February 17, 2025 • 27 mins
*Find me on INSTAGRAM @BPoshPhoto
SHOP BP AMAZON STORE (lenses, gear, and more!)
5 FREE BP PHOTO PROMPTS to download and keep on your phone
24 PHOTO PROMPT CARDS WITH what to shoot- GAME CHANGER!
THE CREATIVE'S SHOT LIST- 15+ things to shoot at your next session for variety and stop-the-scroll power
GROW YOUR BUSINESS- use these chatGPT prompts (copy and paste style) to find your brand identity, target market, and get a 30 day content plan for your social media
COMING SOON: mini course for my visual learners - JOIN THE WAITLIST
This Series kicks off with discovering how to transition your photography hobby into a profitable side hustle while overcoming imposter syndrome and establishing your unique style. Learn about essential strategies for building your portfolio and effectively communicating with potential clients.
• Moving from hobbyist to business owner
• Overcoming fears of inadequacy
• Identifying when you’re ready to charge
• The importance of building a solid portfolio
• Defining your unique photography style
• Establishing payment processes with clients
• Creating a dedicated photography Instagram page
• Utilizing resources like shot lists for successful sessions
• Upcoming exploration of pricing strategies
$30 Off First Month Nuuly Clothing Subscription
Try AFTERSHOOT AI editing with 10% off
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, mama, whether or not you're trying out your
camera for the very first timeor you've been doing this a
while and just looking for somecreative inspiration, I've got
all that and more.
I'm here to help you see yourworld differently, challenge you
creatively and find yourpassion for photography.
Hey everybody, welcome back toBetter Photos Podcast.
(00:22):
So we have wrapped up ourseries on beginner photography
and taking your photos toanother level, from starting
with our camera settings andgetting to know our manual modes
and camera all the way toediting.
(00:43):
So, naturally, I feel like thenext series is going to deal
with turning your photographyinto a side hustle or part-time
business or full-time if youwant to go straight for that.
So what I did is I back in theday of Craigslist?
(01:05):
Yeah, when that was a thing, Istarted putting my services on
Craigslist, which I feel likewould be modern day Facebook
marketplace.
Oh my gosh, like just thinkingof the types of people you would
get offering super low pricesjust to see if you could get
(01:29):
clients.
Yeah, I marketed myself firstas, like fashion photography, I
took some pictures of somefriends and that would be
willing to basically just helpme out doing what I said in
front of the camera and helpingme learn poses and angles, and
(01:51):
while that was fun, that's notreally what I wanted to do.
And I did actually book someclients from Craigslist, some
aspiring models that needed compcard photos, and so obviously
it's way more comfortable whenyou are a girl working with
(02:12):
girls.
So that was, that was fine.
So then you know my story ofgoing to the dog park or going
to Freedom Park and askingpeople photos with their dogs
and then I would give them somefor free, but then I would
charge, I think or maybe Icharged, like once they looked
at the photos.
(02:32):
I don't even remember.
I feel like that was only likeone time, and then I was like,
no, this is kind of sketch.
So I nixed that Also withCraigslist.
I that, also with Craigslist, Ioffered headshots, and so we had
just moved into our first houseand it was a three bedroom home
and it was just me and myhusband there, and so we had an
(02:55):
extra.
No, it wasn't three bedrooms,it was only two bedrooms, no, it
was three.
Okay, so one of them housed myhusband's furniture, his
bachelor's style stuff and asour guest room, and then we had
an open one.
We decided to and when I say we, I mean I decided to use that
(03:17):
room and the light that was goodin there for doing headshot
photos.
So I offered headshot photosand then I could not figure out
how somebody would be willing tolike pay me like beforehand, or
how did I know that they weregoing to actually show up.
This was like so new to me, likedo you pay first, do you get
(03:40):
your, do I do the work first andthen they pay?
Like what if somebody getsscrewed over here?
And so I think the firstheadshots I did may have been
like connect connections fromanother friend, but I did not
know headshot styles.
So normally for typicalheadshots you need a studio with
(04:05):
like um lighting that you cancontrol, like fake lighting,
what is it called, I don't knowjust studio lighting, and you
don't really need natural lightwindows because you're using
flash um that's to get like youknow, like how we've talked
about like under eyes and umtexture of skin with lighting.
If you are using studio light,you can manipulate that a lot
(04:30):
more by adding more light intothose areas.
So I had none of that Um, andso then I would offer that and I
did get paid.
I think somebody like theywould write you a check or
whatever, and that was maybelike two people.
Think somebody like they wouldwrite you a check or whatever,
and that was maybe like twopeople.
Then I offered to do, um newbornsessions, maybe at like a very
(04:51):
steep discount, but again, Idon't know what I'm doing and
when you've never had a newborn,that is a whole new world.
Like there are people thateither love newborn shoots or
they hate them, and trying tofigure out how to do one and not
having, like all the propersafety training, which luckily
it was fine, it was.
(05:12):
You know lots of like theparents holding the baby and you
know, but I didn't know, likehow old the baby should be.
I didn't know about babies umpeeing in the air, and that was
quite a surprise when I had thedad holding the baby completely
nude and all of a sudden thereis pee shooting up into his face
.
Yeah, that really did happen,and she may even be listening to
(05:35):
this Um.
So, yeah, trying to start a sidehustle is is quite um hard or
just not hard.
Just where do you startconfusing Um using Okay, so how
(06:03):
to know when you are ready Ifyou have had friends asking you
to take their family photos, orif you have had friends asking
you to do their wedding photosor their newborn photos.
If you have people asking totake their photo and you've been
doing it for free, maybe now isthe time to start charging, all
right.
So if you are wondering if youare ready to start charging for
(06:26):
your photos, then this episodeis for you, all right.
So first thing, you have to gofrom thinking hobbyist to
business owner, and this is whatscares a lot of photographers
off.
Normally you are very increative mode, but now you have
(06:46):
to be in business mode and a lotof things like taxes, a lot of
things as starting your businesslegit can come into play, and
even imposter syndrome likesomebody is doing it this way, I
need to do it this way.
Or now there's so many likebusiness coach people marketing
(07:07):
their services and likeeverything looks good, all the
guides look good, all the helplooks great, but then there's
cost and it's like whatinvestment do I make and will I
be good enough?
Do I shoot like this person?
Do I have all the right things?
And you kind of just have toget that out of your mind and
know that the perfect time tostart is when you feel like you
(07:31):
could actually do this and justjump in.
And if you can, can't, then sowhat?
Like it doesn't matter.
I'm at the point in my lifewhere I'm just starting new
things all the time just becauseI want to see what it's like.
I just want to jump in and doit, see if I can, and if I don't
, then whatever, I don't care.
Mainly I'm just wasting timeand money.
So there's that.
(07:52):
So there's that, okay.
So get rid of the impostersyndrome mindset.
Then think that there is alwaysgoing to be a demand for
photographers.
Again with directing, if you'veever taken your own photos with
a tripod, you still would lovefor someone to tell you what to
(08:19):
do, or your family what to do,or make sure that they are doing
what you have said to do.
So that is what I feel like.
There will always be a need forphotographers.
People want to be in the photosand not just taking them all
the time.
So you can think about families.
You can think about newborns.
You can think about brands.
You can think about weddingsWhatever exc.
Think about newborns.
You can think about brands.
You can think about weddingsWhatever excites you, there can
(08:39):
be a photography specific nichefor you, or you can just start
anywhere and everywhere, like Idid.
It was dog photos, it washeadshots, it was weddings, it
was um I can't even remember allthe things oh, like uh, bands,
(08:59):
um like concert nights at mychurch, or it was like
everything, and I just had tofind out, like, what excited me,
what brought in money, and then, after you've been doing it a
while, you can say like no tomore things.
But at first I said yes toeverything.
Yes to everything until Ireally nailed down what I wanted
to do and could make enoughmoney to support that.
(09:24):
Okay.
So what you need to start isbasically everything that we've
already talked about.
You need a basic camera, whichI suggest one that has manual
mode, but these days you canoffer a specific style.
You just have to get veryconfident in shooting and being
able to deliver the same qualityto every single person that
(09:49):
books you, that is representedon your Instagram and your
website, and if they like that,then obviously they're booking
you for that.
Dslrs and mirrorless cameraswill have a bigger megapixel
range, but I mean, our phonesare getting great.
You can even offer like aniPhone photography session.
(10:14):
So as long as you're beinghonest, like with how you do
what you do, why you do what youdo, and this is what you will
get, then you are golden.
Okay, so you've got your basiccamera gear.
We've talked about editingsoftware, um, and a lot of these
(10:34):
things are subscription based.
So you need to make sure thatyou have enough money that is
going to support those thingsmonthly and that you have enough
business that would come in tocover that and, basically, that
you have the skills enough torepeat, repeat, repeat, repeat
what you give other people thatyou should be giving new clients
(10:58):
.
Your style should be consistentso that you can say what you
see is what you get.
All right is that you getrepeat inquiries that people are
constantly still asking you,maybe for another session, or
(11:20):
maybe you're getting new peopleasking you for photos that you
have great stuff to post on yourInstagram or your website that
draws people in, that people areliking your things and the
confidence in your work.
So, again, just confidence andknowing that you could deliver
the same thing over and overagain.
All right, so before you startcharging, here are some things
(11:44):
that you could work on.
Okay, so, portfolio building Ifyou don't have someone booking
you for a specific style thatyou want, then offer it to a
friend or someone that you trustand that trusts you to do it
(12:05):
for free.
Maybe it's a family session andso maybe you reach out to a
friend and you say, hey, wouldyour family be willing to do a
free 30 minute session with me?
I would love to suggest outfitideas.
Maybe you're linking things forthem to buy.
Maybe you have your own clientcloset.
(12:25):
Maybe you just want to givethem colors.
Maybe you have a Pinterestboard that you want to send to
them so that it can be acohesive look with your brand
and it's in a location that youlove, that you would love to
shoot more of.
Is that indoor?
Is that outdoor?
You pick the things, you buythe things and then start
(12:47):
photographing that so you canhave stuff to put on your
Instagram feed.
That so you can have stuff toput on your Instagram feed.
One thing I learned not too longago but you want to put on your
Instagram things that you wantmore of, so I'm very selective
with what I put on my Instagram.
I will photograph families inall sorts of colors.
They will wear whatever theylike and I tell them to.
(13:11):
I say this is the style thatgoes best with my editing and
with my overall look that I'mtrying to achieve, but these
photos are ultimately yours andso you wear what you feel best
in.
So I have families that love mystyle advice and they adhere to
it 100%.
I have other families that wearexactly what they want.
(13:33):
It is bold colors, is colorsthat maybe don't even go
together warm tones, cool tones,and you know what.
That's their choice, and I'vealready stated that these, these
are my best colors that go withmy editing the warm tones, the
neutrals, the browns, theorganic colors, the jewel tones
and if you want to wearsomething else like that is up
(13:55):
to them, and so I think that, um, or so, what I post on
Instagram is going to be more ofthe brown tones, the creams,
the, the style that I like, loveto edit because it brings my
vision from like start to finish.
When I have people that are notwearing the colors that I love
(14:17):
and that go best with my editing, I feel like it's like halfway
done, you know, like it's justmissing, and it doesn't make me
as excited to um, to edit thoseor to work on that.
I mean I'm excited for them tolike have their family like
documented, and I know thatthey'll love it, but it's not
(14:38):
something that I'm going to wantto shoot more of, and so I just
am very selective with what Ipost on my Instagram.
So you want to shoot thingsthat you love so that you can
build a good portfolio onInstagram or TikTok or Facebook
or your website.
Wherever you post your work, itshould be work that you love
(15:00):
and that you want more of.
And then also like finding yourstyle.
Make sure that you have adesignated style.
Do you like and like?
Your style can be like a bunchof things Like do you like to
shoot outside?
Do you like, um and like?
Your style can be like a bunchof things like do you like to
shoot outside?
Do you like to shoot indoor?
Do you like to uh shoot in fullsun?
Do you like to shoot in fullshade?
(15:21):
Do you like to shoot only atgolden hour or do you like to
shoot um when it's super sunny,like in the morning?
Do you like to shoot umtwilight, when the sun is going
down a little bit?
Um, then, also with your style,it could be do you like to have
very posed and proper photos.
(15:41):
Are people coming for just likea sit down, maybe a couple
standing and a couple sitting?
Or do you like to have longersessions that engage families
and use more prompts and cueinginstead of particular poses?
Maybe you have a combination ofboth.
Finding your style can also behow you interact with your
(16:04):
clients.
What is it like to talk withyou?
What is it like to be at yoursession?
What are you telling them?
How are you engaging with them?
Or are you more documentary?
Are you like a fly on the walland they just naturally do
things and you capture things?
Fly on the wall and they justnaturally do things and you
capture things in the backgroundwithout them even noticing you.
So developing your style andeven like online communication,
(16:30):
like what are you going to offerthem?
Being very specific andpracticing.
You want to practice over andover with real subjects.
So maybe you think like I wantto go into possibly charging for
my sessions, but I need somework, and so maybe you look over
(16:55):
the next you know couple monthsand you book three sessions of
a family shoot a newborn shootor a maternity and maybe just
like another family shoot likeinside.
(17:16):
So maybe have three sessionsthat you are giving location
advice, you are giving stylingadvice and you are going to
capture exactly what you wantfor your Instagram and your
website.
You are going to note yourstyle, maybe even ask for
feedback of, like, what did younotice about my style, did you
(17:40):
like what could I improve on?
And maybe, like setting it upbeforehand, like, hey, I would
love to do this free session.
I'm trying to get someportfolio photos for my website
and Instagram.
What I would love from you guysis if you could follow my style
advice with my colors and maybethese outfits that I'm sending
(18:02):
you Maybe they're from Amazon,maybe just a style guide and if
you could just give me feedbackat the end.
I would love to ask you somequestions about how your
experience was with me, so thatI can refine things and take
notes of things that I want tocontinue with.
That would be a great start,and then we will talk later
(18:25):
about pricing, booking, allthose things and how to
establish like an actualbusiness, if that is the route
that you want to go to.
So for me, I was working a nineto five job and I started doing
photography on the side and then, um, eventually I started
(18:47):
making enough to where I couldquit my nine to five job.
And then, um, and then it'sjust all panned out like since
then, raising your prices andoffering new things, refining
your skills, um, just beingconfident and delivering.
Um, and building clients thatlove and trust you and want to
(19:10):
tell other people about you.
So that is where we are going.
We are going to continuetalking about becoming a
photographer as a side hustle orpart-time business.
Okay, so your challenge is youcan start a photography
Instagram page, which I love tokeep things separate, so that if
(19:34):
people are here for myphotography, they know exactly
where to go, and if people wantto go for my personal, they can
where to go, and if people wantto go for my personal, they can
get to know me on my personalpage.
I integrate some a little bitso that people definitely get to
know me on my business page,but I I don't want to feel so
much pressure to take like thebest photos on my personal page,
(19:56):
so I like to keep my clientwork like anything that's done,
um, you know, for my clients, oreven if it's like about me to
tell my clients, that is all mybusiness page.
I don't want people to have tocome through my personal and
like thumb through like amillion photos of like my kids
or my baking, or my food or mytravel, just to get to what are
(20:18):
they going to get when they bookme?
So that would be.
The first thing is make aspecific page that you want to
host your work, whether it's aFacebook page, instagram, maybe
you're starting a website onCanva or a blog or whatever like
that.
Then you are going to set upthose three sessions free
(20:38):
sessions that you are going toset up those three sessions free
sessions that you are going tohave more control over, and so
go ahead and set those up.
Tell your clients, potentialclients, friends, whatever what
you are wanting, what you areexpecting, and get those dates
on the calendar.
Maybe even, you know, offer anincentive that you will give
(21:00):
them five free photos and maybethey have to pay for the rest.
Um, that could be also a start.
Or you can just say, like I'veincluded tens to take the
pressure off of getting so muchvariety.
Speaking of variety, I have justcreated the best shot list.
It is a creative.
(21:22):
It's called the best shot list.
It is a creative.
It's called the creative shotlist and what it is is a
checklist from all the episodesthat we have talked previously
on creative shots, like usingleading lines or framing.
It is there in a iPhone sizescreenshot image where you can
keep it on your phone duringyour session and make sure that
(21:42):
you hit all of these, or as manyas you can of these shots, and
you will have a plethora ofdifferent style shots to add
variety to your Instagram,variety to your clients, clients
galleries into their deliveredphotos, and so, yeah, that is in
(22:03):
my show notes and you will 100%want to grab that.
I am going to start using it atevery session.
I basically created this becauseI need it.
Every time I have a shoot, Icreate like some sort of shot
list on my notes, just so I can.
Just so I can refer to that andif you are struggling with what
to tell your clients to do infront of the camera, I also have
(22:24):
24 prompt cards.
That this is what it makes themdifferent is that it doesn't
just tell you what to say.
It tells you what to shoot.
So, while the family is doingthis, you are shooting this,
this, this.
So while the family is doingthis, you are shooting this,
this, this so golden things thatyou will want to have in your
(22:45):
pocket to use at sessions as abackup or a refresher before you
go into a shoot, to take offsome of the pressure of like,
what do I do, what do I say, youknow, especially if this is new
to you, but also if this is oldto you.
Maybe you need some new content, and so that is for you in the
show notes and I hope that youget something out of this, and I
(23:08):
can't wait to talk next weekabout pricing and booking your
first paid session.
So I hope you guys have a greatweek and just go out there and
make some better photos.
All right, see you later.
Bye.
Hey, mama, whether or not you're trying out your
camera for the very first timeor you've been doing this a
while and just looking for somecreative inspiration, I've got
all that and more.
I'm here to help you see yourworld differently, challenge you
creatively and find yourpassion for photography.
Hey everybody, welcome back toBetter Photos Podcast.
(00:22):
So we have wrapped up ourseries on beginner photography
and taking your photos toanother level, from starting
with our camera settings andgetting to know our manual modes
and camera all the way toediting.
(00:43):
So, naturally, I feel like thenext series is going to deal
with turning your photographyinto a side hustle or part-time
business or full-time if youwant to go straight for that.
So what I did is I back in theday of Craigslist?
(01:05):
Yeah, when that was a thing, Istarted putting my services on
Craigslist, which I feel likewould be modern day Facebook
marketplace.
Oh my gosh, like just thinkingof the types of people you would
get offering super low pricesjust to see if you could get
(01:29):
clients.
Yeah, I marketed myself firstas, like fashion photography, I
took some pictures of somefriends and that would be
willing to basically just helpme out doing what I said in
front of the camera and helpingme learn poses and angles, and
(01:51):
while that was fun, that's notreally what I wanted to do.
And I did actually book someclients from Craigslist, some
aspiring models that needed compcard photos, and so obviously
it's way more comfortable whenyou are a girl working with
(02:12):
girls.
So that was, that was fine.
So then you know my story ofgoing to the dog park or going
to Freedom Park and askingpeople photos with their dogs
and then I would give them somefor free, but then I would
charge, I think or maybe Icharged, like once they looked
at the photos.
(02:32):
I don't even remember.
I feel like that was only likeone time, and then I was like,
no, this is kind of sketch.
So I nixed that Also withCraigslist.
I that, also with Craigslist, Ioffered headshots, and so we had
just moved into our first houseand it was a three bedroom home
and it was just me and myhusband there, and so we had an
(02:55):
extra.
No, it wasn't three bedrooms,it was only two bedrooms, no, it
was three.
Okay, so one of them housed myhusband's furniture, his
bachelor's style stuff and asour guest room, and then we had
an open one.
We decided to and when I say we, I mean I decided to use that
(03:17):
room and the light that was goodin there for doing headshot
photos.
So I offered headshot photosand then I could not figure out
how somebody would be willing tolike pay me like beforehand, or
how did I know that they weregoing to actually show up.
This was like so new to me, likedo you pay first, do you get
(03:40):
your, do I do the work first andthen they pay?
Like what if somebody getsscrewed over here?
And so I think the firstheadshots I did may have been
like connect connections fromanother friend, but I did not
know headshot styles.
So normally for typicalheadshots you need a studio with
(04:05):
like um lighting that you cancontrol, like fake lighting,
what is it called, I don't knowjust studio lighting, and you
don't really need natural lightwindows because you're using
flash um that's to get like youknow, like how we've talked
about like under eyes and umtexture of skin with lighting.
If you are using studio light,you can manipulate that a lot
(04:30):
more by adding more light intothose areas.
So I had none of that Um, andso then I would offer that and I
did get paid.
I think somebody like theywould write you a check or
whatever, and that was maybelike two people.
Think somebody like they wouldwrite you a check or whatever,
and that was maybe like twopeople.
Then I offered to do, um newbornsessions, maybe at like a very
(04:51):
steep discount, but again, Idon't know what I'm doing and
when you've never had a newborn,that is a whole new world.
Like there are people thateither love newborn shoots or
they hate them, and trying tofigure out how to do one and not
having, like all the propersafety training, which luckily
it was fine, it was.
(05:12):
You know lots of like theparents holding the baby and you
know, but I didn't know, likehow old the baby should be.
I didn't know about babies umpeeing in the air, and that was
quite a surprise when I had thedad holding the baby completely
nude and all of a sudden thereis pee shooting up into his face
.
Yeah, that really did happen,and she may even be listening to
(05:35):
this Um.
So, yeah, trying to start a sidehustle is is quite um hard or
just not hard.
Just where do you startconfusing Um using Okay, so how
(06:03):
to know when you are ready Ifyou have had friends asking you
to take their family photos, orif you have had friends asking
you to do their wedding photosor their newborn photos.
If you have people asking totake their photo and you've been
doing it for free, maybe now isthe time to start charging, all
right.
So if you are wondering if youare ready to start charging for
(06:26):
your photos, then this episodeis for you, all right.
So first thing, you have to gofrom thinking hobbyist to
business owner, and this is whatscares a lot of photographers
off.
Normally you are very increative mode, but now you have
(06:46):
to be in business mode and a lotof things like taxes, a lot of
things as starting your businesslegit can come into play, and
even imposter syndrome likesomebody is doing it this way, I
need to do it this way.
Or now there's so many likebusiness coach people marketing
(07:07):
their services and likeeverything looks good, all the
guides look good, all the helplooks great, but then there's
cost and it's like whatinvestment do I make and will I
be good enough?
Do I shoot like this person?
Do I have all the right things?
And you kind of just have toget that out of your mind and
know that the perfect time tostart is when you feel like you
(07:31):
could actually do this and justjump in.
And if you can, can't, then sowhat?
Like it doesn't matter.
I'm at the point in my lifewhere I'm just starting new
things all the time just becauseI want to see what it's like.
I just want to jump in and doit, see if I can, and if I don't
, then whatever, I don't care.
Mainly I'm just wasting timeand money.
So there's that.
(07:52):
So there's that, okay.
So get rid of the impostersyndrome mindset.
Then think that there is alwaysgoing to be a demand for
photographers.
Again with directing, if you'veever taken your own photos with
a tripod, you still would lovefor someone to tell you what to
(08:19):
do, or your family what to do,or make sure that they are doing
what you have said to do.
So that is what I feel like.
There will always be a need forphotographers.
People want to be in the photosand not just taking them all
the time.
So you can think about families.
You can think about newborns.
You can think about brands.
You can think about weddingsWhatever exc.
Think about newborns.
You can think about brands.
You can think about weddingsWhatever excites you, there can
(08:39):
be a photography specific nichefor you, or you can just start
anywhere and everywhere, like Idid.
It was dog photos, it washeadshots, it was weddings, it
was um I can't even remember allthe things oh, like uh, bands,
(08:59):
um like concert nights at mychurch, or it was like
everything, and I just had tofind out, like, what excited me,
what brought in money, and then, after you've been doing it a
while, you can say like no tomore things.
But at first I said yes toeverything.
Yes to everything until Ireally nailed down what I wanted
to do and could make enoughmoney to support that.
(09:24):
Okay.
So what you need to start isbasically everything that we've
already talked about.
You need a basic camera, whichI suggest one that has manual
mode, but these days you canoffer a specific style.
You just have to get veryconfident in shooting and being
able to deliver the same qualityto every single person that
(09:49):
books you, that is representedon your Instagram and your
website, and if they like that,then obviously they're booking
you for that.
Dslrs and mirrorless cameraswill have a bigger megapixel
range, but I mean, our phonesare getting great.
You can even offer like aniPhone photography session.
(10:14):
So as long as you're beinghonest, like with how you do
what you do, why you do what youdo, and this is what you will
get, then you are golden.
Okay, so you've got your basiccamera gear.
We've talked about editingsoftware, um, and a lot of these
(10:34):
things are subscription based.
So you need to make sure thatyou have enough money that is
going to support those thingsmonthly and that you have enough
business that would come in tocover that and, basically, that
you have the skills enough torepeat, repeat, repeat, repeat
what you give other people thatyou should be giving new clients
(10:58):
.
Your style should be consistentso that you can say what you
see is what you get.
All right is that you getrepeat inquiries that people are
constantly still asking you,maybe for another session, or
(11:20):
maybe you're getting new peopleasking you for photos that you
have great stuff to post on yourInstagram or your website that
draws people in, that people areliking your things and the
confidence in your work.
So, again, just confidence andknowing that you could deliver
the same thing over and overagain.
All right, so before you startcharging, here are some things
(11:44):
that you could work on.
Okay, so, portfolio building Ifyou don't have someone booking
you for a specific style thatyou want, then offer it to a
friend or someone that you trustand that trusts you to do it
(12:05):
for free.
Maybe it's a family session andso maybe you reach out to a
friend and you say, hey, wouldyour family be willing to do a
free 30 minute session with me?
I would love to suggest outfitideas.
Maybe you're linking things forthem to buy.
Maybe you have your own clientcloset.
(12:25):
Maybe you just want to givethem colors.
Maybe you have a Pinterestboard that you want to send to
them so that it can be acohesive look with your brand
and it's in a location that youlove, that you would love to
shoot more of.
Is that indoor?
Is that outdoor?
You pick the things, you buythe things and then start
(12:47):
photographing that so you canhave stuff to put on your
Instagram feed.
That so you can have stuff toput on your Instagram feed.
One thing I learned not too longago but you want to put on your
Instagram things that you wantmore of, so I'm very selective
with what I put on my Instagram.
I will photograph families inall sorts of colors.
They will wear whatever theylike and I tell them to.
(13:11):
I say this is the style thatgoes best with my editing and
with my overall look that I'mtrying to achieve, but these
photos are ultimately yours andso you wear what you feel best
in.
So I have families that love mystyle advice and they adhere to
it 100%.
I have other families that wearexactly what they want.
(13:33):
It is bold colors, is colorsthat maybe don't even go
together warm tones, cool tones,and you know what.
That's their choice, and I'vealready stated that these, these
are my best colors that go withmy editing the warm tones, the
neutrals, the browns, theorganic colors, the jewel tones
and if you want to wearsomething else like that is up
(13:55):
to them, and so I think that, um, or so, what I post on
Instagram is going to be more ofthe brown tones, the creams,
the, the style that I like, loveto edit because it brings my
vision from like start to finish.
When I have people that are notwearing the colors that I love
(14:17):
and that go best with my editing, I feel like it's like halfway
done, you know, like it's justmissing, and it doesn't make me
as excited to um, to edit thoseor to work on that.
I mean I'm excited for them tolike have their family like
documented, and I know thatthey'll love it, but it's not
(14:38):
something that I'm going to wantto shoot more of, and so I just
am very selective with what Ipost on my Instagram.
So you want to shoot thingsthat you love so that you can
build a good portfolio onInstagram or TikTok or Facebook
or your website.
Wherever you post your work, itshould be work that you love
(15:00):
and that you want more of.
And then also like finding yourstyle.
Make sure that you have adesignated style.
Do you like and like?
Your style can be like a bunchof things Like do you like to
shoot outside?
Do you like, um and like?
Your style can be like a bunchof things like do you like to
shoot outside?
Do you like to shoot indoor?
Do you like to uh shoot in fullsun?
Do you like to shoot in fullshade?
(15:21):
Do you like to shoot only atgolden hour or do you like to
shoot um when it's super sunny,like in the morning?
Do you like to shoot umtwilight, when the sun is going
down a little bit?
Um, then, also with your style,it could be do you like to have
very posed and proper photos.
(15:41):
Are people coming for just likea sit down, maybe a couple
standing and a couple sitting?
Or do you like to have longersessions that engage families
and use more prompts and cueinginstead of particular poses?
Maybe you have a combination ofboth.
Finding your style can also behow you interact with your
(16:04):
clients.
What is it like to talk withyou?
What is it like to be at yoursession?
What are you telling them?
How are you engaging with them?
Or are you more documentary?
Are you like a fly on the walland they just naturally do
things and you capture things?
Fly on the wall and they justnaturally do things and you
capture things in the backgroundwithout them even noticing you.
So developing your style andeven like online communication,
(16:30):
like what are you going to offerthem?
Being very specific andpracticing.
You want to practice over andover with real subjects.
So maybe you think like I wantto go into possibly charging for
my sessions, but I need somework, and so maybe you look over
(16:55):
the next you know couple monthsand you book three sessions of
a family shoot a newborn shootor a maternity and maybe just
like another family shoot likeinside.
(17:16):
So maybe have three sessionsthat you are giving location
advice, you are giving stylingadvice and you are going to
capture exactly what you wantfor your Instagram and your
website.
You are going to note yourstyle, maybe even ask for
feedback of, like, what did younotice about my style, did you
(17:40):
like what could I improve on?
And maybe, like setting it upbeforehand, like, hey, I would
love to do this free session.
I'm trying to get someportfolio photos for my website
and Instagram.
What I would love from you guysis if you could follow my style
advice with my colors and maybethese outfits that I'm sending
(18:02):
you Maybe they're from Amazon,maybe just a style guide and if
you could just give me feedbackat the end.
I would love to ask you somequestions about how your
experience was with me, so thatI can refine things and take
notes of things that I want tocontinue with.
That would be a great start,and then we will talk later
(18:25):
about pricing, booking, allthose things and how to
establish like an actualbusiness, if that is the route
that you want to go to.
So for me, I was working a nineto five job and I started doing
photography on the side and then, um, eventually I started
(18:47):
making enough to where I couldquit my nine to five job.
And then, um, and then it'sjust all panned out like since
then, raising your prices andoffering new things, refining
your skills, um, just beingconfident and delivering.
Um, and building clients thatlove and trust you and want to
(19:10):
tell other people about you.
So that is where we are going.
We are going to continuetalking about becoming a
photographer as a side hustle orpart-time business.
Okay, so your challenge is youcan start a photography
Instagram page, which I love tokeep things separate, so that if
(19:34):
people are here for myphotography, they know exactly
where to go, and if people wantto go for my personal, they can
where to go, and if people wantto go for my personal, they can
get to know me on my personalpage.
I integrate some a little bitso that people definitely get to
know me on my business page,but I I don't want to feel so
much pressure to take like thebest photos on my personal page,
(19:56):
so I like to keep my clientwork like anything that's done,
um, you know, for my clients, oreven if it's like about me to
tell my clients, that is all mybusiness page.
I don't want people to have tocome through my personal and
like thumb through like amillion photos of like my kids
or my baking, or my food or mytravel, just to get to what are
(20:18):
they going to get when they bookme?
So that would be.
The first thing is make aspecific page that you want to
host your work, whether it's aFacebook page, instagram, maybe
you're starting a website onCanva or a blog or whatever like
that.
Then you are going to set upthose three sessions free
(20:38):
sessions that you are going toset up those three sessions free
sessions that you are going tohave more control over, and so
go ahead and set those up.
Tell your clients, potentialclients, friends, whatever what
you are wanting, what you areexpecting, and get those dates
on the calendar.
Maybe even, you know, offer anincentive that you will give
(21:00):
them five free photos and maybethey have to pay for the rest.
Um, that could be also a start.
Or you can just say, like I'veincluded tens to take the
pressure off of getting so muchvariety.
Speaking of variety, I have justcreated the best shot list.
It is a creative.
(21:22):
It's called the best shot list.
It is a creative.
It's called the creative shotlist and what it is is a
checklist from all the episodesthat we have talked previously
on creative shots, like usingleading lines or framing.
It is there in a iPhone sizescreenshot image where you can
keep it on your phone duringyour session and make sure that
(21:42):
you hit all of these, or as manyas you can of these shots, and
you will have a plethora ofdifferent style shots to add
variety to your Instagram,variety to your clients, clients
galleries into their deliveredphotos, and so, yeah, that is in
(22:03):
my show notes and you will 100%want to grab that.
I am going to start using it atevery session.
I basically created this becauseI need it.
Every time I have a shoot, Icreate like some sort of shot
list on my notes, just so I can.
Just so I can refer to that andif you are struggling with what
to tell your clients to do infront of the camera, I also have
(22:24):
24 prompt cards.
That this is what it makes themdifferent is that it doesn't
just tell you what to say.
It tells you what to shoot.
So, while the family is doingthis, you are shooting this,
this, this.
So while the family is doingthis, you are shooting this,
this, this so golden things thatyou will want to have in your
(22:45):
pocket to use at sessions as abackup or a refresher before you
go into a shoot, to take offsome of the pressure of like,
what do I do, what do I say, youknow, especially if this is new
to you, but also if this is oldto you.
Maybe you need some new content, and so that is for you in the
show notes and I hope that youget something out of this, and I
(23:08):
can't wait to talk next weekabout pricing and booking your
first paid session.
So I hope you guys have a greatweek and just go out there and
make some better photos.
All right, see you later.
Bye.
Popular Podcasts
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Fudd Around And Find Out
UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd brings her championship swag to iHeart Women’s Sports with Fudd Around and Find Out, a weekly podcast that takes fans along for the ride as Azzi spends her final year of college trying to reclaim the National Championship and prepare to be a first round WNBA draft pick. Ever wonder what it’s like to be a world-class athlete in the public spotlight while still managing schoolwork, friendships and family time? It’s time to Fudd Around and Find Out!