Reflection: What I would tell myself when I was just starting photography and my business.
It’s not been quite a year that I officially started my photography business. I’m still really fresh and rolling with the punches a bit navigating business ownership. I can remember literally googling like “how to start a photography business” and just reading, reading and reading. Blogs, courses, all of it. That first year has been major and looking back there’s definitely advice I’d give to myself 12 months ago starting out.
There’s no right or wrong way. The only right way is just to do it.
What works for some definitely doesn’t for all, and what some people say to never do is really successful for others. Some people will say never work for free when starting out, other long time photographers still do model calls. Some people will tell you. natural light is only way, others say not knowing how to use artificial light is limiting yourself. Take in as much info as you can, but at the end of the day trust your gut and go for it. If you fail it’s a lesson and if you succeed it’s a step. Either way you’re learning and growing.
Do not, I repeat, do NOT go down the comparison trap.
Social media is SO saturated with information, inspiration, and amazing artists literally at your fingertips. But if all you’re doing is scrolling and wishing that you could be like so & so, then that means you’re not out there trying to it yourself your way. If you’re worried a bout what the other photographers in the area are doing, all it’s going to do is be a distraction and possibly even detrimental to your own course. Everyone’s perspective is unique and your own voice is valuable which is why they can be great (and you should support them!!) but at the end of the day-focus your energies on you, period.
Growth won’t be linear.
None of this is a success only journey.
Don’t overextend yourself delivering for your client.
No, you don’t have to deliver a black and white copy of every photo. Try and stick with your boundaries and edit the number they paid for. You can always edit extra for yourself to learn, and at the same time it’s good to go above and beyond for your client’s experience. But having boundaries is really important and finding the balance between amazing client experience and overdoing yourself can really end up hurting you.
Learn about SEO as soon as you can.
You’ll get more business the sooner you can start appearing in google searches and driving people to your website. Social media’s cool, but SEO is primo.
Social media is like it’s own section of work.
Figure out how to make it work for you but don’t devote your life to it. If it’s not serving you, you don’t have to do it. It’s going to be it’s own category of your workload and it is so easy to get too consumed in time spent on your socials. Be deliberate with your social media growth + time spent.
Don’t create for likes.
When you’re finding your own voice it’s so so easy to start of thinking, “will other people like this?” That can lead to you editing trying to guess what someone else is going to respond to and that just makes your job harder (and actually impossible.) You can’t find your voice creating for anyone else. You cannot create or edit photos with the idea that you’re trying to please someone else. Create and edit for yourself and let the right people find you. Not everyone will love your work the way you do and that’s okay. The sooner you can accept that and be really selfish with your creativity the less time you’ll waste and the happier you will be.
Practice is the best way to get better.
Shoot in situations that make you uncomfortable. Take the time to practice these! Harsh light, low light, crazy colors, wild children, big groups, indoor lighting. You don’t have to say yes to every project, but the more you step outside your comfort zone the more you’ll improve.
Find the right courses and mentors.
Having a support system of people who can relate to what you’re going through is so valuable. There are genuinely kind, helpful people who want to see you succeed, find them. I found a lot of groups on Instagram. I love Unraveled Academy, Unscripted, and Click Community. All of them have really supportive communities and you can learn a lot. I also highly suggest that YOU be that support person or mentor for someone else.
Keep going.
And that’s a wrap. 10 tidbits of advice I’d give to myself when I was first delving in to photography and starting a business.
