A couple of weeks ago, I received an updated response to an email that I don’t even remember sending. In April 2021, an Oregon-based family and newborn photographer reached out, asking if I offered mentoring, or if I had any tips for new photographers.
I get asked the mentoring question a lot, and as much as I would like to say yes, my answer is always no. I tried years ago to include assistants in my sessions and found it totally killed the vibe. And frankly, I don’t have the time to mentor or teach classes. But I do have lots of advice!
I brainstormed a handful of suggestions to reply to her email in 2021. She responded the next day: “I am almost in tears how much information you shared. I will take everything to heart. I was getting a little discouraged, but you have inspired me again!”
Life went on, and I never gave it a second thought. Last month, she wrote me again. “I was thinking about when I first started photography a few years ago vs. now. I really took everything you shared with me to heart, and wanted to say thank you again so much! I really appreciate you taking the time to help me. I am excited to expand my skills and continue to grow my business.”
Y’all, it brought tears to my eyes. The thing is, I probably didn’t put much time or thought into my original reply. I’m sure I was in the middle of juggling the many things I am today, but I re-read what I wrote, and I still stand by my advice. So I’m putting it here as well, in case it helps anyone else. And I’m supplementing with a couple new tips as well!
Tip 1: Learn from other photographers
Follow other photographers that you love, and as you admire their work, try to figure out what you like about it. Is it the lighting, the pose, the lens, the depth of field, all of the above? Then try to put yourself behind the lens. Where was the photographer standing in relation to the light, their subject, etc. Where is the light coming from? I learned so much by just looking at other photographers’ work and asking myself these questions.
While I don’t offer any classes or workshops, I’ve taken tons through Creative Live! I recommend Lindsay Adler classes for lighting, Sue Bryce for posing women, and Kelly Brown for posing newborns. If you can swing it, attend photography conferences. I’ve done several but got the most out of WPPI. Even the trade show has amazing presentations!
Tip 2: Practice Makes Perfect
Take lots of photos. You’ll learn more from experimenting than anything else. Before pressing the shutter button, try to improve your composition. With active kiddos, you often have to shoot quickly and adjust your composition later, but as much as you can think before you shoot, you’ll be happier with your results.
Tip 3: Expose for Highlights
This is a personal taste, but expose for your highlights as much as possible. It’s easier to recover your shadows than your blown out highlights. I always err on the side of underexposing.
Tip 4: Make Google happy
SEO is everything for business owners. In fact, this is probably my best tip for new photographers overall. You need a fast website, fresh content, alt tags, positive Google reviews, links from other reputable photography sites, etc. I can’t even begin to add up the countless hours I spent on this. It takes a long time to build up, but once you’re there, you’re golden. Don’t discount word of mouth advertising and name recognition within your community, but my bookings drop off significantly when my website isn’t Google-friendly.
Tip 5: Invest in good equipment
I’m not saying buy it all up front. I’ve saved up for every piece of equipment I’ve ever purchased. In fact, I’ve never had a business credit card. Every single purchase has been made with earnings. When you do buy your stuff, get the best – the best laptop (seriously, this is key!), the best camera (within reason, I never get the $5k+ camera body because I just don’t need/want it), and the best lenses (you won’t regret it!). See a full list of my equipment here.
Tip 6: Other photographers are community, not competition
Unless your town is smaller than 200 families, you’ll never be able to photograph them all. When you come across other photographers while working, smile and say something friendly – “Great light”, “Beautiful composition,” “I love that pose.” Make them look good in front of their clients.
If there isn’t one already, create a Facebook group of photographers in your community. It’s a great way to exchange props, discuss location ideas, and get referrals! Several photographers in our area get together for coffee, have joint fundraisers, and more! Support those who are chasing the same dream you are. You have so much in common!
Tip 7: Be the best
Believe in yourself, believe in your work, and price yourself for your worth. There will always be cheap photographers doing sessions for free or next to nothing, and there will always be people who want a cheap photographer. You don’t want to be a cheap photographer, you want to be a good photographer, the best photographer in your area. Just as there will always be people looking for cheap, there will always be people who want the best (and will pay for it). Be the best!
I hope you find these tips for new photographers helpful! Please comment with any other tips or questions you may have!
Interested in reserving a session with me? As of today (2/28/23) I only have 4 sessions remaining this year. They are listed on my availability page.
