Do you ever wish that you could go back in time and tell your younger self some incredible insight, some tips, or some secrets?

I do, too. I so wish that I could go back in time to when I was newly starting my business and to when I was newly starting to own my role as the CEO, and I really wish that I would have known these truth bombs that I’m about to share with you today. Because I truly believe that some of these principles I’m about to share with you could have saved me so many years of heartache. I truly hope that this would do the same for you and that I would be able to share some of my insights and tips, and that I would be able to help you along your journey as a photographer.

So, here are 8 Truth Bombs That Will Change Your Photography Business!

Truth Bomb #1: You Have to Love Business More Than You Love Photography

I had no idea when I got into photography, that it would be so business heavy. Obviously, I knew there’d be a business involved, but I also didn’t know how much I would fall in love with the business side. Truly, I believe that being a photographer is really only 20% about photography, and the other 80% of being a photographer is understanding how to run your business.

I hope that you know that, and I hope that you love business. And if you don’t love business, like there are options for you, right? You can be an associate photographer, and you can get paid just for doing the photography work. And there’s no shame in that. I want you to know that if you got into photography and you realized that you don’t love the business, it’s okay. There are options, such as you can work for other people who need photographers, but love the business more. There are tons of businesses out there looking for associates.

Overall, running a photography business is mostly about business. And if you don’t love business, you are going to burn out really quickly as a photographer.

Truth Bomb #2: A Mentor Can Save You Time, Energy, and Effort

For me, it took me so long to invest in a mentor, because it is such a huge investment. I finally invested in a $1200, 2-day workshop that truly was a pivotal change in my business, and made my business explode.

I eventually backtracked a little since it was just a 2-day workshop, so I realized I needed someone to help me in a more 1:1 role if I wanted to see long-term change. So, I moved to a mentor role, and I have also done group coaching. I believe both have their place individually in the business world.

I just wish that at the beginning after I did that workshop, I would have invested in a mentor or a group coaching program, or something that would propel me forward and hold me accountable because that’s really where I struggled and had a hard time.

Do make sure you do your research on mentors and make your investment with someone you see yourself aligning with well.

Truth Bomb #3: Entrepreneurship Requires Thick Skin and a Positive Mindset

I never knew how much adversity I would face as an entrepreneur. But I had to just overcome this self-doubt, listen to the criticism and the rejection, and learn how to handle it. The imposter syndrome, the mom guilt, etc. are all so loud, and we have to learn how to move past those hardships and mindset blocks.

In my own group coaching program, I use Voxer Office hours to help my own students move past these things, develop that thick skin, and grow that positive mindset for themselves.

Truth Bomb #4: Always Be Future-Focused

This is something that just never occurred to me when I was a new photographer. We don’t normally wake up thinking, “I wish I was a CEO today!” It took me about a decade or so to understand that I was the CEO of my business.

If you want to create a sustainable and profitable business, you have to think big, and you have to think of the big picture.

Maybe you don’t want a big, huge, business. But if you want to have a sustainable business, one that actually turns a profit and pays you, then you do have to be the leader of your business. You don’t have to call it the CEO, you can call it the leader of your business.

But if you’re being truthful, you are the CEO. The CEO is the person who owns operates and runs the day-to-day business unless you’re big enough where you have other managers and people who manage different departments. So, ultimately, you are the leader. And it’s important that you think about the future of your business.

When I began to think about myself as the CEO, it just changed everything. It gave me a completely different view, I had so many different expectations, I was forecasting, I was thinking ahead, and I was making informed decisions based on data not just based on my feelings.

And once you make that shift, you’re going to think bigger about the future of your business. And that’s when things begin to change.

Truth Bomb #5: You Do Not Have to Know or Do Everything at Once

When I first started my photography business, I think I assumed that I had to know everything, and I felt like once I started to know more things, I felt like I had to do all those things, such as email marketing, social media marketing, etc.

It’s really important that you think about what is important to know for you right now, and what is okay for you to wait on.

I have a shiny object list that I recommend everybody has. Mine is in Asana, and everytime I think of something new I want to do in my business, or anytime I think I see a program or a course or something that I want to do, I add it to this shiny object list. If I hear about a cool new app, or a platform, or something that I want to check out, I add it to this list.

I check in with this list frequently. Because sometimes when I’m goal planning, or when I’m quarterly planning, sometimes it’s important for me to add some of those shiny objects into my daily workflow.

Inside of my program, The Efficient Mom Photographer Program, I talk a lot about really getting specific on what you focus your time, energy and attention on because we have so many things to think about daily.

I suggest focusing on:

• Visibility
• Engaging Strategies
• Invitation Strategy, Call To Action (email marketing)
• Nurturing Your Audience (email marketing, blog)
• Epic Client Experience

Truth Bomb #6: System and Workflows are Essential

You have to learn to love systems. You have to learn to be organized and create workflows if you want sustainability. The funny thing about this too, is that when you have systems and workflows, your profit increases.

Truth Bomb #7: Surround Yourself With People Who are Smarter Than You

You need to get in a circle of other people who know more than you.

When you are around people who are at the same level as you, it’s really easy to get complacent, and it’s really easy to just be comfortable, and not realize your potential and not see that you are able to grow.

So if you’re feeling a little stuck in your business, and you’re wanting someone to push you, stretch you, and get outside of your comfort zone, and if you’re having a hard time just finding people to connect with and plug into, I would love to invite you to our free community, The Organized Mom Photographer.

Truth Bomb #8: Revenue Matters

When I got into business, it was more of an escape for me. I wanted something fun, and I lost sight of the revenue. What I didn’t realize was that I was trading my time and my energy with my clients for the time that I could have been spending with my family. And I was saying yes to my clients, but I was saying no to my family because I wasn’t able to provide financially for us, because I wasn’t paying attention to the revenue.

For some of you, I know that you can feel this because maybe you’re in that same boat. If you need support in how to run your business legally, cleanly, and with still paying yourself, I can help you with that. I want to be that mentor, and that guide for you that helps you push forward, that helps you see what potential you have for this business, whether you want a big business or a small business.

If you are interested in hearing more about The Efficient Mom Photographer Program, I would love to connect with you. I want you to shoot me an email at info@thepurposegathering.com and we will hop on a call together!

Quotes to Note:

“No experience is a waste of your time or your money. It’s simply a learning lesson that will help you make better decisions in the future.”

“Entrepreneurship is a really mental game. And it’s really easy for you to be the one that holds you back.”

“It doesn’t matter how big or small you want your business to be, if you want it to grow, and you want it to be sustainable and profitable, you need to think of the future of your business.”

Resources:

1. Email me at info@thepurposegathering.com to book a free 1:1 call, or to let me know your biggest takeaway from today’s episode. It makes my day when I hear from you!!
2. Reset Your Mindset by Natalie Eckdahl
3. Need support managing your time well and creating systems to streamline your Photography Business? Join the Efficient Mom Photographer (12 Week Group Coaching Program
4. Want to get make sure your photography business is on the right track? Take the Free Passion to Profit Challenge
5. Local to Gilbert/Mesa Arizona (For Mom Business Owners) Join our in person membership community
6. Looking for tips and strategies for making motherhood and business easier? Join Our Free Community – The Organized Mom Photographer
7. Have a question for me? Or a specific struggle you’re dealing with? I’ll address your question on the podcast. Submit your ‘Ask Ashley’ question here