Sue Crouch - Continued

This isn’t something we’ve never heard before. But it is something that is easy to ignore and put off because we’re too busy. The fact is, if we can manage to increase our education in both areas, we will get more accomplished in less time. Don’t spend time trying to "reinvent the wheel". Learn from others who’ve already figured some things out and build on that foundation. In photography we get creative ideas from others and then tweak them to reflect our vision, our personality. On the business side, we learn accounting, customer tracking, marketing ideas and other tools and then tweak them fit our own business needs.

There is another aspect of education that should not be overlooked. As in all professional fields, those who have earned degrees and awards also earn the respect of their peers and their clients. Being well educated is something to be proud of; it gives us self-respect, and this in turn helps us to continue to improve ourselves personally and to grow professionally.

Now just how do we get this education? We join a professional organization whose sole purpose is to provide the tools and educational opportunities for its members to achieve their business and artistic goals. This of course would be the Florida Professional Photographers! We also join our local guilds, the Professional Photographers of America and any other professional group where we can learn. We join and participate in every possible activity that will lead us closer to our goals. We network with and learn from other members who are also striving to improve their photography and their businesses. Education is a continual process and learning new and different things keeps what we create fresh and exciting.

Specifically, take advantage of the FPP Florida School each May, the two annual day- long seminars and the annual convention. Attend and work on committees. This involvement will give back more than you can know. Enter both the local and state print competitions. This is one of the fastest ways to improve your photography, which will also help bring more clients and increase your income. By participating in all these things, you will earn merits and points and eventually find that you’ve earned some impressive awards and very prestigious degrees. Now you have become a very confident and competent professional with the respect of your peers and your clients. Best of all you have the privilege and personal satisfaction of spending your days creating images that you are proud of and others admire. So, educating yourself is of extreme importance, for education is truly the key to your success!