Let’s get real here —

Something about the start of a new year always brings me into a reflective state where I get to look back and grow from my previous years both as a person and business owner, have a seriously good laugh at all of my mistakes, and use my experiences to grow. So I thought, why not take this a step further and help everyone else to grow from my mistakes as well? Since I am now heading into my fourth year in business, I figured I would let you all in on my four all-time biggest business mistakes so far as a wedding photographer.

1 – It’s okay to turn away clients who aren’t a good fit. Seriously, they’re better off without you.

This is probably the biggest mistake I made when I was first starting out. It was almost along the same vein as high school kids who just wanted to be popular and have everyone like them; the truth is, that is impossible. Wedding photography is subjective when it comes to style. I have had countless clients who have felt like they were made for me, who love natural lighting, effortless posing, and that timeless aesthetic that you get from film, but I’ve also had just as many who are looking for something completely different. It took me a long time to realize that even though I may convince those couples to book, they still wouldn’t be happy with their final images even if I knocked their wedding out of the park because I am straight up not what they are looking for. Even if it isn’t a stylistic difference and is something like price, or even wanting a slightly different approach than what I offer – I would much rather send them a list of recommendations for other photographers who fit them better than force a relationship that is going to be disappointing for the both of us.

2 – You are never too good to stop learning.

If I had a dollar for every photo I took when I first started that was out of focus, overexposed, or just plain unflattering? Guys, I wouldn’t even be writing this blog post right now because I’d be sitting in my private hot spring in Iceland with my twenty very well-fed dogs. I was the least successful when I put myself on a high horse and avoided shooting just for self-improvement, learning from my peers, and seeking out new opportunities to build my skill level both from a shooting standpoint and even from a business standpoint. Investing my time and/or money in learning opportunities using resources like CreativeLive (seriously, Jasmine Star’s wedding series there last year was life changing) or in person workshops like the Erich McVey Workshop has been beyond worth it.

3 – Customer service is just as important as your photographs.

In the exact same way as avoiding learning even more of the technical side of photography, I was also the least successful when I avoided learning how to improve my client’s overall experience. I was just talking about this the other day with a friend of mine who I used to waitress with in college and explained it really simply; if you go to a restaurant and order a steak, you already expect that steak. If you get that steak from a waitress who ignored you for the entire meal, in all likelihood you are not going to recommend the restaurant regardless of if it tasted good or not. On the other hand, if the waitress made you feel as if you were the only table there? Chances are you are going to tell everyone you know about it and post a photo of their food on your Instagram with a billion hashtags. Happy clients create more happy clients. Going above and beyond to make their experience phenomenal is never a bad idea. The biggest way I have improved this for 2016 was through investing in a quality studio management software that reminds me of the little things throughout the wedding process. Gone are the days of having to remember to send questionnaires, email planning tips, or (god forbid) having to meet in person just to sign the contract. There are countless options available that are designed specifically for photographers at nearly every price point, but I have personally used 17Hats in the past which was a great low-cost option and am currently using Sprout Studio which is an incredible Canadian option.

4 – “Competition” is in the past. Welcome to 2016.

I cannot stress this one enough. When I first started in this industry, I was an island. Despite studying photography in college and knowing a few other wedding photographers just from school, I really didn’t go out of my way to connect with my peers because they were my competition. Wouldn’t I be shooting myself in the foot if I became friends with other photographers and they stole all my business? I couldn’t have been more wrong.

We are now in the days of the #CommunityOverCompetition movement and it is really, really good. Being able to connect with and grow alongside other local photographers has been the most helpful thing for my business. Not only are we learning from each other’s mistakes (think daily text conversations just venting about 300 of our biggest business flaws) but we are supporting each other more than ever. Linking back to the first point in this blog post: If I’m not a good fit for a client stylistically but they still seem like awesome people, who do you think I am immediately going to send them to? Most likely the friend I meet up with every month at the Toronto Tuesday’s Together. Making real honest connections with people in the same position as you has nothing but benefits personally and in business. I am so incredibly thankful for the Rising Tide Society’s formation last year and for their efforts in spearheading this massive change in our industry.

For all of you local Toronto wedding photographers, florists, designers, or other creativepreneurs – feel free to join us for our monthly Tuesday’sTogether meetings on the second Tuesday of each month. We have an incredible (and seriously welcoming) group and are always ecstatic about new members!

Photographers – What are your biggest business mistakes? Comment below with anything you’re hoping to improve on this upcoming season.