At the risk of sounding like I’m trying to be Stephen Covey with his best seller,  The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, it’s not a bad platform on which to launch this morning’s blog.   Think about those photographic icons we enjoy the most.  What are the characteristics that have made them a success, not just in their client’s eyes, but in ours as well?

Quality:  They don’t do anything halfway.  From their images and the products they deliver to their clients, there is never a compromise, but the word quality runs so much deeper.  In a presentation they keep us in our seats.  Their slides, if they’re doing PowerPoint, are dead on target with the theme of their workshop.  In their friendships and support to the industry – everything they do is done with quality!

Involvement:  They’re involved, not just in the photographic community, but their own.  You’ll often hear about them doing a program with a charitable tie-in, something they believe in that gives back.  They give more than they take!

Enthusiasm!  Ever seen a depressed icon?  Okay, everybody is human, so we know they have their private moments, but their persona when we see them just makes us smile.  They’re always upbeat and they’re always excited about something new.

Early Adopters:  They’re the trend setters.  Often it’s as if they’re sitting in their offices waiting for technology to throw something new out there.  They’re pioneers at adapting new ideas and picking up on the trends that set the pace for the rest of us.  In fact, many of them are responsible for the key components in the way photographers shoot today, especially when it comes to work-flow.

Confidence:  When it comes to the craft, they know it cold!   Put anything in their hands that “takes a picture” and they can shoot with it.  They understand film, digital and now many of them are adapting and jumping on video with Fusion Technology.  There’s no hesitation, they know exactly what an image looks like with every focal length in their bag and you’ll never see them “chimp”.  But, like quality, confidence also runs deeper.  They’re confident when they share with us.  They’re confident when they’re working to convince us to change.  They believe in themselves and what they’re sharing with us.

Exceeding Expectations:  Whether it’s with their clients or any of us in the audience, they always exceed expectations.  They deliver more than we expect.  Now translate that into working with a client and it becomes one of the strongest reasons for their success in business – they give their customers more than they ask for!  They make themselves habit-forming!

Optimistic and Happy!  Okay, it’s the closer – they’re just plain happy.  They smile a lot and they absolutely believe in laughter and having fun!  Remember fun?  It’s one of those words lost in business today and we all tend to lose it now and then.  We become so wrapped up in trying to second-guess the economy that we forget to have fun!  Isn’t that why you got into photography in the first place?   It’s that zest for life that only comes when you’ve got a camera in your hands and you’re sharing what you do best with a client, a friend or a member of your family.

We all attend the workshops and programs taught by our favorite icons, but, at least for me, what I learn from each of them at every program is about their outlook on life – they simply love it!  

And from theologian, Howard Thurman:

Don’t ask what the world needs.  Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it.  Because what the world needs is people who have come alive!