Did you know that most small businesses fail within the first five years?

That’s a scary thought!  But I know first hand how hard running a business can be.  Despite the challenges, I have been so blessed to watch this business start as a hobby and turn into a full time career! As I embark on my 10th official year in business, I have reflected on some of the things that have help sustain this business and I wanted to share them with you today!

1. Willingness to change-
Oh this business has seen many changes over the years. I started in one direction and ended up in another. And while at times I felt a bit undecisive, I now can see that I was just finding my path. Be willing to change and adapt your business. I have changed my business by specialzing, rebranding, and changing our entire mission statement. Anytime I find something that isn’t working well, I change something to fix it!

2. Continued Learning-
I have continued to invest in my education throughout my career. Whether it be workshops, online courses, reading books, or mentoring. I never stop learning! There is so much great educational content out there!

3. Focus on serving-
While many people view my work as art, really it is a SERVICE. and that means I have to continue to focus on serving my clients. I love styling details and shooting beautiful couples in love, but at the end of the day, I have to make sure I meet my clients needs and expectations in order to be successful.  I will be the first to admit that this is something I had to learn along the way.  I was so focused in the beginning on nailing a shot I had in mind or shooting something I was interested in.  But slowly, I learned that serving others and getting to know them is what made the photos more meaningful!

4. Growing slow and steady.

I didn’t jump into this full time but worked my way up to it.  I also spent time growing little pieces at a time. Nurturing the areas of my business that were weak. Being honest with yourself about what you need to work on is one of the biggest pieces of growth! Each year I pick something I need to improve shooting wise and business wise and dedicate myself to it. It has made a HUGE difference. Small steps = great success.

5. Limiting purchases.

This industry alone is FILLED with things you can purchase. New gear, pre-sets or actions, props, programs, education, etc. It is easy to get wrapped up in “the newest thing” and spend money without thinking it through. I started my business with ONE camera and ONE lens and slowly added to my arsenal as I made money. I have seen a lot of people chase the newest thing and bankrupt their business in the process. Truth is that new thing won’t make your work that much better- but practice and determination WILL! Use what you have until you can either afford something new or find a reason why you can’t live without it.

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out 2015 highlights.