This class has changed the way I understand the real benefit of social media marketing for my work at Cedar & Shore Studio and for my identity as a Sequim, WA photographer. I used to believe that social media rewarded the people who posted the most. I thought the only way to grow as an Olympic Peninsula photographer or Pacific Northwest photographer was to constantly push out content. Over time, my perception shifted toward something more relational and sustainable. I now see that the true value of social media comes from connection, engagement, and genuine interest in other people.

My reading this quarter played a major role in that shift. The New Rules of Marketing and PR helped me understand that social media is not a competition to be the loudest voice. It is a digital community where relationships matter. When I take time to interact with others, they naturally interact with me. When I show up consistently, my online presence grows in a way that feels authentic. Last quarter’s book, Draw It to Win It, encouraged me to think visually and to use strong visual marketing to communicate who I am as a portrait photographer in Sequim and as a branding photographer on the Olympic Peninsula.

This new understanding influences how I talk about my services, from small business branding in Sequim, WA, to WordPress web design in Sequim, cinematic portrait photography, photography classes on the Olympic Peninsula, and brand photography throughout the Pacific Northwest. Consistency, meaningful interaction, and intentional imagery now guide the way I show up online. Social media feels less like a chore and more like a place where I can connect, learn, and contribute as part of a larger creative community.