Reflections on my first year in business as a photographer
So this post might be a little late, but I realised this week that i’ve just finished my first full year as a photographer - Wow! I started my journey a couple of years ago after doing a BRILLIANT course with Lens 11 - and despite the fact that I am still building up my business alongside working a full-time job, I am pretty damn proud of how far I have come. I did my first ‘official’ paid shoot in September 2022, so i’m counting September as my business birthday month.
If you’re new here, Hi! I’m Lauren. I am a brand and wedding photographer based in Northamptonshire, specialising in colourful and joyful photography for lovely people.
Starting my photography business hasn’t been without it’s challenges, so I thought i’d share a post today reflecting on what has worked, what hasn’t worked, and everything i’ve learnt along the way. The thing i’ve always loved about photography is the community I have built up and all the brilliant women i’ve met through it - so I hope this post is useful if you’re thinking of setting up a service-based business. Think of it as a no-bullshit approach to marketing a small business. I still have a long way to go and there’s LOTS I could improve on (I really dont have much time!) but I hope this helps some of you small business owners who are looking for ways to get your new business out into the wild.
How to get your first clients as a small business owner
Referral/Word of Mouth
As a newbie in the photography business, I quickly realised that word of mouth (and actually TELLING PEOPLE WHAT YOU DO) is worth its weight in gold. My first clients came through referrals from people I knew in previous jobs. I booked brand shoots, family shoots and engagement shoots which all helped build up my portfolio and ultimately led to more recommendations and a solid client base. If you don'‘t believe in what you do - how will anyone else?
Local Networking Events
Networking events held locally in Northamptonshire played a really important role in my journey. Now, I know what you’re thinking - networking can be TERRIFYING. But you really can’t underestimate the value of meeting people in real life when youre starting a new business. People will have you believe it’s possible to build a whole business on Instagram, and for some people that’s true. But my success came when I started going out and having actual conversations with people. Meeting fellow photographers, local business owners and potential clients allowed me to showcase my work and make connections. Local communities can be incredibly supportive, and attending these events pushed me out of my comfort zone - which is only a good thing!
Optimising My Website for SEO
As someone with a digital marketing background, i’m fortunate enough to know a lot about websites and SEO - so building up a website that was both beautiful and functional was important to me. To ensure they could find me online, I invested time in optimising my website for SEO, using keywords such as “brand photographer Northamptonshire”. This not only improved my online visibility on Google, but also helps me attract enquiries clients actively seeking photography services in Northamptonshire.
Posting on Instagram
Instagram has proven to be a fantastic platform for showcasing my photography skills and engaging with people locally. I consistently post my work, my thoughts (which are very sporadic and random) and start conversations with interesting people. The visual nature of Instagram is a powerful tool for photographers and also other business owners, and it helped me connect with both clients and fellow photographers who I now count as friends. My biggest tip for instagram has to be to SHOW YOUR FACE. I get it - showing up is HARD, especially when you have low self esteem. But you HAVE to get yourself out there, no matter how scary it feels. (Hey, some beautiful brand photography would help!)
The biggest barriers I overcame
Building up a Portfolio
Building a great portfolio that reflected the kind of work I wanted to do was one of my biggest challenges. I needed to demonstrate my expertise in both wedding and brand photography - which is much easier said than done. Realistically, most people don’t want you to shoot their wedding or event without having any proof you can actually do it. To overcome this hurdle, I offered discounted rates to early clients (and also shot for free) in exchange for the opportunity to showcase my work. This approach not only helped me gain valuable experience but also allowed me to expand my portfolio - and honestly i’m chuffed with the work i’ve done so far.
Overcoming Self-esteem Issues
Imposter syndrome is REAL, especially in a creative field like photography. It took me a really long time to feel like I deserved to stand out and be successful, and honestly I still often wonder whether I am good enough. Overcoming self-esteem issues was a significant barrier and something I continue to work on pretty much daily - but I realised that continuous learning, referring back to lovely feedback, and surrounding myself with a brilliant community all helped me become more confident. Confidence in business is a journey for most women, and I aim to support them to realise how brilliant they can be - just the way they are.
Ambitions for next year
Booking More Wedding Photography
In the coming year, my main goal is to book more weddings. Wedding photography is incredibly exciting to me - I love the adrenaline rush of capturing all the important emotional moments. As an ex wedding planner, I love the details and the energy and getting to spend time with people on the happiest day of their lives. I am offering discounted rates for weddings booked until June 2024 - so get in touch if you’re in the market!
Offering More Value as a Brand Photographer
I believe in going the extra mile for my clients and I have a LOT of knowledge to share from many years of working with brands and businesses on their marketing. In the year ahead, I want to offer more value by providing creative direction and marketing support as an add on to my photography packages. Many small business owners need guidance on how to use their photos effectively within their marketing, so by offering this additional expertise, I hope to help them see just how brilliant they are.
Expand my community locally
One of the most important drivers for me is community. I want everyone to feel welcome and accepted. There’s no doubt that I wouldn’t be where I am today without a whatsapp group full of cheerleaders, and i’d love to expand my network locally, too. We can all do brilliant things, but sometimes we need a helping hand, so i’d love to meet more business owners in Northamptonshire!
And that’s it! My first year as a photographer in Northamptonshire has been a bit of a rollercoaster of learning, pushing myself out of my comfort zone and figuring things out as I go. Looking ahead, I’ve got lots to be excited about - so thanks for coming along for the ride!
If youre interested in working with me - you can get in touch here.