Black Friday Wish List for Photographers

Okay the biggest sale of the freakin’ year is allllmost here, and there will be SOO many options for business owners. Whether you have your eye on something specific, or just want to browse around, I curated this Black Friday Wish List for Photographers so give you some inspo!

If you’re looking for gear or outfits or office supplies, this list’s gotchu covered. While business purchases can be write-offs sometimes, it’s still nice to get a deal on things that help make your life easier.

I’ve divided these up into 6 categories to make it easy! Hope this Black Friday wish list for photographers gets you inspired for what purchases you wanna get!

Happy shopping!!

GEAR

Double Camera Harness - HERE
If you’re shooting weddings, or on-location shoots - a harness can come in really handy. There are so many out there, and there will be lots of sales on Black Friday.

WD Hard Drive - HERE
A lot of photographers swear by the WD Hard Drives. Often on sale during this time of year too! Can never have too many backups of your images.

Lacie Hard Drive - HERE
Lacie hard drives are easily portable if you want a on-the-go backup solution.

SanDisk Extreme Pro SD Card - HERE
Gotta love some Sandisk Extreme Pro SD cards. This is the time to stock up on cards!

Card Carrying Case - HERE:
I loveeeed my card carrying cases when I was shooting regularly. I had a few of these and they are very sturdy & sealed, so I felt comfortable shooting outside or traveling with them.

MacBook Pro - HERE
Apple doesn’t go on sale very often, so this is the time to check if you are looking to upgrade laptops. They are essential for on the go editing! And very light if you are traveling. I use mine all the time and love it.

OFFICE

Viral TikTok Colorful Keyboard - HERE
I got this after seeing it on TikTok and it’s SUCH a cute & fun addition to your office. It comes in a lot of colors and wireless matching mouse.

2 TB Harddrive - HERE
Including another hard drive option here because you can never have too many as a photographer!

Desk Fan - HERE
This desk fan is a lifesaver, especially in the warm months (I live in Texas, so this is 90% of our year). It’s rechargeable and portable, making it also usable for photo shoots and travel. 10/10 recommend.

Walking Pad - HERE
I get questions about this walking pad/treadmill every time I post a story & it’s in the background. It’s a great addition to any office, especially if you’re like me and don’t like sitting still for too long. It can go slow enough that editing is a breeze while walking.

Laptop Pad for Couch - HERE
For the days you just want to curl up and watch Netflix while you edit or answer emails - this adjustable laptop pad is a MUST on your Black Friday Wish List.

TRAVEL

Travel Tripod - HERE
If you travel a lot for weddings or for shoots, this is a must. No need to check a bag for your tripod anymore! It’s so compact and perfect to strap to your carryon so you can keep all your gear with you on the plane.

Travel Neck Pillow - HERE
Another must for those red eye flights after long wedding weekends, a comfy neck pillow to make sure you can get a little sleep in before getting home. This is our favorite!

Collapsable Water Bottle - HERE
Nothing worse than carrying a giant empty water bottle after going through security. A collapsible water bottle is so perfect to be able to collapse small and put in your carryon during your airport stay.

Liquid IV - HERE
A must for everyday to stay hydrated and healthy but especially on long travel days and wedding days. They’re so easy to pack in your camera bag for weddings!

JUST FOR FUN

Camera Lens Coffee Mug - HERE
A fun little desk accessory. We love these coffee mugs that fit right in to your photographer workspace.

OUTFITS

Lululemon belt bag for the batteries/sd cards etc - HERE
Y’all, these belt bags are trending for a reason. They are the best accessory to cary all the essentials. Perfect for wedding days and shoot days as well - hold your SD card case, extra batteries, phone, and keys and you’re set for the day!

Black Jumpsuit - HERE
We all know a good black jumpsuit is the best photographer uniform and we also know, you may need an additional jumpsuit to add in to the closet for some variety. This is such a cute one!

Lulu Leggings Dupe - HERE
Another favorite options for office days and casual shoot days are a good pair of black leggings. These are lulu dupes that feel JUST like the real lululemons!

EDUCATION/SUBSCRIPTIONS:

Audible - HERE
Everyone is getting really into reading lately right? Our team has! We love to listen to a good audiobook throughout the week as we are working and an audible subscription is so nice for that!

The Legal Paige - HERE
Teaching you the legal way to run your business with all the contract templates you need.

Dawn Charles Presets - HERE
Our favorite presets in the industry. They’re amazing!

Karrie Brady Courses - HERE
If you want to get better at sales - this is the way to go. I have taken a few of Karrie’s courses and am never disappointed!

Okay y’all! Good Luck shopping this weekend! We hope you enjoyed this Black Friday Wish List for Photographers. Check out this blog on 3 Signs You're Ready to Hire a VA, as we get into booking season with the new year, I would love to be your virtual assistant to get your SEO and blog in a spot where future clients are finding you easily on their own searches!

The Secret of Hustle Culture | Virtual Assistant

When I look back a few years ago, I see myself working my ass off to build a photography business. I was doing everything I could to make it work, but I wanted to do it all myself.

I studied Instagram algorithms, watched courses, spent late nights strategizing, came up with all the plans, and hustled hard.

The problem was, I wasn’t getting anywhere. Or at least, not effectively.

And if there is anything that is true about me, it’s that I like effeciency. (Call it the enneagram 8 in me haha). But I just hung on for dear life and believed it would all work out. But I was working harder, not smarter.

One day I woke up, looked around at how burnt out I was, and decided enough was enough.

I got real honest with myself, which lead me to realize I wanted to do virtual assisting work (that’s a story for another time), and I realized I couldn’t do it all alone if I wanted to succeed.

So I slowly started building from the ground up. I had to do things differently this time. I started examining the way I had hustled before. I did a cost/benefit analysis, which didn’t turn out so well for my old methods.

I started outsourcing. Which was a big step for an “I can do it myself” girly. I hired an associate almost immediately. I started hiring coaches. I got more associates. I took my burn out seriously.

And along the way, I had a realization.

Hustle culture is a lack of self trust.

The secret to hustle culture is that you always have to be working hard.

Which robs you of the opportunities that come with working smarter. YES, there is risk involved. But when you’re confidently betting on yourself, you also know you can handle any failures that may come.

I decided to trust myself in my business, and everything changed.

Now I outsource thousands of dollars worth of help every month. I also generate more income than I used to because of it. I also have a work/life balance I could only dream about before.

And now, I run a business that invites entrepreneurs to step out of hustle and into self trust.

Whether you’re outsourcing blogging every month or hiring someone to really come alongside you in ever aspect of business, I am here as your biggest cheerleader.

Because I know from my own personal experience what a huge difference it can make.

If you want to get into the nitty gritty of how I help photographers - you can see that good stuff here.

Now is the time to examine if you are working harder or smarter. To think outside the box. To let other people help you.

Let go of hustle culture. And step into self-trust.

3 Signs You're Ready to Hire a Virtual Assistant

So your business is growing (yay), and you’re debating whether or not you need a Virtual Assistant. Maybe you’re making sure you don’t venture into burnout, or maybe you’re already there & need help. Either way, here are 3 signs you’re ready to hire a virtual assistant:

1. You’re Never Getting to Cyclical Items on Your To Do List

What I mean by that is: do you always think it would be nice to have Pinterest running, but it always falls behind? Do you think about blogging your work, but it rarely happens because urgent tasks take up your time? Do you want to have a social media plan but in reality you’re posting on the fly? It might be time for a virtual assistant. What I do as a VA for photographers is help you automate those cyclical tasks. You get to focus on the creative power alley that only YOU can do, all the while have your presence growing on Pinterest, get a social media plan delivered, see Google leads grow from blogging ETC ETC ETC.

2. You’re Itching To Grow to the Next Level

You might be ready to hire a Virtual Assistant if you have all these dreams and ideas of things you want to do to grow your business, but simply do not have the time to execute. If you wanna start a mentorship program, develop a course, create presets or WHATEVER…but you’re bogged down in client management or keeping up with social media or troubleshooting… having someone take a bulk of tasks off your plate frees you up to be creative. I have had clients hit their income goals, get more leads, literally START NEW BUSINESSES with their free time after hiring me.

3. You Are Prompt With Communication

Okay hear me out on this one! I put this as one of the 3 signs you’re ready to hire a virtual assistant because…having someone on your team that is working hand in hand with you, is a communication commitment. You are handing off tasks, but you are still the final decision maker. The more decisive and clear you are in communication, the more you will get out of your VA experience. I have unfortunately had to resolve partnerships for lack of communication. You waste your hours with someone (and your $$) if you are leaving emails on read for 3-5 days before responding. So it’s worth asking yourself if you can realistically keep up with that communication commitment before putting the financial investment into hiring someone.

I hope these 3 signs you’re ready to hire a virtual assistant were helpful!! I know it’s a big leap to outsource those intimate business tasks, but it can truly change your life.

And the added perk of hiring a Virtual Assistant as a photographer is that it positions you to naturally take up the CEO role, which in turn makes you view your business differently. You get more strategic and decisive when you are actually directing the ship that way.

Let me know what you think! Do you have any questions? Head to my Instagram and drop me a DM, I’m always happy to help!

My Burnout Recovery | Virtual Assistant

Hi and welcome to my burnout recovery.

I recently realized how burned out I had become. It took some close friends pointing it out to me for me to slow down enough to notice. I had been working my ass off non-stop for years. All the solutions I kept trying to make my life slow down over the last year never stuck, and I was frustrated I couldn’t find the answers.

Once I googled symptoms (yes I’m one of those people), I realized: ta-da…I had every single one. Fuuuccckkk.

But as soon as I admitted I was burned out, everything started clicking. All the failures I was personalizing suddenly became symptoms I could heal. My burnout recovery began.

As women small-business owners, we have enormous pressure on us to do all the things. Keep up. Push our business forward. (And according to Brene Brown, pressure to look good while doing it. Blah.)

We are typically really good at multi-tasking. At telling ourselves, ‘when things slow down I’ll start taking care of myself’, and putting ourselves on the back burner.

The truth is: I KNOW ALL THIS STUFF in my head and I didn’t even realize I wasn’t practicing what I was talking about.

I was trying to do it all.

Burnout is a slow burn, and I’m not sure when my burnout started, but I know the pandemic didn’t help. In March of 2020, I was hospitalized for preeclampsia one week before the world shut down. I watched from inside a hospital room (that I couldn’t leave) as everything stopped.

I spent two months in lockdown in that room. Yes, I broke the rules and walked the hallway outside my door a few times but other than that I was confined to that little purple room.

After I delivered my son, I was discharged home to an isolated postpartum experience. My parents wore masks and gloves to meet my son. And other relatives met him through a window or across lawns.

After weeks in a hospital, I came home and life did NOT resume. I didn’t step foot in a store for months. I rarely left the house. My high-risk self, and newborn baby, stayed in the safety of our home. But that meant I didn't have access to the same support moms deserve in those early weeks.

After maternity leave I jumped back into my photography business, hustling HARD to make the income I needed during the pandemic. Cautiously opening my in-home studio with hefty sanitation protocols. Shooting anything and everything. All the while, not feeling good about my business or how it aligned with my life.

The pandemic lingered longer than any of us wanted. Putting limitations and conflict and loss into our laps. Keeping a small business afloat during this time was no small feat, as you probably know if you’re reading this.

After about a year of trying to manage everything, and feeling like I was misaligned as fuck -- I finally admitted I needed a major change. My burnout recovery didn’t start at that point, but the pre-recovery did (haha). I started examining the parts of my job that I loved versus the ones that caused me stress. Shooting didn’t fit into my schedule with a now-toddler & very little childcare due to the pandemic. And I kept gravitating towards the backend of business: marketing, systems, market research, SEO etc.

I decided to listen to that, and became incredibly clear I needed to pursue Virtual Assistant work.

I hadn’t had a gut feeling that strong in a long time. I stayed up late and poured all my extra hours into developing this business and making it something I was proud of. After months of hustling, I felt ALIGNED and it felt so good.

So it was validating when within the first week of launching, I was sold out with full time work as a Virtual Assistant for Creatives. Like WTF and heck yes.

This was the first step in my burnout recovery, I just didn’t know it yet. I’ve spent the last 6 months building this business and growing my team. I now have a thriving business, making triple my previous income, and providing for my family in ways I used to dream of. But I hadn’t fixed the root issue.

Burnout.

I still felt exhausted, and not like myself. I couldn’t find time for the things I loved like exercise or being outside or hanging out with friends. Every new schedule or system failed. And I felt like I was running in circles.

One of my best friends told me: you are trying to do more in one day than there is physically time for. You can’t sustain like this.

I finally admitted that while pivoting businesses was the first necessary step, it wasn’t the final solution.

Moving to virtual assistant work opened the door for me to start burnout recovery, but I had yet to take steps in that direction.

So that day I decided that getting my equilibrium back was my top priority. And I’ve been shifting my energy towards healing, and already seeing a total change. I feel like myself again, and I’m slowly getting back to balance and the things that I love. And the ironic part is, even though I’m outsourcing & paying more $$ for people to support me, I’m actually earning MORE than before. Let that be a sign that outsourcing is WORTH IT.

So what am I doing to aid my burnout recovery? Let me share my focus and hopefully it sparks some ideas for you!

• I cut my work hours! This was the hardest one to accept, but I knew it was vital. I needed more hours in my week, so I hired someone to help me on the backend of my business and took a step back. It was a night and day difference.

• I started exercising regularly. I love working out, but I struggled to find the time. Plus movement discharges stress from the body so it’s a really effective way to heal from burnout. I decided to do lower impact, gentle cardio to not further stress my system, but that also aligns with my health issues. Everyone has different needs!

• I prioritize sleep. This one I am still working on, but nothing can change how I feel faster than a good night’s sleep. It’s not always possible with a toddler, but I do my best to get 8 hours.

• I drink less caffeine. Like most entrepreneurs I had started to consume and ungodly amount of caffeine. Before I had a kid, I would regularly take coffee-fasts for a week or two, to make sure to reset my system. But now I’m chasing a toddler + running a business, I was relying heavily on my caffeine. So I cut way back, and despite the headache the first day - it has been nothing but good for me.

• I sleep with my phone in the other room. It’s really easy for me to scroll TikTok at night, or find myself aimlessly shopping for stuff I don’t need. I put my phone in the other room and just that little disconnect makes me feel more centered when I wake up, and don’t automatically have my phone in my hand.

• I am creating systems in my business to hold me. I am getting serious about systems in my business so that I can rely on them, instead of self-generating all the time. It’ll take time to implement but it’s important for longevity so I don’t get burnt out again.

• I hired a business coach. She specializes in working from pleasure and rest versus hustle culture. I invited someone in to challenge my narratives and help me replace them with more well-rounded thinking.

So that’s my burnout recovery in a nutshell (who am I kidding, nothing about this post was brief haha)

If you are working through burnout, just know that it is possible heal & feel better. It is possible to have equilibrium. I’m rooting for you!

Clients Can't Read Your Mind | Virtual Assistant for Photographers

Here is something to realize as a small business owner: your client can’t read your mind.

Sound basic? That’s because it is. But sometimes it’s those most basic things that we miss. 

As a small business owner you have spent hours and hours pouring over your workflow, your offers, your client experience…all of it. 

And then you go to show up online, display your portfolio of work, and wait for clients to effortlessly sign up. I get it, I’ve been there too. 

But the frustrating reality is, your portfolio is not your biggest selling point. 

I know, it fucking suck and I truly wish that what you’re creating was the catalyst for everyone to hit the “contact me” button and submit an inquiry. And while some people will immediately resonate with your art and hire you on the spot, the reality is that most people need more information. 

I know I do as a buyer! I don’t go to make a large purchase and buy the first one that looks good. That’s part of your pain point as an artist in a saturated industry: there are a lot of people who are good at what you do.

BUT. It’s not all bad news. 

What sets you apart is you

and

the way you run your business. 

I don’t know about you, but I would pay good money for someone who would save me time. 

I will invest with someone who is prompt with emails rather than waiting in the dark after a large purchase. 

I will throw my money at someone who shows me they know what they’re doing & can handle problems that arise. 

I won’t think twice about purchasing once I know all the other perks I’m getting alongside my purchase.

Do you tell your clients about those things? clients can't read your mind, so it is literally your job to share those things.

Yes, your art is front and center. But maybe you offer 24hr sneak peeks. Do you have prep guides? Do you respond within a few business days? Do you show up with snacks and drinks? Do you offer ANYTHING custom? Do you have a Facebook group? Do you offer styling advice for sessions? 

If the answer to any of these things is yes, you need to be talking about them. Why? Because clients can't read your mind. 

I want you to sit and think through your client experience. Your workflow. Your WAY of doing things that plays to your strengths. 

Start talking about it in your Instagram stories. Make a funny reel. Share a post going through your process.

And this isn’t a one-and-done situation either, these are pieces of content you are going to regularly blend through your social media presence. So when your new ideal, dreamy customer lands on your page: they are enthralled not just with your work but with how great it would feel to be YOUR client. 

You gotta start thinking about your offers as a whole, and start talking about them because again,

clients can't read your mind. 

Boundaries for Entrepreneurs | Virtual Assistant for Creatives

You’ve dreamed of owning your own business for years. You love the work, and feel so inspired when creating. On paper, everything looks like a wonderful lifestyle. In reality? You’re running around trying to keep up, your to-do list feels cyclical, you constantly feel like you’re failing in one area or another, and wonder when it’s all going to “click”.

If this is you, I’ve been there. And it’s time to talk about boundaries for entrepreneurs.

We all need boundaries as human beings, but ESPECIALLY as small business owners. The whole vision of what we want for ourselves falls apart with lack of boundaries.

Rewind a year ago, and I was burnt out. I was squeezing work around everything else, constantly feeling pulled in every direction, and eventually just equally numb and upset. I felt stuck by the limitations of the pandemic & the learning curve of motherhood. I felt powerless, so I did nothing. After a couple months I finally said ‘enough’, and started setting boundaries around my needs.

Everything changed.

I started asking for support, being clear about my capacity with those close with me, and making business decisions that felt good instead of forced.

As someone who grew up learning that needs don’t matter (thanks evangelical culture haha), this was hard to accept. But one day I wrote out every need I could think of. The length of the list made me uncomfortable. But it also made me realize that no one was going to be protecting those needs for me. Put a whole ass business into the blend, and I had a recipe for continued burnout if I didn’t do anything.

I realized how important boundaries for entrepreneurs really are for sustainability, and I started off being open to the process of saying “no” and cultivating out a lifestyle I loved.

So first things first,

What are boundaries?

For a long time I thought a boundary was telling others what behavior is okay/not okay for you. But implementing boundaries that way still felt off. What happens if they ignore your boundary? It still felt centered around other people’s behavior, and that didn’t provide me with the autonomy I craved.

I stumbled across a different angle on boundaries, and it’s this:

Boundaries are what YOU are willing to do (or not).

When you’re presented with a business opportunity or a family obligation or WHATEVER that brings up that tension of overwhelm inside of you, simply ask yourself what you are willing to do.

It makes it pretty fucking clear, and leaves all the responsibility with you - which is where you have control. I promise it’s a much more empowering way to go about setting boundaries for entrepreneurs.

When you set boundaries, you are crafting your lifestyle. You’re building your dream business because you’re saying ‘no’ to the things that don’t align. We’ve all been there saying yes to everyone when first starting out. And most likely that didn’t lead you far. As you grow as a creative entrepreneur you learn to start only saying Yes to the things that feed your dream work/life balance and career.

But beyond clients, projects and collaborations, there are boundaries you need to set with yourself too.

Maybe you need to hold yourself to a routine, or start creating more than you consume. You need to get real fucking honest with yourself about the ways you might be getting in your own way and find doable strategies to make changes. And I say “doable” because I don’t think sheer will power is a sustainable strategy & often leads to shame. Not here for it.

When it comes to boundaries with yourself, I highly recommend the book Atomic Habits. He talks about how our choices are votes for the person we want to be. And gives practical strategies to make changes in an effective and sustainable way. And we know how much I love practicality. haha

Okay so all this is well and good, but if you are still struggling to think about what boundaries might look like, here’s a list to get you brainstorming:

• take email off your phone

• have set office hours or set days off

• stick to your policies! (have a good contract)

• stop personalizing business things

• create a routine for yourself (this has been so essential in my experience)

• stop saying yes to projects that are draining

• set up automations and systems so you aren’t doing repetitive tasks & wasting time

• sleep with your phone in the other room

• create an AM/PM routine that feels good to you

• add some sort of movement to your daily routine

• practice habit stacking

• ask for help

• have a clear client experience, so that you can communicate well with clients & not have to make up the rulebook every time

• set a timer when you scroll social media

• take up your space with your loved ones & say your needs outloud

• set screen limitations

• limit your coffee intake if it’s making you anxious

• use a habit tracker (I have a FREE one for you HERE)

Okay but how do you take that list and get clear on what YOU need?

Everyone is different and you better not just copy/paste that list and think it will work for you. I dare you to remove “should” from the equation and think about what YOU need (no one else). That’s the only way this is effective for you .

Here are three ways to go about setting boundaries for entrepreneurs:

• how do things feel? when you feel tension about something ask yourself if you need a boundary. how does it feel when you have good boundaries in place? keep it simple.

• assess your needs, and align with your goals: this one is the “meatiest” part of understanding your boundaries. get really clear on your lifestyle and needs. I highly suggest writing out a list of your needs. at the very least it will help you get a clearer picture. just be honest and try not to judge yourself. then look at your goal-lifestyle. and align the two things to come up with tangible things that need to change.

• what are your limitations? this one is worth asking yourself because it’s different for everyone. I am someone with chronic health issues, so my limitations are very obvious. I need to spend more time, money and energy on my health than a lot of my peers. If I don’t factor those things into my equation, I won’t have proper boundaries. but we all have limitations. get clear on yours and honor those things. you will only thrive once you do.

Having boundaries allow your business to serve your life, not the other way around.

We started working as creatives for a reason. Being intentional and setting up our lives with boundaries is the way to reach those goals. Even if it means difficult conversations, disappointing others, or losing the occasional ill-fitting client. It’s ALLLL worth it when you start actually enjoying and loving your life.

Your time becomes so much more free, rich and joyful when you start honoring your desires and living with room in your capacity. As a recovering hustler, this has been very new and very liberating for me. I hope these tips and tricks help!!

Using the Enneagram in Business | Virtual Assistant

How can Use the Enneagram in Business you ask?

Ohhhh the Enneagram. A phenomenon that took Instagram by storm back in 2019 and has lingered to this day in various shapes & forms. What is the Enneagram? And how can you us it in business?

As someone who took a deep dive into the Enneagram back in the day and emerged with way more knowledge than I will ever need, consider me your guide in to all things Enneagram in business.

What the f*ck is the Enneagram??

Before you can use this as a business tool, you have to know what it is.

The Enneagram is essentially a personality quiz. So WHY did it take the world by storm? Because it bases it’s results NOT on your behaviors, but your motivations. Which allowed people to identify to their “number” on a deeper level.

How does it work? Why are there numbers and lines? Send help!

I want you to ignore the lines and the mystery charts that look like they are straight out of the Nicolas Cage movie, National Treasure. You don’t need to get into all of that for it to be helpful. (But you probably will once you’re invested because it’s kind of enthralling and addicting. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.)

The numbers are the results. You “are” a certain number, And then you have tendencies that relate to the numbers on either side of you, which are called “wings”. For example, you can be a Type 3, with a 2 or 4 wing.

Confused yet? That’s okay! With a little digging, it will all make sense I promise!

So what is my type?!

You will identify your type by reading through the types and determining which one is the most true for you. I recommend taking the quiz from The Enneagram Institute, and also using them as a reference for reading about the types. They are kind of the gold standard for info regarding this test.

The thing that helped me the most in identifying my number was to not look at their “behaviors” so much (because those can be very stereotypical) but look at their fears/desires.

The Enneagram in Business

Once you know your type, you can start learning about strengths and weaknesses. Specifically how that affects your communication, organization and priorities.

You will start noticing things you need to work on so you can relate with a wider array of clients. You will find yourself identifying client’s numbers more easily (some photographers even ask for Enneagram numbers on their questionnaires!) and this will help you serve them better!

For example, if you have a Client who is a 6, you know you might need to provide more data and reassurance in the sales process. Versus a 2, you might focus on relational connection.

Using the enneagram in business is a powerful tool.

Not only does it help you relate to more clients, and provide for their specific needs better. It also helps you understand what kind of internal systems you need in place to be more efficient.

For example, I am an 8. Which means I highly value autonomy and being a leader in my own life. Which helps me know I have to have really good work/life boundaries or I start feeling like other people are dictating my time & energy and that leads to burnout for me.

---

Anything that will help you understand YOU better, is beneficial for your business.

Remember, we want to work with our natural tendencies. Not against them.

What do you think? Will you take the Enneagram? Do you already know your number?

How to Stand Out to Your Ideal Client | Virtual Assistant for Photographers

So let’s be honest, there are a million photographers out there. Just go on Instagram and search out photographers, and you’ll see so many results pop up. (SO MANY). 

And I know that can feel daunting, because you are in a saturated industry. But it doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

If anything I think it’s an invitation to be truly yourself in the online space, and that’s a cool thing.

You need to ask yourself is this:

How do I align with my strengths, to create an intentional client experience, that will make me stand out to my ideal audience?

I know that sounds vague. And vague isn’t helpful. So let’s break it down.

When I was first starting out, most of the photographer’s education I received was “just be yourself!!!” It was a trend at the time that people were shouting from the rooftops (and is still lurking around to this day). In theory, it’s not wrong: being yourself is a big key to success.

But here’s why I have a big issue with it:

it’s NOT practical.

What parts of yourself do you share? What do you keep private? How do you ‘be yourself’ without making your business ABOUT you? I’ve asked all these questions too. The advice to “just be yourself” has nothing tangible or strategic about it. Honestly, is educator copout BS that we need to throw out the window. (I said what I said). We need to be more specific. You are a business, not a self-help guru.

Here’s what I want you to do instead.  
I want you to write out a list of your strengths. 

• Are you a morning person? A night owl? 

• Are you organized? 

• Are you go-with-the-flow?

• Do you have a really good memory?

• Do you make people feel at ease?

• Are you relatably awkward? 

• Do you know your city really well?

• Are you really good styling clients?

• Are you solid with posing? 

• Are you great at traveling in new cities? 

• Are you amazing with lighting?

• Do you give great gifts? 

• Are you good with reading people? 

• Are you bossy? Or fly-on-the-wall? 

This isn’t about hyping yourself up, or bragging on yourself. This is about getting clear on the things that come easily to you. We need to build a framework around those things because there is no point stressing yourself out to do it another person’s way.

Next:

 One of the best things you can do for your business is creating an intentional client experience with touch points that are aligned with your strengths. Your customers should feel guided, and like they can trust you as the expert. HOW you do that will defer from person to person, which is the cool thing about it. 

The one thing every photographer should have is good communication. When you answer your client’s questions before they ask, you are building tremendous trust by showing them you understand their point of view AND that you’ve done this a million times. 

That communication is completely up to your discretion though.

Ask yourself this:

What touch points can I build into my workflow that play to MY strengths, and make my client feel taken care of? 

That might be things like a Welcome Guide or gift, a check-in email, a gift card…anything you want! If you are really good at posing, maybe send them a little Posing PDF that has your “spiel” you tell clients at the start of every shoot. If you’re really good at styling…send a video of you picking outfits or make an IG highlight reel of you shopping for a photo session that you can refer them to later. 

And lastly…

Here’s the reminder you need today: YOU DO NOT HAVE TO STAND OUT TO EVERYONE. You don’t need everyone to think you’re the greatest photographer in the world. If your business is centered around artistic appreciation, than yeah, maybe you need a like + follow from everyone. But if you’re business is all about making you good money doing something you love, you do NOT need to be attractive to a ton of people. 

You want your content, your client experience, your photos to appeal to your ideal audience. 

You need to spend time figuring out who that is, and how YOU relate to them.

What do they need that you have? What problems are YOU really good at solving? I heard a podcast where someone asked actor Fred Armisen, how he was so good at doing every accent? He said: ‘the party trick is that I only do the ones I’m good at, and I only know one sentence from each of those accents.’ But because he leads with that, he is able to create an experience through his talent. 

This is what you’re trying to do for your ideal audience!

What are you already good at? What can you put as the centerpiece of your client experience that will make your ideal client feel amazing? You have something that your ideal client needs or else they wouldn’t be your ideal client.

Our end goal as a service provider, is an amazing client experience that leaves our customers loyal, happy, & talking about us to their friends. Creating an intentional client experience that speaks to them is one of the biggest tools we have towards that goal. I know this will stir the pot, but I would argue it’s almost more important than your photos. What do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? 

How to Recover from Burnout | Virtual Assistant for Photographers

When I’m in burnout, it feels like it will never end.

Usually I have been busy being hyper-productive, and saying “yes” to far too much. And all the sudden I look up and I’m already burned out. Oops. It feels like I’ve dug myself into a pit.

I don't know who needs to hear this about burnout but: it’s fixable.

It usually takes you stopping to pay attention to your needs, and then having the guts to set boundaries around those needs. So that you have space to recover.

And yes, you need to actually recover - not just move on (I’m looking at my fellow overachievers here).

As photographers, burnout can be so normal. We work our ASSES off during busy season and want so badly to help our clients all have an amazing experience. Not to mention, the business aspect falls on our shoulders so it’s up to us to meet all of the financial goals for the business.

It can be a lot! So how do we recover from burnout?

Last Summer I was completely burnt out. My husband’s job was taking him on business trips multi-times a month, I was solo parenting a lot, working my ass off and felt like a shell of myself. I turned to my husband at the end of July and told him: I’m never doing this again.

I started actually paying attention to what I needed so that I could make informed boundaries in my life. And slowly, slowly started recovering from burnout. I’m still in the recovering process right now, so I’m sharing what’s currently working & hope it helps you too.

#1: REST

I know you’re probably already “lol-ing” at this one. But I’m serious. REST.
I’m the worst at this, and love to power through, but when I actually stop and rest - I have so much more energy later.

You don’t need that fourth cup of coffee. You need a nap.

If you can: schedule a night away at a hotel in your city. Sleep in, watch TV, go swimming…rest.
Your business will benefit more from you coming back refreshed than you trying to power through.

#2: Get to know your needs

Last Summer when I was experiencing bad burnout, I realized I didn’t even know what I needed. I’m a new mom, in a pandemic, and I just had no clue what I needed anymore. Everything I had from my life pre-baby/pre-pandemic didn’t necessarily apply anymore.
I was fumbling around trying to practice “self-care” with no real idea of what that meant for me. I started paying attention to what I needed and I started noticing patterns. I wrote them down & began to take them seriously. That meant boundaries and tough conversations and being misunderstood and also finally starting to feel more internally balanced.

#3: “Complete the Stress Cycle”

In their book “Burnout”, the Nagoski sisters talk about practical ways to move through stress. It’s a physical response in your body, and if you don’t complete the stress cycle it will linger in your body (often making you feel like shit). I highly recommend their book (or listening to them talk on THIS podcast) - but in a nutshell they talk about how things like exercise, or a good laugh, or journaling can help your body complete the stress cycle.

Take a daily walk, get a peloton app subscription, watch a really funny movie, watch a really sad movie and get a good cry, talk to a friend, journal, sleep…get that stress moved OUT of your body.

I hope that is helpful!

Remember: you deserve to live a beautiful life that makes you happy (and still makes you good money!)

We talk a lot about work/life balance over on my Instagram, so if you’re not following me there - come join us HERE!

-J

Oh hi! Let me introduce myself | Virtual Assistant

So how did I get here?

Not here in Austin…like here..as a virtual assistant. haha.

Okay, so - I started virtual assisting for other photographers after spending over a decade in the industry myself. Way back when I graduated high school, I was already shooting weddings on my own. I knew I wanted to work for myself and I LOVED photography, so I pursued a full time photography career at 18. All of it came to a screeching halt when I got chronically sick that same year. What started out as mono lingered for months and started getting worse. I spent the next year in doctor’s offices getting tests done but no one could figure out why I was bedridden & in daily pain. I had been an athlete in high school and rarely got sick before this. Everyone was confused :P
I still photographed a few weddings through that year but OOF it was rough.

Finally I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease, which is a debilitating multi-systemic disease with no cure. At that time, there were also almost no treatment options. While my friends were off at college and getting married, I was definitely NOT dating lol, and spent ALL my time trying new treatments, or in doctor’s offices.

After 4 years, my efforts started to pay off, I went into “remission”, and I slowly slowly started re-entering normal life.

My dream of being a photographer had been completely abandoned, and I told myself it was just a phase. I really wanted a job where I could go to work, after being cooped up for so many years. So I started coaching club swimming. I LOVE competitive swimming & had been a swimmer, so this was perfect.

I spent the next 6 years building a career as a full time competitive swim coach. And let me tell you: the schedule SUCKED. I often spent 7 days a week on a pool deck. Coaching until 10pm. Traveling for brutal 3 day weekends of work, only to go right back on deck the next day. And obviously this was not a lucrative field.

So I started wondering what I was doing with my life, and wanting out.

And while I did meet my husband on those pool decks, and was now happily married to my best friend - I was craving my original dream of working for myself. I had kept my foot in the photography world this whole time, running mini sessions each Fall or doing company headshots for local businesses. Just enough that I never QUITE put my camera away, despite telling myself I was “done” with photography ha.

So! In 2019, I made the shift and opened my photography business.

I dove into education, and became obsessed with systems & learning the admin work. Shooting felt like an extension of my brain at that point (it had been over a decade since I started photography), but the admin & systems were intriguing to me.

I opened my full time boudoir business in July of 2019, and found out I was pregnant in September. I worked hard through my pregnancy to build the business to where it needed to be.

I spent the last two months of pregnancy in the hospital with preeclampsia. And became a first time mom at the end of April, 2020. Which, you know, was RIGHT at the start of the pandemic. (We did the whole: meeting family through windows thing and quarantined for the first several months of his life).

I started working again, and consistently booking out my photography business even during the pandemic. I had an in-home studio, and hosted several boudoir events as well. But somewhere in becoming a parent & navigating the ever-changing world of COVID I started realizing what I loved about my business was the admin & computer work. And the flexible days I could work from home with no shoots.

It took lying down my photography ego to see what had been in front of me the whole time: I wanted to be a VA.

I had seen VAs online but immediately dismissed it because “I was a photographer”, and I had quit my entire coaching career to be a photographer. But finally FINALLY I just said: yes. And admitted what I wanted.

The moment I started building this VA business behind the scenes I could tell it was different. Everything was aligned. I had a clear vision for everything. I immediately felt the perfect fit.

I launched in November of 2021 and was booked solid within a week.

Everything clicked. I faded out my photography business by the next month, and have almost tripled my income goals now at month 3. It’s a dream come true and I absolutely love my job. It took sticking with it through the moments where I wanted to throw it all away to find this good fit for me.

And now it makes me smile that all the time I thought I was building a photography career, I was actually getting all the tools & education I needed to be an successful virtual assistant for photographers.

So there you go, that’s my story. If you made it this far, I applaud you.
You can get to know me more on my IG, I post a lot about day-to-day life in my stories.

And here are some photos of me & my family from my branding shoot I did with JC Jones Photography back in September on a parking garage rooftop in downtown Austin. Forever some of my favorite photos of myself.

Looking for a virtual assistant? Hire me HERE.