When I started my business full time in the fall of 2009, I didn’t actually have a business.

I had a rough portfolio, a canon 40D, a few weddings under my belt, and basically a desire to make it work as a business no matter what. Like most other things in my life, I just wanted to jump in. I didn’t want to do any research. So. I learned the hard way.

And I got really discouraged. Those first few weddings were like these bright beacons on the horizon. I just thought if I had shot a few weddings and I booked a few more – that would be it, and I would be on my way. But soon, I started looking around at other photographers, and their fancy websites and professional blogs and images much much better than I was taking.

And I forgot the WHY of everything I was doing. Comparison is not only the thief of joy – it creates confusion and discouragement.

I still had those few amazing clients who were encouraging me to press on. But there was this underlying dissatisfaction I felt about everything I was doing. I thought that if only I could just get a new website and brand and blog then I would really be satisfied.

But here is what happened instead.

I went to a few workshops – one by Dane Sanders and one called Making Things Happen – and they shook me up.

They made me realize where that dissatisfaction was rooted – in doing what I thought I should be doing and in comparing myself to everyone else – and I realized I needed to dig deep and get back to the core of who I am, why I love what I do, and what I want my business to be about. Then, I realized that I needed to stop making excuses and invest in a brand that reflects those things, and I needed a team of people to help me get there.

If I could go back and give Emily from 2009 some advice on starting a photography business – I would tell her this:

Em,

You have what it takes to be a photographer. Do not doubt yourself or your talent. But you need to figure a few things out first.

First – figure out your vision. Don’t get distracted by workshops and equipment and websites and what other photographers are doing on facebook. Just cut all of that out for a while. Figure out what makes YOU unique. Figure out what you want your business to be about. Figure out what  kind of experience you want your clients to have. Sit down and write about it. Give yourself the time and space to create a mission statement.

Next – focus on your craft.  Learn how to use the equipment you have so well you can use it in your sleep. And document what’s important to you. Decide what YOU are passionate about and photograph that. Don’t think that you have to be selling your skills for cheap for “experience” – when people pay you that payment is a guarantee that you are going to give them something that they love. Take that seriously. Instead, shoot things that test your limits and your creativity. Find your own unique voice.

Then – find professionals you trust for guidance & hire them to help you build a brand that showcases your unique talent and vision. Don’t settle for something that doesn’t make your heart sing. It only does you a disservice to get by on what’s free out there. The clients you want will know the difference, and the investment you make in a talented branding team will pay for itself before you know it.

Keep working hard. You’ll get there. It takes longer than you want it to, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it.

…

Finally, this year, I got down to the hard work of branding my business. I think that’s a big reason that 2011 was such a huge year for me.

Branding is really worth it, but it’s also hard work to figure out. I think a lot of people have the misconception that branding should be all about what you like. And as artists we change our mind about what we like every few months. The thought of choosing colors was terrifying to me. What if I don’t like it in a month?

But really, your branding is all about what you want other people to FEEL when they encounter it.

Here is the board I created when I began working with Making Brands Happen to guide the Gem Photo branding process.

I want people to feel : inspired, joyful, surprised, delighted + warm.

My experience with Making Brands Happen helped me understand that creating a wonderful experience for my clients begins before they even meet me. I want them to feel happy right from the first moment they look at my website to the last moment where they open their disc or album and heart shaped confetti pops out.

Here is what we created together. It makes me so happy. 

I hope this post has been helpful.

I get emails sometimes from new photographers and they are looking for any advice for photographers just starting their business. Well, this post is everything I’ve got on it.

Two things that I hope encourage you to take action to make this year the year that you begin to build your dream into a reality:

1. Making Brands Happen just launched 3 new branding options for 2012 as well as a bunch of a la carte options to help you get your branding started. They are hosting a giveaway for $500 off their services this year, so get over there and enter! I cannot encourage you enough to start this process now, even if it’s just a small step.

A year from now you will wish you had started today.

2. If you are going to WPPI this year and you are in need of some fresh, authentic images of yourself for your website or blog, I would love to help you out. I would love to offer a discounted headshot session to any photographers out there. My friend Gina did these for me last year and it was such a blessing to me to have something like this for my business.

photo by gina zeidler

Leave a comment and let me know what you are thinking. I love being in this process with you guys.

Thanks for reading.

xoxo,
Em