Lou Jones on Remaining Relevant
“We have to constantly worry about remaining relevant in the way we’re communicating and in what we’re communicating. And the biggest hurdle is fear. We literally have to learn how to be less fearful and get out of our own way.” ~ Lou Jones

In this episode, Lou Jones, a Boston-based commercial photographer, talks about a career that has spanned several decades of disruptive change in business, technology and life. Of the creative leaders I’ve known over the years, I don’t know many who’ve been more thoughtful about assembling the right people and processes that provide the resources to allow multiple projects to overlap while consistently shipping impactful work from each endeavor.

He’s photographed assignments for numerous Fortune 500 corporations and major magazines from around the world. Lou has also published a number of books, and has photographs in the collections of several museums. He has been named a “Legend Behind The Lens” by Nikon, and has also served on the board of directors for a number of museums and trade organizations, including the American Society of Media Photographers, which is how we met 30 years ago.

Lou observes that talent is really only a small part of what leads to success. Whether a client hires you revolves just as much around relationship -- and whether you can problem-solve and get the project done regardless of obstacles. You have to speak the language of your client. He cautions us as creators to not let someone else’s opinion of our work define our perception of ourselves -- or our confidence in our own opinion of our work.