It’s been about a year since I started really pursuing photography and started my own business. Since I started while I was still in high school - it wasn’t until I graduated that I realized just how much goes into making a business of your own work. However, I’ve loved getting to do the thing I love every day and have learned a lot along the way. Here are my top tips for those of you thinking about diving in to your own photography business as a teenager.
10 Tips for Beginner Photographers
1-Make YouTube and Google your best friend.
You can go to a fancy college or invest in tons of online courses, or you can go the FREE route and learn everything you need to know from YouTube. Yes, this takes time, but if you really love something you will figure it out. Want to learn how to edit? YouTube. Need photoshoot ideas for a specific location - Google it (or Pinterest it). Want to learn how to use social media to find more clients? YouTube. Need info on lenses and gear? Google it! There are so many ways to learn whatever you want to learn. Make sure you are putting in lots of time to get better at your craft.
2-Find mentors.
While Google and YouTube have been clutch - mentors are literally game-changers. Having someone show you a new technique, give you business tips or there to answer your newbie questions has been so helpful to me. For me - I have an internship where I have a few really successful photographers to learn from. My mom does digital marketing - so she has helped me with that. Having people there to bounce ideas off of, teach me how to be better, and direct me has really helped me grow!
3-Get contracts.
I learned this one the hard way. Not everyone is fair. Not everyone values your work. Not everyone is honest. Some people will want to take advantage of you because you are young. I had a client do everything in her power to not have to pay for the work I had already done - despite the fact that it was clearly agreed upon in an email, on a phone call and in person. So, I will now be using contracts with all of my clients - so that I am protected from those who might not want to play by the rules.
4-Do free shoots.
You can’t become a better photographer if you don’t take TONS of pictures. When I was just getting started, I offered free shoots to random people on Instagram. If they seemed like my ideal client - I did a shoot with them. Recently, I decided to change directions in the types of shoots I was doing - so reached out to tons more people offering discounted shoots in this new area. I have definitely learned that you have to put yourself out there if you want to get stuff done. So, start with friends and family, build up some work, then reach out to influencers in your area offering them a free session in exchange for a shout-out!
5- Choose a niche.
If I’m being honest, this has been hard for me. I knew what I didn’t want to do: families and weddings. Buuuuuuut, figuring out what I did want to do has been more of a challenge. I am realizing that the more specific you are in what you do - the easier it is to book clients. So, this one is still a work in progress for me progress-but I definitely suggest you figure out a clear niche you can become the go-to photographer for in your area. Also-stay tuned as I figure mine out. I kind of wish I would have started to do this sooner!
6-Stay consistent and hustle.
Honestly, starting something while you are still young means saying no to a lot of the crazy fun teenager things most kids are doing. You have to have a ton of discipline and lots of focus and drive. You have to consistently practice and really work to get clients. I can’t say this has been easy for me - but I have people around me who motivate/nag me to keep going. Consistency with your social media, practice, editing, processes and schedule are so important. Actively doing things every day to grow your business is super important. Those are hard things when you are just starting out, but I am learning more and more that they are so necessary.
7-Go all in.
If you are going to do this photography thing, go all in. Learn everything you can. Practice daily. Don’t have a back-up option that allows you to give up. If you are going to do it-do it. Do it in a way that makes it hard for you to walk away from it!
8-Learn about the business side of things.
Honestly - being a photographer is like 30% being good at taking pictures and editing and 70% being good at business. I did NOT want to learn the business side of things. I wanted to research posing, and lighting and editing and all of that fun - artsy stuff. But - if you want to make money, you have to learn marketing, and social media strategy and invoicing and contracts and all of that fun stuff. Again - I am still very much in the progress of learning those things - but being a photographer is not just taking great pictures. It is so much more!
9-Invest in what you need.
Photography can be expensive, but I am learning that you need to invest in your business if you want to grow it. Maybe that’s courses or lenses or software - but if you want your business to grow, you have invest your time and your resources to make it grow. You don’t need all of the fancy stuff to get started, but as you get better, you will need more resources.
10-Create an email list.
I didn’t even know why I needed one of these - but my mom, the marketing lady, kept telling me I needed to start an email list, and I am finally starting to understand why. At any point in time - Facebook or Instagram could decide to shut down, erase my account and kick me off their platform. So, I need something that is mine- that allows me to stay in touch with followers and potential clients. So - if you want updates on all of my blogs, shoots and specials then you should sign up for my mailing list - then go create your own (if you’ve got a biz).