For weekly business thoughts and inspiration, check my workshop blog, Branches and Light. Every January, I host a 1 day photography workshop for ladies with my dear friend and fellow photographer, Caroline Joy. Get connected, and stay inspired!
Internships
I hire a part time summer intern once a year to help run my home studio in North Raleigh, usually from May until August. Please refrain from contacting me about this internship until I release a blogpost with instructions on how to apply. Keep checking the blog for information – I usually release what I am looking for in early Spring!
What’s in your bag?
2 Canon 5d mark II’s
1 Canon 5d backup
2 battery packs
50mm 1.2
24mm 1.4
85mm 1.2
24-70mm 2.8
70-200mm 2.8
50mm 2.5 macro
50mm 1.4
What lighting equipment do you use?
While I love and prefer natural light, I never leave it up to chance. I use…
2 alienbee b400′s
2 580exii’s
1 430 backup
3 light stands
4 pocket wizards
1 small light box
Anything else you can’t shoot without?
Kelly Moore Bag [hobo grey]
Think Tank Airport Security
Shootsac (Will’s bag)
plenty of CF cards (mostly 8Gs)
A portable hardrive
Lowel video light
Pixel Pocket Rocket
What is your computer setup?
27″ iMac desktop
24″ iMac desktop [Intern's computer]
15″ MacBook Pro
Many TB’s of External Hard Drives for backup
Your editing software of choice?
Lightroom
Photoshop
InDesign
Bridge
Do you use actions?
I use a few of Boutwell’s Totally Rad Actions. Clean is beautiful, so it is very minimal.
Do you shoot in RAW or JPEG?
RAW
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Recommended books & readings
How to win friends & Influence People – Dale Carnegie
Tribes – Seth Godin
Entreleadership – Dave Ramsey
Crush It – Gary Vaynerchuck
Stacy Reeve’s ”the single greatest guide to wedding photography pricing that ever was and ever will be”
E-Myth – Michael Gerber
Thou Shall Prosper – Rabbi Daniel Lapin
Good to Great – Jim Collins
The Greatest Salesman in the world – Og Mandino
Boundaries – Dr. Henry Cloud
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How to stay Inspired
I set goals for myself on a regular basis. Personal and professional. I post them on my blog the first day of each month, and in turn, many blog followers have been posting goals of their own. It’s become a community of inspiration and motivation! One of my favorite features on my blog.
I follow photographers full of positivity, encouragement, and stunning work.
Journaling, praying, reading Scripture. Meditating on Jesus. Every morning I do this, and it gives me perspective for each day.
Magazines – Southern Weddings magazine, Pottery Barn, Real Simple, Martha Stewart Living, Anthropologie, JCrew
Once a year, I choose one couple or one family to give a session to. Free of charge, photos included. Someone who is a blessing to others, or maybe they need a blessing in their life. Nothing is more rewarding than being a blessing, and giving!
Workshops. Reading. Learning constantly.
Doing “session swaps” with fellow photographers. It’s so fun and it is always a great reminder of what it’s like to be in front of a camera, instead of behind it.
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Thoughts & advice for those starting a photography business
{i don’t have perfect advice, but only what i have learned from my own pursuit of my photography business. and if there is one thing i’ve learned, it’s that every photographer’s story is different. everyone chooses photography for different reasons, and everyone achieves “success” at different paces, with different goals in mind. so firstly, ask yourself, “why am i doing this? is this truly my passion? what do i like to take pictures of? what is my style? who would i like to emulate? how can i put my unique perspective into photographs?” and with those questions in your mind, start your pursuit.}
- Be yourself. You can’t borrow other photographers’ ideas, thoughts or styles and be genuine. Take pictures of what you think is beautiful, because you are the professional. Your clients are trusting you to make the difficult decisions.
- Always shoot in manual.
- Take charge. It not only creates the photograph you want but it makes your clients feel comfortable. Most people are very uncomfortable being in front of a camera, so if you are telling them what to do, it distracts them from their discomfort. Tell your client exactly how to stand, what expression to make. There are no limits except those we impose on ourselves when it comes to making a photograph.
- Keep smiling. Stay calm. No matter what happens.
- Do everything in your power to protect your clients images and keep your equipment functioning properly. Always charge your batteries, clear your cards, & back up, back up, & back up your images.
- Become a credible business in the beginning by paying taxes, insuring your business & equipment, keeping up with quickbooks, and making financial goals and a long term plan.
- Know the technical side of creating a beautiful photo. Get as much as you can exactly how you like it inside your camera, so you can keep editing to a minimum after.
- Never go into debt for your business. Ever. Never ever. I have run my entire business on cash, and it has allowed me to gain momentum at a much more rapid pace than some of my photographer friends who are still in debt. [For more small business financial advice, I go to daveramsey.com]
- Learn to say, “I am a photographer.” Declare it, think it, believe it, and that’s what you’ll be.
- Learn to say no. No to clients who want you to bend over backwards, no to new equipment that sparkles (& is usually crazy expensive), no to sessions when you start to over-book yourself. Your business will take over your life if you let it, I promise.
- Yes, the customer is always right, BUT you are the one running your business. Don’t forget that. While meeting every clients need as best as you can, don’t go out of the boundaries you’ve set for yourself.
- Your business is not your life. Your business exists to enhance your life, to give you a life. Don’t confuse the two.
- Build relationships with other photographers, vendors, venues, & bloggers in your local community. Give to them constantly… they will give back.
- Pay attention to your pricing. Don’t choose numbers out of thin air, but pay attention to the cost of running your business, taxes, having a business emergency fund, and your profits. Make it make sense. Read Stacy Reeve’s photography pricing guide. Read Dave Ramsey’s Entreleadership. Take the time needed to set your pricing in a way that makes you profitable.
- Frustration will come, so embrace it! Allow it to push you further. Those who do not give up are those that win.