Wow! Just like that, I realized I’ve been in business for 12 years! I don’t know where the time has gone! It feels like just yesterday when I was starting out. 12! In honor of my 12 years, I’ve put together some key lessons I’ve learned from being in business all these years.
Thanks for being so awesome everyone! Your support of my business means so much to me!
1. I’ve learned not to compare myself to other photographers- They are them and I am me. Yes, their photos are great, but that’s their brain. My brain is full of imagination too.
2. There are no rules– When I first started, family and friends thought I was CRAZY — a photographer who wants to photograph pets! But I proved them wrong!
3. There is no such thing as perfection. When I first started I wanted that perfect picture, but after years of working with pets, they have proven to me that you have to to go with the flow, have fun and the photos will shine.
4. Make friends. Some photographers are afraid to talk to other photographers for the fear they will steal their ideas. I’ve never felt this way. I learn from others and let others learn from me. I’ve met some many amazing people through my job and feel inspired by it.
5. It’s NOT the camera. I’ve heard so many times, “Great shot, you must have an amazing camera!” Are you kidding me? It’s not my daggone camera-that’s irrelevant. I created the shot. It’s MY eye, MY vision and MY approach.
6. Photography is an art. I am creating something from nothing-that’s art! The finished product I provide is art that families hang on their walls in their homes.
7. Me time. I have to have my “me time”. Without it I cannot be creative. I find if I shoot without the pressure of clients, deadlines or payroll, I recharge and am able to come back to my clients with a more creative approach.
8. Calculate the cost of doing business. Knowing my numbers was crucial to setting my proper fees. In the beginning, I charged what everyone else was changing, but quickly learned I was devaluing myself, and that their cost of doing business was not my cost.
9. Think out of the box. Over the years, I have learned to network with people I may not expect would be good connections. Early on, I networked with vet offices, doggie day cares etc. because I thought that’s who I should be networking with, right? Wrong, it turns out my ideal client doesn’t necessarily hang out at these places.
10. Only show the best. In the past I’ve showed clients tons of images, which was overwhelming to the client. Now I look at my own work with an objective eye, whittling down the best of the bunch making it easier on the client.
11. Quality. The quality of my product dictates who I am, not just my price. I admit I’m not the cheapest photographer, however you get what you pay for and usually that means lesser quality product and photographer.
12. Style. Finding my style, practicing it and nailing it. This was a huge eye opener for me. Setting myself apart from others so people can actually look at a piece of my art and ask “Was that taken by Megan with Paws and Claws Photography”?
