6 Lessons I’ve Learned in 6 Years of Photography

1. Create Opportunities When You Don’t Have Them

Low demand and awareness for my photography brand was something I ran into early on in my business. I learned to create opportunities for photoshoots when I didn’t have them yet. If you are just starting photography, I would encourage you to do free photoshoots to build your portfolio and set up styled shoots to attract the work you would love to get booked for. Start at a lower price and raise your prices as you get more experience and demand. It’s wild how much your connections and booking will compound after a few years.

2. Be Confident in Your Skills and Yourself

   
   

I know this sounds so cliche, but owning my confidence was a HUGE area of growth for me over years. When I started, I wasn’t super experienced in posing clients, using my camera, or editing, and so on. However, as I got more experience, I realized that I had to be confident in my approach and photography style if I wanted to be successful. If I could go back a few years, I’d tell myself to simply be more confident in myself and everything I was doing in my photography business (editing style, client experience, etc.). Realizing my value as a photographer made all the difference because I was able to move forward confidently as I improved all aspects of my photography business and photographed people!

3. Personal Connections Go a Long Way

   
   

So much of marketing in photography is word-of-mouth and personal connections. Utilizing those connections can take you far. I love to share about my photography business every chance I get in conversations. When people ask me what I’ve been up to, my photography business naturally comes up, and you’d be surprised how many shoots I have gotten booked because of a mutual connection or conversation. Another example of this is that I recently got asked to second shoot at a wedding with a friend from my high school who is also a photographer. I’m so grateful for the opportunities I have gotten due to amazing connections!

4. Have a Humble Outlook and Always Continue to Learn

   
   

There are so many amazing resources out there to learn from. Take advantage of all the books, podcasts, websites, and mentors out there! Meeting with photographers who are ahead of me helped me see areas I could improve that I didn’t see myself. It maximized my growth. In addition, I love to have a humble outlook, reevaluate often, and look for ways I can be better. Lastly, it’s such a beautiful thing to be inspired by other photographers. Following photographers whose work I admire, inspires me to be more creative in my approach and think outside the box.

5. Be Willing to Go the Extra Mile and Put in the Work

   
   

I believe there are endless possibilities if you are willing to put in as much work as it takes to reach your goals. For example, I’ve redesigned my website several times and spent hours on creating solid session guides. I’ve always been willing to work hard to improve my photography business. It’s challenging to get off the ground in the beginning, but now that I have a lot set up in my business (like my website, email templates, social media plan, etc.), a lot of the work I am doing feels more efficient and natural.  

6. Remember Your “Why”

   
   

It’s easy to get busy and into a regular routine with your photography business, but I believe it’s important to always remember what sparked your joy and passion for photography. For me, I love creating. Never stop being creative for creativity’s sake. Never stop coming up with ideas for shoots that inspire you. Keep your “why” in sight and your creativity will not grow dim.