An Essay on Becoming Exceptional, Zoomifying Your Speedlight, and One Light Portraits

Be exceptional as a person, as photographer, as a member of the world.

(This essay is excerpted from my upcoming revised Find Photo Clients Now Course)

Badlands, Navaho Reservation, Arizona. Photo by the author.

Becoming Exceptional

As we move toward the beginning of our business plan, I want to take this time to discuss becoming exceptional. Being exceptional means you are a cut above; maybe two. Being exceptional means doing things differently, and better. Your business is better, your work is better, your relationships are better, and the clients who expect the mundane are always surprised by exceptionalism.  Unfortunately, too many of us shy away from being exceptional. We keep hearing people tell us that being that good is the same as being conceited or egocentric. The movement all across the land is to denigrate the exceptional in lieu of the mundane; no hurt feelings or trauma of having to deal with the fact that you may not be as good as that other guy — the exceptional one.

What a load of crap. The ones who make it to the top of the mountain are the exceptional ones. And anyone can go up the mountain; they just have to put one foot in front of the other and not quit.

Not. Quit.

Never quitting is one of the prime ingredients for being exceptional.

(I feel I must state that sometimes one must withdraw, whether temporarily or for a longer time. Withdrawing to regroup for a myriad of reasons is not quitting. When we quit, we emotionally destroy any link to the goal we were chasing. And a little part of us dies in the quitting of it. Withdrawing can be a strategic decision that leads to a different path. Only you will know whether you are indeed quitting or withdrawing. I just implore you to be honest with yourself if you have to make that decision regarding anything that is important to you.)

Sure, some will get there in record time, and others may arrive late to the party and exhausted. So? The feeling that only ”special” people are allowed in will be one of the most debilitating thoughts we can ever have enter our minds.  And exceptional people are not conceited; they simply know that they are good at what they do. Others may infer that they are somehow elitist, which cannot be helped these days. The striving for centerline mediocrity seems to be surrounding us on many fronts.  I simply believe it is a ruse to keep people from trying to do the hard work. And without the work, there can be no success.

And without success, there is no exceptionalism. 

And without exceptionalism, we can all experience the fairness of lowered expectations.

Recently, a photographer published a ”manifesto” on becoming a great photographer. It was full of ”don’t bother learning”, and, ”just spray and pray”, and, ”sure, you’re good enough if you think you are”, crap.

I hardly think that the words contained within that piece were helpful. To be fair, there was some good advice mixed in with what is such a terrible hijacking of the ”becoming a professional” meme, but it was mostly overshadowed by the silly, faux-new-agey approach.

The point is that to be a standout in this business, you must stand out. In all ways – from your work to the way you treat your staff and even to how you follow up with those you may not have to ever follow up with.

— More on becoming exceptional after the jump.

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I have a few openings for the 30-Day Portfolio Slam, Tabletop Edition. If you want to get a new portfolio (think ‘tab’ on your site), this class will deliver. It is one of my more popular programs and the last time I do it for 2023.

The Creative Class is now open for enrollment. It is deep and extensive, as well as affordable and powerful. Members of the paid version will receive a coupon today for $120 off the Creator Level course to be used over this weekend only. They will also receive a hard copy of my book, “Dare To Succeed” which was written specifically for my Project 52 Members. But only until Monday, August 20, noon Pacific.

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