I’ve been a photographer for more than half my life, so it only feels natural that we talk about this.
Over the years, I’ve coached photographers, helped them hone their craft, watched some turn photography into successful businesses and watched others realize they were happiest keeping it as something they simply loved to do. And photography has changed a LOT over the years. It’s more accessible than ever. There are talented photographers popping up everywhere, which is an amazing thing. But if you’re sitting there thinking, I’d really like to do something with my photography, it can also make you wonder…
how can I do this when there are so many other people doing it?
That’s actually the part I love digging into. Because I don’t think the answer is to look around at what other photographers are doing, pick a niche, create a logo and start offering the same sessions everyone else is offering.
I want to know what you notice. What do you love photographing? What comes naturally to you? What are you unusually good at? What kind of work would you still want to create even if Instagram disappeared tomorrow? What other background do you have that you can also bring to the table in correlation to your photography?
And then we get to the nitty gritty. Is there something here that could become a business? Would it be better as a side gig that brings in some extra income without taking over your life? Or is photography something you want to protect as a creative outlet without asking it to make you money at all?
If the answer is business, then there’s an even bigger question:
What would make someone choose you when there are plenty of other talented photographers they could choose from?
Spoiler: The answer is not better presets or actions.
It’s figuring out where your interests, strengths, personality, experience and the things people actually value about you that start overlapping. That’s where photography gets a whole lot more interesting. So before we talk websites, pricing, packages or whether you should officially call yourself a photographer, let’s figure out what your version of photography could actually look like.
Take the pictures. Follow your curiosity. Try things. Notice what lights you up and what drains you. Let yourself discover what photography could look like in your life before deciding what you think you’re ‘supposed’ to turn it into.
Not sure what direction fits you yet? Start with the Photography Sweet Spot Method HERE.
