Being the owner of a small business, I walk a fine, and ever changing, line between PERSONAL and BUSINESS.  I’ve heard the mantra, “It’s not personal, it’s just business.”, all my life.  This may be a legitimate statement when one considers the business practices among multi-national conglomerates, but when you are the owner, accountant, janitor, handy-man, chef, lawn mower, photographer, public relations … and on and on and on… business becomes very personal.

I don’t think this is a bad thing.  There are some things to consider, but when it is done, it is that my business IS personal that makes my business a success.  Sure, by keeping my business on a personal level, my clients get to see me at my most real.  They see my happiness and joy.  They see my new ideas being developed and my successes.  They also get to see me when I’m angry, sad, hurt or looking for a new idea.  They get the real me.  Not a version of me that is dreamed up by a group of 30 something professionals that sit in a room, studying demographics and trends.  I’m just me.  I’m personal.

It’s keeping it personal that has allowed me to move from having a long list of clients, to a long list of friends.  I know about my past clients’ achievements and heartaches.  I get to hear when they graduate from college, when they have a new baby and when they experience a loss.  I’m proud that it’s personal.  I love that I get to know my clients on a deeper than “business” level.  It’s the personal aspect that has allowed me the honor of returning to photograph numerous weddings for the same family.

So when it comes to business, keep it personal.  If it’s personal treatment you want, remember that it is the person who gives you that extra consideration…. not the business.  When you are in business, remember to keep it personal with other businesses as well…. because once you walk past the door of their business, they too are filling all those same roles.

Have a great week.

jb

It’s personal.  Keeping it personal allowed me to have been a part of each wedding of the people in this picture.  It’s more than business.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 25th, 2011 at 11:11 am and is filed under 2011 Weddings, announcements, wedding photography. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.