How do you create a successful photography business? One that actually helps you to live the life of your dreams? Two tiny little words will get you there every time:
Hard. Work.
Yeah … it takes hard work to build a successful business.
While it’s true that some entrepreneurs are naturally blessed with talents and skills that seem to help them grow their businesses faster than others, there isn’t an entrepreneur on the planet who didn’t have to work hard.
The thing about hard work, though, is that it’s … well … hard.
It’s hard to keep going when bills are piling up and your business isn’t generating enough income to pay them.
It’s hard not to throw in the towel when you feel like you’re not booking the right kind of clients — or any clients, for that matter.
It’s hard when you look on social media and see other photographers in your area seemingly running the business of your dreams.
I firmly believe the saying that comparison is the thief of joy and therefore do my best not to compare myself to other photographers. But I try hard to imitate one thing that ALL successful photographers and other entrepreneurs have in common: I want to run my business with a good set of habits.
A Good Set of Habits Can Transform Your Business
We all know what happens to gyms across the country come January 1: memberships skyrocket. People drag themselves in and work themselves out. You’ll see them there with a look of determination in their eyes. They’re ready! They’re going to lose that weight and get healthy!
And then suddenly, it’s February and they’re not there anymore.
What happened?
On average, it takes more than two months before a new behavior becomes automatic — 66 days to be exact, according to this Huffington Post article. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-clear/forming-new-habits_b_5104807.html Doesn’t it seem like a really good idea to push through that two-month period at the gym so that it can become a habit and you can get fit? Of course it does! But the problem is, it’s HARD. It’s HARD to push through those two-months. Your body doesn’t want to go. Your body might even be screaming at you to not go. There’s snow on the ground. And there’s coffee and cake in the kitchen.
Those who quit, often find themselves lamenting their appearance for the next 11 or so months, up until the next year when they once again dust off their membership card.
Temporary determination will NOT get you very far in your business or in life, for that matter. In order to succeed in an industry that is over-saturated and ever-changing, you’re going to have to get determined … and STAY determined.
You’re going to have to use your determination to plow through the tough times and to keep on going even when it seems like it would be easier to quit.
You’re going to have to use your determination to develop some amazingly good habits. They don’t have to be huge efforts. They just have to be consistent. And if you’re consistent … like one-whole-year consistent … I GUARANTEE you that your business will be completely and totally different this time next year. Or to go back to the gym analogy, your business will flaunting a six-pack this time next year.
If you’re not sure what habits would help you best, here are four that are absolutely guaranteed to work wonders in your life. If — AND ONLY IF — you’re willing to do them regularly. None of them take much time. They are all small efforts. But the key is to do them regularly.
HABIT ONE: Practice daily gratitude. Take time every night before going to bed to write three things that you appreciate in your life. Keep the journal on your bedside table so you don’t forget.
BENEFIT: Gratitude helps you to shift your focus from the negative to the positive in your life. When we allow the struggles that inevitably come with running a successful photography business to take over our focus, our art suffers. And when our art suffers, so does our business. It becomes a viscous cycle that gratitude can help break.
HABIT TWO: Shoot one personal project each month. Shoot something that is just for you. Let your imagination wander and dream up something that makes your heart pound with happiness.
BENEFIT: Clients can tell when a photographer has passion. They can see it in our work. They can hear it in our voice. But passion can and will fade if we don’t take the time to feed and nourish it. Personal projects help keep that passion alive.
HABIT THREE: Read one motivational or business book a month. Or, if possible, read one each week. Choose a book that deals with business, photography, art, motivation, fear, accounting, happiness … anything that will help you to grow as a person, entrepreneur, and photographer. Motivational books in particular (I love Jack Canfield, Tony Robbins, and Les Brown to name just a few motivational authors) can pump you up and help you keep going even during the toughest times.
BENEFIT: As you learn more, your mindset will shift. You’ll feel more competent and capable. And the more motivational books you read, the more you’ll feel like you can take on the world. People pay thousands and thousands of dollars for college educations these days. You can walk into your library any day of the week and pick up knowledge … for free.
HABIT FOUR: Write one blog post per week. It doesn’t really matter what you blog about. It could be client shares. Snaps and stories from your personal life. The key is that you actually do it and do it consistently.
BENEFIT: Clients will know that you’re alive and well and actively working. They’ll also get to see your amazing personal project results (if you choose to blog them). And you’ll up your SEO rankings. Not sure the best ways to write for SEO, well, add a good SEO book to your one-book-per-month list!
The reality is, none of these habits take up much time. But they will change your business if you do them for a whole year. And I guarantee you that if you can do them for a year, you’ll never quit them. They’ll become like second nature. And each and every one of these habits will help you to put in the hard work that’s needed to grow your business.
You can do this.
I can’t wait to see where you are next year.
Kate Callahan is an on-location child and family photographer based out of Hyde Park, NY. Her greatest passion is laughing along with little people and capturing their hearts with her camera. Kate worked as a graphic artist for a decade before finally discovering her passion for portrait photography. She’s spent the last eight years working full-time as a photographer while helping others find the courage and inspiration needed to build their own successful businesses.
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