They always say that nothing really prepares you for turning your passion into a business and, having just closed the book on my first year, I have to agree. Now, while I expected the more operational parts to be a hurdle, what I didn't see coming was how challenging it can be going from doing fun little photoshoots with your friends and family to directing full sessions with paying clients. Was that naive of me? Yeah, absolutely. Alas, we each have our own way of learning and mine has always been trial by fire.
At this point, you may be wondering why I am sharing any of this with you. The reason is really quite simple: I don't believe there is any better way to understand a person's approach to life or business than seeing how they respond to changing circumstances. Basically, I am hoping that through reading this, you get a better idea of who I am as a photographer and what you can expect from working with me.
So, without further ado, let's get into it...
My Top 5 takeaways from year one
1. authenticity begets authenticity
When I first started my business journey, I thought I needed to be serious to be taken seriously. This, unfortunately, was an approach that didn't work for me because, well, I am a highly unserious person. Unsurpisingly, the constant struggle to be what I thought others wanted left me feeling creatively stifled and awkwardly boxed in. I was getting the shots, but they didn't say anything.
After a little bit of time, some self-reflection, and a breakdown or two, I decided to go a different direction. My focus would still be to deliver on my clients' visions, but I was going to do it in a way that was authentic to me.
The result: Taking the pressure off of myself allowed me to lift that pressure from my clients as well. Instead of stressing the poses, I shifted to a more light-hearted, prompt-based way of running my sessions. By concentrating less on getting the "right" shot and, instead, aiming to create and capture genuine moments, I freed up my clients to be more authentic in their movements and interactions. Ultimately, all of this has led to not only better client experiences, but images that convey meaning.
2. more effort up front leads to a smoother session day-of
Before I became a professional photographer, I used to think that you just gave clients their assignments (poses, prompts, etc), they do them, and *BAM* beautiful photo. (I did open this blog my admitting I was naive...)
To the surprise of no one, that was actually super incorrect. What I've learned is that even the best and most flexible clients need their photographer's help in two key areas: Being comfortable enough to overcome awkwardness and mentally embracing the scene you're aiming to capture.
To address each of these obstacles, I now infuse each step of my process with intention. For instance, after establishing a shared vision with a client, I might help prepare them mentally by identifying famous characters they can channel during their session or share Pinterest boards, so they can start to get familiar with what types of poses we might consider. I am also always willing to help them select their outfits, props, or makeup look to alleviate any anxieties that might stem from that during the planning phase.
The result: Not only do my clients can show up more confident and prepared for their sessions, any initial awkwardness dissipates faster, and the energy captured in the photos looks far more natural.
3. sometimes "style" isn't super specific
As a photographer, there is often a lot of pressure to adopt and stick to one style of photography. This is why you often see photographers that look like they use the same preset on every single photo they post online. Many see branding themselves as a certain type of photographer as the key to getting more business. And, looking at how successful some of them are, there's no denying that it works. Naturally, I tried to follow suit and choose one for myself.
But, truthfully, the most sessions I do, the less convinced I am that I can ever define my style in that cookie cutter way. I constantly discover new ways of approaching light, composition, and editing that I want to bring into my work. Sometimes a session just makes more sense to edit in one way than another, and I like having the flexibility to do that without boxing myself in.
The result: When I stopped forcing myself to stick to one thing, my photos may have looked slightly less alike, but my photos got better. And, who knows, maybe I'll settle somewhere one day. But, that day isn't today and I'm okay with that.
4. let kids be active contributors
My first couple of family photography sessions, I found myself getting frustrated with the kids when they would act out or have a meltdown. Having the success of a session depend on a participant not crashing out was simply not something I had taken into consideration before.
What I came to realize was that the more time kids spent focused on trying to be "good", the less time we had before a possible meltdown (or, for the older kids, checking out.) This left me with one key question to answer: How do I get the kids invested and excited to participate? The solution, as simple as it seems, was to let them help run the show.
In my sessions this might look like letting them suggest poses, giving them some sneak peeks so they can see how great they're doing, and even asking for their opinion on small details.
The result: Kids that got to play a key role in their sessions were far more invested what they were doing and willing to participate with less friction. And, with the kids enjoying themselves, parents could actually relax and be more into the sessions as well.
5. embrace spontaneity
I am a human who likes to be prepared and have a set plan. However, I learned quickly that running a photography session is not like baking a cake. It doesn't fall apart if you leave some poses out and it isn't ruined if your client decides they want to try a different vibe for the second half of the shoot. In fact, while it's great to do your homework beforehand, sometimes the best thing you can do is go with the flow when your client gets a random idea like suddenly laying on the floor of an alley.
With that in mind, though I come to every session with pre-planned poses and prompts, I'm no longer emotionally attached to them. Instead, I now start my sessions off getting the more posed, must-have shots to ensure they are covered. After that, we can go wherever our inspiration takes us!
The result: Clients feel comfortable exploring their creativity and enjoying the experience of their sessions without either party worrying about whether the need-to-have shots will get done.
conclusion
When all is said and done, my first year was an absolute blast. I had the incredible opportunity to work with some amazing clients, improved my processes, and was able to create a warmer, more comfortable environment for all parties involved. If you read this and would like to be a part of my 2026 journey, submit an inquiry form here and let's start planning your next photography session.
