I know for some of you it feels as if its the end of everything wonderful until the clocks change next spring and summer 2023 is hovering on the horizon. And yet the end of summer here in the UK brings with it changes that keep us centred and grounded in the rhythm of the wonderful piece of land in the Atlantic that we live on.
For one I am looking forward to the orange cups. The pumpkin spice latte and the chance to once again snuggle up in chunky knits whilst walking the dogs in the autumnal colours as the leaves fall. Its time to light the fire in the sitting room and snuggle up on a Sunday with a good book, some gentle music in the background, the dogs snoring at my feet, and a cup of hot chocolate warming my hands.
But what on earth does this have to do with photography I hear you say! I’m so glad you asked…
As the world turns once more and the season changes. As our children (and more grown up children) go back to kindergarten, school, and universities. And as the natural world around us starts to prepare itself for the usually bleak British winters. I find this a time of new and exciting change.
When I was younger we used to love going to the local stationary shop wherever we were on holiday and selecting new pencils, pencil tins, stickers to decorate said tins(!), notepads, and all of the other stationary we needed and thought we needed! The start of a new term and back to school was a marker in our annual calendar. Another year older and hopefully wiser. A new year of learning. A new year of challenges and conundrums to solve. And even as an adult I still see September as the start of a new term. A new business term.
The summer of lazing by lakes, eating picnics, and reading in the dappled shade of a hundred year old tree has faded and I have a real hunger for business and business planning. Its a time where I recommit to my business goals and set new ones for the remaining months of 2022 and projecting forward into 2023.
And not just financial goals. I have goals to help more and more businesses with their visibility through brand photography. To share my extensive knowledge of brand and brand strategy from my pre photography days.
For me, the thrill of seeing my Clients and their businesses soar is the same as me being awarded honours for my work. Its absolutely wonderful to see businesses and their figureheads striding forward and thoroughly enjoying the process.
Now I know and fully recognise that the UK is facing some pretty challenging times at the moment. We have the threat of a recession looming. The war in Ukraine is making everything cost more. The cost of heating and fuel is insane. But this all shall pass.
It really will.
We’ve survived the global pandemic and our economy was one of the first to bounce back. The current situation will also pass.
As a business owner I need to look to the future. And that’s not just this week or this month or even the rest of 2022. Its projecting forward 5 years. Its looking at what I can do to help my Clients get themselves into a position of security and stability to weather whatever storms come our way. And that means visibility.
Those businesses that are true to their brand and continue to step up and show up will be the ones that survive and thrive. Yes even in a recession. Its a proven statistic. When a recession looms you spend on your marketing. Its critical. And when you’re struggling to keep the lights on in a business this can feel like an expense that can be shelved. But do so at your own risk.
The more you show up and are visible to your audience the less they are going to forget you exist and so you keep business rolling in. People still buy in a recession and people buy from people.
Let me know how I can help you and your business. Get in touch and lets make a plan for you and your business.
Keep smiling and be the one who decided to go for it!
Nikki
