Corrie Michael Photography: November 2015

I am compelled to write this blog because I hear so many negative stories about how someone has been treated by a fellow photographer. Firstly and very simply this is not very nice. I hear more negative stories than I hear positive ones. Fortunate for me I have a lovely friend who I met just about a year ago now, who reached out to me and sent me one of the loveliest notes I have ever received on my journey. She was encouraging, kind, sweet, and honest. I went on to meet this lovely and well she has become someone that I consider such a great friend in both business and in my personal life. I wish I could duplicate her and send her off to all of you who have had bad experiences. If you haven't guessed it is my sweet and beautiful friend Tonia from Delicate Impressions. She has helped my heart and soul and pushed me through every difficult thing that has happened over the last year. I can always hear her "just be yourself....you will be great", "just do.......you, cuz you are awesome." She is absolutely invaluable to me and I would be lost without her.

This is what every single one of you needs........ a Tonia...........lol...... no seriously though, someone to encourage you, someone to tell you it's okay tomorrow will be better and to keep your head up, and that YOU ARE GREAT. Never mind the sauciness (if that's a word) just be you. Strive to be the best you that you can be and don't worry about all the other stuff.

It is so easy to try and sell yourself as better than someone else by bringing them down. What is harder to do is to sell yourself based on what YOU can do and not what makes you better than the next person, instead what makes you the best choice because you are ................... well you are the best that you can be, and you offer a stellar product.

I have two quotes that have stuck with me throughout my business and photography journey given to me at two different times throughout my career which has helped me stay true to myself and build myself up without putting someone else down to make my business or myself look better.

1. "In life Corrie never brag about yourself, or put others down to make yourself look good or better. In all honestly, if you are that good................well, others will do all of the talking for you." ~ My Sweet Momma

2. "Kicking over someone else's honey pot to get more honey just isn't the way to go about things." ~ The beautiful and talented Kathleen Bowie Roberts

So there you have it................... just be you..................just be great...................love yourself enough to not bring someone else down.

So Here are some things I tell myself every day: