Welcoming CEPIC visitors to Fast Media Magazine

I want to thank all of those that attended the presentation Beate Chelete and I did today at the biggest annual event for the stock photography industry,; CEPIC that is taking place in Dublin this week. The full day of seminars and panels was very well attended by an engaged audience. I’ll post some of the main points from our presentation over the coming days. For now I’d like to invite you to ask questions and make comments here. I talked about many of the great tools that are out there to help businesses and I’d be happy to give a few company names, URL’s etc. For visitors of the event I’ll be around all week and will spend time at the Photoshot stand, who I work with on the distribution network and expansion of international direct sales.

As a startingpoint for a debate on solutions let’s go back to basics and look at where we are in the Kubler-Ross  ‘stages of grief”  process in dealing with changes in the industry. Perhaps the f0llowing definitions may help to move through stages quickly and look at the huge opportunities that are out there.

Denial – “I feel fine.”; “This can’t be happening, not to me.”
Denial is usually only a temporary defense for the individual. This feeling is generally replaced with heightened awareness of situations and individuals that will be left behind after death.

Anger – “Why me? It’s not fair!”; “How can this happen to me?”; “Who is to blame?”
Once in the second stage, the individual recognizes that denial cannot continue. Because of anger, the person is very difficult to care for due to misplaced feelings of rage and envy. Any individual that symbolizes life or energy is subject to projected resentment and jealousy.

Bargaining – “Just let me live to see my children graduate.”; “I’ll do anything for a few more years.”; “I will give my life savings if…”
The third stage involves the hope that the individual can somehow postpone or delay death. Usually, the negotiation for an extended life is made with a higher power in exchange for a reformed lifestyle. Psychologically, the individual is saying, “I understand I will die, but if I could just have more time…”

Depression – “I’m so sad, why bother with anything?”; “I’m going to die… What’s the point?”; “I miss my loved one, why go on?”
During the fourth stage, the dying person begins to understand the certainty of death. Because of this, the individual may become silent, refuse visitors and spend much of the time crying and grieving. This process allows the dying person to disconnect oneself from things of love and affection. It is not recommended to attempt to cheer up an individual who is in this stage. It is an important time for grieving that must be processed.

Acceptance – “It’s going to be okay.”; “I can’t fight it, I may as well prepare for it.”
In this last stage, the individual begins to come to terms with their mortality or that of their loved one