Building a brand and staying true to yourself as a photographer
Sometimes it can be hard to block out the noise. Ok, let’s be honest, a lot of the time. I’ve been doing photography professionally for five years now, and I still feel the pressure to change my style, give in to trends that don’t fit my vibe, and move in the exact way the industry is moving. With that being said, I wanted to talk a little bit about how to stay true to yourself as a photographer today, and what that looks like for me as SRP.
Staying true to *you*
For me, this looks like not giving in to trends (editing or shooting-wise) that don’t resonate with me and my brand. When that gets difficult, what helps bring me back is remembering why I decided to go into this industry and sticking to that. Sometimes, that really kicks your butt. It’s hard to be a creative.
But what I know to be true above all else is that I love capturing and preserving memories and moments of you that future generations will look upon and say, “Wow, that’s my loved one.”
It’s also important to me that I use my platforms to say with my full chest what I believe in so that others know they are safe in this space that we have created together.
My advice for those struggling in this area today is to get clear about you and your business and ask yourself what you care about in both work and life. What kind of impact do you want to have? What feels actually right versus performative? For me, I’m very focused on being an LGBTQ+ friendly photographer, especially in the South where I am located. I want to be an ally for the communities around me.
Stop comparing yourself to others and just be yourself. It’s a tall order, I know, but spoiler alert, no one else has this figured out completely either, so you’re not alone.
Defining your brand
Nothing makes a brand better than intention. When you’re trying to build and define your brand, ask yourself what your goal is and what’s behind the brand at your core. If you’re not here to truly connect with your audience, that’s a sign to stop and reassess.
It’s also important to think about the values your brand represents. People will come to you for your authenticity and because you stand for things they’re looking for in a photographer, not just of your editing style. Photography is a client based industry, and reputation will get you further than you think.
Saying no/redirection
With becoming a business and having a brand comes the need for boundaries. Sometimes, you will have to say no to clients. Either they don’t fit your brand, it’s not possible, or something else.
If anything (a shoot, a client, a vibe) makes me uncomfortable or just doesn’t align, and I cannot serve them in the best way, then it’s far better for them to go to someone else who they do fit rather than putting the wrong piece in the wrong spot. It will be much more enjoyable for everyone involved if you actually like your job.
No matter how nice a person you are, your values and what you stick to MATTER.
Not giving in to trends that aren’t “you”
Trends are a great tool when used intentionally, but they should not be the foundation of you work. Trends may help you stay relevant, but what matters more is consistently on brand work that will resonate with your audience after the trend has passed.
I use trends in moderation based on how well they work with my style and match the vibes of my shoots.
Occasionally, and I mean very rarely, you will see me do a crooked or dutch angled photo. I don’t like it. Do you know how long it has taken me to keep my photos straight with the horizon line?! I’m not doing it unless cropping to make my image straight will cut off my subject at a weird spot. It’s not something that I am a fan of. However, motion blur? Yes. Because they make for great detail shots and add dimension to galleries.
WORK LIFE BALANCE
Coming from someone who is learning this too late in her career, let me say this; just because you can respond to DMs at 10pm doesn’t mean you should. Set work hours, especially in your email signature and stick with it. Mine says, “Sydney Rose / Intimate Wedding & Lifestyle Photographer (she/her) / www.sydneyroseportraits.com | @sydneyroseportraits / Working Hours: M-F; 9 am-4 pm.” Understand your limits. It’s better to deliver a great experience to fewer clients than to stretch yourself too thin and risk burnout or late deliveries.
Make sure you have clear communication with your clients about deadlines, expectations, and your process. Also, make sure to know your own deadlines! A great way of managing your own time is through time blocking. That way, you only have a few things each day to accomplish, and it doesn’t matter how much of it you get done; what matters is that you do it. For example, have one day for editing, one afternoon for scheduling social media, and one day for meetings/admin tasks.
Take time off as well, this is a job after all, so take those annual leave/PTO days! Give yourself vacation time, and time for passion projects. You’re a person, not a machine.
