Bit of Real Talk: Journey to Photographer

Because it has now been 12 months since I started my business, I think writing an entry about how I came to this point in my life is only fitting. 
This is an unfiltered, unedited post with no drafts written prior to this one. So if I make no sense half way through or go waaayyyy off track don't be surprised!

Okay... So I have always loved photography, even as a kid, but had always been too scared to really try and enter the industry. I mean being a photographer is some intimidating, daunting shit! Anyone with an interest in photography would know this. 
But I thought... Screw it, Im 21, just engaged and have nothing to lose so let's give it a try. 
Once I had the motivation I just needed to figure out what I wanted to photograph. I knew instantly I wanted to photograph love! Couples, engagements, weddings, elopements, family, maternity you name it, if it involved love I wanted to photograph it!

I started with A LOT of free couple sessions to build a portfolio. I worked in a few locations around my home town Singleton with local couples I knew personally. I then published my social media pages and started posting posting posting. I shared my work in every group I was a member of and told everyone about my work. But it's so much more work then that. In order to really get your photography out there let alone you company name you need to connect with other local businesses and work with the community in order to really be noticed. So I volunteered for some local group events such as the Babes & Picnics December event and some other charity events capturing the events. 

I also scored myself a couple of second shooter gigs with an amazing Newcastle Photographer known as Lauren Anne Photography. She is an absolute legend for letting me join her to gain some experience and getting a look into the wedding photography industry. I grew so much knowledge and confidence after working alongside Lauren and her associate Jaden. I will forever be grateful!

Now I had experience and I was still advertising my photography consistently! After about 6 months I found I was still only photographing people I knew from my home town and not meeting new people from around Newcastle, Hunter Valley and Central Coast like I had intended. So I started to spread my work through Facebook groups belonging to these areas and constantly posting ads on gumtree. I eventually booked in a few new clients from around these areas! And so my business has been growing ever since!

You see it takes a lot of time and effort to be a photographer! And it doesn't just take one night to build an empire! It takes time and work! I am still constantly sharing my work, advertising on social media, offering free sessions, collaborating with local businesses and writing blogs to give you all a bit of insight to my work!

And on top of all this I still work full time, renovating a house, planning our wedding and studying! So its safe to say my life is pretty full on at the moment and I am constantly tired and up until 12am editing, advertising and researching tutorials and blogs on photography! But aside from the tireless effort I have really put into building my empire, this is my passion. No matter how busy I become this profession will never become work to me and it will never just be for the money because honestly I don't earn much from what I am doing. Pretty much all of the money I earn goes back into lenses, memory cards, advertisement, travel etc. etc. 

So there you have it... My blood, my sweat and my tears for a solid 12 months have for sure helped me to grow my business to what it is. And what are my goals for the future? Well...
I want to photograph a surprise engagement, I surprise pregnancy announcement, tons more of wedding, I want to collaborate with many many businesses and I want to learn as much about my industry as possible! You can never stop learning when it comes to photography! Jana Williams eat your heart out!!! Wish me luck and I look forward to meeting my future clients who give me the opportunity to capture their story!