Angel Tara wrote:
everyone else's work is so great to me, but not my own...

WASH YOUR MOUTH OUT WITH SOAP!

Len Cook Photographer wrote:

WASH YOUR MOUTH OUT WITH SOAP!

It's that humility again. I'd say she's faking it, but she's too darn consistent.

_Cinnamon_ wrote:
It's that humility again. I'd say she's faking it, but she's too darn consistent.

Well, I only send her fan mail about, oh, once a day, so I'm not ABOUT to stand around and let her dis herself.

At least you and I are close enough so we can work together.

Len Cook Photographer wrote:
…so I'm not ABOUT to stand around and let her dis herself.

I commend your efforts.

_Cinnamon_ wrote:
Do you ever find yourself growing to hate certain images in your portfolio that you know to be strong just because you've seen them so damn many times?

Yes, but I think that lends itself to keeping your portfolio fresh.  If nothing in your book is over 6 months old, you're a) getting enough new photos all the time and b) never going to get bored with what you have.

Andrew Kaiser wrote:
I imagine really famous photographers have this problem to a much higher degree.

You must be right. I didn't even think of that.

Angel Tara wrote:
yup. and i also find myself biased I suppose. everyone else's work is so great to me, but not my own...

A true artist is always thier own worst critic...

_Cinnamon_ wrote:
Do you ever find yourself growing to hate certain images in your portfolio that you know to be strong just because you've seen them so damn many times?

Anyone who is serious about this business feels this way from time to time. It is also true that when I see someone else's book, it's not uncommon for me to want to set my own portfolio on fire. It's healthy to be a little insecure about your work, it does act as a catalist to constantly strive to raise the level of your game.

That said, one thing any successful saleman will tell you is that the potential customer you are showing your sample sheets to  has probably never seen those pictures before. Some of those shots may bore you to death, but the very reason they have stayed in your book so long is exactly the reason they should probably remain there. I have shots in my own portfolio which bore me silly, but always draw a positive comment when people see them.

Keep your book fresh, update from time to time, continue to grow, but understand if you're a professional your book is not something to amuse your friends, but rather a selling tool to assist you in securing new clients.



This picture has become a cliché, after seven years it bores me silly, and I have personal reasons not to want to spend a lot of time staring at it. But...... it never fails to draw a positive comment when a new prospect is going through my portfolio and so it will probably be the last picture of mine people will see when they close the lid on my casket. So it goes.

John
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John Fisher
900 West Avenue, Suite 423
Miami Beach, Florida  33139
305 534-9322
http://www.johnfisher.com