Running a business…especially a photography business is harder than it looks! Sure, everyone sees the final portraits that are beauifully edited and delivered. But there is actually more business going on than people think. In fact, I only spend about 30% of my time actually photographing and editing….the other 70% of my time is working the business end of it. In fact, in order to be a successful photographer, you need to be an even better business person! (I know…crazy right?!?!)

I’ve had a lot of questions lately from new photographers that are just starting out, so I thought I’d offer up three foundational elements that need to be in place when you are trying to get your new business off the ground.

Funny enough, I’m not going to tell you that you need a super expensive camera…yes, a $4000 camera is amazing to shoot with, but amazing shots won’t keep you in business. My advice on gear is to buy the best you can afford. Then reinvest your profits back into your business so that you can slowly upgrade as you have the budget. I was able to buy my Canon 5D Mark III when I booked a wedding a few years back. I had been saving a little along the way, so instead of taking the profit and putting it in my pocket, I put it into purchasing my upgrade. Smart move! 🙂

Ok…so back to your three foundational elements for early success.

#1 Your Client Experience must be SUPERB!!!

Love people. Serve People. It’s really that simple.

I LOVE my clients. They become like family. Truly, they are my people…they’ve trusted me with their most valuable treasures…their families mean the world to them….so I take care of them!

It goes back to the Golden Rule my parents taught me as a child…”Treat others the way you want to be treated.” Be generous. Be kind. Be punctual. Be responsive. Be patient. Be trustworthy. Be flexible. Be accommodating.

#2 Client Management Systems are CRUCIAL!!!

One of the ways to love your clients and serve them well is to have an efficient and professional client management system as part of your workflow. What does that mean? Have you ever tried to keep up with clients through Facebook Messenger, email, texting, and also Instagram DM?!?!!? And all at the same time?!?! Yes, it’ll make you feel like you are going to lose your mind. 🙂 I’ve had a few freak out moments where I couldn’t remember where I had last had a conversation with a client. You check all the places…only to come up empty!!! However, you know it’s somewhere…and it’s crucial that you update them on the meeting time or location?!??! Yes, heart stopping moments!! hahahahaha

Hence the importance of an efficient client management system. In fact, I had a client meeting last week where I met a new client for the first time and she commented on how professional and easy it was to communicate with me. I was able to email with her, send her my pricing options, send her a contract, have her sign the contract, I was able to sign the contract, and then send her an invoice. She was then able to pay her invoice. BAM!!! Everything for this client is in one location. So when I need to update something, email her, or remind myself of something regarding her shoot…it’s all in my Honeybook account for her.

I suggest you do your research when choosing a system that works best for you. Also, please take into consideration that you should choose a program that can grow with you. Hopefully you’ll grow quickly….but the downside to that blessing is that you need to have your infrastructure in place so that you can handle that growth seamlessly.

Think of it like a brick and mortar business that’s brand new from the ground up. In our little coastal town, a big box store (name starts with a W) 😛 is being built. We drive by it 50 times a day (I have teens that are in a hundred different directions). One of the girls commented the other day, “How LOOONNNGGG is it going to take for them to finish it?!?! They’ve been working on it forever and all they’re doing is pushing around dirt. There isn’t even a building yet!” I then explained to her that they aren’t just pushing around dirt, they are laying the foundation and infrastructure down and when they start building, it’ll go up quickly.

The same is true for our creative small businesses. You may be building your business in your yoga pants from your couch….but laying efficient groundwork first is critical for successful growth.

#3 Consistent Branding is Imperative

Branding is more than fonts, colors, and logo. It’s your style, your communication, and the client experience.

Ok, so let’s look at my “branding”…it is very coastal, preppy, classy. Those are the tangibles from my website, my photographs, my packaging, and my client gifts. But there are other intangibles that are experiential. It’s also how people perceive your business as a whole. How do people feel about your business when they think of it? As I was redoing my website in January, I did a poll of my former clients, asking them to use three words to describe my brand. I knew that I was doing a great job when they used the same words over and over again. Fun…sassy…classic…preppy…timeless… Nailed it!

I have a friend that owns a cupcake and custom cake shop. Her branding is so on point!! Her colors are fun, perky, and sweet with fun pinks and blues!! When you talk to her or go into her shop…your interaction with her is also fun, perky, and sweet. She’s branding perfectly! You can find her here:  Frosted

If you are just starting out, remember that building a successful business is more than just learning how to take beautiful pictures or perfect your craft. It is also about taking care of your clients, creating a strong foundational client workflow, and being consistent!

Hope this helps!  🙂

Blessings,
Corry