The Best Investments I’ve Made in My Photography Business
Investing in your business can look different for every person, brand, and industry. Sometimes these investments benefit your bottom line, like adding a revenue stream or putting more money into marketing, and others may pay off in different ways, like helping you build confidence in your area of expertise or learning a new approach to your craft.
What I have learned over the years is that it is important to consistently put money and time back into my business in ways that allows me to learn, grow, and better serve my clients! While some (most) of these investments were a bit scary to commit to from a financial standpoint, each of them has proven to be incredibly meaningful and impactful in my business. I don’t invest in my business because something’s cheap, I invest because it works.
Here are a few different ways I’ve invested in by business to grow and build my brand.
Business Coaching
As I’ve built my photography business, it has been super important for me to invest in business coaching.
For several years, I have worked with a local business coach who’s also in the photography space, and I’ve built a deep trust with her to share honest advice on how to navigate running my business. I recently began working with another local business coach who has helped me look critically at my business and has shown me how to build more accountability within myself and my routines.
I don’t take these investments lightly, and I feel so lucky that I’ve found two people who have proven experience as business owners to help me navigate my own business journey!
Photography Conferences
For the past two years, I’ve attended Hybrid Co., a conference that has allowed me to meet some of the industry’s most prolific photographers and learn from the very best.
I’ve loved attending this conference because it’s given me insight into other photography markets, and it’s reminded me that no matter where we are individually in business, all photographers can connect on the challenges and the triumphs while also helping each other grow and be better. It has also inspired me by seeing what is possible as a photographer!
Networking
One of the most valuable and cost-effective investments I’ve made in my business has been networking with other local business owners. Building in-person connections and learning from other businesses, in all kinds of industries, has helped me tremendously as I’ve grown. While this is more of a time-investment that a financial one, I believe it is so important to do and sometimes one of the most challenging as an introvert.
Design
As a brand photographer, it’s no secret that branding is very important to me. But that doesn’t mean I don’t believe there’s a time and place for a little DIY, especially when you’re just starting out! When I first started my business, I used a logo and brand design that I created myself. As I grew, it was a big priority to outsource my logo and brand design and it was such a relief to hand that off to an expert with more design expertise. The results elevated my brand tremendously!
Copywriting
While I love to write, writing for my own business can be a struggle. I’ve had the opportunity to work with a copywriter this past year, and I’m so thankful for the impact that it has made in my business. I can’t tell you how exciting it is to have someone deliver a fresh batch of blogs, emails, and social media content right to your email! It’s also a huge time-saver.
Brand Photography
The one where the brand photographer gets brand photographed. ;) While I have always prioritized capturing brand photos for my own business, in the early days, that often looked like setting up a tripod myself, swapping photos with another photographer, paying for smaller mini shoots, or asking my partner to take a few headshots of me here and there. That worked okay, but it was a little bit clunky.
Then last year, I decided it was finally time to get true, strategic, on-brand images so I decided to book my own full blown brand photography session with an amazing brand photographer in Iowa (Kirstie). I had so much fun throughout the entire experience and I was thrilled with the results!
I’ve reflected a lot since that shoot, and I’ve realized how important it was to put myself through that process to better understand what my clients experience when they go through my brand photography process. And it was very rewarding to have another talented photographer take the reins and create on-brand photos that felt like me and worked for what I needed and I learned so much about how to better serve my clients, too.
What’s Your Next Investment?
Like everything I listed above, brand photography is a worthwhile investment that you can make in your business. When you have a content library of gorgeous, strategic photos that reflect who you are and what you offer, you can attract the right people and build trust and loyalty with them over time.
If you're ready to take that next step toward showing up confidently and consistently, I'd love to help you create brand photos that do just that! Please inquire here to discuss how professional, on-brand images can elevate your business.
Hey! I’m Lynsey
I'm so glad you're here! As a brand photographer, nothing lights me up more than helping other business owners wade through the challenges of entrepreneurship. I truly believe building a personal brand is the key to success in business and I want to share everything I know. Take a look around and reach out with any questions. Cheers to you!