As I’m approaching another anniversary of my professional career a lot is on my mind. Random things like, “What kind of cute decor can I bring into my office?” to “Which school should I get my Master’s Degree at?” And, more relevant to this post, things like, “Am I on track for this year’s goals?” and “What can I do to improve and make the most out of life?”
It’s brought me to make a list of mistakes I made when I was a beginning photographer and the best decisions I’ve made along the way.
Mistakes I’ve Made
- Compared myself to others
I did this when I browsed awesome websites and then told myself I sucked. It’s weird how we can bully ourselves sometimes. I had to learn to grow up and find what strengths I could offer and remind myself that life isn’t better when you overlook your own potential. - I didn’t make specific goals for what I wanted out of my business, especially for the years down the road
I pretty much jumped in wildly when I first launched and didn’t really think ahead. I only knew I wanted to make a living with photography. I could’ve used a lot more structure by creating a 5-year or even 10-year-plan to see the bigger picture (pun definitely intended). I think I spent twice as long getting to where I am now because I didn’t seek out constant guidance or write my plans in stone. - Listed too many things in a photo package
I see a lot of newbies including a mouthful of things in their packages, but I did this, too, when I first started. In fact, this is exactly what I used to include in my biggest package: 10 hours of wedding coverage, an engagement session, a brag book, small photo handbag with bamboo handles or an 8×10 framed portrait, and digital negatives with shared copyright release. No joke. I made no profit that first year in business.
- Emailed clients in the middle of the night
It was great that I kept up with my inbox and emailed people right away, but I lost the distinction of when I was working and when I was off work. It felt like I was working all the time. I didn’t set any boundaries for my business and that can take away from your quality of life. You can read more about this from an older post where I talk about how to avoid getting your butt kicked. - Said “Yes” to everything
This sometimes creeps back into my life if I’m not careful. I was brainstorming this list with another photographer and we agreed that we used to blur the line of doing free or low-paying gigs because it was giving us experience. It’s not entirely bad to do this (just weigh out each situation), but it’s not good practice to take on every single project, especially if it’s irrelevant to the type of business you want to build. For example, I used to photograph interior homes and furniture for the extra cash, but it really didn’t lead me anywhere.
Best Decisions I’ve Made
- Be yourself!
There’s a better state-of-mind to be in and that’s celebrating the uniqueness of being you. If you catch yourself trying to be like someone else because their branding attracts thousands of fans, but end up forfeiting your own ideas you’re losing your own race. Think of what you like, what you want people to experience while they’re with you, and build your business around that. - Maximized social media tools
Back when I first started Facebook wasn’t popular and Twitter didn’t exist, but I had Myspace and was a Blogger. The ease of sharing photos within a network of people I knew, kind of knew, and didn’t know at all and for a cost of nothing was perfect marketing. Nowadays there are plenty more opportunities to connect with a community and share your brand and work. - Made friends with professionals and creatives who cared about good work ethic
I believe the crowd you surround yourself with can significantly impact and influence the decisions you make. Much of the things I consider as accomplishments were initiated through conversations that sparked big ideas and were followed through because of their support, guidance, and mentorship. - Wrote personal thank yous to clients and collaborators
I make sure that everyone I work with gets a handwritten note that tells of my gratitude for them. A business is nothing without its happy customers that hear they’re appreciated.
- Took risks, the scary ones
Everyday you run your business is a new opportunity to bring something good to the table. I never really know if every idea I have is going to work out, but if they’re sound and have a good reason behind it I give them a try. For instance, I thought my move from L.A. to Visalia was going to hurt my business, but I ended up moving into a downtown office and have traveled more for work out-of-state than I did when I was living in a (way) bigger city. In fact, last year was the best year my business has ever had! With the risks I took I was able to shape my business into something that fit my lifestyle, but it cost me to sacrifice comfort and convenience. - Constantly kept my website updated with new work relevant to my brand (just added!)
Maybe I’m a little obsessive, but I think it’s important that the work you share represents the work you want to do. I make it a point to redesign and change out my portfolio every new year. Is it worth all the time I put in? As Napoleon Dynamite would say, “Heck, yes!”
You’ve got only one life! Go after the biggest dream you can think of, because if you don’t do that and, “aim for nothing you’ll hit it every time.”
P.S. My business turns 6 next week! What fun things can I do to have you celebrating with me?
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