It's 2:45am and I'm here in front of my MacBook doing my very best to stay focused on the "important" things I'm supposed to get done before I go to sleep tonight. One of which is an email interview for an upcoming magazine feature with questions like..
"Update me a little bit on what you’ve been doing since we last spoke in 2005. Anything new you’ve implemented into your wedding workflow."
and...
"How would you describe your particular style in shooting weddings? What makes you stand out from the rest of the wedding photographers?
It's always hard for me to answer interview questions. Maybe because I know that hundreds of peers will be reading my answers or more likely it's because I sometimes forget what sets me apart from other photographers out there. I mean... all of us are just making it up as we go right? We somehow have a vision in our heads of who we want to be and where we want to go and we just move forward with one eye open hoping we don't trip or run into a wall along the way.
An ex-employer asked me a question once when I was getting ready to leave his studio to start my own business. His question went something like this, "Mike, what makes you think you're any different from the hundreds of photographers out there trying to make a living? What are you going to do that isn't being done already? How are you going to succeed? Have you ever stopped to think about that?"
I don't exactly know why, but I've always had a quiet (maybe false) sense of confidence. I like to think I've found favor in the eyes of God but I don't know that for sure... it's just a result of so many things going right in my life that I can't really take credit for. My mom told me once that I have the Midas touch and everything I touch turns to gold. I love my mom ;) I'm sure she told that to my brother and sister too! Well, I couldn't answer my soon-to-be ex-boss's question without sounding like an idiot so I just kept my mouth shut and shrugged my shoulders. If I didn't care what he thought of me, I would have said what was so obvious to me at the young, know-it-all age of 22, "It's me. I'm different. There's only one of me so that makes me one of a kind. Isn't that enough to be successful?"
I remember how confident I was. There was nothing that was going to hold me back from pursuing and realizing my dream of owning my own photography business and making a decent living doing what I loved so much.
Looking back, my expections weren't exactly in the clouds. All I wanted was to be able to do something fun as a career, afford to drive a new (or at least newer) vehicle instead of my 10 year old small pick-up, and eventually be able to move out on my own so I could start a family.
I never actually thought that I could take this so far. I didn't put a cap on my dreams but I never expected to find the kind of success I've found. God really must have a plan for my life because I can honestly say that I don't know what I am doing here or how I got here.
That reminds me of a song that I must have heard a thousand times while folding Levis at Miller's Outpost in the Buena Park Mall when I was sixteen. It was a song by Talking Heads called "Once in a Lifetime" . The lyrics went... "And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile, And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful Wife, And you may ask yourself-well...how did I get here?
I ask myself that question every day. Can't help but wonder when this dream will end and I'll wake up to find myself back in my little apartment in Fullerton living with my dad.
Is it bad to have an ongoing feeling that I'm due for some kind of tragedy in my life? Is God setting me up higher so I can fall further just to build character in me? hmmm... deep thoughts, I must be overly tired. Logan is to blame. I can hear him starting to stir and make the funny noises he makes when he's getting hungry. uh oh
There's a sign near the entrance to the 73 toll road at Jamboree that says in big letters AIV (all in vain). I read it every time I get on the toll road to go to a shoot. It reminds me that I don't want to be 80 years old and thinking about how I never made a difference. I want to be used by God in whatever way. It may just be to take care of my family and point my kids towards heaven or I might end up in on the other side of the world preaching the Gospel to fifty thousand heads. I guess God knows right?
Ok, now back to the "important" stuff. It was fun rambling. Thanks for reading :)
Oh, the moral to what I originally started this post for was something along the lines of - You have no competition because there is only ONE of you on this earth. Embrace that fact and let it carry you in your art, your business, and your confidence!
"Update me a little bit on what you’ve been doing since we last spoke in 2005. Anything new you’ve implemented into your wedding workflow."
and...
"How would you describe your particular style in shooting weddings? What makes you stand out from the rest of the wedding photographers?
It's always hard for me to answer interview questions. Maybe because I know that hundreds of peers will be reading my answers or more likely it's because I sometimes forget what sets me apart from other photographers out there. I mean... all of us are just making it up as we go right? We somehow have a vision in our heads of who we want to be and where we want to go and we just move forward with one eye open hoping we don't trip or run into a wall along the way.
An ex-employer asked me a question once when I was getting ready to leave his studio to start my own business. His question went something like this, "Mike, what makes you think you're any different from the hundreds of photographers out there trying to make a living? What are you going to do that isn't being done already? How are you going to succeed? Have you ever stopped to think about that?"
I don't exactly know why, but I've always had a quiet (maybe false) sense of confidence. I like to think I've found favor in the eyes of God but I don't know that for sure... it's just a result of so many things going right in my life that I can't really take credit for. My mom told me once that I have the Midas touch and everything I touch turns to gold. I love my mom ;) I'm sure she told that to my brother and sister too! Well, I couldn't answer my soon-to-be ex-boss's question without sounding like an idiot so I just kept my mouth shut and shrugged my shoulders. If I didn't care what he thought of me, I would have said what was so obvious to me at the young, know-it-all age of 22, "It's me. I'm different. There's only one of me so that makes me one of a kind. Isn't that enough to be successful?"
I remember how confident I was. There was nothing that was going to hold me back from pursuing and realizing my dream of owning my own photography business and making a decent living doing what I loved so much.
Looking back, my expections weren't exactly in the clouds. All I wanted was to be able to do something fun as a career, afford to drive a new (or at least newer) vehicle instead of my 10 year old small pick-up, and eventually be able to move out on my own so I could start a family.
I never actually thought that I could take this so far. I didn't put a cap on my dreams but I never expected to find the kind of success I've found. God really must have a plan for my life because I can honestly say that I don't know what I am doing here or how I got here.
That reminds me of a song that I must have heard a thousand times while folding Levis at Miller's Outpost in the Buena Park Mall when I was sixteen. It was a song by Talking Heads called "Once in a Lifetime" . The lyrics went... "And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile, And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful Wife, And you may ask yourself-well...how did I get here?
I ask myself that question every day. Can't help but wonder when this dream will end and I'll wake up to find myself back in my little apartment in Fullerton living with my dad.
Is it bad to have an ongoing feeling that I'm due for some kind of tragedy in my life? Is God setting me up higher so I can fall further just to build character in me? hmmm... deep thoughts, I must be overly tired. Logan is to blame. I can hear him starting to stir and make the funny noises he makes when he's getting hungry. uh oh
There's a sign near the entrance to the 73 toll road at Jamboree that says in big letters AIV (all in vain). I read it every time I get on the toll road to go to a shoot. It reminds me that I don't want to be 80 years old and thinking about how I never made a difference. I want to be used by God in whatever way. It may just be to take care of my family and point my kids towards heaven or I might end up in on the other side of the world preaching the Gospel to fifty thousand heads. I guess God knows right?
Ok, now back to the "important" stuff. It was fun rambling. Thanks for reading :)
Oh, the moral to what I originally started this post for was something along the lines of - You have no competition because there is only ONE of you on this earth. Embrace that fact and let it carry you in your art, your business, and your confidence!
posted by Mike Colón at 9:52 PM
25 Comments:
"It reminds me that I don't want to be 80 years old and thinking about how I never made a difference"
You most certainly have, man. God used you to make a difference...even as you wrote this.
Blessings,
Eddie
I loved your post. I wrote this a couple of days ago and it reminded me of your post a bit.
All the days of this earth will be gone some day and my time on earth is but a whisp of dust. My hope is that I never lose sight of what is important and what will bless others and mostly bless my God. I am a warrior for Christ and defender of hope, I am never far away from a fall, but I know that if my hand holds the Sword of the Spirit, and my heart is humble and set in the Lord, I will look into the eyes of Jesus and He will be glad to look upon me. Mine eyes long for Your coming, but until You do, let me breathe in your goodness, strength and mercy and fight a good fight against the enemy.
Every day is a blessing, the good days and really hard days all bring blessings, some blessings are easier than others. When I wrote that statement above the enemy I was referring to was fear which had been at my doorstep for a couple of days because I hadn't spent my time in the Word, which always gives me strength for those really hard days ahead.
Blessings to you and your family.
I'm a long-time lurker on your blog and just wanted to say that you are such an inspiration to me. Not only are you an amazing photographer, but you also mirror my convictions of God and family that I hold so dear to my heart.
I have just a modest home photography business that allows me to stay home with my two precious children and also do something that I love. I, too, wonder how I became so lucky as to have all that I have. I'm so grateful there are people like you who use your talents and influence for good in the world.
God bless your sweet family and congratulations on your new arrival!
You wrote:"Is it bad to have an ongoing feeling that I'm due for some kind of tragedy in my life? Is God setting me up higher so I can fall further just to build character in me?"
I believe your Character is built thru experience; and experience is what we get from situations by what we believe in. I think sometimes the reality of our life is created by what we focus on the most.If we believe bad things to happen, they tend to appear. If we believe in good things; we do what is needed to bring them about.
we all live up to our own expectations of ourselves.It is when we live up to God's expectations that we are transformed in our lives and the events surrounding us.
God wants only the best for us; He never put a cap on our potential either.
Just so you know a lot of things that you have worte on your blog has had a big impact on me.If we keep our eyes on God there is'nt anything that we can't do.
I read somethig you wrote along time ago on here that change me I was heading for the fall. Getting away from what God wanted me to do.This is what you worte I hope you don't mind me putting it in my comment maybe someone like me needs it now.This post goes out to all of you wedding photographers and business owners just starting out. I'm not sure why I felt like talking about this tonight but I just want to give some words of encouragement to those of you currently struggling with where you are right now in your photo biz.
My wife and I have been through a lot these past 8 years. We've experienced probably every emotion that exists to mankind. We've cried together, danced with joy together, stressed out together, and have spent many hours on our knees praying for miracles in our business.
I remember one occasion very clearly. It was about 6 years ago when Julie and I were newlyweds. We were having an extremely rough month financially and I remember being totally stressed out because nothing seemed to be working no matter how much we tried. I was racking my brain for marketing ideas and was seriously getting to a place of desperation because we did not have nearly enough money to pay our bills which were due in a matter of days. I just remember pacing around in the bedroom of our small apartment feeling like I was going to lose it completely and have a nervous breakdown.
God must have known that I was at my wits end because all of the sudden I realized something. I was trying to do everything on my own without asking God for help. I remember grabbing Julie and telling her we need to pray. We got on our knees beside our bed (using pillows because I had a feeling we'd be there for a while) and started praying. We didn't pray for help as much as we prayed for forgiveness for forgetting who our provider is. It was like He was saying, "I am your provider, stop trying to play my role. Give me your business and I'll take care of everything. You can rest now."
Now this is the cool part... As we were praying, the phone rang. Now you'd think I wouldn't answer the phone during such an intense prayer session, but I kinda knew that I should answer it and sure enough it was a bride calling to book. This was just the first one. Over the next 48 hours we booked 4 more weddings. It was absolute craziness and I'll never forget how God intervened in our life that weekend.
It seems that every time I try to push forward on my own and forget to trust God, I get nowhere. Looking back now, it has always been those times when I give up and rely on God that stand out as times when our business grew by leaps and bounds.
The moral of this story is to simply give up and trust God. He'll take care of you!
I love this scripture in Matthew 6:19-34
"Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
"Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
"That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
"And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
"So don't worry about these things, saying, `What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
"So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.
Mr. Colon,
Perhaps your feelings of impending doom rise from the deep-seeded guilt for the haenous crimes you committed against your 7th-grade math teacher, Mr. Tully!
Seriously, though. I am enriched by your candid thoughts. I can relate to the self-analysis you're describing. And I believe God has inspired that value and confidence in you because He's doing the same thing in me! What a fantastic coincidence. To see you write it out is jaw-dropping. It's as if someone shuffled through my scribbles and sent you an e-mail.
God bless you and your family, friend.
./danny
its funny how this is such a common feeling among so many of us at the same time...kind of amazing! im a singer at my church and just yesterday before i went out on stage to sing my special during offering, i was praying, "God use me! use me to touch people, to reach them for you. let them feel your power, your presence, and your love with every word i sing."
ive wanted to be a famous singer for as long as i can remember but never really had the confidence to pursue it...which is weird, cause ive always believed that i was gifted and that God uses me with my voice, but ive always been so afraid of failing that i was too afraid to try. now that im pursuing photography ive started to wonder...did i give up on a dream that God put in my heart because i was being selfish and didnt want to suffer humiliation? or did God give me the opportunity to pursue another dream because it will give me confidence in His direction and i wont be afraid anymore? or is this a new direction because his purpose for my voice is being fulfilled right where i am?
i dont know! i love how we are all rambling about our inner most thoughts and feelings to potentially hundreds of people we have no idea exist...but its refreshing and insightful...AND I LIKE IT!
so thank you mike for starting this post. youve given us all something to think about and allowed us to look at ourselves and ask ourselves the same questions you ask yourself...and if we all feel comfortable sharing so openly then we will only learn and help one another along the way!
blessings :)
mike you keep me on a reat path of self belief and delivering somethin different to my clients.
I love your prose and have really seen the light at the end of a dark tunnel if I keep doing what your preach about stuff.
I hope to buy you dinner or lunch one day. After RAY however.
Tony
Mike, thanks for your post. As an aspiring college student who is excited but a little scared of getting into the wedding business, it is important to be reminded that God has a plan, and I can achieve my crazy goals with His help.
Hannah
while i know you are very religious mike, and all the responses are as well, id just like to say from someone who isn't overly religious that this was one of my favorites posts from you on your blog.
just hearing some rambling and down to earth thoughts from a fellow friend is sometimes way cooler than any celebrity wedding or new lens or magazine shoot.
hope to see you soon man.
Mike, I think that what sets you apart is that you are trying to please God with your life and career and God does honor that. Even when we come short, He will never fail you or I.
Your faithfullness to your wife, family and God is an inspiration to all of us that are travelling the same road as you.
God bless,
David
Puerto Rico
mike,
from this read if this "ride" of photography does come crashing down you could at least try for inspirational writing!
i remember you telling me when we started thirst, "jim, i don't play on losing teams! i believe this is going to really take off and i want to see it succeed!" you were right, i don't think it's midas but i do see the hand of God in pretty much all you do! thanks for being a friend.
jim
Mike...wow what can I say. What an amazing God we serve!!!
Your post brought me to tears, and I'll tell you why. I explained sometime ago in an email to you about some of the struggle that I was going through. I'm not sure if you got it, so I'll explain it again in short term.
I am 26 and two weeks ago I married the love of my life, Megan. I used to live in Vancouver BC, but now have nearly completed moving to Springfield ILLinois, where Megan is from. To move, I had to quite the solid job that I had (working with special needs people, as a care aid), leave my family, and friends, and begin business in a place that was completly forign to me. It's been tough.
Ive been doing a bit of business promotion and was starting to see results. Then this morning happend. I lost three of the five clients that I had lined up for the summer. All because my services didnt fit their budget. With no job, mounting expenses, and the inablity to get a job due to immagration papers taking time...I was getting quite down-hearted. This new business stuff is hard.
Megan and I have been praying together every day that God would bless us with clients so that we could build the business, and this news was a hard hurdle to deal with.
I had told Megan sometime ago about what I had read on your blog before (the post that Ricki Ford quoted above). So this morning when Meg heard of my disapointment, she suggested that I should check your blog and see if you had any God fearing wisdom for a fellow Christian, and photographer. And there was your post...written like it was for me to hear, right at the time I needed to hear it. And if that wasn't enough, Ricki Ford reminded me of the post you had written before which ment so much to me. Thankyou for that post.
I am encouraged, and excited to see what God has in store for my business. I just so gracious that he is willing to remind me a couple billion times that he is for me and not against me, even though I keep forgetting that.
I could really relate to you mentioning a quiet confidence that stays with you no matter what the circumstance.
Thanks again for letting God use you through your encouragment and example. I'm humbled at how great the God we serve is.
In Christ, Nathan S.
I'll be brief... ;)
Thanks for being such a positive influence. I can't believe the advice you gave me 11 months ago is really starting to materialize. I'll share more later.
Get some sleep. LOL
--Dan
I am just a lurker here on your blog but Wow- what an inspiring post- I just can't even think of the words to say how amazingly important these words are that you've written.
Many congrats to you and your family, God has blessed you and certainly, he has favor for His children as we do our own! :o)
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and morals- it was a blessing to me!
Mike,
It's obvious, God has a plan for your life. Great words. Inspiration comes best during the late hours of the night.
The DVD was excellent, I hope to make it out there next time.
God bless,
Jory
Mike- Thanks for the encouragement. God used you as you wrote this to encourage me as I am just starting out in the field and now am probably going to have to move after a year of networking. Your entry encouraged me that I am who I am and that God has blessed me thus far and He will continue it.
Thanks for being so bold about your faith.
Heather
PS: Background- I have been reading your blog for a while. I don't know if I started due to a friend Jared Bauman (Bauman Photographers in San Diego) or through Jim Hicks's website (I go to the same church as he does, although I have only met him once:->), but I am always encouraged. Thanks!
Mike,
I'm always inspired by your work and your words. Your comment about being used by God, even if it's to "point your kids towards heaven", is right on, man! My sons are now 7 & 8 years old. And just the other day I heard them talking early in the morning, asking each other, "Did God talk to you last night?" The younger one had recently told us that he wants to hear God's voice, "just like He spoke to people in the Bible." How cool is that?
Mike,
The good thing is that God uses all kinds of avenues in our lives to build character. :) You are blessed. One of my favorite songs is by Casting Crowns... "Lifesong" - "Empty hands held high, such small sacrifice...I want to sign your name at the end of this day knowing that my heart was true, let my lifesong sing to you..."
God is using you and your platform... gold or clay He is using you. My God continue to bless you and the rest of us be able to share in your joy.
mike. you are my earthly inspiration. :-) thanks for sharing!
to mike & everyone that reads & responds to his words:
i too~ follow this blog. have not for awhile because I am busy(good busy!)BUT tonite i felt i needed to check in & voila!!!!
i am sooo blown away by the WAY God is working thru ALL of us!
while mike is inspired to start it ~you all are adding to His work! i just want to jump & shout & cheer & show everyone ~ look at this!!!!!this is what life is suppose to be about! you all have God in your lives & work! i have been crying thru some of this post because i can relate to every situation posted & for all of you I will be praying. thank you & God be with you all.
pam
I am so blown away by everyone's comments! Thank you for being so open and real! I appreciate everyone who commented and emailed me in response to this post! I am blessed!
Mike,
Thanks for being so transparent for us. It's so encouraging to see that we're not alone in the things we struggle with.
Unlike the song, let's fight to _not_ let the days go by; but to glorify God and enjoy him forever.
Keep marching!
Thank you for sharing and for being you!!
hugs from the nudds
You're awesome Mike! I can totally concur with everything you were saying. It's exciting to see someone in your position truly live your faith and do this all for God's glory. You are definitely making a difference in other's lives! Keep up the great work, I know God is smiling!
Scarlett :-)
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