Clients and prospects have to compare, in reality, that IS how they make a selection. But the more WE compare ourselves to others, trying in essence to be like the respective “so-and-so's” in our industry, then the easier we make it for prospects like this woman to NOT pick us based on what truly sets us apart, but strictly on price. Then, we're reduced to a commodity.

Thanks for sharing.

This is the essence of my marketing strategy in the digital economy: what convinces people to hire me over someone else in a sea of photographers. I play the numbers, because the internet has revealed that that “certain set” is seemingly everywhere and they have the tools to get a “sneak preview” of me before they even hire me. SO glad I'm not operating my business in the days of the Yellow Pages and mass mailings where I was just another impersonal ad with no possible way for people to know WHO I am and what experience I can give them. The more we promote who we are, the better it is for the client and us. It's a win-win.

Comparison kills Business.

Getting back to the topic of comparison killing creativity … I completely agree with you. In the past few months, I’ve read a LOT less blogs, and limited my time on Twitter & Facebook. During this time, I feel so much more free. Not only free in that I’m consuming less minutes & hours on the internet, but free as in liberating. Liberating …. like I can hopscotch in the park as a grown woman, and not care of others’ reaction or judgment for my juvenile behavior.

And it’s the feeling of liberation that gives me the most creativity, my friend.

On a side note, I had a client from several years back ask for another copy of their dvd. So, while making the copy, I decided to take watch a few minutes. Know what…? I started admiring my own work. Sure, it was several years old and I think I do much better work now, but there were elements to it that got me thinking “that’s a cool shot – why don’t I do that anymore…?”