If you are running a photography business, you are probably used to chasing the elusive feeling of momentum. Momentum is the holy grail of the photography business. You can feel like you have it one minute and feel like all is lost the next. If you are first starting out in the business or have been in the game for a few years, here are a few tips on how to create and control momentum in your photography business:

1. Practice, Practice, Practice

When I first started, I had a new camera, new lens, new dream and no idea how any of it worked. I made the goal to shoot every single day, mostly to learn my camera. I was finishing college, and busy with work and school. Somehow I carved out time everyday to get outside and do a shoot every single day. I recruited friends, roommates, couples who were dating, friends who had been married, friend kids all the time to join me for a 10-25 min shoot. I learned my camera very quickly because I challenged myself to so many different lighting situations, locations and times of day. It was the best way for me to really get a handle on my gear and also teach myself how to interact with people.

2. Shoot a lot, so you look like you shoot a lot

Since I was shooting a lot, I made the goal to edit the mini sessions every evening and blog those pictures right away. I had tons of new content for my Instagram and blog so it looked like I was super in demand, even though I wasn’t being paid for any of the shoots early on. People automatically assumed that I was super busy because I looked like I was! I also learned how to nail down my one hour workflow (found in Lightroom Course in the Our Photog Blog Membership) in this season of life, so when things got busy with paid shoots, I was already used to it.

3. Serve and love the clients you do have

For lots of business owners, the most important client is the next client. If you want to be a great photographer, this is the exact wrong way to operate. For us, we serve and love the clients that we currently have. I love getting to pour myself into the brides who trust me and have invested in me. I’ve seen time and time again, that by being a business that loves and serves people, not only am I fulfilled as a person, but small business is best when in service of other people. Ideas of how to serve are to deliver extra pictures, send surprise Christmas gifts or feature clients on the blog!

4. Make a marketing plan and stick to it

Every good and thriving business has a well defined marketing plan. Marketing plans don’t have to be complicated, but they need to be simple and established. I’ve seen lots of photographers base their whole business on word of mouth and never put any time into any other forms of marketing. These are the same businesses that crumble and fail during seasons of booking drought. Set aside a few hours every week to work on only marketing. To learn more of our tricks and tips for marketing, be sure to check out our marketing course in the Our Photog Blog Membership!

5. Learn, Learn, Learn

The three E’s of photography are equipment, experience and education. Make it your goal to always be learning, reading and working on your dream. I have a goal to read two business related books a month and I always have a full queue of business related podcasts to listen to on drives. I subscribe to photography education blogs and take quarterly workshops! I love that there is always something new to be learning in photography in business.

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Have any more thoughts of how to add momentum to your photography business? Please share your thoughts and comments below!!

How to Gain Momentum in your Photography Business