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

Building A Strong Portfolio

A strong portfolio doesn't mean showing that you can photograph everything but that you're a master of your niche. Beginner photographers may feel a vast portfolio is better, while seasoned professionals will tell you curation is crucial.

A photographer's favorite images will tell you a lot about them and their artistry, so be cognizant of the message your favorites are relaying. Clear brand identity immediately lets potential clients know if you're the right fit for them.

Today, we're letting you in on the secrets for building and maintaining a stellar portfolio. Ready to start attracting your dream clients by wowing them with your work? If your answer is "Yes!”, It's time to start reading!

Consistency over variety. Consistent editing, naturally posed subjects, and thoughtfully composed photographs comprise a portfolio that will stand the test of time. You don't have to show photos from every wedding or job. Only include the best of the best in your portfolio. It could hurt you more to incorporate an image that isn't very strong just for the sake of variety.

Update your portfolio at least one to two times a year. As your style evolves, you may be amazed by what you had considered your best work. It's a constant process of improving and refining. As your artistry develops, make sure your website is current.

Your portfolio should reflect your ideal client. There's a disconnect if you want to attract a formal aesthetic but show rustic weddings. If you're more about the perfectly imperfect candids, show it! Potential clients can only decide if they want to inquire from the work you share, so they need to quickly see that you understand the look and vibe they want. They should be able to envision themselves in your photos.

Your website is not your only portfolio. Before someone even looks at your website, let alone make it to your portfolio page, they check out your Instagram. Draw them in so that they want to know more about your services through your site! Keep them consistent with one another to ensure your IG doesn't give off a different vibe than your website or vice versa. You'll lose a lead if they're confused by which vibe is you.

Get a second opinion. Ask a fellow photographer friend to review your portfolio selections. An extra pair of eyes is great for catching something you might've overlooked and can provide an objective opinion since they're not emotionally attached to particular images.

How do you feel about your portfolio? Are you proud of it, or is it still a work in progress?

Five Things To Do If You Feel Stuck

Feeling stuck feels like no matter how much effort you spend, you're not moving in any direction, not budging even an inch. It can happen to all of us, and its duration varies, but it makes us ask ourselves, "What should I do to move forward?"

Today, we have five actionable steps to take whenever you're feeling stuck and don't know what to do next. Bookmark this one for later because you never know when you might need it!

1. Discover why you feel stuck. Knowing the root cause of the dilemma will help you resolve it. You can't fix an issue before identifying it. Are you unsatisfied with your work? Perhaps you're not booking your dream jobs? Do you want to raise your prices, but you're scared of losing bookings? Reveal what the pain point is.

2. Invest in education. A proven course, group mastermind, or 1:1 coaching are great options to propel your business forward. Directly learning from someone who is where you dream about being can help you reach your goals faster. An outsider's perspective could pinpoint problems sooner and provide innovative solutions you wouldn't have thought of on your own.

3. Learn a new technique. Challenge yourself to master a new skill like learning film, off-camera flash, long exposures, or even building frames. Whatever photo conditions make you nervous on wedding days or photoshoots means those are areas where you can improve. Having a solid skillset gives confidence by knowing you can produce incredible images no matter what.

4. Create personal work. If you have an idea for an extraordinary photoshoot concept that would attract your ideal clients, it's time to bring that vision to life. Devote the time and resources necessary to build a portfolio you love and are excited to share while elevating your brand. There's no reason not to be in love with your portfolio!

5. Expand your niche or market. Branching into motherhood or product photography is a great way to increase income without taking up weekend days if you're a wedding photographer. If you feel your ideal clients aren't in your local area, expand your market reach to other cities and focus on being a destination photographer. 

Wait for the breakthrough. This period of feeling stuck could be the catalyst that brings you into your greatest growth. Consistently put in the work, and don't get discouraged. Ambition isn't stagnant and propels us ahead, so we don't stay in the same place forever. 

Valuing Your Time

You can recoup financial losses, but once time is gone, it's gone forever. Some view time as an unlimited supply, but it's precious and fleeting. You'll never get the hours back you spend working, so any time spent on your business is time away from your family or personal life. What is that time away from loved ones worth to you?

When you start your business, time feels like the only resource freely available. You might not have minded adding additional hours to a wedding package to book it because more time didn't directly raise your cost. But as you continue your business, you'll see how much that viewpoint truly costs you.

Have you ever thought about how much time you spend on a single job? Calculate emails to phone consultations to preparing contracts to commute time to actual shooting time to culling and editing. It's a lot of hours! Say your standard collection price average is $500 an hour for a wedding day. For an eight-hour wedding, that's a total of $4,000. Now, divide it by the total hours spent on one wedding. It ends up being much less than $500, right?

Destination weddings sound glamourous, but also factor in the time on the plane, waiting at the airport, and packing. You can basically lose two whole days between traveling to your destination and back. So would discounting your services to book a destination wedding be worth it to you in the end? 

Another viewpoint on time is to allow yourself to spend money if it saves you time or frees your time, so you have an opportunity to focus on something else. Outsourcing tasks in business or something like housecleaning takes items off your to-do list. Is it beneficial to spend the money to gain more time? By spending money to accomplish an aspect you don't enjoy, you'll enable yourself to maximize your time and even broaden your workload capacity. 

Start guarding your time and understanding its value. Ask yourself, "What amount of money is this job that takes X hours worth to me in exchange for my time?" Some jobs sound spectacular, and FOMO can set in when you think about the opportunity passing you by, but if you're not being paid accordingly for your time and talent, you may regret having accepted the job in the end. 

There are only twenty-four hours in a day, and the calendar only moves forward. If you can spend more time on jobs as an investment for your future business, and it's worth it to you, that's great. If you'll only work for your set price because you feel time away at weddings is a sacrifice because it takes you away from your family, that's great too. Value your time and do what is best for you and your business. Just understand what it means for you and your personal life.

Community over Competition

Community over competition is a buzz phrase we've all seen a hundred times, but do we fully understand the concept? It's a positive mindset to keep and one that can revolutionize how you view your creative community. When you see other photographers as real people instead of competing businesses, you'll want them to succeed too.

So, how do we go about practicing it? Today, we have five actionable steps so you can live out the motto. 

1. Compliment and encourage one another. A thoughtful comment on Instagram or an email to let someone know how much you admire their work could make their day and start a beautiful friendship! A kind word goes a long way. You never know what someone is going through and how much an uplifting message could mean to them.

2. Celebrate their wins. If you can't share the joy of someone else's successes, how can you expect others to share in yours? You'll walk a slippery slope if you feel others' victories rob you of your own. Someone else's success doesn't prevent or take away from yours. There is more than enough room for you and others to succeed.

3. Remember that sharing is caring. Share your knowledge or resources whenever you can, in generous amounts. Be an open book, and don't be afraid to share freely. Imagine yourself in their shoes and how helpful it would be if someone took the time to answer a question or to lend a hand.

4. Be genuinely kind. In-person, online, and at the job, always treat people with kindness. It's one thing to post about being nice to others and promoting community over competition, and another to actually live it. 

5. Stay humble. Give back as often as possible, and remember where you started. Inspire others with your journey and help others in theirs. Continually learn and acknowledge that you don't know everything. Befriend everyone from newbie photographers to those very renowned. Everyone was a beginner at some point.

Valuing a community mindset over profit will get you further in the end. When hard times come, it's the community of kindred spirits you fostered and invested in who will be by your side to help you through. True friends are a rich blessing in life and the industry.

Better Getting Ready Photos

The getting ready portion of a wedding day can be one of the most stunning parts to capture. Yards of gorgeous fabrics and stylish details make the perfect eye candy! You may believe you can only create gorgeous photos in a beautiful room, so we're dishing out all the tips to equip you to create magic anywhere.

As these photos are often a priority, today, we're talking about how you can make them even better in any situation. Sit back and grab your coffee because you're not going to want to miss this one!

Tight, small rooms can be a common problem, so invest in a 35mm lens when you need a wider angle or those full-body frames. As portrait photographers, it's easy to forget to take horizontal images throughout the day, so mix it up and play with composition in a different orientation.

If the space allows, bring a backdrop and stand for studio-style portraits. It's a trend we've noticed in celebrity weddings (most notably Paris Hilton), and we are here for it! There are limitless backdrop options, so you have a huge variety at your fingertips for every style. You could even set up in a shady area outside for optimum light!

A neutral, empty wall can be a lifesaver. Place your subject against it, and it's perfect for grabbing closeups of buttoning the gown, putting on the earrings, and adjusting the cuff links and tie. Do be mindful of extreme shadows and bring a reflector to minimize them!

Don't be afraid to rearrange the room or move to another one. Be proactive and take the extra couple of minutes necessary to do whatever it takes to create a cover-worthy shot. In the end, you'll be thankful you did when you see the results! Sometimes, it may be moving a table or taking a photo off the wall. It's the little things that make a big difference.

Show up early, even if it's on your own time. Some couples opt for coverage to start right as the bride gets into her gown, but if you feel arriving earlier is beneficial, it's certainly worth it. Consider how it would add to the final gallery and if it's a wedding you'd love to share with potential clients or if it's at a venue where you want to become a preferred vendor.

Don't forget about the groom! Groom portraits and getting ready shots sometimes seem like an afterthought, so step up your game and make his photos stellar too. It's an element that can set your work apart and be an incredible addition to the full gallery. If you need inspiration, look at GQ!