10 Years in business – #5 Be yourself

January 2024 marked 10 years since I started my own product photography business. There have been lots of ups and downs, “ooh’s” and “aah’s” over the years. To celebrate this milestone I’m doing a recap of key moments and lessons I learned running my photography business.

It has been a bit of a journey thinking back about all the different stages of my career so far. On a professional level, this recap has allowed me appreciate my own growth as a photographer. On a personal level, it has taught me to trust my instincts and follow my passion.

In this 8 blog series, I’m sharing some lessons I have learned over the years. Other product photographers may have had different experiences but I know we all face similar challenges in the industry.

Whether you are a photographer or run a different type of small business, I hope you find this blog series useful and interesting.

This is blog 5/8 – check out the rest at the end of the page.

BE YOURSELF – THE RISE OF INSTAGRAM

Back at university, if someone had said to me that I would need to learn about running a business and entrepreneurship, I would have said “That’s not for me. I just want to do the creative stuff”. Fast-forward a couple of years, I am browsing business books and attending business talks.

The same year I started my business, Instagram became this amazing new marketing tool for businesses of all sizes. Suddenly anyone could start a brand and market themselves to an audience in very unique and personal ways. Brands discovered new ways to engage with their audience and tap into their personal emotions and sense of community, and as a result, gain a wider reach and increase their following. The great thing about Instagram is that it encouraged businesses to stop trying to sell themselves and just be honest and make their followers feel like they were getting an exclusive peak into the people behind the brand. Marketing became less ‘business-y’ and, at least for me, all potential clients were in one place.

I honestly think it would have been a lot more difficult to grow my photography business without social media, especially Instagram. The transparency approach suited me because I’ve never been very good at marketing plans so I just decided to share about projects I was working on, behind the scenes at my little studio and cute photos of my dog. I am by no means a business guru or marketing specialist but I could understand that I just had to get out there, show up and be myself.

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS

My business model is based around making product photography attainable for small businesses so they can grow. I want people to think I am approachable, easy to work with and I’m there to help – because I am all of those things in real life and that’s what potential clients should expect from working with me.

Managing clients expectations as a photographer, or any other type of service provider, is one of the most important skills and it is not to be taken for granted because it can make or break your business. What clients expect from the experience of working with you as an individual and a professional is going to affect every stage of the project and ultimately the outcome. Managing expectations starts with branding and marketing but has to continue into the the way you interact with clients.

Here are some key points I have stood by over the years:

• Have a clear outline of what you can offer and how;
• Be honest and transparent;
• Communicate and make sure everyone is on the same page;
• Don’t be afraid to say no if it doesn’t feel right;
• Draw reasonable boundaries in order to avoid stressful situations.

THE REST OF THE BLOG SERIES

• #1 Getting into product photography READ IT NOW
• #2 Follow your gut and take risks – getting a studio READ IT NOW
• #3 Know your worth READ IT NOW
• #4 The power of a great community READ IT NOW
• #6 Learn, share, grow – try new things, stay creative (COMING SOON)
• #7 Take your work-life balance seriously – work hard play hard (COMING SOON)
• #8 Embrace change and opportunities – moving countries and new challenges (COMING SOON)

You can see my work, continue following my journey on Instagram and subscribe to my newsletter for occasional news and updates.