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John DeMato Blog

Welcome to the Deliver Magic blog, where experts who speak, coach, train, consult, and write books will find actionable insights to elevate their personal brands through visual storytelling. From strategy tips and branding photography to live event coverage and storytelling techniques, discover step-by-step guides designed to help you align what you say with how you show up in photos. Get ready to unlock the magic behind creating a cohesive visual identity that drives engagement, builds credibility, and inspires your audience. #DeliverMagic

Do you know your Black Sheep?

 

Who would’ve thought a simple author book photo session would bring such insights.

 
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I guess that’s what happens when you actually read the damn book.

 

Nothing says “magical” like an author’s book being displayed in a book store window. 

It represents the culmination of a lot of work.

Yes, writing the book itself is a pain in the ass, but, more importantly, collecting experiences, insights and anecdotes, and organizing them into a framework of chapters that can help other’s improve their lives is the real challenge. 

Recently, I was asked by a colleague to capture a couple shots of his colleagues' book on display at the Barnes and Noble by Rockefeller Center in Manhattan.

The book is called Black Sheep by Brant Menswar.

Sure - why not?

When I got to the store, I was greeted by this lovely display - and sexy as hell cover:

After taking the storefront photos, I figured I’d go inside, grab one of the books off the shelves and snap a couple photos in one of the seating areas in the store.

Apparently, I lost my mind for a second as those seating areas are all gone due to, you know, this fucking pandemic going on…

...I’m getting old and sometimes I forget things, :) 

Instead, I bought it, brought it home to shoot:

While skimming the book to find interesting quotes to photograph, I found myself reading the words and not shooting them, so I decided to read it after I was done giving it words of encouragement to be more comfortable in front of the camera…

…yeah, animated AND inanimate objects get the same treatment during a session, :)  

My insanity notwithstanding, I’m really glad I read it. 

Black Sheep refers to your core values - not what’s merely important to you, but, your true non-negotiables in life.  

These non-negotiables are then used to create a purpose statement that truly represents who you are, who you serve and why you do what you do.

As someone who has gone down the personal development rabbit hole for years through personal coaching, therapy and positive psychology training, this one was right up my alley - and I was hooked!

I read the book, did the homework, and pressure tested my Black Sheep values with the intention of creating a purpose statement that truly resonated with me. 

My purpose is to serve creatively through an authentic lens - fueled by a healthy lifestyle, guided with an eye towards personal growth, and executed through a simplified approach.

I probably wrote about 10 versions of this statement prior to landing on this one, but the juice undoubtedly was worth the squeeze. 

For the first time, I’ve created a purpose statement that gets me really excited every single time I read it. I’ve already referred to it on several occasions when ruminating on decisions related to both personal and professional matters.

Not to get all woo-woo’ey since that’s not exactly my jam, but I can see how my core values align in everything I do in a way that wasn’t possible prior to doing this work. 

Long story short, Brant helped me connect a lot of dots which, moving forward, will immensely  help me show up in the world exactly the way I want. 

Not a bad exchange for snapping a couple pictures, ey? :) 

If you’re looking to find that same alignment in your life, I strongly suggest you pick up your own copy of Black Sheep, get your ass in gear, and do the work. 

It’s worth it - #yeahabsolutely

Here’s where you can order your copy today.