FIVE TIPS FOR GROWING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY BIZ!

My top 5 tips for growing your business - It's all about community over competition

The time is now!
As a photographer who has grown a successful business, I can say truthfully, we are learning, growing and experimenting each and every day! 
If you are thinking about starting a photography business to the point you wake up thinking about it, you daydream of what it would look like and you manifest your success daily, it’s time to start.
Just start.
 It is time to take the bull by the horns and embark in a journey towards making your fiery passion your career.
 Remember that quote by Sheryl Sandberg: “Done is better than perfect.”
From my experience I have narrowed down my best tips to growing your photography business. Let’s begin:

Tip 1: Marketing! It’s important, in fact, it’s integral. You need to realise that marketing is about 95% of your business and you must learn to utilise it well. Regardless how good you are, there is still a little or a ‘lottle’ hustle involved and to book clients you have to market yourself well. Be it on social media, website, local groups, word of mouth – you are running a business now, it’s time to step up. I have found that the more time I spend marketing, the better clients I attract. And the better clients I attract, the less shoots I have to book and the more freedom I have. 

Tip 2: Charge your worth – Do not feel nervous when pricing your work. When you first start out, of course it is daunting, and you need to build a portfolio which can include work for exposure and the ‘dreaded’ work to grow your portfolio. This is normal and 100% acceptable AT THE START but only when you truly feel it is a ‘win win’ situation. To work out your rate, make sure you take into consideration the planning, prepping, travel (if any), hours on set and hours in post-production. Don’t sell yourself short – it devalues our industry.

Tip 3: Invest in yourself – Business mentor, educational courses, new equipment, props. You have to spend money to make money. Never stop learning. I always have education scheduled on the calendar. I read business books. I go to conferences. I research what other businesses are doing well outside the photography industry for opportunities to try new things.

Tip 4: Find your niche – Own it, practice, and find your unique voice and style. Do not put yourself through unnecessary misery but constantly comparing your work to others. You don’t know their goals, their financial situation or what their end game is. Focus on YOU and what YOU do best. One of the most important parts of growing a photography business is discovering your niche. As you grow, you can either diversify or specialise but having a strong expertise in one photography niche is crucial to owning, building and establishing a successful photography business.

Tip 5: Be humble and never forget that you ‘get’ to do this, rather than you ‘have’ to do this. Repeat this in your head when things get tough – it will instantly shift your mindset.
 
Oh, and 1 last one – Outsource the things you hate. Accounting? Contracts? Book keeping? – Outsource. Outsource. Outsource.
 
What is your top tip for growing your business?

Let me know in the comments!