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.
Start by looking at how your interests, strengths, personality and experiences fit together. Add in the things people already come to you for, and you might see possibilities you hadn’t considered. So before you worry about a website, pricing or what to call your business, give yourself a chance to figure out what you’d actually enjoy creating.
Follow your curiosity. Try something. Notice what you look forward to doing and what you keep putting off. Think about whether you’d enjoy the everyday work involved, and how it would fit into the life you want. You might discover a service you could offer, something you’d love to teach or a creative outlet you want to keep just for yourself. Give yourself room to explore before deciding what it’s supposed to become.
Not sure what direction fits you yet? Explore The Sweet Spot Method app here. It helps you connect those pieces of yourself and give a possibility somewhere to go.
