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This post is a very special one….because we are celebrating our 100th podcast episode! This has been such an incredible journey and experience, and I am so thankful for each and every one of you who are following along! My goal is to always be a resource for you and to share everything that I have learned along the way. I am going to share with you some of the BIGGEST lessons that I have learned as a senior photographer and coach over the years, and hopefully encourage you to keep pushing forward in your career! And maybe help you avoid some of the mistakes I have made along the way. 

Biggest Lessons Learned From a Senior Photographer + Coach 

Lesson 1: The Equipment 

When we are first starting out, we can often feel the pressure to go on a shopping spree and make sure we have ALL the right equipment for every situation. But something I have learned over the years is that this only leads to you having a lot of unused equipment or a really high credit card bill….two things no one wants to see! The best way to avoid being a big big spender when you don’t have the cash flow to support it is to do a little research and find out exactly what you need to have, and what you can go without. Do a little research and see what equipment other senior photographers are using. 

Consider your area, your favorite spots to shoot at, and what you might need to get the shots you want based on those locations. And remember, a lot of companies offer a try-before-you-buy option where you can rent equipment and see if you really do need it before committing to a purchase. Like most things in life, less sometimes really is more. Don’t overspend on equipment! I promise you, having the newest and nicest things isn’t really all that it’s cracked up to be. 

Lesson 2: Don’t Waste Time Looking at Other People’s Work

Something that I learned the hard way is the danger of looking at other people’s work for inspiration a little too much. While looking online at different photo-sharing sites, and other photographers’ social media accounts can be encouraging and offer great inspiration, but when we spend too much time checking out others’ work two things can happen. Number 1: We start to have those sneaky feelings of comparison creep in, and we start to doubt ourselves and our ability to capture beautiful and unique photos. Number 2: we can start to lose our personal touch. So, make sure that when you look for inspo in other photographers, it’s just that, inspiration! Don’t let it fill your head too much. 

Lesson 3: Put Yourself Out There! 

It took me a while to learn this, but it PAYS to put yourself out there. It pays to approach people, show them your work, and ask them if you can photograph them. While advertising and marketing are great ways to grow your business, don’t forget about the power of in-person connections. I know I’ve talked about this before, but get involved in your community! As a senior photographer, go to places where you are going to meet seniors and their parents. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself when you see a potential client out and about, and show your work. People want to work with people they can trust. And what better way for someone to get to know you than through an in-person conversation?! I know it can be nerve-racking, but I promise, it gets easier over time! Push yourself out of your comfort zone and I promise you will reap the benefits. 

Lessons from listeners: Lesson 1 – “Everything doesn’t need to be done all at once!  

Last week on social media I reached out to ask you all what some of the biggest lessons you have learned over the years are, and you guys gave me some great answers! The first lesson that I want to talk about is this: Everything doesn’t need to be done all at once. Instead, break everything up into small pieces and tackle one at a time! This comes from listener Steph who is also in my coaching program. All too often we see others’ highlight reels on social media and think to ourselves…”Wow they really seem to have it together!” But the truth is we don’t see the behind-the-scenes or all the things they haven’t gotten done. We want everything to be done at once because we want to see success fast in our businesses, but success doesn’t happen overnight and you can’t do everything at once. 

It takes time to build a successful and profitable business. It takes hustle and consistency and working daily on the things you need to do for your business.  And when you look at all the things we need to do it can seem overwhelming. But when you break these things up into small steps, bite-size pieces, and tackle them one at a time you make steady progress! Most of you out there and myself included are one person trying to run a business, you may also be a mom or a wife trying to make time for family and so much more!  And you can only do so much at a time. Give yourself grace and remind yourself that small steps will equal success!

Lesson 2 – “There is enough room for everyone and a client at every price point!”  

Okay lesson #2 from our listeners: “There is enough for everyone and a client at every price point! I absolutely love this lesson. This can be a hard one to learn but it is such an important one! And one I am so glad that listener Christine shared as a big takeaway from this podcast. In a world where there can seem like one too many photographers already exist, it’s easy to feel like maybe you don’t have a place. Especially when you are first starting out. It can be intimidating to make a name for yourself when you have so many other more experienced photographers around you. But something I love to say is that there is only ONE you. There may be a lot of photographers in your area, but they are all missing the one thing that makes you so unique, you! 

Everyone has their own personality, style, or flare that makes them stand out from their competitors. And because of that uniqueness, we each individually can meet the needs of certain clients. There is a photographer out there for everyone and a client out there for every photographer. And to address Christine’s next point, there really is a client at every price point! Don’t be afraid to set your prices at what you feel you deserve and are capable of delivering. There are clients out there who will pay your starting rates, and there are clients who will pay your rates as you grow! 

Lesson 3 – Feeling Confident in Choosing the Right Brand for Your Business 

This next lesson comes from a listener named Kristen. She shared the importance of feeling confident in choosing the right brand for your business. When you are building your business, nailing down your brand and your values is HUGE. I know I have talked about this before on previous episodes, and if you are a long-time listener, you know I believe in the power of nailing down your personal brand. But I love what Kristen pointed out about being confident in your brand. Sometimes our personal brand stands out a little bit more sharply than the other brands around us. And it’s easy for us to look at what everyone else is doing, and feel like maybe our brand isn’t hitting the mark. I want to encourage you that if your brand is reflective of you, your personality, and your values, be CONFIDENT in it!! No one can do it like you can! 

Lesson 4 – I learned about your Seniorologie Semester from this podcast!  

Our last lesson is from our listener, Whitney! Whitney shared that she learned about the Seniorologie Semester from listening to this podcast! If you are a newer listener and haven’t checked out what the Seniorologie Semester is, please follow the link below to learn about this unique program designed just for senior photographers like you! Nothing makes me happier than to hear from my listeners that they are growing their businesses, reaching their goals, and most importantly loving what they do! If you are interested in growing your business and developing your skillset as a senior photographer, the Senioroglie Semester is the perfect next step for you! 

Resources

If you need more help with growing your senior photography business, making 4 -figures per senior session, and becoming the go-to senior photographer in your area, The Seniorologie Semester is a six-month coaching program specifically designed for you!  This program includes marketing to seniors and parents, building websites that convert visitors into clients, pricing your work for profit, creating an amazing experience seniors want to be a part of, and so much more! The Senioroligie Semester is currently open for enrollment! If you are ready to take the senior side of your business to the next level, book senior clients on repeat, and make 4 figures per session, the Seniorologie Semester is for you!  You can learn more about it by visiting www.seniorologie.com/semester.