getting by with a little help...
from my friends!
Over the years I have found that of the most challenging aspects to having your own business is that you need to continuously figure out how to be better. In the beginning that is easy, because there is so much to learn and new ideas to implement. But over time as things become more consistent and areas of improvement become less obvious, it's so important to continuously grow as an artist, as a person and as a business. When you don't do this, it's easy for the industry to pass you by leaving you wondering where all your clients went.
One way in which I have done this is by scheduling time to get together with other photographer friends for what I call FSO (figure stuff out) meetings brainstorm new ideas, observe trends and come up with new and exciting ways to make our clients even more thrilled with what we do for them.
Last week I spent a few days with Lena Hyde and Tamara Lackey to do just this and am so excited about all the new ideas we came up with for our customers. Tamara, Lena, Audrey Woulard and I are also in the process of planning something very exciting just for portrait photographers later on this year, so be sure to check back soon for news on that.
We were also smart enough to plan our meetings around a much-needed shopping break at Anthropologie, shot provided by Tamara's arm-extended-point-and-shoot:
If you don't already have an FSO group, I highly recommend getting one!
Strategy Avenue is a place where you can find 
Laura Novak, Tamara Lackey, Lena Hyde, and Audrey Woulard - oh my! I am SO there!!
Posted by:Kelly Vasami | March 10, 2008 at 01:09 PM
Hi Laura,
It's a great idea. I started my own group a month ago with 3 other photographers. It seems to be working out. Now I know what to call it, FSO!
Posted by:Keith Hopkins | March 10, 2008 at 08:13 PM