5 THINGS I WANT TO SAY ABOUT BEING A PHOTOGRAPHER 

Hi everyone! Hanging out eating my peaches and hitting the editing hard, check those cuties in the background. 😍

Sometimes this is what the hustle looks like.. 😅















Today I want do something a little different...


I want to say a few things about being a photographer that I didn't know myself when I broke into the industry and wish someone had told me. I also want to clear up some common misconceptions about photographers that I've encountered. 


We are all totally different. I became a photographer because I love art and photography seems to be the best way I can earn an income while doing something creative that I enjoy. However, portrait drawings, watercolors and charcoal landscapes are actually my true first love. They just won't pay the bills quite the same, am I right? So I fell in love with photography, another more popular art form and found I can follow my dream of being an artist and still pay the light bill. 


Other photographers loved photography most from the get-go, some do it because they like the people... everyone has a different reason, style and approach. These are just my observations that might not reflect on any other photographer. 

But I wish someone would have told me!

I started this business with no idea what I was doing. Lets be honest here. Over the past years I've been operating, I have learned quite a lot. 

I think the biggest thing I've learned is there will always be a whole lot more to learn! 


I know everyone is a photographer these days. I'm sure the local photographers around my area probably felt the way I feel now when I got into the biz like, "Ugh, heres another wannabe thinking she's going to be a photographer with not a clue what that entails.." *forehead slaps aaall day* 


This is why you see a lot of people jumping in and right back out of photography. 

Here are the top 5 things I want to say regarding being a photographer, theres a little tough love in here, I'll warn you. 


















All the groans on this one! Ever since I left my bank marketing job, everyone assumes I'm a stay at home mom...

I actually work more hours, put in more effort and get a lot less sleep with my photography business. My daughter still goes to daycare.  I work a lot of weekends and evenings. I miss out on a lot of time seeing my friends because the times people are available for sessions are when most people are away from work and available as well. I still work an 8(+) hour day and its not all sunshine and rainbows. (Though a lot of it is, not trying to scare you here.)


Being a photographer is a challenging career, you have to educate yourself constantly. Staying up to date on the latest trends. Purchasing new gear, back up devices, funding your editing programs, subscriptions and website constantly. And lets not get started on purchasing props! (Its an addiction...) 

Shoots themselves can be backbreaking at times. I'm climbing all over things, laying on the ground, jumping, running, setting up and tearing down my studio and set-ups, I am sweating after each session. (Good thing I like it that way! No gym for me!) 

Then the post-processing is serious labor. Thats where you see people scratching their heads at the cost of a photographer.. It costs so much because we spend hours away from our family and lives pouring our hearts and souls into your photos. I treat each one like a painted canvas, I can spend up to 10 hours on one family's session if I'm not careful.
















Got social skills? Ya better if you want to be a photographer. 

You are never going to get unposed, candid moments if you can't make a connection with your client. You have to be able to get silly, swallow your pride or ego and show them you're a human being appreciating their unique beauty. You have to make them feel like they're in good hands or your work can't fake it. 

You have to be able to field a full inbox all day every day, people wanting to schedule, with questions about pre-session and post. Photography is a lot like a customer service job sometimes. I get on average 75 messages a day (That honestly feels like a super lowball number, I think its definitely more than that.) New clients, old, curious, they're all waiting for you to help them out. Its a juggling act. Oh, and all the while you have to make time (hours) to edit too. 


You're going to tell people your turn around time and they will still ask for their photos the day after a session. You're going to have people who think you should edit their photos completely against your style.. You're going to make mistakes and fall on your face. Its growth opportunity after growth opportunity but it can feel like chaos when you're in the thick of it. 



















If you are trading a service for payment, you need to pay taxes. End of story. Its up to you if you want to get photographers insurance. I think you should. 

I was a DBA for awhile before I started taking photography seriously, but I would highly recommend becoming an LLC to keep yourself and assets protected. Talk to a lawyer. Get a good accountant. If you are taking money for services (over a certain amount but its less than you think) and not paying taxes or reporting the income, thats illegal. 

Don't be an outlaw photographer thinking its "just a hobby." The IRS will tell you a thing or two about how much of your "hobby" they think they should get a piece of. 

Taxes suck. All my friends get returns and I have to pay in now. But I chose to own a business. Its part of the gig. If you don't like it, don't be a business owner. 
















In every single photography tip post I have ever read NOT ONE HAS EVER TOLD ME THIS! Why? This is the NUMBER ONE THING to remember if you decide you want to be a photographer. 


Hard drives are made to fail. This is something I had to learn the hard way friends. Don't be a Logan. Back up to at least two places, three if you can. Use a cloud service and have a physical back up. This is serious stuff. You do not want to be the jerk who has to tell a couple their wedding photos are gone. (Thats never happened to me but it happens.) Bring back up batteries, memory cards, everything for every shoot you go to. Come prepared for every tech you brought to fail. 9/10 it won't but you will thank your lucky stars that one time something goes wrong and you can professionally save the day. 
















It is natural for a photographer's prices to change as they excel. The more I learn about the industry, the more money I put into my work. My costs increase as I improve in a lot ways. The value and quality of my work also increases and compensation for that is necessary or I'll find myself in the negative. I work HARD at this. Its a career and next year my prices will see a reasonable increase to reflect this. 


Everyone wants something for free. Don't offer free work for your friends and family if you don't have the time. I have done this because I am one of those "too nice" people who always seems to have a plate overflowing with helping others. Educate them on your industry and how much blood, sweat and tears goes into a session. They will understand why you should be paid for your services. Choose what you do for free wisely. Don't let it get away from you. Some free sessions I have done are for foster children, animals in need, nonprofit events and cancer patients. Those are where your pro-bono efforts should go.



You're a human being. Not a machine. Sometimes people forget this in this industry. Photographers have families. They have things come up, sicknesses, and catastrophes just like anyone else. But guess what? We don't get PTO. We don't get sick time. We can't call our boss and say, "Hey sorry not coming in today." We hustle hard. We fall in love with what we do or we can't do it well and it shows through our work. We are left brain artists which means some of us (me) are a little head in the clouds at times, but we also know how to be professional and run a business when it comes down to it. Its a career, it takes heart and soul and a whole lot more than a camera. 


Being a photographer is incredible. I love it and I haven't looked back since I left my corporate career. But I want the next person thinking about starting their own gig to know the things I didn't, so maybe they can have a few less face-plants. I hope this helps you.😉😘














*Thanks for the super 🙈flattering🙈 selfies PhotoBooth.