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Are you too young to be taken seriously as a photographer? – Chatty Tuesday Photography Video Blog

Tuesday, July 3, 2012 Posted inALL,BUSINESS,CHATTY TUESDAYS


Hey you,

How are you doing on this beautiful Tuesday morning?

Today I have an embarrassing story to share with you … (dun dun dun!!!)
Please don’t laugh – I’m just trying to prove a point.

As a fresh-out-of-university graduate I decided to bite the bullet and pour my heart and soul into being a professional photographer. Easy, right? Wrong. With a very limited portfolio and NO formal education in photography (my degree was in marketing) I really struggled to prove to people (and to myself) that my photography was worth a certain amount of money.
To be blunt – I had no clue what I was doing business-wise.

I failed to realise that learning to run a business, similar to everything else in life, is a process with lots of stepping stones and that it’s okay to feel lost along the way. Here’s the embarrassing truth – It actually took me quite some time to recognise that if I wanted to be a successful business owner I would have to make enough money to pay my bills (obvious now, not-so-obvious back then *cringe*).

As soon as this brainwave hit me I started to take my business really seriously - and so did others. I had to learn that to run a successful business you must run your business as if it’s already successful (tweet it here!). In other words, I do this for a living - not as a hobby!

Anyways, the moral of the story is that no one really knows what they’re doing at the beginning. And that’s okay, but we can’t let our fears and insecurities hold us back from offering our beautiful artwork to the world and from getting paid fabulously at the same time.

Do you ever feel “too young” or “too old”, “too this” or “too that” to be taken seriously in the photography industry? Need a boost in the right direction? Then this video is for YOU!

BAM! I really hope you enjoyed this video and that you got loads of value from it.

As usual, if you love it please share it! You would make my day!

Big hugs and I hope you have an inspirational Tuesday!
xoxo
Alex

P.S. “Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” – Bill Gates

Posted inALL,BUSINESS,CHATTY TUESDAYS

  • Katie Francis

    Hi Alex,

    I just wanted to that you so much for this post today!! I really want to begin my photography business but have little confidence that I can ask people to pay for my work. Although I know that I should be able to – I think I feel exactly as you did at the beginning! I just wanted to thank you and encourage you that you are a huge inspiration to me and I am sure many others all over the world! I found your website via Pinterest and going through you blogs and tutorials, you have just reawakened my determination to make my photography dream a reality! May the Lord bless you & your business & grow you from strength to strength! :)

    Kind regards
    Katie

  • http://www.bloggakpphoto.net AKP Photography

    LOOOVED this video!!!! I get really paranoid and scared when someone asks me to do a shoot. Im self-taught so i feel im not going to be good enough. Even though i kinda am.

    Shooting people i dont know is super scary so i definitely need to practice more! Im hoping photography school will help me to stop being scared and believe in myself 100%!

    Im sharing this video on my fb page :D

  • http://www.maifotography.com Mai

    I appreciate this post.
    I have little confidence too… and thankfully people always tell me that I never give myself enough credits, but thats what I feel…. and I am always afraid of people telling me “I didn’t pay for these images” when they look at my postproduction. this is just my imagination tho.

    and I think I really need to build my portfolio well to let my costumers believe in me.
    thank you, Alex Beadon and Alex!

  • http://thephotogshelper.com Kathy

    Oh Alex, I’m so sorry that you found people that have taken advantage of you. Thankfully, you are getting it while you are young, so that you can grow and build your strong business practices and processes to the point where no one can take advantage of you again. Unfortunately, everyone has to go through these steps when building a business. Good for you to be reaching out for help!

    I wish you the BEST of luck, Alex and Alex, your Chatty Tuesday was fabulous as always and you look gorgeous!

  • https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ashleys-Photography/227033567 Ashley Keeler

    Hi Alex!

    I have to say this was one of your most inspiring Chatty Tuesdays ever.

    I LOVE photography. I’m pretty young, Only 13. I can totally relate to the client part 100%. I’ve had a few clients from when I had originally started photography a year ago, Which looking back the photo’s were horrible. (Haha) But also looking back they were only my friends. I find it so hard to find people to photograph. I have made buisness cards, I have hung posters around my town pretty much everything there is to do. Overall it has worked wonderful. Yet when I find myself actually photographing someone or multiple people I always feel there taking advantage of me because of my age. I totally understand I can’t be full blown professional as a 13 year old girl. But, it also doesn’t mean my work is bad. Or should be charged only $5.00 per shoot. People obviously think of me as a kid rather than a photographer which would most likely bring them to think my photos aren’t worth alot of money or alot of their time. It’s happened to me in the past alot. But, I’ve learned to live with it. As to contracts they are so confusing! I never understood them. I freak everytime I try to make some for a upcoming shoot. Or even just for the future.

    ~

    But, Thanks So much for the information! It’s helped alot! Please keep up the amazing work. Your doing great. Can’t wait to see next weeks chatty tuesday! :)

    Cya!

  • http://www.belleandbeauphotography.co.uk Holly

    Awesome advice as ever Alex :)

  • http://www.charlotteswebblog.co.uk Charlotte

    I’m not a photographer, but I feel this way about writing all the time. Even with blogging, I kind of avoid the subject even though it’s something I love because I’m scared no-one will take me seriously (or worse, read the entire thing in front of me.. cringe) x

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  • http://jaymeburns.tumblr.com Jayme

    This is such fantastic advice, and I’m really happy to see someone putting it out there. The business side of photography seems to be so secretive and to have it blatantly put is nice to see. I started out young in the industry, and I suppose at times I still feel young and new to it. When I started I didn’t value my work, I didn’t feel right taking what I felt was large amounts of money for what I was doing and it has taken me years to see that a business can’t be ran on offering bottom dollar prices. It’s a hard lesson to learn, but an important one. When your starting out, charge reasonably, your giving something that they can’t provide themselves, its a service, it’s quality, and it’s a moment you can’t duplicate. Make sure you know what your worth!

    LOVE the blog Alex!!

    <3 Love from Nova Scotia!