The year is 2001 and our good buddy Terry Deglau had fallen off the roof of his house while cleaning gutters. He broke his hip and his arm and was in the hospital. So, in came three great friends – that’s me, Steve Sheanin and Don Blair. We all flew in specifically to get some quality time with Terry. He was just lying there in his hospital bed when his three new doctors came prancing in, rubber gloves, surgical gowns and all!
I called it “Operation Deglau” and had baseball hats made up for the trip. Trips like this always demand a commemorative souvenir to dig out of a drawer years later! It couldn’t be a funnier memory. The only thing even close to as funny as this trip was, would be one of the original ThreeStooges episodes.
It’s Throwback Thursday, but I’ve got a little different point to make this morning, especially for those of you relatively new to the industry. Never forget the most valuable commodity in this business is about relationships. Make it a point to be involved in the industry. Join the local guild or PPA affiliate. Spend time getting to know other photographers and let them know you. Get a few pictures here and there in the process – they’ll become your throwbacks in ten years!
Time simply passes too quickly, but great memories and relationships become a solid foundation for you to draw from whenever you simply need a smile. And, as sappy as that sounds, it couldn’t be truer!
Happy Throwback Thursday! Take a few minutes today and look for at least one old image that gives you an instant smile and helps remind you why you became a photographer in the first place! As always, share it on your blog, especially if your readership is your client base. You’ve got to remind your clients of the importance of photography and the skill set you bring to the party – helping them capture memories!