So you're thinking you want to do this thang??? You're dreaming of making money doing what you love taking pictures . . . 

Good for you!!!!

Let me first say, STOP thinking the following limited beliefs:

1. There are already so many great photographers.

2. I will never get people to pick me.

3. I'm not good enough.

4. I'm not consistent enough.

5. I'm not popular enough.

These are things we have all thought. Yes, all of us. Just know, we all start somewhere.

In the 90's the only photographers were in the back of Sears or Olan Mills. My father, however, had a Canon Film camera that he took everywhere and constantly took pictures of us in the back yard, when outdoor pictures weren't really a thing. As he, and my grandparents, would develop pictures, I loved to look through them, organize them, and display them obsessively. As a high schooler, he handed me his old canon and said, "Have at it." No instruction that I can remember or advice except the words I'll never forget, "Everybody really only wants ONE GREAT PICTURE." 

Hear me again, "Everybody really only wants ONE GREAT PICTURE." 

I took that and RAN with it. Out of college I shot under him doing small weddings and senior pictures for $30 a shoot! Yep, $30. The words ran over and over in my mind, "One Great Picture." It took the pressure off. 

I began allowing myself the take money for the "talent" I had and promising each client, "One great picture." With each shoot, my goal was they would leave with one image they would want hanging in their house forever. Sometimes that was a posed picture and other times it was a candid I happened to capture when they were off guard. Delivering on the image they would never forget quickly delivered repeat costumers for me long before I was actually any good. 

As a starting photographer, know a few things . . .

If you're honest with yourself and your clients, everything will be fine. Don't lie to yourself that you're going to be amazing out of the gate and don't promise them 20 perfect images. 

To make your first $500, simply do this:

1. Find 5 people who you know in some capacity - if they're cute even better (kidding but not kidding).

**To make your experience less stressful, choose people with children over the age of 3**

2. Tell them you are trying to get into photography and need some models for your portfolio.

3. Schedule these sessions one hour before sunset.

4. Explain, the session is FREE but you do want to use the images on your social media.

5. Tell them if they would like the digital downloads of any 10 of the EDITED images you shot, it would be $100. 

99% of the time, they will purchase the gallery.

**DO NOT, EVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, RELEASE UNEDITED IMAGES**

When this works, please email me your story and a copy of your pictures!!! I would love to see who this helps!