The Importance Of Hiring A Photography Coach

Thanks for stopping by to read this article on how a professional photography coach can help you and your business. As a working photography industry professional, I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you just how difficult things have become for the many thousands of photographers currently trying to make a living out there. Hiring a photography business coach is one way to help end that struggle!

Ask any other professional photographer how they feel about the business right now, and I guarantee that you’ll hear a lot of reasons why they’re not doing so well:

• A poor economy
• Too much competition
• Increasing numbers of clients with a coupon mentality
• Marketing doesn’t work like it used to
• Advertising has become ineffective
• Everyone wants something for nothing
• Anyone can become a photographer
• No one values professional photography the way they used to
• … and so on…

But, it really doesn’t have to be that way! Despite what you might hear or read, there are actually a lot of photographers out there who are quite successful, some of them household names in their locale and beyond.

Why is this? How can some photographers “make it” while others struggle? It just doesn’t seem fair, or to have any rhyme or reason to it…

… unless you take some time to study these people and really understand what it is about them that causes the results they’re experiencing (good or bad).

Before I get into the nitty-gritty, I want to pass on one very important fact that will determine the ultimate effect that hiring a photography coach will have for you.

This principle is so vital to your success that I want to make sure you understand it NOW, before you start:

 The results and circumstances you experience in your life or business (either good or bad) are a direct extension of the paradigms that exist within your own subconscious mind…

Before you allow yourself to react to this statement, read it again, and really think about what it means.

In essence, the beliefs and paradigms in our subconscious mind dictate our thinking about everything we do and experience in our lives, and they cause us to act and react in ways that are programmed to keep us right where we are. Our attitude and mindset determine what we do, how we do it, why and when we act, or how we fail to respond to an opportunity.

For example, imagine that you’re offered the chance to travel a long distance to personally meet someone important who you really admire. Before the thought is even fully formed in your mind, there’s a very good chance that you can come up with a bunch of reasons not to do it. “Not enough money…“, “I don’t have the time…“, “I can’t justify taking the time off…“, “I don’t deserve that…” and so on… That’s your subconscious mind at work, right there. It doesn’t matter that the meeting might be of enormous benefit to you, the programming in your subconscious mind will work to sabotage it because the action doesn’t conform to what it considers to be the norm.

Business coaching, and whether or not you will derive the most benefit from it, relies heavily on understanding this one fact. The process therefore requires that you come to it with an open mind, a genuine desire to embrace change and growth, and the determination to take the action you need to achieve results.

Having said that, let’s get into the specifics of coaching for your photography business and how it can help you achieve the success you deserve!

What Is A Photography Business Coach?

By far the best definition of a photography coach is “someone who facilitates growth and change…”

We’re all familiar with coaches in the world of sports, but there are many other examples of coaches in a wide variety of areas:

• Lifestyle coaches
• Dating and relationship coaches
• Financial coaches
• Success coaches
• Confidence-building coaches
• … and, of course, business coaches

A true coach provides moral support, encouragement, and inspiration, together with a clarity of purpose. One of the many benefits I gained, personally, from my own experience with coaches was the peace of mind from being able to hear myself think about the challenges I was facing. Before that, I spent too much wasted time trying to “brainstorm with myself” to generate photography business ideas – an almost impossible task.

Some of the foremost requirements for being a coach include a genuine desire to help others, good listening skills, an ability to remain objective, and a love for inspiring others to do what inspires them, all coupled with enthusiasm.

As your photography coach my job is to help you to see where you are now, define where you want to go, and help you formulate a plan to get you there. My role is as a strategic advisor, rather than as a strict tactician. In other words, I help you with the vision of where you’re going as well as with some of the means to get you there. For example, helping you to formulate new photography business ideas, and finding ways to improve your photography marketing.

Hiring a photography business coach isn’t something you should enter into lightly – there will be a lot of work to be done to get you to where you want to be! However, taking on a business coach will prove to be the single best investment you can make in yourself or your business, because it’s all about the RESULTS!

Typically, someone will hire a coach on a monthly basis for anywhere from 3 to 12 months or more, depending on how far they want to go and where their photography business is right now.

The format of my business coaching services is fairly standard. We will talk on the phone, one on one, usually twice each month for about 45-60 minutes at a time. This seems to be the optimum frequency to identify blocks, generate ideas and keep the pace going. There’s also email access to me when needed, to answer any quick questions that might come up between scheduled sessions.

Are Results Guaranteed?

The results you experience from working with me, or any photography coach, are entirely dependent upon your own desire to change, and the actions you take. From that point of view, I can’t guarantee that you will see the results you want if you don’t put in the work necessary. However, I do offer a 30-day unconditional happiness guarantee. This means that if, in the first 30 days we work together, you decide that my coaching program is not for you, you can cancel with a full refund and no hard feelings.

Why Do I Need A Photography Business Coach?

Are you struggling to make a profit, and constantly frustrated by poor sales or ineffective marketing? Do you worry about how to turn your studio into the success you’ve always wanted? Has your passion for professional photography suffered due to long hours and diminishing returns?

Don’t Worry – You Are NOT Alone!

Can you relate to any of the statements above? If so, you really aren’t alone, even if it does feel like that. There are literally thousands of other professional photographers, just like you, who are also suffering with a poorly-performing business.

However, there’s a big difference, because you’ve decided that enough is enough, and you’re going to do something about it, instead of joining everyone else in just complaining about the situation you’re in.

If you’re a sole proprietor, meaning that you are the only one running your business, then you know only too well how difficult that can be, trying to juggle all the tasks and jobs that need to be done!

This fact alone can make it more difficult to tackle head on the issues that are plaguing the business. Instead of being able to find and deal with the source of the problems, you’re forced to constantly put out fires and fix the symptoms caused by the deeper issues.

This is why you need to hire a photography coach for your business, right now! You need someone to help you become clear in your purpose, and to inspire you to press on towards your goal. Every athlete alive knows this to be true – that success is never achieved without the help and dedicated support of others who believe in your goals.

Let me ask you a question…

Do you know what you need to do in order to fix the problems in your photography business, and are you fully committed to doing those things, no matter what it takes?

At the risk of being blunt (after all, my job does require me to be honest with you), if you answered, “yes“, then why are you still reading this article? Because, if you do know what needs to be done, then why haven’t you done it already?

You see, we all like to think that we have the answers and, deep down inside, we actually do. The problem is stepping up to take action on what we know we need to do, and then fighting down all the excuses and reasons why we can’t.

This is why you need a coach – to get at these submerged truths, bring them to the surface, and keep them there so that you can take action and experience new results in your life.

You will be amazed at what I know you can achieve – the potential for success exists in each and every one of us, as long as you act with integrity, determination and remain authentic to your beliefs.

Without a photography coach, you will be doomed by your own subconscious programming to remain stuck exactly where you are, trying to make sense of things and finding blame in everything and everyone but the real culprit…

How do I know all this?

Because I’ve been there personally, myself. I spent many years engaged in a fruitless struggle in my own business, convinced that the problems I was experiencing were the results of things outside of my control. How wrong I was! I invested countless hours in technical training, sales and marketing education, and business knowledge. I studied with some of the best mentors in the industry – all of it of incalculable value, by the way.

However, the problem at the end of the day wasn’t that their techniques or systems didn’t work. The issue was that my own mindset was holding me back, full as it was of blind spots that I was completely unaware of.

Then, one day, I had an epiphany of sorts, when one of my mentors made me realize that the results I was seeing were a direct projection of my own subconscious programming. Now I know that might sound a little “New Age“, however I firmly believe it to be the case. Not only that, I’ve had this same principle taught to me by many other respected leaders in both business and personal matters.

A coach is essential in helping us to discover and eliminate these blind spots and other manifestations of negative thinking. Without a business coach, we only have ourselves to argue the point with, and we know who will win that contest!

This article will give you some more insights into the process of working with a photography coach. Once you’re done reading, if you would like to schedule a FREE 30-minute consultation with me, then I would be thrilled to chat with you about how I can help you with your photography business.

The details on how to sign up for that can be found at the end of the article.

Where Is Your Photography Business Right Now?

If you were lost in the desert, and someone handed you a map, you might think that would be a real Godsend, right? Unfortunately, a map would only be of any use to you if you knew where you were to begin with!

Business Coaching works in just the same way…

I can help you formulate a map of where you want to go, but to do that we need to know where are right now. For example, let’s say your goal is to generate $200,000 of income in the next 12 months.

How we go about planning to meet that goal will be entirely dependent upon where you are. If you’re just starting out, with no clients, then a very aggressive plan will be needed. On the other hand, if you already have an annual revenue of $125,000, then the changes we need to plan for will be less drastic in nature.

Therefore, one of the first things we can do when working together is to get a clear snapshot of exactly where you and your photography business are at right now. I start to get an idea of this during the initial free consultation, but we can go into much more depth during our actual coaching calls.

Once we know where you are, it’s a lot easier to plan to move forward to wherever it is that you want to go.

The Problems All Professional Photographers Face

You might think that the problems you’re experiencing at the moment are unique to you, or that you’re the only one in your position. Nothing could be further from the truth!

Here are just a few of the issues that most people in your position might be dealing with:

• Confusion over the direction they need to go…
• Concerns over local competition…
• Insecurities or poor thinking around the idea of money…
• Fear of success… (believe it or not, this is VERY common!)
• Worries surrounding rejection…
• Overstressed from constantly battling the business…
• Failure to understand WHY they are in business…
• A “beaten” attitude and complacency toward failure…

Is it no wonder, then, that many photographers are struggling to make any headway? As if these things weren’t enough to deal with, there are also the practical considerations of running a photography business to deal with!

So, no, you are not alone in this, and your problems are not unique to you. However, your attitude towards dealing with them IS yours, and yours alone.

Where Do You Want To Go?

I’m not a huge fan of beating around the bush, preferring instead to get to the heart of the issue, and this is a BIG one…

What are your goals and objectives?

In this instance, the definition of a goal is something specifically attainable by you at some future point, and something you can actually see yourself achieving. The more detailed and specific the goal is, the more easily you will be able to visualize it in your mind, and the sooner you will experience it.

For example, “to be financially independent” is not a true goal. Not only is not specific enough, there is no frame of reference by which to judge the end result. After all, you could have next to no money and still be financially independent if someone else were paying all your bills out of charity with no expectation of being repaid.

This is the problem with most people’s goals (if they have any at all, that is). They see success, or a goal, as something that needs to be difficult to achieve or far off in the future. I once heard it said (I forget by whom) that a mountain climber’s immediate goal was not to reach the summit, but simply to take the next step towards the summit. Such a goal is eminently achievable, with the loftier goal of conquering the mountain following on as a necessary result of all those smaller goals.

Setting Goals

There is a lot of information around on goal setting, and many techniques to do so, but the effective ones all have the same things in common:

• Our goals must be realistic and achievable
• Goals should be as specific and as detailed as possible
• Short term goals are excellent in support of longer term ones
• You must be easily able to visualize the achievement of the goal
• Goals should be clearly and simply stated, preferably written down
• Affirmation statements help to absorb the goal into the subconscious

One of the reasons why New Year’s resolutions almost always fail is because they don’t conform to any of the above requirements for an achievable goal.

As we work together on your photography business, one of my tasks as your coach will be to help you identify your own goals, and frame them in such terms that make them achievable for you within a reasonable amount of time. It’s much better to have smaller goals, which can be realized in a shorter time, since these then serve as positive reinforcement to keep you on your chosen path.

So, where do you want to go? What goals can you come up with?

How Will You Get There?

So, you’ve decided where you are now, where you want to go next, your goals and aspirations… the next thing is to figure out how you are going to get there!

As with most things in life, there is probably a quick way and a slow way…

Generally speaking, the slow way, and the one most likely to result in you getting lost or quitting, is to try to get there on your own. It’s a little like walking out of the desert, instead of taking a ride from someone who knows the way.

Strategizing and planning our personal business journey is something that we can find very difficult to do by ourselves. In reality, we need outside help, because we’re simply too emotionally attached to the problems.

This is akin to being trapped in a box where the instructions on how to escape are clearly written for all to see on the outside! Without the help of someone objective (i.e. someone already outside the box), we’re going to remain stuck, doomed to repeat the same ineffective escape strategies over and over, but being unable to break free.

How many times have you watched someone persist in struggling over something you know you can help with, but they’ve refused your help through pride or a stubborn desire to “solve it themselves…“?

Don’t be the one to continue to struggle fruitlessly. I believe it was Einstein who said that the definition of insanity was repeating the same actions over again, but expecting a different result…

The fact of the matter is that TIME is SHORT, especially when you’re busily occupied doing what you’re truly passionate about. Your time is your second most valuable asset (your attitude being the first), and you need to make sure you’re making the absolute best of the same 24 hours that we are all blessed with in a day.

Here are a few of the areas that I can really help you with as your business coach:

• Identify where you are right now in your photography business…
• Define achievable goals and objectives…
• Work with you to clarify your photography marketing…
• Assist you in discovering your key success indicators…
• Helping to identify limiting beliefs and blocks…
• Work with you to formulate a plan for success…
• Provide moral support to keep you motivated and focused…
• Assist with social media marketing strategic planning…
• Provide a detailed SEO analysis and action plan…
• Eliminate any fears surrounding business or money…
• Help to clarify the reason WHY you do what you do…
• Foster a positive attitude and optimistic outlook…

In short, my business coaching services are designed to provide you with peace of mind in your photography business by helping you generate more leads, attract more clients, cultivate a loyal following of fans, and turn your clients into repeat customers… thereby bringing you ever closer to the achievement of your long-term goals.

How would it feel to know that your personal desires for success, your goals, and your business are all in perfect alignment, working seamlessly together to give you the lifestyle you deserve?

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a healthy, productive, and respected business in the community?

Imagine what you could do with the all the time you’ll save from not having to worry about where the business is going or how you can keep up with the local competition…

… let them worry about keeping up with you for a change!

Beware Of Unplanned Detours

Have you ever been on a road trip where you suddenly come upon a “detour” sign that ends up taking you miles out of your way, only to put you back on the road just a short way ahead?

Life is just the same… unexpected detours and side trips crop up every day, sucking up our time and resources, and giving us the perfect excuses we need to delay our success, or even give up on it altogether.

Something to bear in mind here is that these things will ALWAYS happen, no matter how forewarned or forearmed you think you might be.

The key is to not allow them to interfere with your plans or distract you from the real task, which is to move closer to your goals.

No matter what happens, and things will, you must not deviate from your chosen path to success.

When people choose to walk that path alone, they usually end up giving in and surrendering to the detours, often forgetting what their original destination was. The road to Hell is paved with good intentions, as they say.

This, to me, is one of the major benefits of having a photography coach. When the going gets tough, and the temptation to quit rises up, your coach is right there with you, encouraging and cajoling you to keep pressing forward. Even in sports that require discipline and skills of the highest order, we find a solid coach behind the athlete.

Beware Of The Enemy Within

A corollary to the previous section, you also need to beware of the monsters of the id, as it were, or the enemy within…

In other words, you need to be aware of yourself and your own efforts to self-sabotage your potential progress. The subconscious mind is very crafty, and is also very adept at dissuading you from leaving what it considers to be safety of the norm. Many of the tactics you will employ against yourself will seem perfectly reasonable and hard to deny, and this is something that only a coach can see through and protect you against.

Fear, doubt and worry are the big guns in this war against your own programming. If left unchecked, they can be very effective in convincing you to quit – you’ll even be able to concoct reasonable-sounding excuses for quitting that justify doing so (to your mind at least).

This is similar in many ways to breaking the power of an addiction – we can’t always do so on our own, but need the support and help of others to make sure we stay on the path.

Your photography business coach is irreplaceable in this regard and an invaluable asset.

The Power Of A Positive Mind

Okay, I know you might be thinking that is more of that “New Age” stuff again, but unless you realize the real power of a positive mind, you won’t be able to achieve your goals as quickly as you might otherwise do.

Having a positive attitude is much more than thinking happy thoughts, and trying to wish all kinds of cool things into existence.

Our internal attitude is reflected in our body, in our posture, the way we greet, and interact with, other people we meet. It’s reflected in our voice as subtle signals that we send down the telephone to a prospect who called to ask us about what we do. It’s in our eyes and smile when we hand a client the finished portraits or photographs.

All of those things are reflected right back at us in some shape or form, which can lead to either negative or positive outcomes.

Finally, a positive mental attitude is reflected in our enthusiasm and passion for what we do. Almost every sale I recall could not have been made with an absence of either one.

Remember, too, that a positive attitude will attract people and results to you of the same polarity through the law of attraction.

And, a smile can be heard on the phone…

What Should You Do Next?

So, how do you feel about what you’ve read here? Do you see the need for a photography coach in your business, or would you like to talk to me about some of these concepts in more detail before deciding on a course of action?

One thing you should definitely NOT do is NOTHING…

If you are content to stay where you are and continue to struggle in the hope that “you’ll figure it out by yourself“, then I wish you all the best; a business coach is probably not for you at this time.

On the other hand, if you think of hiring a business coach as an investment in your future RESULTS and as someone to guide you on your way to success, then I would love to chat with you.

I can offer you a free initial 30-minute consultation for to see if we might be a good fit. The telephone call is recorded on a conference line, and you’ll have access to the recording, whether or not you choose to invest in one of my photography business coaching programs. On the call, I’ll learn more about your business, the challenges you face, and suggest some ways that we can work together to help you solve those challenges. To sign up for your FREE call, go to “Reserve My Free Business Breakthrough Session“.

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