Establishing Your Photography Philosophy

If someone asked you about your photography philosophy, would you be able to answer? Sure, you could say you love taking pretty pictures or are obsessed with weddings, but those answers won't make you stand out in the industry.

Knowing why you do something is equally as important as the thing you do. Discovering your motivations will bring more meaning to your work, and establishing your philosophy behind your passion for photography will help clarify your artistic voice.

A photographer who is intentional and values the power of imagery commands notice. Breathing your philosophy into every area of business goes far beyond typical branding. When everything aligns with your philosophy, your brand takes on a new form of life that will deeply resonate with others. 

If you've been struggling with identifying the "why" behind your business, it's time to clear your mind of distractions and keep reading! Below, we have four thought-provoking questions to help you establish your photography philosophy. 

1. What about photographs is significant to you? Do you love how photos are tangible memories? Do you treasure photos because of the legacy they leave and how they live on long after the people in them have passed? Expound from there. Perhaps you remember the moment you realized how important photos are.

2. What makes you cherish a particular photograph? Do you have a favorite photo that always brings a smile to your face? Is it of a loved one who has passed, and you treasure it because a single picture captured their whole personality? Express those feelings with words.

3. What do you hope your photos accomplish? Do you want your photographs to become family heirlooms? Is it your goal to capture images that embody the emotions of a wedding day? Convey why you believe it's important to capture moments to last forever.

4. What feelings or emotions do you want to be associated with your work? Do you want people to feel your subject's joy and energy so strongly they feel like they were there? Do you want them to feel the immense love and tenderness captured in an embrace? Share how a photo can transport you back in time and enables you to relive all of those emotions.

Whenever you feel burnt out or discouraged, reflect on your philosophy to bring everything back into perspective. It's the reason you chose photography and continue to choose it. Your philosophy is a beautiful reminder of your purpose every time you pick up your camera.

Risk & Reward

Rejection and failure are a risk, but so is doing nothing. With every success, you must first take the risk of uncertainty. Some dreams require you to take a chance before they can become a reality. Risks often reap a reward. 

"Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."

Winston Churchill

It's astonishing how many more risks we would take if we weren't afraid. Playing not to lose isn't the same as playing to win. It's necessary to know the risks involved with a new venture, but it's equally important to understand what not taking the chance could cost you.

Is the business idea in your head that you're scared to execute the doorway to the lifestyle of your dreams? Do you try to push it to the back of your mind, but you can't stop thinking about what it could mean for your life and business? Can you accept your lifestyle conditions if you never take the risk?

Perceive the risks from all angles. How would defeat in this endeavor look? Monetary loss or "wasted" time? How would success look? Thriving instead of merely surviving? Is the reward greater than the risks?

If you can handle the risk of failure, you're already a step closer to the reward. Sometimes we give fear of the unknown more power than it actually holds. We tend to act like it's this severe thunderstorm looming overhead, but it's only a gray cloud with a chance of rain. It's only as intimidating and scary as you make it.

Even the word "risk" can make some nervous. Thinking about everything you have to lose can keep you from making that leap. But don't let it overshadow everything you have to gain. There's always a chance it won't work out, but there's always a chance it will.

Let both risks and rewards teach you their lessons. Calculating risks can help you reevaluate your priorities. Taking risks cultivates resilience and perseverance. Risk shows us what we're prepared to lose in pursuit of reward. 

Take risks and grow from failures. Take risks and inspire others by what is possible to achieve. Whatever you do, don't sit on the sidelines of your life. It's never too late to start something new or change your life's direction.

If success was a guarantee, how many more chances would you take? 

Don't Post for Your Peers

It's always exciting when another photographer starts following you, especially if it's someone you admire. Often, many of a photographer's social media followers are also photographers. Because of this, it's easy to start posting for your peers without even realizing it. Why is this something to avoid?

You can get so in your head and think, "So and so follows me, and I want them to be impressed by this photo." When you post with your peers in mind, you inadvertently play the comparison game and lose focus of the goal behind your account. Although it could be subtle, potential clients may still be able to feel that you're not speaking directly to them.

If you're posting with your peers in mind instead of your dream clients, the traits that set you apart can easily be lost. Your photographer followers are not your target audience, so don't let them dictate what you think you should post. Stay in your lane, and don't be distracted by others.

The purpose of every post is to grow your brand awareness and attract new clients. Validation from fellow photographers is terrific, but it doesn't necessarily translate to clients. Share what's authentic to your artist's heart, and don't think about if your photographer following will "approve."

Posting with your peers in mind is also limiting to you. Every photographer has some images they love that may not be technically perfect, but they deeply resonate with them. Avoiding sharing them because you worry your photography community will think less of you as a photographer is a disservice to yourself.

It's 100% ok to repost the same photo. Shocking, right? During engagement season, it's crucial to post frequently and share your best and favorite work. If that means reposting a photo from last year that may even be far down your feed, don't hesitate to do so! Strategically use those hero shots to book new clients. Who cares if your friends have already seen the image if it brings in leads?

Leave behind the self-doubts and worries about what other photographers may think about you when posting. Don't be afraid to be yourself through your posts! Show up as the best authentic version of yourself and see the deeper and more genuine connections you'll be able to make.

Have you ever caught yourself posting for your peers?

Capitalizing on Your Strengths

We can be so hard on ourselves that we neglect to notice the areas where we excel. We tend to get so caught up in our flaws that we forget to nurture our strengths. Everybody has weaknesses because we're only human, so today, we're talking about maximizing your strengths and talents and capitalizing on them!

Truly capitalizing on your photography and business powers is how you'll be able to grow a strong business and increase income. Tap into those areas of expertise and share them with the world!

What would you say your strengths are? Are you spectacular at marketing? Can you make your subjects comfortable in front of the camera? Do you enjoy bookkeeping, and you're fantastic at it as well? If you don't know where to begin to identify them, what did your clients say in their raving reviews?

Create a list of all of your skills. It'll be a great encouragement whenever you're feeling imposter syndrome or being extra hard on yourself. With all of those talents on your list, there's at least one you could use to create educational content, raise your prices, or diversify your income. What are the other avenues you could take your business down?

How can you play on your strengths to attract your ideal clients? Discover a way your talents can speak even louder to your market, so there's no hesitation whether or not you understand their concerns and needs. Are you great at planning and can provide a seamless elopement experience for your couples? Do you live in a high tourist area and know the best photo spots and things to do? Think about what potential clients are searching for so that you can create content that solves their dilemmas. They'll find your name everywhere and see you're an expert in the field.

Share about your areas of expertise often and include photo examples or BTS footage. Show yourself in action and give viewers a peek into the experience you offer. Communicate your strong points and focus on finding ways to improve those areas to make them shine even more.

Yes, every person has weaknesses, but they also have their strengths! We love to hear your feedback, so drop us a line if you enjoyed reading this topic and found it uplifting