What I Would Do if I Was Starting a Photography Business Today

I’ve been a photographer for 9 years now. Though I’ve grown immensely in that time, I definitely could’ve done it quicker. I’ve realized looking back that I’ve gone through a few phases in my business. Some of them were very uncomfortable and the more recent ones have been absolutely life-changing. My goal as a photography educator is to help other photographers breeze through those hard seasons and get to the life-changing ones as quickly as possible. I want to share everything I would do if I was starting a photography business today.

What I Wouldn’t Do if I Was Starting a Photography Business Today

If there’s anything I’ve learned from running a business, it’s that the things that waste your time are the biggest roadblocks to the things that transform your business. The issue isn’t just time, it’s motivation. Every single amount of effort you put in that doesn’t return a reward is insanely defeating. I truly believe that so many photographers quit not because they’re bad at taking pictures, but because they didn’t have enough wins at the beginning. Here are a few things I wouldn’t do (yet) at the beginning of your business:

• Buy all the fanciest gear. You’ll learn quickly that the gear doesn’t make the photographer. Putting a lot of money in at the very start is a great way to get yourself into a bad financial situation. I never made the best business decisions when I was desperate for money.
• Expect to take off on social media. Posting your work is a great thing to do. Expecting it to immediately go viral is a recipe for disappointment. Post everything with zero expectations. As soon as you stop caring about the numbers is usually when things start to shift for the better.
• Take on every opportunity that comes your way. This one was so hard for me. I knew I needed to niche down, but I fought it for a long time. Here’s the ironic thing, I actually DO shoot a lot of things now. Weddings, families, newborns, and portraits. But I didn’t start like that. I focused on weddings and got really good at them before taking on anything else. “A jack of all trades is a master of none, though often better than a master of one.” You can’t get good at 5 things at once. Pick one, master it, then move on.

Get Headshots

This was something I really wish I had done sooo much sooner. Your ideal client needs to trust and know you before they will come to you for photos. Your brand is YOU. Have someone take some high-quality headshots or branding photos of you. Post them all over your website and social media. You’ll be shocked at what that does for your business.

I’ve realized It’s also so educational to be in front of the camera on a regular basis. It’s really easy to forget what it’s like to be in your clients’ shoes, and being able to almost read their minds is an invaluable skill. I recommend getting headshots every quarter, even if you have to take them yourself on a tripod.

Build a Website

I know it’s intimidating, but creating a website is so important. This is a landing-spot for your clients. It’s your storefront that sets you apart as a professional. Want to know something? I will often refer out clients to other photographers for different reasons (availability, out of my scope, etc.), and if the photographers who are available don’t provide a website, I don’t pass their information along. It’s an essential part of running a photography business.

Here are a few tips to hopefully make the task of starting a website a little easier to chew:

• Research website hosts that are recommended for photographers. I use Showit. Squarespace is another good option.
• Utilize templates. Most website hosting platforms come with customizable templates. Some are free, others aren’t. Having a solid place to start makes the job feel so much easier.
• Make sure your website includes a blog. If you’re paying for a website, It’s a no brainer that you should also have a blogging platform. This is how you’re going to optimize your website to be found on Google.
• Use simple fonts and colors. Your website should have the minimum amount of information and nothing more. Let your photos be the part that stands out. Make words and buttons easy to see and click.
• Start with 2-3 pages. You don’t need to have a huge website to begin. Start with a home page, an about page, and a portfolio (my blog acts as my portfolio). Once you have it published and feel ready, you can add more. I have a pricing page as well as information about each of the types of photography I offer (weddings and families specifically).

Shoot as Much as You Possibly Can

I want you to be using your camera every single day, even if you don’t leave your house. Once you’ve decided on a niche, get out and shoot within that niche as much as possible. Shoot in manual. Do a model call, reach out to people you know asking them to model in exchange for free photos. Shadow other photographers as frequently as you can. This will improve your skill SO fast and give you photos to post before you ever even have a paid client.

Simplify Your Editing

Nailing down my editing style took me YEARS. I don’t expect you to have it figured out right away. In fact, I don’t know a single photographer who did at the beginning. What’s important is that you don’t spend too much time finding the perfect preset or editing style. You’ll realize in time that your ability to photograph beautiful photos matters so much more than how you edit them. I have lots of really bad free presets that I used when I was starting that would probably look pretty good on the photos I take now. Inversely, the beautiful presets I use now would do nothing to improve some of the photos I took when I was first starting. The more experienced you get at taking photos, the better eye you’ll have for colors and editing. Stop spending hours in lightroom and use that time to understand light, camera settings, composition, and posing.

Operate Like the Photographer You Hope to Be

It took me an insanely long time to feel comfortable calling myself a photographer. I dreaded having to answer the question of what I did for a living. I didn’t want anyone to judge me, and I felt like I had to reach a certain point of success before I could take on that title. Here’s thing, all that did was tell other people not to take me seriously. It did absolutely no favors for my confidence, and it slowed my progression more than I could’ve realized. If I was starting a photography business today, I would wear that title loudly and proudly. I truly believe that you speak things into existence. Think of the quote “dress for the job you want, not the job you have”. That could be used in the way we think and talk about ourselves.

I also think this extends to the way we carry ourselves while we’re shooting. When I’m working with clients, I operate with the highest amount of confidence and professionalism possible. It starts with the way I view myself.

If You Want More Like This

If you liked this post, I have so much more in my email community. Join with the form below!