002 KT Merry – Personal Projects, Work Life Balance and The Wedding World

2016 was a fun year, we like all that, is about updating new brands and so, we launched that and then also, kindof took the time to take some personal work and really kindof organize that into just a place that would all the, to be able to sell prints of those in a way that was easy and organized. And showcased it, that was even like more work for us. I think I've talked to several of you, that everyone said oh somebody wanna buy one (1) of our prints, and you know. Okay now, how do I? What size do I do it? How expensive is that? How do I get it to you? And it's actually more work to actually fulfill that order, that when it's a final print like that, if you don't go through all the process. So we finally took the time and did that.   Q: We learned that together, but it's a lot harder than just starting the print)   A: Yeah, yeah. This is a very nice man here. We put him through a lot in 2016.   Q: No. You guys are fine, you taught us some stuffs, so that's great. What would be something that if you could look back to when you started shooting, a bit of advice that you wish someone had given you.      Q: So, part of what we've been talking about this year, so much is really the business behind what we're doing, and specifically you know we say fine art photography maybe, maybe six years ago, everyone would say no, I'm a photo journalistic photographer, and then it was fine art photographer, even now that may have been over used. Kindof like you know, organic, well then it was on every single food package, well then it doesn't really mean anything anymore. So, I think really just getting back to the business, and really taking the time to come up with the vision for your business, and more specifically for your life. Because if you just start doing and your goal is to go to the next wedding, to take the prettiest next picture, and you know to get on that magazine, and get on that blog, and you know, becomes the rat race, and you're kind of in it and then maybe years go by and you go, is this exactly where I wanted to be? Am I working towards the objective, towards the vision that I want for my life? And so really just being more strategic about that, and thinking about what you want your life to look like, and I mean really like, where is that, what are you doing everyday? Are you home on the weekends? Are you on a plane three days a week? What does that life look like? Because maybe you're kindof running in the wrong direction and wasting a lot of energy to chase after something that you don't even really want at the end of the day. And I think it is easy to get caught up in kindof what other people are doing, and what they have, and kind of go oh that looks amazing, I want that. But when you really sit to think about it, and go oh well that means we have to pack a bag on Thursdays and say goodbye to their kids. And they come home on Monday, and you know they're not there for that. And they miss Johnny’s soccer game, or whatever that may be, is that really you know necessarily what you want? So just kindof figure those things out and making sure it, there's a trajectory and a strategy to get there.   Q: So you've mentioned that 2017 for you is kindof the year of the business, and kindof peeling back layers. Have there been anything so far that you, that's been brought to your attention, and you're like oh my God how did I miss that?   A: Like twenty things.   Q: Okay so.   (Laughs)   Q: Oh, give us one of them that would help some of the people sitting here listening.   A: Yeah. Even in, so I'm really into, at the moment especially just being more productive, and being my award of the year is intentional. So just really, just being intentional about, and that comes down to that what do you wanna be in five (5) years. What you wanna be when you're eighty. And so instead of just spinning the wheels to be intentional, and that, it boils down to what to get out of this week, what do I want to get out of this day. So it’s... --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thephotoreport/message