Confessions of a Once Lost Photographer.

I am an over achiever and a people pleaser; I always have been. Its never enough, or perfect enough. I work myself until the point when a doctor literally has to tell me to stop or I am going to need blood pressure meds. But, thats just part of what makes me "me". I don't mind it one bit...even if my poor husband is all in support of me slowing down. I have however realized that although its not effecting me personally it is effecting my business. 

I read a quote a few weeks ago about photography and how you don't have to do everything or be everything. It is what sets the seasoned professionals from the eager beginners. In this sense I am getting over being an eager beginner. I can make a beautiful portrait, but that means nothing in this case. I am learning self worth. When you start out you are keeping your prices low and competitive, really you'd just pay someone to book you! I have been there. I just needed a chance, I needed practice, I needed SO badly to find a way to master the look I wanted. Slowly my prices went up with bookings and with that I branched out. I would literally point my camera at anything that paid. Honestly I don't think that there is anything I don't enjoy shooting at some time or other. But that doesn't mean I should shoot it all all of the time; I realized that but only after a few spur of the moment bookings without taking time to get to know the client. Had I known them I would have never opted to work with them. One harsh reality is that every client is not for you. When your business becomes more about a session fee than a session "you're gonna have a bad time".

 Some people think that just because you have a camera you can take the picture that they want, they don't take into consideration that you are an artist with a style. It is vital to get to know your client first, even if its with just one simple conversation. Make sure they know that you are an individual and your work has a look and thats the look they want. Don't have your feelings hurt if they decide its not for them. Cupcakes are ridiculously delicious, but not everyone eats cupcakes. Do cupcakes take offense to that? No. They don't have feelings....but if they did they would be grateful they dodged a bullet.

With all of that said, you also don't have to book every person that is pleading for a spot in your busy schedule (this is one I am still working on). You may see other photographers booking 10 sets a week and feel like you're not doing good enough because you aren't booking near that amount. They must be so amazing to have that many clients banging on their door. Let me let you in on a little secret about that photographer, since I have been her, she is miserable. She is tired. She is struggling to keep up and keep everyone happy. This is what I meant when I said that it starts to effect your business. You get in a hurry to get everything done on time and with that you lose the magic of giving a session your full attention. Yes you may be working hard but in the back of your mind you know you still have hours of work and as much as none of us want to admit it, it effects our outcome. Sure they are beautiful and perfect and your client is thrilled...but are you thrilled every time? There is a fix to this, a hard one but an ultimately better one no doubt. At least for me. LIMIT YOURSELF! Your quality will go up and your stress will go down..and do you know what goes up with quality? Thats right, ca-ching! Money! Find a pace that doesn't leave you wanting to rip your hair out. That pace may be 10-20 full sessions a week...and if it is I want whatever you are taking....

But my whole point of all of this is the best way to run your business is by just being "you". Do what makes you happy, work with people you can stand and do the style you love. Suddenly it won't be as much of a job anymore, it will find its way back into being just a passion. You may still be in your uphill climb, do not let me detour you, that is part of the journey. Just know that we all go through the same thing and some of us go through it a lot longer. There is no end your destination, just different steps all leading you to a new level. Know that you are not alone. We have all been there with frustration and wanting to quit, its just a part of running a business. Just remember that beautiful quote I shared: 

"You don't have to be the photographer for everybody. And that's okay. You don't have to do it all, shoot it all, be it all. Photograph what you love." - Work of heart Photography

 

You will fine your place, you will find your pace, you will find where you fit in and you will find the special little ingredient that makes your photography yours. It will make you happy and make your clients happy. Be the photographer that you would be thrilled to work with, not the one who does the most or does the fastest. Just the best you that you can be and then fall in love with photography all over again.

With complete honesty,

Kayla Hatch
Kaylamariephotos.com