Lessons From 10 Years in Business

Lessons from Ten Years in Photography // What Ten Years have Taught Me

When I started my photography business 10.5 years ago, I didn’t set out to build a new career — I just wanted to find a way to be home more with my kids and still contribute financially. I had a newborn, a toddler, and a background in software that didn’t quite fit the life I wanted anymore. Photography felt creative, flexible, and honestly… fun!

What I didn’t expect was how much it would challenge me, stretch me, shape me, and change the way I saw the world — and myself.

I had no idea what was ahead (possibly for the best! 😉), but I can tell you that I’ve learned so much. A lot of it the hard way! A lot of it through showing up again and again, even when it felt like nothing was working. I’ve questioned my abilities, my goals, and my choice to enter this industry. I’ve wrestled with self-doubt, I’ve been bogged down in comparison, and I’ve been burnt out and ready to walk away forever.

I’ve experienced all of the lows — which is why I know that it’s possible to come out on the other side… stronger, healthier, braver, and more purposeful. In fact, all of the lowest lows of my journey are exactly why I am passionate about education: I see everyone who is struggling, and I’m here to offer a hand up and promise you that you’re not in this alone.

Today, I wanted to share some of the lessons I’ve learned over my decade in this industry — ones I wish someone might have told me once upon a time. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re 10+ years in yourself, I hope these encourage you and empower you, and remind you that you’re never alone in the ups and downs of the journey.

The most important lessons I’ve learned

1. Self-doubt doesn’t go away.
But that doesn’t mean you’re not getting better. Self-doubt is just a feeling that shows up when we care deeply about our work and want to do it well.

2. There will always be someone to compare yourself to.
So you might as well stop now. 🙂 You were never meant to be anyone other than who you are!

3. The work never (ever) ends.
It’s essential to build boundaries. Take weekends. Clock out. Protect your time and energy — you can’t be creative when you’re burned out!

4. Mistakes don’t stop.
But neither does growth! And in fact, our biggest growth tends to come from our mistakes.

5. You will create someone’s last professional photos.
Serve them with your whole heart. It matters more than you know. 

6. Ideal clients aren’t the ones with perfect outfits or magazine-worthy homes.
They’re the ones who trust you, value your work, and treat you with respect.

7. Creating for your clients is not the same thing as creating to impress other photographers.
The first matters enormously; the second doesn’t matter at all!

8. Joy is the secret!
Don’t forget to have fun with your work. That’s where the magic is.

9. Your best ideas happen when you turn off the noise.
Finding inspo on Instagram usually ends up confusing us more than anything. It’s okay to look around for ideas, but be protective of yourself and create lots of space for your own ideas to grow.

10. Looking back is essential.
Celebrate how far you’ve come. Gratitude is what grounds your growth.

11. People who speak poorly of others will speak poorly of you.
Surround yourself with those who lift others up. What goes around comes around — good or bad.

12. There’s no shortcut to experience.
You have to do the reps. But they will change you.

13. Confidence is a choice.
And it’s one you get to make every single day. Confidence — when paired with kindness and authenticity — is a game changer. Go for it!

Whether you’re in year one or year ten or year twenty, I want you to know this: you are not behind. You’re not too late. And every single season has value — even the tough ones.

Lessons from Ten Years in Photography // What Ten Years have Taught Me