Are you a photographer playing it safe?

Playing it safe comes from limiting beliefs.

Are you a photographer playing it safe? And by safe, I’m referring to creatively safe. You’re justifying to yourself that your unique vision won’t sell. After endless ~~research~~ scrolling you determine that the images with the most likes and follows are what sells. You have bills that need to be paid and a calendar to fill with bookings. Either you shoot what’s trending and make money or you shoot in the creative style that is pulling at you. If you shoot the way you want then you’ll be sacrificing money and bookings. In the back of your head that little voice is saying, they won’t buy that.

I don’t believe this is an either/or issue. Imagine this… you consistently attract your dream clients because they connect to your creative voice and style, paying premium rates? I know, dream clients is an overused term but quite honestly, over the past 15 years working with clients who I could call my friends, it’s the best way I can describe them. Dream clients trust your creative vision and value your worth. They “get” you.

This is what I do believe…the “happily ever after business”, which for me, means working with dream clients earning premium rates because I’ve built a brand, creative identity and experience worthy of that.

Continue reading if that’s what you want.

The vicious cycle of photographing what you think sells vs. what actually aligns with you.

The desire and let’s face it, financial need, to become consistently booked usually looks like this: endless scrolling to determine what’s trending in your photography niche and then shooting in the same style. The problem with this is that it creates a vicious cycle of creating what you think will sell vs. what actually aligns with your true creative voice. Ultimately you’ll be heading down an unsustainable path because you’re creatively starving yourself and become emotionally disconnected from your business and clients.

I’ve coached more than a couple of very talented photographers at the end of their rope, ready to quit, because they lost that spark. Our conversations always led to the core issue of not shooting what they’re heart wants.

Why you feel stuck: Common Photographer struggles.

Here are some examples of what this push/pull for photographers looks like.

1. A wedding photographer who shoots(“what sells”) light and airy, romantic, luxury, destination weddings. Their true idea of luxury is shooting an intimate wedding at a rustic, high end, woodsy retreat (buyout) that’s more moody and subtle.

2. The senior photographer who doesn’t know the first thing (or care) about fashion trends or edgy posing but is spending a fortune to attend large group styled shoots to build a portfolio because she’s been told (insert current generation) Gen Z wants those type of images. She doesn’t know what her photography style is.

3. Family photographers who are creating multiple mini-sessions throughout the year when they can’t imagine scheduling yet, one more mommy and me shoot. What they really want to do is document messy, chaotic families over the course of a year…or more!

4. The portrait photographer who shoots dark and moody boudoir, light and airy weddings, traditional senior portraits and then when they get a chance, environmental portraits that have a huge emotional resonance but is more of a passion project.

The common thread among these examples are the following:

A desire to photograph something different but fear not getting hired.
Have a limiting belief their creative vision won’t be profitable.
Lack of confidence because “nobody else is doing it.”
Struggle to make sense of creative ideas and where they fit.

Avoiding the biggest pitfall: Establish your foundations.

The biggest pitfall for most creatives is that they haven’t established their brand foundations. They’re running a business not a timeless, sustainable brand. Brand foundations are the blocks that align your creativity with your business. It’s building the home that your creativity lives in.

Below are brand foundation questions that will help lead you to a clear creative identity:

What is your purpose – Why are you a photographer?
What are your beliefs and specific views?
What emotionally drives you?
What is your origin story? How did you become a photographer?

Having clarity on these answers is the difference between being sought after vs. being just another option. I have a whole other post written about this.

Steps to stop playing it creatively safe

Now that you’ve established the foundations of your home it’s time to create. How are you going to design your home? That’s where your creative voice comes in. What are the choices you’re going to make to ensure it’s your home, with your soul.

Stop scrolling and get outside of your normal routine.
Ask yourself what makes you happiest to shoot? Be specific. Start shooting it.
Don’t force inspiration, allow it come to you which frequently happens when you’re out and doing what makes you happy.
Get a fresh set of eyes and perspective on your work by a mentor, coach, respected peer (ensure there is complete honesty when asking peers for opinions).

This is the process I use with my clients who want to stop playing it creatively safe and feel confident that they’ll be filling their calendar with premium bookings..

CREATIVE DISCOVERY – Take all of the input from your brainstorm ideas and thoughts then question, assess, organize and curate.
- I use my MESI process (pronounced messy). It’s fun, highly insightful, collabortive and I guarantee, a refreshingly different process from any type of brainstorming session you’ve been a part of.
STRATEGY:
- Identify and Define the tightly curated styles/emotions/ideas from above.
- Ensure these are aligned to your brand foundations and emotionally resonate.
- Strategize an action plan for messaging and visuals.
EMPOWERMENT – clarity, cohesiveness and consistency are the first steps towards confidence and fearlessness..
TRANSFORMATION – You’re on your way to becoming a brand.

Own your creative identity and path.

The most successful photographers are those who carve their own path, not those who replicate trends. Establishing brand foundations + a strong creative identity + intentionality = long term success. If you’re feeling lost, it’s not because you lack creativity – it’s because you need clarity, strategy and confidence in your ideas.