Meet Jon Jones | Professional Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jon Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jon, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
Determining whether to persist or let go of something can be a challenging decision, especially when there’s emotional investment or significant time and effort involved. Here’s a framework to help guide your thinking:

1. Clarify Your Goals: Before deciding, make sure you have a clear understanding of what you’re aiming for. What was your original intent or objective? Are those goals still relevant?

2. Assess Your Progress: Take stock of how far you’ve come. Have you made meaningful progress towards your goal? Sometimes, even if progress is slow, the fact that you’re moving forward can be a sign to keep going.

3. Consider Your Resources: How much time, money, and energy have you already invested? And more importantly, how much more are you willing and able to invest? If you see that you’ll run out of essential resources before achieving your goal, it might be time to reconsider.

4. Check Your Passion and Motivation; Are you still passionate about your goal? If the fire within you has dimmed, it might be challenging to continue. However, a temporary lack of motivation doesn’t always mean you should quit. Reflect on why you started in the first place.

5. Seek Feedback: Talk to trusted friends, mentors, or professionals. They can provide valuable insights, share their experiences, and maybe see things from a perspective you haven’t considered.

6. Evaluate External Factors: Are there external circumstances that are making things more challenging? For instance, market changes, personal situations, or global events might be impacting your ability to progress.

7. Think About Opportunity Costs: What are you missing out on by continuing? If there are other opportunities that align more closely with your goals or passions, it might be worth pursuing those instead.

8. Listen to Your Intuition: Sometimes, gut feelings can provide insights that logical analysis cannot. If deep down something feels wrong (or right), it’s worth considering.

9. Fear vs. Reality: Make sure you’re not continuing out of fear (e.g., fear of what others will think, fear of wasted effort) or quitting due to irrational fears (e.g., fear of failure). Try to distinguish between genuine concerns and irrational fears.

10. Consider the Long-term Impact: Will you regret giving up? In 5 or 10 years, how do you think you’ll feel about your decision? On the flip side, if you continue and still don’t reach your goal, will the journey itself have been worth it?

Remember, there’s no universal answer, and sometimes the best choice is a blend of persistence and adaptation. It’s okay to pivot, redefine your goals, or take a different approach if that’s what feels right. Whatever you decide, make sure it aligns with your values, priorities, and long-term vision for your life.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
This is a tough question: but I believe what truly sets me apart is my humble spirit. In Photography customer service is just as important as shooting. How you treat your customers is key to great success in business. I believe that treating people how you want to be treated is important. I have encountered and looked up to so many photographers but some lacked people skills. They were masters at the art of photography but lacked that skill. I have seen many of them lose clients because they did not know how to treat them!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Why yes, I would like to dedicate this Shoutout to my bother and best friend, Ty Williams. He has been a great mentor to the start of my photography journey. I remember we would have talks about starting business and all. He was the first to do it! He started his photography business out of his barbering studio. He learned lightning and how to shoot in manual and took off. I remember when I became interested he let me shadow him many of times. He would allow me to take over his own shoots! I am forever grateful for the tools and lessons that he taught me. If you get a chance go check him out and tell him that I sent you! @mpovmedia

Website: www.jonj@jonjphotography.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonjpics/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jonjphoto