-time.

If you need inspiration, this video will help. And watch it in it's entirety. It's only about 7 minutes and, like everything in life, it gets especially good in the later half :) 

Gain the Secrets of Success from Master Photographer Tony Sweet

I have the good fortune of having Tony Sweet on our team of photography instructors at BetterPhoto.com. Recently, I got to talking with Tony about the mindset of the successful, creative artist

Hear what Tony has to say. Listen for clues on how you too can rise to the top of your game when it comes to your creative photography:

Click here to listen to this audio interview with the masterful creative, inspiring photographer Tony Sweet

Tony talks about his drive, his focus on being creative, his music, and his mission and values. 

Enjoy

Discover the Secrets of Success from Master Photographer Jan LeCocq

Recently, I had the great pleasure of interviewing another of my favorite photographers - Jan LeCocq.

Jan is an amazing photographer in my Masterpiece Membership program at BetterPhoto, as well as a equestrian, business owner, and all around awesome woman.

Listen for truths that will help you get to the next level in your own creative photography:

Click here to listen to this audio interview with photographer-writer Jan LeCocq 

Jan reveals her many secrets about the psychology and mindset of successful creative photography. You'll identify with much of what she shares... and learn great tips and techniques along the way.

Enjoy!

Gain the Secrets of Success from Master Photographer William Neill

You've probably heard of William Neill - or read his monthly column in Outdoor Photographer. (If you haven't, grab a copy and read one now... they're all brilliant and insightful.

I have the good fortune of having Bill on our team of photography instructors at BetterPhoto.com. Recently, I got to talking with Bill about the mindset of the successful, creative artist

Here is what Bill has to say. Listen for clues on how you too can rise to the top of your game when it comes to your creative photography:

Click here to listen to this audio interview with master photographer William Neill

Bill talks about his many experiences - from when he started with Ansel Adams in Yosemite to his present day online classes, photo excursions, and in-person one-on-one workshops - as well as his focus on being a creative artist, his mission to communicate what he sees and feels. 

• Enjoy this interview, 
• relax on this kick-back Friday afternoon, 
• and have an amazingly creative (and successful) weekend!

It's not an EITHER/OR choice... do your day-job AND build your business

For the first years of BetterPhoto's life, I worked my full-time day job (as a Web developer at Alaska Airlines) and built my own business during my non-working hours, while continuing to develop my craft.

Keeping the dream alive was easy; I was always fueled on by the excitement and creativity of it all. 

The end result: I've been fortunate enough to have built up a successful, creative business and... bottom line, BetterPhoto is still thriving after 14 years. 

If you are trying to balance your day job with your creative "side" business, here are a few thoughts that may help you:

1. Don't quit your day job. I did that (at another time with my photography business) and I was surprised at how much my creativity froze, once I was consumed by worry about putting bread on the table. You need to feel secure in order to be as creative as you can. 
2. Let lower-priority tasks go... Put them on the "Can Wait" list or get someone else to do it. My point: do only what you and only you can do.
3. Price your products so you pay yourself what you're worth. Don't give your goods away, just because it takes courage and confidence to ask people to pay you fairly for you products and services.
4. Use any discontent you may feel with the day job to fuel your entrepreneurial endeavors.
5. Know that you're going to make lots of mistakes. Everything is a test, and business building is all about course correction. Many business ideas fail (often because we entrepreneurs fall in love with our ideas and inventions before fully testing out market need) so be prepared to be embarrassed, and have set backs from time to time... Just keep going.
6. Mainly because of that last note (that it will inevitably be messy), get started today! 

If you're afraid and want to make sure all your ducks are in a row before you quit your day job, that's great. But don't let this need for certainty and perfection stop you from getting started. 

You have to get started today AND keep your day job. Yes, it's hard... but do-able.

It's very good to be risk-averse. Careful is good, especially when it comes to leaving the day job. But, as the saying goes, great dishes are made in messy kitchens. It will be messy and it will take a lot of energy. But when you balance "doing what you love" (your soul passion) with "serving the market with what it's starving for", you will find yourself continually fueled with the energy you need to do both... until it's time to fully focus on your business.

And I know your next question... "when will I know?"  You'll know. It will be very clear to you when the time is right.

Gain the Secrets of Success from Master Photographer Mark Howard

I enjoyed interviewing another of my favorite photographers recently - Mark Howard.

Mark is a fantastic photographer specializing in nature, travel, wildlife photography... and photographing his kids!

Listen for truths that will help you get to the next level in your own creative photography:

Click here to listen to this audio interview

Mark reveals many secrets about the psychology and mindset of a successful creative photographer. You'll identify with much of what Mark shares... and learn a lot of great truths.

Enjoy!

So, who do YOU view as a master?

Yesterday I had a real treat. I got to interview one of my favorite masters of photography, Art Wolfe. Art's inspired many people through his 60+ books, "Travels to the Edge" TV show, numerous seminars, workshops and art exhibits. He's the real thing and, best of all, he's a nice guy.

I interviewed Art as part of an ongoing series where I ask masters about their vision, mindset, values, etc. - their "inner game." I'll let you know when the video is edited. I too can't wait - the interview is going to be amazing, insightful, and awesome.

In the meantime, here's my question to you: who do YOU look up to as a total master?

They need not be a photographer. He or she can be a master of marketing, business success, productivity, parenting, health/fitness, search engine optimization, blogging, travel writing... you name it! The masters I want to interview need only:

• To be confident, competent, on top of their game
• Happy, inspired, engaged, in the "flow" (masters are not sad or depressed by my definition)
• Productive - actively creating and getting great results on a daily or weekly basis

Don't worry about accessibility. I'll work on that. If you want to list Oprah or James Cameron, list 'em. There's always a way and, if it's right to interview a famous, hard-to-reach master, I'll find a way, no matter how long it takes.

And list as many as you can think of.

1. Click the Comment link below, 
2. list the masters you admire (and optionally add what you admire about them)
3. Click the "Post" link
4. Fill in the anti-spam code and click again to submit. 

I really want to hear from you. Please list at least one right now.

So, who do YOU view as a master?