Creating a Successful Photography Business
Part 1
A lot of advice from budding entrepreneurs can be found on social media. It can be hard to scroll through what is just noise and what is sound advice from someone who has experienced longevity in the industry you seek. What do I consider longevity? Ten years is ideal, but nothing less than five.
As someone who built a thriving six-figure photography business in a small beach town in North Carolina, I am sharing some tips from my experience on how to create your own successful business. I never publicly shared a lot about the other side of my business and always felt gross talking about money. Still, the truth is that I am incredibly proud of what I built and I am always happy to chat with photographers or entrepreneurs who have questions.
This post will kick off a two-part series on tips and guidance on creating a successful, long-term business that you can apply to any industry you aspire to. However, my niche has been in photography.
One of my favorite subjects to photograph. Scotland 2019, image by Lilly Rose Photography
Website, SEO, blogging (yes, even in 2024) and email lists.
Suppose you are solely basing your business on social media. What will you do if you suddenly lose access to Instagram/Facebook, which is your only way to reach your current audience? Though sharing work through social media has become a primary source for many people, having a website where clients can see your current portfolio is critical. Keeping an updated blog helps potential clients get a feel for your voice and style while seeing more of your portfolio than you can typically share on social media. Blogging helps with SEO (search engine optimization), which simply put is how people find you online.
My photography business utilized (and still does, even though my volume has changed since moving overseas) studio management software. This software allowed me to capture email addresses for all clients and leads and keep track of the status of client work, contracts, and invoices. Having a direct line to your clients (email addresses) gives you a better opportunity to get your product or promotion directly into their inbox without having to wonder if they saw your post on social media.
Find your own voice.
It's great to be inspired by how others do something, but don't outright copy; find a way to make it your own. The only way to find your voice is to get out and photograph over and over and over. You will eventually begin to see a style evolving that is unique to you.
Education.
Fourteen years of being a photographer, and I will, without hesitation, tell you that I don't know it all or will ever pretend I do. Over the years, I have invested more into my photography education through workshops, seminars, mentors, and conferences than I paid for my undergraduate degree in Marketing. I'm not saying you need to spend that kind of money, but for me, investing in my business and learning from industry leaders was pivotal in the success I experienced. You can find so much information for free online. Still, I urge you to seek a mentor or workshop for tailored advice for your chosen genre.
Show up.
It's essential to mention that you must be reliable and punctual when providing your photography services. Always ensure you arrive on time and deliver on your promise without excuses. It's crucial to prepare for the unexpected by under-promising and over-delivering. If you know it will take three days to deliver the images to your client, you should inform them that it will take 7-10 days. If something comes up, you still have some buffer time. Your clients will be delighted when they receive the images on day three, which they expected a week later.
Learning when to say yes or no to an opportunity.
When you start in photography, your natural inclination is to say yes to every opportunity to get the experience. Saying yes is great, but people tend to take advantage of those just starting their photography journey, so learning when to say yes or no early on is imperative. In one scenario, the opportunity may pay less than you would like, but it gets you in front of someone you have been trying to reach or pitch. On the reverse, if someone is trying to get something for free with no benefit to you, know when to walk away and know that it is ok to say no. In business, your time is money and you need to know where your energy is going and what the return on that output is.
Enjoy this post? Part two will be coming two stay tuned. If you like what you see, make sure you join the community and subscribe for the latest posts and updates!
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