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In our generation, many photographers stumble across their love for photography. It’s common to hear that a young mother developed her passion when her babies arrived or from photographing her children. After the new-found love of photography is discovered, many hobbyists decide they should showcase their work on a website, blog, or Facebook page. Sometimes this is done without a specific purpose or direction. Before you do these things, decide on your goals. What do you want to achieve as a photographer – whether it’s as a hobbyist or professional.
When I started as a hobbyist 7 years ago, I knew I loved photography and that was about it. I photographed babies, weddings, families, seniors and threw them all up on my blog in the process. I asked advice from other photographers about business, my photos, and what I should do. I was told things like “don’t clutter your blog.” I never did. Another time someone said, “you need to show variety on your site,” so I added a large sampling of images. Someone else explained, “keep yourself affordable” so of course I did that too. Each piece of advice quickly became part of my business model and I lacked my own direction and voice.
I was following their direction and trying to speak with their voice. I found myself regretful wishing I could have start over. I would have included my passion for writing in my business plan. I would have marketed myself to specific genres that I love to shoot. I would have accepted the type of photographer and artist that I was instead of trying to mimic who I thought others wanted me to be.
Precious time gets waisted when we don’t take the time to consider what our direction is, and what platform we want to stand on. But thankfully there is always time to turn things around. I made a change to my blogging format and included more of my daily life (sometimes even from my iPhone GASP!) on my blog. Originally this terrified me, I was worried about presenting anything but perfection. I have felt so blessed as I’ve received emails, and encouragement from my readers. I also quit taking the types of sessions that don’t fulfill me. This rejuvenated my love for my work, and helped me to strengthen and improve in the areas I specialize.
How to make sure you do not make the mistakes I made:
1- Decide early on who you want to be. Don’t change who you are because you think it won’t be perceived well or attract clients. Be authentic and true to yourself. The people who relate to you and your photography will come.
2- It’s great to follow advice from other photographers but do what feels right to you. Instead of trying to be like others who have already succeeded, try to bring something new and exciting to the table.
3- Shoot what you love. No exceptions. When your heart is in your work it shows, and that’s when your work begins to speak for you.
We’d love to hear from you. In the comments below, tell us about your biggest mistake as a photographer. If you have advice on how others can avoid it, add that too!
My name is Kristin Wilkerson and I am a blogger and photographer. You can follow me on Instagram and Facebook.
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Hi! Tks for the chance to winmy favorite is Photography Marketing boards | Summer days
Love Facebook timeline cover Vintage Frame!
Ohh I’m loving the Gold Love Wedding Thank You cards!!
I also Liked the MCP & BirdDesign Facebook pages, am following MCP on Instagram, and requested to join the MCP Facebook group!! Looking forward to staying up to date on what MCP and BirdDesign have to offer!
Little Cupid!
Like MCP on FB.
member of the MCP group.
I LOVE the magazine templates. I also really love the marketing boards. “_ Really. I just love it ALL! 😀
How can you pick just one favorite? 🙂 Love the cards, calendars, And oh my … those frames!
Love the work of Birdesign, fav sets are:Baby accordion mini 3×3 | Little adventureBaby accordion mini 3×3 | Baby lovePhotography Marketing board | Collection AMarketing Set | Orange chevron
Requested to join your Facebook Group
How could anyone pick just one fav? I love anything with floral & also the metallic fonts!
I have joined the MCP FB Group
I follow MCP on Instagram
I love Birdesign templates! If I won this prize, I would buy the digital photography magazine template and make a fresh marketing piece for my business. Great giveaway!
I like the MCP FB Page
I love them all but was drawn to Valentine Chalkboard Heart photo card template.
Posted on Birdesign’s FB wall that MCP sent me
I love the 8×10 2014 calendar template | Bryan & Leah! What a cool, simple, yet classy layout. Perfect gift for my repeat clients!…and grandparents. 🙂
I’m a fan! (Bonus 1) 🙂
Favorite template? I LOVE Got here! SO SWEET!
Absolutely love the http://www.birdesignshop.com/collections/save-the-date/products/wedding-digital-magazine-perfect-weddings ! <3 was a tough decision.
I love their mini-accordian book templetes. I love that you can pick and choose items you need and not have to buy big buck packages of things you don’t use.
Love birddesign! I own so many of their templates I think one of my wishlist items would have to be Birth Announcement | Baby Nathan.
The timeline covers are my favorite products…I can’t tell you how many customers rave about the free timeline covers I throw into their packages.
My favorite template from birdesign is the magazine for seniors!! So amazing!
I did bonus #1
Love everything! But frames are adorable and so are the V-day templates!
Member of the FB group!
http://www.birdesignshop.com/collections/frontpage/products/valentine-photocard-template-funky-love
I did bonus #2
I did bonus #4
Already like mcp!
Birdesign Templates makes it so hard to say what is my favorite , and even tho we don’t do a lot of newborn sessions yet, I just love looking through them every time I go to the site, The fonts are always perfect and they look very professional
Posted on their wall!
I love the Birdesign company. If I had to choose, right now, I’m loving the Valentine’s templates! So cute but honestly, how can you choose just one?
I really like the blooming album template!
I love love love the templates from Birdesign! They are so fresh and well organized! If I won the gift card I would purchase all new Marketing boards! I love the Whimsy Day board!
I LOVE the Funky Love!
Follow MCP on Instagram!!
Follow MCP on Facebook!!
Love the frames! !
Absolutely LOVE the work of Birdesign, My Favorite would be their: Marketing Set | Orange chevron. So many great designs, could use them all.
Following MCP on INSTAGRAM 🙂
thanks for the contest! already a fan of MCP and liked bird design – so many cool templates!
Following on FACEBOOK – loving some of the posts!
I would love the Newborn templates.Requested to join group, already following on instagram, following on facebook already and been to Birdesign liked and commented. Here is hoping.
Love the album templates and the magazines!
My favorite template is the hanukah with blue flowers.
Love the frames, the florals, love it all!!
I asked to join the facebook group
I liked your facebook page
I told Birdesigns you sent me
My favourite is Christmas Photocard Template | Holiday trees 🙂
Requested to join FB group
following on instagram
like you on FB
like birdesign on FB
I have so many favorites and Holiday Trees and Shining Christmas are two of my favorites and was a HUGE hit this year for Christmas cards!
I just joined the FB group.
I love the Love Portraits template. <3
I just started following you on instagram.
I requested to join the facebook group
I like you on FB and LOVE your actions!
I just left some love on FB for Birdesign and thanked them for great Customer Service and said I was sent by MCP!
I just started following you on instagram
I like you on facebook.
I dropped your name over at Birddesign’s facebook page. 🙂
I would definitely do the digital magazine template! Especially for my newborns 🙂
Requested to join the facebook group 🙂
Wow so many amazing products to choose from. I would say the one that caught my eye immediately was the Photography Digital Magazine – Essential. Many thinks. I follow MCP on Facebook as well.
I love the Accordion Cards !!! 🙂
Following on Instagram!
I love all their templates, but the birth announcements are my favorites!
joined the MCP fb group!
hard to choose, but I love the accordian minis, and cards. Right now I love the Funky Love Valentine card template!
following on instagram 🙂
I LOVE everything in the birdesign shop but my favorite this week is the blush chevron v-day card. I am ordering my cards today I can’t wait to send them to my family! Amazing designs”_ modern and fun!
liked your fb page!
Already liked and loved on facebook!
visited birdesign on fb, would love to win!
My favorite valentine funky-love. It’s so cute!
Hi There:) My favorite template is Valentine Wishes. Your site inspires me to be creative and keep learning my trade:)
Wow, I love so many of the templates! I am really loving the “In Love” Valentine’s Timeline Cover 🙂 Thanks for the post and contest. I will definitely be subscribing and purchasing from Birdesign. ~Laila
I love everything from birdesign, specially the cards templates! <3
I joined fb group 🙂
I love everything from Birdesign! Hard to choose a favourite, but I do love the Funky Love Valentine Template! So cute!!Natasha NicholsonPrecious Expressions Photography
I requested to join your fb group.Natasha NicholsonPrecious Expressions Photography
I like the MCP Facebook Page :)Natasha NicholsonPrecious Expressions Photography
I went to the Birdesign fb page and told them MCP sent me :)Natasha NicholsonPrecious Expressions Photography
I love your templates. Gold n Hearts & Funky Love are my favorites
I’ve had my eyes on this book template for awhile – just waiting until I have the right pictures to go with it! http://www.birdesignshop.com/collections/albums/products/happy-friends-album-12×12-album-template
I “like” the MCP facebook page.
Everything is great!Valentine Photocard Template | Valentine wishes
Now following on Instagram!
visited Birdesign and let them know you sent me.
Apologies if this is a duplicate! I am not sure if my first post went through….I like all of the Facebook timeline covers (especially “In Love”) and the metallic word overlays. Thanks for sharing,~Laila
Its so hard to choose. I love them all. I love the wedding album templates, baby announcements, the valentines sets as well as the facebook timeline covers. There is such a nice variety. I cant choose just one.
Love all the new valentine templates and the indie dreams senior collection. I’ve been in love with birdesign for a while now!
Following your Instagram too 🙂
I love all of her new “aztec” style designs! The senior cards are to die for!
I bought a bunch of Christmas card templates from bird design so I obviously love those. I also love all of the new Valentines specifically the funkylove one.
I <3 the wedding magazine but I'm a BD addict! Thanks for the great giveaway!
Followed on Instagram!
Visited Birdesign and love the newborn and christmas templates!! 🙂
Requested to join the MCP group!
I really like the Thanks and Love cards.
Joined fb group!
I’m a fan of MCP on facebook!!
Already a fan of MCP!!
love left for birdesign!
senior
I ‘like’ you! (Bonus 3)
Bonus 4 – I visited their Facebook page. Cute!!
I like the “New Sailor” baby boy birth announcement. 🙂
I love the Free Spirits Album the best but I love the cards as well.
Already a member of the Facebook Group.
I follow mcp on instagram.
Following on Instagram
My favorite template is the Wedding Dreamer 🙂
I like mcp on facebook.
Visited and already ‘liked’ on Facebook
Visited “Birddesign” on Facebook and told them you sent me.
I like birdeye design on facebook too.
I like the valentine photo collage, but all of them are lovely.Rob
Oh my gosh. I don’t even need to go to their website to pick a favorite because I LOVE Bird Design Shop! They are hands down my favorite template company. But if I have to pick one for the contest’s sake I will go with the Eternal Blessings Christmas card and matching Facebook timeline that I used for my personal Christmas card this year. 🙂
Bonus #1: I requested to join the FB group.
My favourite item in the Birdesign shop are the seasonal photo cards, timeline covers, marketing boards & birth announcements!P.S – Have been big fans of MCP & Birdesign for a long time 🙂 x
I am already a member of MCP’s Facebook Group… “Shoot Me: MCP (Photoshop, Lightroom, Photography)” 🙂
I would love the Photography Marketing boards | Splendor Studio
I am already a liker and a follower of both pages on Facebook… MCP Photoshop Actions & Lightroom Presets and Birdesign! 🙂
I really like the 16×20 collage & blog board | Senior board. I would use it for a lot of other sessions other than just seniors. This would be great for a newborn, or toddlers.
I love the Valentine’s wishes card on Birdesignshop.com!! Now following mcp actions on Instagram! Can’t wait to start Photo a Daychallenge! I am loving my MCP Fusion Actions set I bought about a month ago!!
luv the minis — chalkboard templates =)
I pretty much like all the Facebook timelines.
I love your mini session cards, and all of the boards & collages! Let’s just be honest, I’ve never seen anything from Birdesign that I didn’t love!! 😉
Senior Digital Magazine | Bright Day is my favorite templateI liked the MCP instagram pageI have liked both MCP and Birdesign’s FB pages for some time now.
I requested to join the group 🙂 LEMME IN 🙂
Funky love OR Silly love Valentine’s Day card templates – I can’t pick just one fave! I love her entire shop, long time customer + fan!
Long time fan/liker of MCP on FB.
Following MCP on IG! (kellywmars)
I left Birdesign some FB wall love!
LOVE the Valentines Day stuff and all of the boards.
I’ve liked MCP!
I like birdesign 🙂
Following on Instagram ! 🙂
Requested to join group! 🙂
I did bonus #4. 🙂
I did bonus #3 too. 🙂
There’s so many things that I LOVE from Birdesign. I love their photography marketing boards and their baby accordions, and the list goes on. Would love to win this!
Following mcp on Instagram
I love Bird Design’s photography digital magazines. Such a beautiful way to display pricing, session, details, and what to wear ideas! Truly sets a great tone when introducing clients to your work <3
I love the blog boards!
Bonus 1: Done!
Bonus 2: Following!
Bonus 3: Done!
Bonus 4: Done!
SOOOO hard to choose just one but I love the “Dandelion” birth announcement!
I love the save the date Lovely Seal. So many beautiful templates!
I love the Unique Love Save the Date card. It’s bold and different from a lot of the other designs.
requested to join your private group on FB 🙂
I am a fan of yours on Instagram…..CindyG_SHD is my name on there.
I am a fan of yours on facebook!
I visited Birdesign and let them know you sent me! 🙂
I love the marketing sets.
I am following on Instagram
I like on FB!
LOVE Birdesign! I use their non-branded website to show my clients custom designs. I’ve had my eye on the 12×12 CLEAN STYLE WEDDING ALBUM TEMPLATE for quite some time now.
Bonus 4 Done!
All of their newborn Announcements are gorge.
Bonus 1 – already part of your Facebook group 😉
Bonus 2 – Following (sophiel78)
Bonus 3 – already like 😉
Bonus 4 – already like 😉
I love the Funny Moments Holiday Card Template. Love the design and I have 4 kids so it would be perfect!
I’m on the FB group already!
follow on Instagram
Thanks for thechance to win! i love all the templates from birdesign <3Bonus 1,3 and 4 😉
I love the confetti celebration template-great design that fits in with my future branding
I requested acceptance to FB group
I follow MCP on Instagram
I like MCP on FB
I love the wedding digital magazine template! it’s beautiful!!
Oh oh oh!!! I adore the Valentine Photocard Template | Blush chevron from the fabulous Birdesign!! Would love to win these :)))Visited them on FB and told them ya sent me!
Wanting the Love Portraits card design. 🙂 Love all of her work!
Requested to join FB group!
Liked the MCP facebook page!
Visited Birdesign on Facebook and said MCP sent me 🙂
I am loving all the Valentine cards right now – but honestly, I love most of their stuff!
Bonus #1 – Done!
Bonus #3 – Done!
Bonus #4 – Done!
I love the Blush Chevron Valentine’s day cards. But I love all their designs! I use them all the time in my photography business. They are all so cute, easy to customize and I love her freebies, too!
I liked MCP actions on Facebook
I asked to join the MCP Facebook Group – Shoot Me
Love the magazine templates!
like MCP on Facebook!
requested to join Facebook group!
My favorite Birdesign product would be the Iphone vintage templates.
I follow mcp actions on Instagram.
I already like you on FB 🙂 Thanks for the tip about interests!
Requested to join your group. How did I not know about this sooner?! Good gravy all sorts of excited about this!
Valentine accordion mini 3×3 | Be lovely
every card birdesign made is my favorite! I spend hundreds a year with birdesign!
Requested to join Facebook Group
i already liked mcp on fb
Hard to pick a favorite – Birdesign is my favorite designer. But I’m particularly fond of the Bright Hello newborn bundle.
Bonus – I joined your group.
Bonus – I “liked” you.
Bonus – I already “liked” Birdesign.
I’m loving the valentine templates, especially the black one that says May You Have the Happiest Valentine’s Day.Also did 3 extra entries!
Did bonus 1
Did Bonus 3
Did Bonus 4!
Shining Hearts Marketing Board is gorgeous! 🙂
I love the marketing aqua garden set.
I’m in the facebook group for MCP!
I follow MCP on instagram!
I like MCP on facebook!
Did bonus #4
love the colorful xoxo
I just engaged a little over a month ago so all of the wedding/engagement ones are my favorite!
I also posted on their FB page!
I have no favorite. I seriously love Birdesign! Anytime I am looking for a template, they are the first site that I look at!
I am a member of your Facebook group!
Of course, I all ready like your Facebook page!
There are so many beautiful templates, it’s hard to just pick one. If I had to choose I would say Tasteful Set from their Marketing sets would be a favorite of mine.
I requested to join the facebook group for Bonus #1
I did bonus #3
Just did Bonus #4
I am a member of your Facebook group. 🙂
Did bonus #2.
Did bonus #3.
Did bonus #4.
I love this! http://www.birdesignshop.com/collections/marketing-boards/products/photography-marketing-boards-hearts-bundle
I love this one too. http://www.birdesignshop.com/collections/marketing-boards/products/pro-wedding-marketing-kit-wedding-dreamer
This is super cute. http://www.birdesignshop.com/collections/marketing-boards/products/photography-marketing-board-little-princess
I follow MCP on Instagram.
I love Birdesdesign! Lovely products!
Love the Funky Love Valentine’s Day template! Thanks!
I follow MCP on fb!