There are a few blogs that I like to keep up on and one of them is Tofurious. He has wonderful insight and his questions make me think, plus I love the conversations that get started from his posts on his blog and on his Facebook page. He just posted a entry, “It’s Not Only About Price and Convenience. It’s Something Else…” and it inspired me to write basically a short story in reply on his page. Then I thought, “Wow, this is a bit long for a reply…I think I will just put it on my blog instead and link it, so everyone doesn’t have to be subjected to reading basically a manuscript for a response…lol!”
So as I read the responses Tofurious had already received I came across one that inspired me to share. It was Chad Morgan’s and I completely agree with his reply stating that the underlying reason for success is passion…I’m paraphrasing here, so to see the entire reply go to the post here.
and here is my response that came from who knows where, but it did nonetheless…
I use to manage a coffee shop and I was the morning barista. We made every one by hand just like Steven does and customers would stand in line to wait for their drink. Even though they were on their way to work or where ever they needed to be and Starbucks was also on their way and probably would’ve been faster.
They would tell me that they liked the relaxed atmosphere, the conversation that I would strike up and the individual attention to them as a customer that they felt welcome and walked away happy. That was all the thanks that I needed to feel great about what I was doing and it made me feel passionate about being a part of making their day a positive one. 
I take the same approach with my photography, which is my passion, and I want each client to feel the same after each photo session with me as my coffee customers did way back then. The funny thing is I did later work at Starbucks, which they are a great company as well, just a different approach. I really missed the connection that I had with my customers from the local coffee shop so I decided to bring it to Starbucks and even though I couldn’t make each drink by hand I got to know each customer.
Since I was again the morning drive-thru barista. Working drive-thru made it a bit tougher, but that just made it more of a “good” challenge to me and I slowly got to know all the regulars and they shared with me that the reason they came every morning is because we cared. The other morning drive-thru barista and I got to know their names and they loved the fact that we knew every one of their drinks by heart which made them feel special.
So all-in-all if I accomplish this when I do a shoot…no matter what the shoot is or what it is about; with models, children, families, high school seniors, business owners and/or real estate agents, then I feel like I’ve done more than just take a picture…I’ve made a connection and that’s what I’m passionate about.
P.S. – Here’s a little secret too, I don’t even like coffee or anything coffee flavored for that matter, but my customers had no idea and told me I made some of the best drinks they had ever had…
sshhhh…don’t tell anyone, because if this photography gig doesn’t work out I may need to go back to slinging espresso…lol!
Here is a pic of my old stomp’n grounds…
