hey guys, welcome back to my channel! in today's video, I'm gonna be sharing with
hey guys, welcome back to my channel! in today's video, I'm gonna be sharing with

you the game changers in my business. this was actually a suggestion from one
you the game changers in my business. this was actually a suggestion from one

of my subscribers and they asked what were some game changers like gear I
of my subscribers and they asked what were some game changers like gear I

purchased maybe experiences I had software's and mindsets things like that
purchased maybe experiences I had software's and mindsets things like that

that I think are the biggest game changers in my own business now
that I think are the biggest game changers in my own business now

reflecting back on the past 5 years and I really love this question I think it's
reflecting back on the past 5 years and I really love this question I think it's

a good one so I'm going to answer it in today's video. before we dive in, if you
a good one so I'm going to answer it in today's video. before we dive in, if you

are new here, hit that subscribe button I make videos just like this one every
are new here, hit that subscribe button I make videos just like this one every

single week for photographers just like you ok so starting off with experiences
single week for photographers just like you ok so starting off with experiences

I have 3 different experiences that I think really shaped Who I am as a
I have 3 different experiences that I think really shaped Who I am as a

photographer now and took me the farthest of anything that I tried in my
photographer now and took me the farthest of anything that I tried in my

business early on and the first is second shooting I second shot for a
business early on and the first is second shooting I second shot for a

couple of different wedding photographers pretty consistently
couple of different wedding photographers pretty consistently

meaning I second shot you know 10 or 15 weddings with that same photographer in
meaning I second shot you know 10 or 15 weddings with that same photographer in

my first year so while I was booking my own weddings I was also working for
my first year so while I was booking my own weddings I was also working for

other photographers and this was hugely valuable not only to grow as a
other photographers and this was hugely valuable not only to grow as a

photographer just get the camera in my hands working manual that kind of thing
photographer just get the camera in my hands working manual that kind of thing

but really good to see how other photographers run a wedding day and get
but really good to see how other photographers run a wedding day and get

to see how the timeline works on a wedding day so if you can get second
to see how the timeline works on a wedding day so if you can get second

shooting experience I think that would be hugely valuable especially if you're
shooting experience I think that would be hugely valuable especially if you're

moving into the world of weddings the second experience that really helped me
moving into the world of weddings the second experience that really helped me

out was shooting couples for free I even shot individuals families friends and
out was shooting couples for free I even shot individuals families friends and

engaged couples and it just got me really comfortable with posing other
engaged couples and it just got me really comfortable with posing other

people in front of the camera and it got my feet wet into the industry a little
people in front of the camera and it got my feet wet into the industry a little

bit before I had pain clients so if you don't have any portfolio you've never
bit before I had pain clients so if you don't have any portfolio you've never

photographed a couple before don't just jump in and start charging people do it
photographed a couple before don't just jump in and start charging people do it

for free so you can gain the experience without the pressure of having that
for free so you can gain the experience without the pressure of having that

paying client and all those expectations the third experience that really grew me
paying client and all those expectations the third experience that really grew me

was attending a business focused workshop for photographers so I attended
was attending a business focused workshop for photographers so I attended

a workshop called the business essentials and doing this really early
a workshop called the business essentials and doing this really early

on in my career and starting to think about profit
on in my career and starting to think about profit

and my cost of doing business and sales and marketing and just the different
and my cost of doing business and sales and marketing and just the different

side of photography early on instead of being only thinking about my gear and my
side of photography early on instead of being only thinking about my gear and my

flash and my settings really set me up for success when it came time to grow my
flash and my settings really set me up for success when it came time to grow my

business because at the end of the day my goal as a photographer wasn't just to
business because at the end of the day my goal as a photographer wasn't just to

produce beautiful work but to bring home a paycheck and support my life and my
produce beautiful work but to bring home a paycheck and support my life and my

family's life with my photography and so being in that mindset from the very
family's life with my photography and so being in that mindset from the very

beginning really helped me and took me really far so I'm gonna link some of my
beginning really helped me and took me really far so I'm gonna link some of my

favorite resources below for you guys if you're interested in the business side
favorite resources below for you guys if you're interested in the business side

of photography or you'd like to just grow in general and business knowledge
of photography or you'd like to just grow in general and business knowledge

marketing knowledge branding knowledge and that kind of thing so be sure to
marketing knowledge branding knowledge and that kind of thing so be sure to

check that out so in terms of gear I have two pieces of equipment that I
check that out so in terms of gear I have two pieces of equipment that I

think just made a really big impact in the final results of my images now I
think just made a really big impact in the final results of my images now I

personally wanted to shoot weddings and I wanted to shoot a lot of portraiture
personally wanted to shoot weddings and I wanted to shoot a lot of portraiture

and be able to photograph couples in low light and not have too much noise so I
and be able to photograph couples in low light and not have too much noise so I

was struggling for a long time to be able to accomplish what I was
was struggling for a long time to be able to accomplish what I was

envisioning in my head until I received well until I bought a full-frame camera
envisioning in my head until I received well until I bought a full-frame camera

body so until I had a camera body that could handle a little bit of a higher
body so until I had a camera body that could handle a little bit of a higher

ISO I struggled to get that look and then the second pieces of equipment that
ISO I struggled to get that look and then the second pieces of equipment that

really helped pair with the full-frame camera body is the 85 millimeter 1.4
really helped pair with the full-frame camera body is the 85 millimeter 1.4

lens so for me personally in my own business
lens so for me personally in my own business

it was absolutely crucial that I have a full-frame camera and an 85 millimeter
it was absolutely crucial that I have a full-frame camera and an 85 millimeter

lens combined to really get that look that I was going for and that kind of
lens combined to really get that look that I was going for and that kind of

became my signature look which really built my brand in my business and took
became my signature look which really built my brand in my business and took

it forward now when it comes to editing early on I was really overwhelmed by
it forward now when it comes to editing early on I was really overwhelmed by

Lightroom I knew I needed to use Lightroom and not Photoshop because I'd
Lightroom I knew I needed to use Lightroom and not Photoshop because I'd

be dealing with so many images but I didn't know how to use Lightroom and one
be dealing with so many images but I didn't know how to use Lightroom and one

class that really helped me organize the catalogs understand presets and just all
class that really helped me organize the catalogs understand presets and just all

the editing modules was a class by Jarrod Platt over on creativeLIVE
the editing modules was a class by Jarrod Platt over on creativeLIVE

I'll link down below but I think it was like less
I'll link down below but I think it was like less

than $100 and it is so in depth and really breaks down every single area of
than $100 and it is so in depth and really breaks down every single area of

Lightroom so that you can understand your import settings your export
Lightroom so that you can understand your import settings your export

settings and how to achieve the edits that you're really looking for in your
settings and how to achieve the edits that you're really looking for in your

photography so that leads me to software's I have three softwares that I
photography so that leads me to software's I have three softwares that I

want to mention for you guys today the first is photo mechanic before I got
want to mention for you guys today the first is photo mechanic before I got

photo mechanic I was using Lightroom to actually go through and pick the images
photo mechanic I was using Lightroom to actually go through and pick the images

that I wanted to edit and it just took ages and ages and ages and Lightroom's
that I wanted to edit and it just took ages and ages and ages and Lightroom's

actually not meant for calling and it just slows everything down if you have a
actually not meant for calling and it just slows everything down if you have a

huge amount of images in your catalogue that you don't need to be there so I use
huge amount of images in your catalogue that you don't need to be there so I use

photo mechanic and I have a video all about that so I won't get into it but
photo mechanic and I have a video all about that so I won't get into it but

you can check that out here and I'll link it down below
you can check that out here and I'll link it down below

the second software that I use is honey book and honey book is how I manage all
the second software that I use is honey book and honey book is how I manage all

the nitty-gritty of like contracts invoicing getting paid getting things
the nitty-gritty of like contracts invoicing getting paid getting things

signed questionnaires a lot of the back and forth of my clients is just a client
signed questionnaires a lot of the back and forth of my clients is just a client

management software really and I waited a little too long to get a client
management software really and I waited a little too long to get a client

management software because I thought I needed to wait until I was really busy
management software because I thought I needed to wait until I was really busy

and really profitable and while that kind of makes sense at first blush it
and really profitable and while that kind of makes sense at first blush it

becomes really overwhelming to transfer everything over so I had a really
becomes really overwhelming to transfer everything over so I had a really

inefficient system of getting my contract signed and invoicing my clients
inefficient system of getting my contract signed and invoicing my clients

and remembering when to invoice them after you know a certain amount of time
and remembering when to invoice them after you know a certain amount of time

had passed and they needed to make their next payment or whatever is in your
had passed and they needed to make their next payment or whatever is in your

client process and so transferring over was kind of a pain so I really encourage
client process and so transferring over was kind of a pain so I really encourage

you if you want to have a wedding photography business sort of photography
you if you want to have a wedding photography business sort of photography

business in general get a client management software sooner than you
business in general get a client management software sooner than you

think you need it because it will actually allow you to be able to grow to
think you need it because it will actually allow you to be able to grow to

the levels that you need to because your business will be set up in a really
the levels that you need to because your business will be set up in a really

healthy and sustainable way instead of having all these weird backwards ways of
healthy and sustainable way instead of having all these weird backwards ways of

getting paid and getting contracts signed and sending invoices and I mean
getting paid and getting contracts signed and sending invoices and I mean

even sending a proposal like if you're filling out all that information
even sending a proposal like if you're filling out all that information

customizing that sending it to your client every single time like I know
customizing that sending it to your client every single time like I know

people that are wasting time on proposals when it should be like three
people that are wasting time on proposals when it should be like three

clicks and it can be really quick your time is really valuable so get a client
clicks and it can be really quick your time is really valuable so get a client

management software the third software I want to mention is
management software the third software I want to mention is

my like you it is an app that I use on my phone that tracks all my mileage and
my like you it is an app that I use on my phone that tracks all my mileage and

all I have to do is swipe left or right and tell it whether it was a business
all I have to do is swipe left or right and tell it whether it was a business

expense or business mileage or personal and at the end of the year it I to mises
expense or business mileage or personal and at the end of the year it I to mises

everything out and it gives me a form that I can send with my taxes so that I
everything out and it gives me a form that I can send with my taxes so that I

can get the most amount of write-offs possible for my business so once I
can get the most amount of write-offs possible for my business so once I

discovered this app I knew this is what I want to pay for it every single year
discovered this app I knew this is what I want to pay for it every single year

and it just makes my life so much easier I don't have to keep a log or keep
and it just makes my life so much easier I don't have to keep a log or keep

receipts or any of that like it's all digital and I love that it you know
receipts or any of that like it's all digital and I love that it you know

preps all my tax forms at the end of the year so it's really really great I have
preps all my tax forms at the end of the year so it's really really great I have

three books that completely change the game for me I guess mindset wise but
three books that completely change the game for me I guess mindset wise but

also just gave me a lot of incredible business knowledge when I was first
also just gave me a lot of incredible business knowledge when I was first

starting my business the first is the pumpkin plan the second is the book
starting my business the first is the pumpkin plan the second is the book

start and the third I have to look at my list it's fine art weddings I'm gonna
start and the third I have to look at my list it's fine art weddings I'm gonna

link all of these below I'm not going to get into every single one of them but
link all of these below I'm not going to get into every single one of them but

these are the three books that when I really sat down and I really thought
these are the three books that when I really sat down and I really thought

about it I can attribute the most amount of business growth and change and they
about it I can attribute the most amount of business growth and change and they

just were the biggest game changers for me starting out in my photography
just were the biggest game changers for me starting out in my photography

business the final thing that I want to share with you guys is a couple of
business the final thing that I want to share with you guys is a couple of

mindset shifts I guess you could say and that I had early on in my business and
mindset shifts I guess you could say and that I had early on in my business and

those were looking at other photographers looking at people that I
those were looking at other photographers looking at people that I

admired and looked up to and wanted to be like and realizing that they were
admired and looked up to and wanted to be like and realizing that they were

just people they put on their pants one leg at a time they're human beings and
just people they put on their pants one leg at a time they're human beings and

that they started at zero as well so when I start when I first started out I
that they started at zero as well so when I start when I first started out I

kind of you know had all these amazing people up on pedestals and I it was
kind of you know had all these amazing people up on pedestals and I it was

really hard for me to imagine that I could ever be there or ever booked
really hard for me to imagine that I could ever be there or ever booked

clients like they do or produce work like they do but I really started
clients like they do or produce work like they do but I really started

shifting that mindset and asking you know why not me why
shifting that mindset and asking you know why not me why

couldn't I do this why can't I book that client and why can't I make that money
couldn't I do this why can't I book that client and why can't I make that money

why can't I produce that work and I think that mindset was really hugely
why can't I produce that work and I think that mindset was really hugely

crucial for my success and just saying like why not me
crucial for my success and just saying like why not me

so that was really huge I know that's like kind of you know woowoo or like a
so that was really huge I know that's like kind of you know woowoo or like a

little bit vague but I think your mindset going into business and your
little bit vague but I think your mindset going into business and your

belief in yourself is hugely impactful on how it's all gonna go down and
belief in yourself is hugely impactful on how it's all gonna go down and

whether or not you're gonna push through and have the grit to continue when you
whether or not you're gonna push through and have the grit to continue when you

come up against resistance and struggles and problems which you inevitably will
come up against resistance and struggles and problems which you inevitably will

the last thing that I think had like a profound impact on my business was the
the last thing that I think had like a profound impact on my business was the

compound effect and the compound effect is simply that there's nothing that you
compound effect and the compound effect is simply that there's nothing that you

can do once or twice or three times that's gonna change everything for your
can do once or twice or three times that's gonna change everything for your

business but rather it's something that you do every single day for a long
business but rather it's something that you do every single day for a long

amount of time that suddenly adds up to something so it starts to compound in
amount of time that suddenly adds up to something so it starts to compound in

effect and all that blogging you're doing and networking and posing going on
effect and all that blogging you're doing and networking and posing going on

workshops reading books listening to podcasts all these things you know one
workshops reading books listening to podcasts all these things you know one

of them or two of them may not feel impactful but in the long run they add
of them or two of them may not feel impactful but in the long run they add

up to huge results and that's the compound effect and that's something
up to huge results and that's the compound effect and that's something

that took a little while to grow and have momentum in my business but I just
that took a little while to grow and have momentum in my business but I just

kept at it and I knew that the compound effect would take effect and that I
kept at it and I knew that the compound effect would take effect and that I

would see huge growth of my business and then it would take some time so I
would see huge growth of my business and then it would take some time so I

remembered the compound effect when I was submitting my work to magazines and
remembered the compound effect when I was submitting my work to magazines and

blogs and I knew that it could take a really long time for that search engine
blogs and I knew that it could take a really long time for that search engine

optimization to truly take effect and for me to start seeing those results so
optimization to truly take effect and for me to start seeing those results so

keep in mind the compound effect when you're growing your business and don't
keep in mind the compound effect when you're growing your business and don't

be discouraged if you blog for a couple months and you don't see any results
be discouraged if you blog for a couple months and you don't see any results

because it can take more than you think to start seeing the results but it truly
because it can take more than you think to start seeing the results but it truly

will add up because of the compound effect so I would love to hear from you
will add up because of the compound effect so I would love to hear from you

what were the biggest game changers in your business is it a piece of gear an
what were the biggest game changers in your business is it a piece of gear an

app software's something completely front leave it in the comment section
app software's something completely front leave it in the comment section

below I'm super curious to hear what you think were the biggest game changers in
below I'm super curious to hear what you think were the biggest game changers in

your business or that you think could be your biggest game changers as you're
your business or that you think could be your biggest game changers as you're

implementing right now if you enjoyed this video give it a thumbs up and I
implementing right now if you enjoyed this video give it a thumbs up and I

will see you next week bye guys
will see you next week bye guys