If you told 18 year old me that I would own my very own business one day, I would have thought you were crazy! I never imagined being where I’m at today, but I am extremely grateful for everything that has led me to this point. After growing my photography business for almost a decade, I have learned so much along the way. I truly believe that I have one of the best jobs in the world, but I’d be lying if I said there haven’t been many challenges and tribulations along the way.

Here are 5 things I wish I knew when I first started my photography business.

1. You Can't Be Everything to Everyone

In the beginning, I said “yes” to as many opportunities as I could. I thought that in order to grow my business, I needed to be what others wanted me to be. As you can imagine, this became EXHAUSTING after a while. It was great getting to experiment with new styles and figure out what I loved to create and who I loved to work with, but I quickly learned that I can’t be everything to everyone.

There is power and importance in learning to say no.

Once I discovered my style of photography and what I love the most, I committed to that niche. I am very lucky to say that couples who are fun, laid back, and adventurous with a love for warm + earthy tones have found their way to me!

2. Make Connections

Entrepreneurship can be really hard and lonely sometimes. Luckily, this industry is filled with the kindest, most genuine, and creative souls. Find the good ones who are like-minded and surround yourself with them! It's so important to have a supportive community of other creatives to celebrate the good times with and lean on during the bad. And of course, coffee shop-work dates are the best!

3. Invest in Education

I cannot recommend investing in yourself and your business education enough. Find a mentor that you look up to in your field, invest in mentor sessions, and ask questions to help you grow as a business owner. Invest in good workshops to improve your skill and spark your creativity.

Gathering knowledge from others who have had years of experience is priceless.

4. Outsource

As my business grew, I quickly learned that I can’t do it ALL. I sat down and figured out exactly what could be done by ONLY me and what could be done by someone else. I looked for people who are specialized in certain fields that I didn’t know as much about such as marketing, CRM, Pinterest, blogging, taxes, etc. I feel incredibly fortunate to work with so many talented people on my team.

The best part about outsourcing is that it gave me time back to focus on other things I love in my life.

5. Schedule Time to Rest

For as long as I can remember, I have been an overachieving, perfectionist, busy body. I thrive on being busy and absolutely LOVE what I do. I’ve learned to be purposeful in allowing my body and mind to rest so that I am not burnt out for my amazing clients. I am protective of the time that is spent with my friends and family and make sure to schedule “time off” (1 weekend each month) during busy season. This one simple shift has been game-changing for me and my business!