5 Big Mistakes I Made In My Business And How I Overcame Them

I debated whether or not to write this post, but at the end of the day I realized that if I could help at least one person avoid the mistakes that I made while running my photography business then I would be bringing something good and helpful to creative entrepreneurs who are pursuing what they love, like me! I’m a real person who messes up just like everyone else and by sharing this post with you, I hope to encourage you and help you grow in your own business!

 

 

1) Not setting the right work/ life balance

I hinted at this one on my Instagram stories this morning!

Throughout the years managing my photography business, it has been a constant game of tug of war finding the right balance between work and life. ESPECIALLY when working from home where you do LIFE! I don’t have the ability to clock out and leave my work at the office. The office is right in my home where I do everything else- it easily gets muddled and the boundaries eassssssily slip away.

From blurring these lines time and time again I have learned…

• Create a designated workspace in the home, ideally a room you don’t need to use for anything else and with a door. Shut this door at the end of your workday- literally helps the whole out of sight out of mind thing!
• Wake up earlier and finished earlier. Being married, it’s been so helpful to match my schedule to my husband’s as much as possible so we’re on the same page and our home life is in sync. If I’m sleeping in until 11 am and not finishing work until 9 pm, it messes up our whole social and home life routine. Matching our work schedules have been a HUGE help and stress buster!
• Recently I’ve been trying to turn my phone on airplane mode at the end of my workday so I’m not getting Facebook or Instagram notifications. And because my mobile phone is my work phone, it keeps that boundary of business hours there for anyone who tries to call. I then try to not turn my phone off airplane mode until the morning AFTER I have done my morning routine (which is usually yoga, prayer/ journaling and eating breakfast of course!). This has been a big help in setting that work/life boundary.

 

2) Taking on more than I can handle

The lie here was that I needed to work harder. But the truth is that I needed to work smarter. Too many times have I crammed my schedule with work that I didn’t really need to do at that point in time… and usually right before a holiday. Whiccccch normally meant that I was flat out exhausted and sick and frustrated (also frustrating my poor husband and everyone else around me) on the actual holiday because I had overworked myself in the run-up.

What I’ve learned?

• I now limit myself to 25 weddings a year. You heard me! I’ve found this is necessary for me to give 110% to ALL of my couples and to allow time for other creative work and Lifestyle sessions in between.
• I don’t give myself extra work that can wait! I try my best to set a few priorities for that week/ month and give myself grace for the rest. Some work can wait. It’s okay to make it wait.
• DON’T pile up work right before a holiday! I have a tendency to want to finish EVERYTHING before I feel I can allow myself to rest on a holiday, but the truth is I don’t need to pile the work on just to take a break. I need to pace myself, get the necessary tasks done, and again, the rest can wait until I get back. AND I do deserve a break even with work waiting on my desk… Is that as big of a news flash for you as it was for me??!

 

 

3) Not asking for help

Basically being my own boss and running this business solo means I can do it all on my own and not ask anyone for help. Right??

WRONG.

I have been stubborn and I have been way overprotective of my business and wayyyy too big of a perfectionist to let anyone else get their hands on my work. I have ignored my husband’s advice and even argued with him because I thought I knew best. I have avoided letting anyone criticise my work and offer advice. If I keep doing this I believe my business will suffer. It needs more than one person (more than ME) to run smoothly and to its fullest potential. It’s taken some time to humbly realize this, but now I know that…

• I can ask other photographers and business owners for advice and solutions– I can even let them critique my work!
• I can bounce ideas off my husband, my family, my close friends, other creative business owners
• I can let my husband help construct my dreams to realities
• I can trust my husband to take control of the financial management side of my business because he’s way better at it than me!
• I can believe that we are stronger together and we are better when we empower one another

 

4) Working alone and isolating myself

This kinda ties into point no. 3 and I believe this is my biggest downfall because it’s the easiest to fall into!

Isolation kills creativity. Let’s all say that aloud together! Isolation. Kills. Creativity. We need like-minded AND differently-minded people to learn from and be inspired by! I believe we were made to be in relationships with people and I have certainly seen from running my own business that when I work alone and keep to myself for too long I become lethargic and apathetic and the creative juices run on empty.

• Meet with other photographers and creatives in a coffee shop to do work together
• Meet with other photographers for fun days out to take photos just for fun!
• Join Facebook groups and Instagram Pods to refer one another, encourage, support and help!

 

5) Listening to fear

Fear very very nearly kept me from writing this blog post. What if nobody reads it? What if I show up but nobody else does? What if people think I’m weird, or too deep or think that I don’t know what I’m saying or worse, have a valid reason for saying it? Fear will only hold me, and you, back from our greatest opportunities.

BUT. When I said NO to fear I…

• booked my first destination wedding in Italy and have built lasting friendships through it
• grabbed mentoring time with one of my fav photographers from the States (on her holiday bless her!!) even though she wasn’t advertising and since have had a lasting friendship with her- shout out to Caroline! Love you!
• have met couples and made friends all over the world in fact!
• started this business in the first place!
• am starting to share what I know with other photographers, brides, and creative business owners
• am pushing the boat out to pursue other photography opportunities (you might see some product and interior photography soon!)

 

 

All in all, friends, may you find the balance between life and work and not bite off more than you can chew. May you give grace to yourself and find humility in asking for help. May you surround yourself with other creatives who uplift and inspire you. And may you hold up a big fat NO in the face of fear and pursue your dreams and achieve your goals.

Love,

Hannah