Luxury or self-respect
In a recent conversation with a friend, who is a professional photographer https://www.anitamegyesi.com/, she said: ‘you know, we, the coach and the photographer, we count as luxury, don’t you!?’
For a moment I was taken aback, so she started to explain her statement:
people have a kind of ranking of what needs to be paid first then second and so on.
Usually living expenses are on the top of the list, like rent, mortgage, utility bills, groceries, and anything that concerns self is at the bottom of it, if is on it at all.
So obviously photography and coaching are usually not even near to that list.
Her experience supports the ‘luxury’ theory, as she finds that people don’t have nice, well done, professional photos of themselves and/or of their family members so when comes an event, like preparation of a wedding, putting together a job application, organizing a funeral, launching a website, where a great photo would be needed, they usually are in trouble.
At the same time, photos are memories, very important pointers in/of life.
So much so, that in case of a disaster (fire, flood, war, … ) what people try to save among the first, are photos, photo albums.
Still, people look onto professional photo sessions as luxury.
Of course it doesn’t mean that such photo events need to happen yearly but by all means we agreed that time to time it is not only wise to have them but it is an amazing self-discovery journey, and a lots of fun too.
Needless to say, on the condition that one works with a photographer with whom they are on the same wavelength, who understands the subject and is supportive and helpful in bringing out the best of the client.
All in all a great professional photo session gives you the chance to surprise someone with something meaningful and lasting, it gives you a competent look on your website, CV or on any online platform, it will bring out your ‘best face’, it will be a memory for a lifetime.
And then, she said, coaching is the same.
The majority of people although struggle with smaller, bigger, less or more issues, somehow still don’t get around to work on themselves.
That – mentally and emotionally working on self – is also by many, looked upon as some kind of a fancy luxury.
Unfortunately I had to agree with Anita.
The funny thing though, is that in my experience, those who finally come to me to work on something, while in the process, at some point are saying ‘Wow!’ ‘Should have done this ages ago!’ ‘This helps a lot.’ ‘I really needed this.’ … and so on.
Coaching gets you a person – me, the coach – who’s non-judgemental attention is 100% on you, who will be in your corner;
it helps you to sort out some crap you’d been dealing with for some time;
it helps you to get to know yourself better;
it gets you to feel better;
it gets you to move forward;
it gets you to achieve more.
Well, the question is, are you a luxury for yourself?
Are your memories luxury?
Is your wellbeing a luxury?
Yes, both professional photography and coaching cost money. Maybe even a lot of money.
The question is though, how much in comparison would it cost if you had no photo to remember by, if you had stayed in that crap even longer that you are in already for too long.
If you kept neglecting those issues that keep you mentally, emotionally upset, drained, hurt.
When you don’t see yourself important enough to have some amazing photos taken of you, to take care of yourself.
Hard truth, but it all starts with yourself.
If professional photography and coaching are luxury, than it means you are a luxury item and so you deserve luxury.
Get yourself a fantastic photo session!
Get yourself a coach, get yourself coached!
