Photography Business Tips: What I Wish I Knew Before Starting

Let me paint you a picture. wedding photography • family photography • book your session It's my first year. I've got a brand new Canon R7, a 24-70mm lens, a full lighting setup, and more gear than I knew what to do with. I was ready. I was professional. I had the equipment to prove it. I also had over $13,000 in debt. And the photos? Honestly... we don't need to talk about the photos. (We're going to talk about the photos.) If you're just starting out as a photographer or videographer, this post is the one I wish existed when I was Googling "what camera do I need to be a professional photographer" at midnight. Pull up a chair. Mistake #1: I Thought Expensive Gear Made Me a Professional It does not. I promise you, it does not. I went all in year one. Brand new Canon R7. Brand new 24-70mm lens. Lights, stands, accessories, the works. Over $13,000 spent before I had a single paying client who could justify it. I thought that's what being serious looked like. I thought the gear was the cr