{ Be Savvy }

Three of the biggest things I want to share with you that aren’t just from my personal experience but from the wise advice of other photographers that have spoken truth into my life. Here is what I wish I could go back and tell myself, that confused girl that so badly wanted to not just be a hobbyist, and not work at the cafe anymore, but wanted to actually be able to make a profit to spend more time pouring myself back into my passion, and one day own a successful portrait photography business.

Yes, I’m still on that road, but If I could go back and tell myself just these things, I could’ve saved myself so much trouble.

1. Know your worth

People will take advantage of you, they will play “lets make a deal” with you, and they might even turn their nose at you. But KNOW your worth and value your precious, precious time. If you don’t value yourself first, no one will.

 

2. Count your costs

Starting up can be so expensive, and staying operable is just as hard. From gear, web hosting and legal costs, all the way to office supplies and the shoes you’ve specially purchased to shoot long weddings in. I thought what I charged was what I wanted to make, little did I think that every little shoot and gig pays into the big picture of running a business. Don’t for get that the ink in your pen and the gas in your car is coming out of your pocket. You wont get paid vacations, and you wont get raises unless you budget this out! Check out some of my most favorite business resources here, here and here!

 

3. Always stay true to YOU.

Photographers will come and go, there will be people you aspire to be like, and some that will try to drag you down but take a good look in the mirror of WHO you want to be and HOW you desire to achieve your goals. I hope that person you want to be is simply the best version of you, and not you trying to be someone else, and not their business structure either. Everyone is so unique and that’s the beauty of this industry. Be confident in who you are, uniquely you and your art work. Eventually all your numbers will all add up, it wont be as scary, and suddenly you will flourish into that beautiful flower you are and everyone will see the beauty that is the confidence inside you, and you can’t put a price on that. ;)