There's a really interesting trend when discussing profitability as photographers. It seems very black and white. Half of photographers talk about how money isn't important. They talk a lot about being super picky with jobs you take, shooting for passion, not profit, and being sure not to work too much because you might "sell out." On the other side, the other half of photographers talk about money money money. How to make more money, get more clients, and be more successful. We've definitely noticed this split before... and truth is, neither of these business models make sense for most people!! Of course we'd all LOVE to be super picky and only take jobs we're ridiculously excited about, but at the end of the day we have to turn a profit... and there's nothing wrong with that! Jasmine Fitzwilliam is an amazingly talented photographer and business owner here in San Diego. She has spent a LOT of time making a "brand plan" (we'll talk about that more below!) and knows exactly where she wants to be in her business. She chats with us this week about the gray area between the two mindsets we discussed above...profitability without selling out! Key Takeaways

1. Don't be afraid to make money. There seems to be something taboo about making money as an artist. There's a stigma behind profitability... it's as if people think as soon as one makes money as an artist, they've sold out. This couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, there's a much greater risk of burning out when you aren't profitable.
2. Have a BRAND PLAN. Have a short list of checks and balances you can refer back to when making a business decision. When an opportunity arises in your business... whether it's a chance to advertise, an expensive business purchase, a new client, etc, you can refer to this list. You'll never have a difficult time making these decisions because you can check back & decide whether or not that decision is smart for your business. This is a big picture view of your business. What's your business's personality? What's it like? A brand plan is a bit more big picture than a business plan... and less scary!
3. It's never too late. You can always readjust and improve your business. As your business grows, you'll be re-defining your goals for the life of your business. A lot of people make the mistake of watching their business heading in the wrong direction, but feeling like it's too late to make changes. While it might be harder to define your brand once your business is already established, it's always a good idea to make sure your business is still working for you. This is key to profitability without selling out. You can't be profitable unless you know where you're going & what goals you have!

Relavent Links:

• Let's Frolic Together
• Check out Jasmine on Facebook
• Julie Ferneau Photography
• Ashley DuChene Photography
• Chasing Daylight Photography
• PhotoSpark on Facebook

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