How to get started in the Photography Industry, by Lauren Mc Gee

Hi there, I’m Lauren – a wedding photographer based on the Causeway Coast of Northern Ireland. It is my pleasure to be featured as a Guest for Studio Ninja to talk about getting started in the photography industry from my own experience. 

Despite always loving photography, without even knowing I loved photography, I bought my first ‘good’ camera  (a DSLR) back in late 2016. In 2017 I shot my first wedding. In 2018 I left my job to go full time with weddings, despite only having 5 booked. In 2019 I was fully booked. In January 2020 I sold out my first workshop, that I’m proud to say Studio Ninja is supporting. And well, then Covid 19 happened! Despite Covid-19, my business continues to grow.

Most importantly, I’m doing a job I love and supporting my family whilst I do it.

The reason I’m telling you that isn’t to boast, but to show you what can happen in a very short space of time. Because if you’re reading this whilst at the start of pursuing a career in photography, I bet you’re feeling how I did not that long ago: pretty darn overwhelmed.! Just 3 and a half years ago I didn’t know one end of a camera from the other. So if you do, you’re one huge step ahead, and your potential is endless. But I get that it can all seem like a big mountain to climb, it still does for me, so I’ve put together my top 5 tips to help you get started in the photography industry.

Shoot Everything

I started off photographing my kids and the landscapes around my house. When a local gym asked me to photograph their bootcamp at 6am, I said yes. When a local jeweller asked me to photograph their huge collection of engagement photos, I said yes. Did I have a clue how to photograph jewellery? No. Did I have a macro lens? No. Did I figure it out? Yes I did. And in the process I learned skills that I have now transferred to my wedding photography. 

Photography is a skill that can not be learned in books, on blogs or even at a workshop. To get to know your camera, you must build your muscle memory and learn your craft. An electrician doesn’t go straight in and wire houses; the same way we aren’t going to go straight in to photograph the biggest day of someone’s life. 

Of course you don’t have to do the random things that I did, especially if you know what you want to do. But photograph as much as you can. Experiment and learn your craft and your camera inside out. Only then will you find your speciality and grow your confidence. 

Shoot For Free

One of the biggest obstacles I see new photographers struggle to overcome is the lack of content. ‘How can I grow my social media following if I have no content?’ ‘How can I attract clients if I don’t have anything to show them?’ The answer is simple. Shoot for free.

But how do you even get people to model for you? Here are my 5 tips to get models.

Friends and family – go through your Facebook friends list and message someone. Or put a status on your personal Facebook. That way it’s someone you know and it’ll take a bit of pressure off. I’m pretty certain you know someone with a family, a partner or a newborn? Or someone who loves fashion? Maybe a friend with a blog? 

Couple/Model Call – simply put out on your social media, or in any photography groups that you are a part of, that you are looking for a couple. Be specific about when they are needed and what is required. 

Competition – run a competition for a free shoot on social media.This proved invaluable for me when I was starting out. One of my competitions went viral and as a result I secured a number of bookings from it, as well as getting content. Facebook works really well for competitions, so don’t be scared to run them on a couple of platforms. 

Reach out to other suppliers – they may know someone you don’t. Plus they can help make your styled shoot even more awesome. Connecting with others in your industry is essential for growing your business. 

Contact a suitable blogger/influencer – bloggers/influencers are always looking for content. Don’t hesitate to drop them a DM, explain who you are and that you’re trying to grow your business and would like to offer them a free shoot. It’s important that you connect with a blogger that’s relevant to your business and aligns with your values. They won’t all say yes, but you could be surprised. 

It’s so important to appreciate your value and shooting for free should only be done in line with your goals. For example, I wouldn’t photograph a property for free if I wanted to get into wedding photography.  What would I gain from that in return for my time, expenses and work? But if I spend 3 hours shooting and editing a couple shoot that will go on to book me 3 weddings, it’s worth it. 

If you want a business, you have to treat it like a business.

Similarly if you treat photography like a hobby, it will be a hobby. 

If you were to open a retail store tomorrow, what would you need? Premises, stock, payment methods, branding, training in customer service, HR, accounts and more: and a plan. A photography business is no different. It just takes a different shape. 

If you don’t have a studio, your website is your store. Your portfolio is your stock. Customer service is essential. That’s where a good CRM like Studio Ninja comes in. It must be financially viable and sustainable. It requires investment. Both with time and money. The photos become a very small part of your business, and they aren’t what will make or break it. The rest will. We may love photography, but when it’s your business that love is not enough to put food on the table and a roof over your head. I believe that shift in mindset is what will set you up for success.

Investment

Like anything in life, you get what you put into your business. That doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money buying lots of gear and attending every workshop you see advertised. But investment of time and money in key elements will see great rewards. 

For me the key things to invest in are:

• A couple of great lenses. 
• Back up gear (especially if you are shooting weddings). 
• A CRM / Business Management App. I’m not just saying that because I’m a Studio Ninja Ambassador. I’m a Studio Ninja Ambassador because I truly believe it’s the difference between having an average business and great business; especially from a client perspective. 
• Education. To be the best, I believe you need to learn from the best. That person you admire didn’t get where they are for free, so you shouldn’t expect them to give away their knowledge for free. 
• Branding. A strong, professional brand and website is a must if you want someone to remember you in a crowded industry. 

Be Yourself

The easiest way to stand out in a crowded industry is to offer something unique, and there is nothing more unique than being unapologetically yourself. There is only one version of you and your perspective of the world . That’s what clients will book. Not the camera or lens that captures that perspective. 

This one is easy for me to write, but I totally understand that it’s a lot harder to put into practice, especially in the world of social media.

I strongly recommend reading the book ‘Start With Why’ by Simon Sinek, and really take the time to delve into who you are and why you’re doing this. ‘Because I love photography’ won’t be enough to drive you through the tough times that come from starting any business. Knowing that your perspective of the world is beautiful and important and valued will though. 

Bruno Barbey said ‘Photography is the only language that can be understood anywhere in the world.’ I keep this quote with me wherever I go. That is the power of what we do and what we create with our work. To make a living from that is just the biggest reward ever. And if I can do it, so can you!