What Makes a Great Photography Mentor / Accountability Partner?
“A great photography mentor will have more questions than answers. A great photography mentor is somebody that does not tell you what to do, but empowers you and guides you to work it out for yourself so that you build your own experiences with the benefit of theirs.”
– – Joe Edelman
The title of this article is a question that is too often not asked, and the answers are often assumed. To avoid any confusion, I wanted to outline what you should expect from me and what I expect from you. If we are to have success together with me as your photography mentor and accountability partner.
A mentor is someone who has experience and is a trusted advisor who can guide, advise, and support you to achieve your goals. An accountability partner is someone with a focus on helping you to learn, rather than teaching you. An accountability partner is like that gym buddy that is goignt o hold you accountable to your own goals.
What is the purpose of having a photography mentor?
The purpose of a photography mentor is to help you grow as a photographer and a person. You should become the best photographer version of yourself.
This may involve helping you achieve your personal photography or photography business goals. It will likely involve introducing you to new ways of thinking, challenging your limiting assumptions, sharing valuable photography experience, and much more.
Am I the right photography mentor / accountability partner for you?
In order to help you decide if this program is right for you, let’s start with what is expected of YOU. The role of the mentor is to help the mentee absorb his knowledge and have the ambition and desire to know what to do with that knowledge. As a student, the mentee should take the initiative to practice and demonstrate what he/she has learned.
In other words, it is not up to me to tell you what is right or wrong. It is my role to help and guide you. You can do what you like and want as a photographer — not what I like.
I consider myself to be a “capacity coach”. I am here to help you increase your capacity for growth as a photographer. Ultimately, you will determine how much help and guidance you need. It is your responsibility to ask for help or advice and to tackle more challenging assignments. This is not a class you are signing up for. And I am not the teacher who provides a grade, but I am a partner that will hold you accountable to your own goals.
The accountability aspect of our relationship will be focused on your long-term photography goals. It will also be focused on how you can best achieve those goals. As your mentor, I will focus on the goals that you define and help you set realistic expectations. I will share my experience and knowledge of the industry. This will guide you toward decisions that will ensure that you reach your goals.
I will help you improve your photography each step of the way. I will work with you to improve your photography and or business and marketing skills.
I am a mentor that will get to know you and sincerely care about your success. In my pursuit of being a successful entrepreneur, I am honest – sometimes brutally honest, but always fair and willing to go to great lengths to help you succeed. But I will tell you upfront, I won’t work harder on your success than you do.
This program is right for you if you want access to a photographer with over 50 years of experience with a camera. A photographer with over 50 years of experience with a camera, who has been successful in staying relevant in today’s rapidly evolving social media-driven marketplace.
