I get a lot of questions about quitting a 9-5 job and starting an online business built around photography, video, or any other creative endeavor.
Most of these questions tie a big creative idea the person has to the money or lifestyle they think the idea will produce.
After the initial idea, they have no clue how to start or where to aim their energy. For this reason, they take a guess, try something, it fails short term, then they quit.
My goal is to teach you a simple framework that I’ve been using and improving upon over the past 8 years of running an online business.
Let’s get started…
If you’ve never run a business before and haven’t consistently produced creative work before, it will be impossible to do both well, concurrently.
No one wants to pay for bad creative work.
Having a business to sell your currently bad work makes no sense.
If your work is already good, but you have no audience, or free examples online, no one will buy it anyway.
You need trust to sell something.
Gaining trust requires consistency, quality, and respect.
All three are great, but one will get you started.
You gain consistency from showing up and sharing what you made, on a regular basis, free for the world to see.
You gain quality by constantly producing bad work and having the guts to share it anyway.
Bad work eventually turns into good work, but only through repetition.
Having the guts to share bad work, knowing it’s the only path to improve, will gain you respect for the short term.
Once your work is “good enough” and continues to improve, you gain long term respect for the dedication & guts it takes to believe in yourself.
The big problem, and why most businesses fail, comes down to sequencing.
Most people do the right stuff, in the wrong order.
This makes things 10X harder. In turn, they quit.
They want the money and the results now.
It doesn’t work this way if you want to build a business that lasts for the long term.
The first step is to get “good enough” at what you create that someone wants to buy it.
Start creating and sharing things that interest you and you want to improve upon.
Everything you create will be bad at first.
This will make you feel bad about yourself.
- Get used to it.
- Don’t listen to these thoughts.
- They are the cost of creating.
Make videos, take photos, write, record a podcast. Anything works, but it has to be something you’re actually interested in improving at!
Offer your work to the world, for free. It’s not good enough to charge for yet.
You don’t need an official business, at first. It will only complicate things.
Just start TODAY and create. Put your stuff out there. No excuses. No overthinking.
A simple website will serve this purpose.
Your website will look bad at first, too.
Concentrate on your creative work. You can update the website later.
Just make sure to:
- Name your site something that will allow you to expand your brand, in any direction, in the future.
- Your name is a great website URL.
Consider these small bits of creativity, shared freely on your website, market research.
They provide you free feedback on what people like to interact with or want to learn about.
Keep creating and sharing, consistently, until you build a small audience that trusts your ideas, art, or whatever you put out there.
Eventually, people will start asking one of two things:
THING ONE: How can I purchase what you’re creating?
THING TWO: How can I learn your methods so I can create something like this on my own?
Suddenly, you have customers.
They came to you. No clunky business or advertising required.
Now, start to build your business to best serve or teach these customers.
Since you built everything around things you are interested in, this will be easy. Your personal interest will also ensure you stay motivated, long term.
You’re still small so you can interact with each customer and make your first product perfect.
Keep putting out free content, learning, and improving your craft. This should never stop.
Slowly grow your business size and complexity but only when it’s required to serve your customers or solve a personal problem.
Keep things simple.
You’re not a large corporation. Don’t act like one!
Teach and share what you create through your own ideas & perspective.
Don’t try to create what you assume others want to see.
Build your business around trust, consistency, and respect, but most of all helping others to learn or benefit from what you’re creating.
Pick new interests and things you want to learn about.
Share & teach everything you learn and create.
Repeat.
It’s nice to see a new article, Dave. Great work. I’ve been dabbling with starting a photography related business for a while now but keep getting sidetracked so these reminders are appreciated.
Thanks Daniel, I think you should start:) Even on days, I don’t feel like doing stuff, getting one or two small creative tasks done really adds up over time. Having a website gives you a place to do this work. Have fun man!
Dave
I love how you can take a topic that everyone asks themselves and boil it down to something that is actually useable and VERY concise. I think most of the people that are drawn here and many photographers are just waiting for someone to “tell them what to do” or how to do it. Putting out work like this is so incredibly valuable! I think I’ll print this out and put it somewhere where I can see it everyday. I don’t think I’ll ever be the type to completely quit my 9-5 job but this blueprint is great for “Doing the Work”, as they say. Good to see some content from you Dave, hope your backpacking this summer was excellent!
Hi Paul,
Thanks. I love to hear that.
A 9-5 isn’t always a bad thing, especially if it’s allowing you to work on things you’re interested in or works for your specific circumstance.
Feel free to print it out. I’m thinking about doing PDF access to articles in monthly bundles. Is that something that would be helpful or interest you?
Take care,
Dave
PDF would be very helpful!
I think that ^ answers it!
PDF’s would be wonderful!
Absolutely!!
Excellent article, Dave! It’s helpful to know that I have actually made the right decision to focus on perfecting my craft and artistic vision first, then move forward to the next step. My immediate next step is to get a website online where I can share my work as I learn and progress. Thank you for taking the time to share these tidbits of wisdom and advice. They are much appreciated!
Hi Ken,
You’re welcome.
What you’re doing is the most valuable thing, hands down.
My favorite part about a website is that it makes things public, holding me accountable for creating on a regular basis. It’s also a good place to look back on progress.
Let me know how it goes,
Dave
Great read!!! Thank you.
Cheryl
You’re welcome. Glad you liked it!
Dave
Thank you for inspiring me with practical steps. Many creative people, myself included, don’t know how to be sequentially practical to get themselves out there. As a yoga teacher, I’m loving my teaching but after reading your article, I’m going to follow my dream and write articles about yoga. Thank you for making things doable, sustainable and fun!
You’re welcome.
Articles are a great way to layout ideas for future podcasts and videos as well.
Personally, articles are the first place to start. Other forms of on the fly content creation are really hard prior to articulate ideas on paper.
Have fun with the new project.
Dave
Thanks Dave, great article! Great is that you have the courage to share your experience and the way you go. I think your whole activity, though fun, is not easy.
You’re welcome, Peter. Thanks for the comment.
I enjoy calculated risks and pushing back on my fears, which usually are not factually based at all:) Putting stuff out in public is the best way I’ve found to prove this to myself.
Really glad you enjoyed the writing!
Dave
*consistency, quality, and respect* ✊ golden words! I’ve been at this creative stuff for quite sometime… I have quality, and respect but my audience is small. And that is making the money side difficult. Yours, Emily http://www.ladygraceband.com
Hi Emily,
Your work is really good. If you want to expand your audience, one thing that works really well is… showing your creative process via video/writing.
You could make YouTube videos showing anything that you do to create your songs. Writing could work well too. This gives you two audiences. Those that want to buy your final product and those that want to learn how you create it.
In the internet age, people not only want the final product but are interested in how it’s made or how they can make something like it.
Hope that helps!
Dave
Hello, Dave.
How or when do you know that your work is good enough? I tend to hyper critical of my own work. To me, it looks good but rarely looks great. How do I get past the hyper critical attitude?
Thanks for your work and videos.
Steve
Hi Steve,
Great question.
Personally, I never feel that my work is good enough. This constant shift of personal “good enough” is the driver of getting better, over a lifetime.
Public “good enough” is a different story.
As soon as people started asking me how to take photos, write, or create, is when I knew it was “good enough” to teach someone that didn’t yet know as much as myself.
Put stuff out in public, and as soon as people ask you, “teach me” or “can I purchase this”, it’s good enough for someone.
That’s why it’s important to put things out in public, if you care to do so:)
Have fun!
Dave
Thanks, Dave.
Thanks Dave for the article so how do you determine what price to charge for yo work?
You’re welcome.
My methods: Make it up & change things on the fly if it’s not working like you expected.
A “pre-launch” of a product, at a given price point, to test interest, also works really well. Essentially, you get people to sign up for the product, before you build it. If there is enough interest, you build and deliver the product. You don’t need Kickstarter to do this. A website and a small email list works just fine:)
Hope that helps!
Dave
Thank you Dave, your write-ups are beautiful in their simplicity and usefulness. I have somewhat taken the path you indicated – shared my bad photography and kept on doing it until it was better, created a website and published images to showcase them there. What is holding me back from developing it into a photography business is that I love the creative process of photography and post-processing and spend most of my spare time doing that instead of working on learning to market my products or working on spreading my work on my website or other social media. Please share your ideas on how to move from the creative stage to the next. Thanks for all your hard work!
You’re welcome.
I can do some writing on that. Thanks for the input:)
In short, build a product around something that you’re “good enough” at to teach others, but still want to improve upon youself.
When I build new learning products on my photography website my skills improve more during the product creation, then they would have otherwise.
I end up getting way better at my craft / processs, and creating something that will teach others.
The best part about digital products, is that you can create them for almost nothing, except your time.
Worst case, you better your skill set.
Best case, you better your skill set, earn passive income, and free up time to work even more on things you want to learn and create.
Hope that helps,
Dave
Thanks so much for the response Dave. Look forward to more detailed post on the subject.
Your products are the learning photography videos that we have all benefitted from, and I can see why that adds value in so many ways to both you and us. In my case, if the product itself is random images of what I find beautiful, and I want to market them to others, what do I have to offer (to teach or) add value to that product itself to get it across? Is there any way forward without creating a blog, vlog etc. and just present photography as a product?
Thanks also for making this an open platform to ask questions! It is so very critical to interact with idea-makers to actually put them into action!
Rifat
http://www.starrynightbug.com
“Good Enough” to teach someone who knows at least a bit less than you on a particular topic. I like this concept. It helps remove the “I’m not good enough” barrier.
Thanks!
Hey Dave, great article! I see all these sources about how to start a business but usually never a photogrpahy or art-based businesses. I am actually interested in starting a blog relating to photography and was wondering if you have any tips for starting one and also if it is a good income source for you?
Hey Adam,
Thanks man!
Everything you see me create for free on my website, youtube, or anything else, makes me no up front money. I do it because I enjoy it, it makes me better at my craft, and it’s great way to see what others are interested in learning about.
All of my income is made on the backend when I sell digital products, that go directly inline with the free things I’ve been creating content around. This free content creation allows me to polish my skills for creating the digital products.
My goal is to have really good free stuff and world class paid stuff.
I’ll write more on this topic in the future, to clarify some of these thoughts.
Thanks for your questions. It’s a huge help for future blog post ideas.
Dave
Also, what products do you usually sell? Like ebooks and photography courses?
I prefer digital video courses currently. An eBook is a great place to start. The key is to create a bunch of free stuff. This will tease out what kind of product you should create.
Hi Dave, the matters you are delivering free for us have a tremendous value and reflect your generosity. Not always succesful people like you devote free time to teach others. I following you every week and I would be happy if you, in the near future, publish an e-books in Amazon containing all of this together.
Regards from Chile
Thanks Carlos,
I’ll probably condense some of the writing from this blog into an eBook or PDF style format in the future.
Thanks for letting me know you’re interested in this! Big help.
Take care,
Dave
Great article Dave and totally agree with your views on this especially about refining your craft first. Think in today’s society many people want instant success but this is a myth, as it takes time and effort to be successful.
Been following you for a while and have bought your last 2 courses and can honestly say I have benefited greatly from them and you approach is both refreshing and an exemplar as to what can be achieved in terms of running a business
All the best
Hi Jim,
Thanks for the feedback! Much appreciated:)
I’m also really glad that you’re enjoying the courses. I’ll have some new photography videos and courses coming out soon.
Talk soon,
Dave
Hey Dave the idea that bad work is the currency to good work is really inspiring and I’ve never heard anyone put it that way before.
But I think the biggest lesson here was the line at the end: “Don’t try to create what you assume others want to see.”
Dude, I’ve wasted years trying to create for others instead of myself and constantly hit walls, failure or burnt out. It isn’t until you work on what’s important to you at a deeper level does it stop becoming work and starts becoming a purpose that I actually enjoy.
Hey Jeremy,
Thanks man. It just came out while writing.
Creating for “what you assume others” want is a mistake I made in the past too. I bet most people have. No big deal, but like you said, it gets really boring.
At least we’re on the right track now.
Dave
Dave,
I appreciate your usual laser-focused points in this post, and your emphasis on both the act of creating and the importance of sharing. As a landscape photographer myself, I have found your perspective to be refreshing and thought-provoking.
Thank you
You’re welcome, Bob. I’m really glad you like the blog posts so far.
A new one is coming out next week as well.
Talk to you soon,
Dave
Excellent article as always, Dave, and a great business model. At least it’s after my own heart, anyway! I’ve been sharing my work over the last 1.5 years on social media and already built a small but loyal following, but making educational material is still something I haven’t done yet – but clearly should.
What software do you use to record your courses? (I’m on Mac as well.)
thanks Dave, i appreciate the info. For me, ive gotten way better with my photography and at the same time feel it is less likely to sell than i thought 4 years ago. i have a good day job so don’t really need the money or the demands of a side business, but sometimes I wish I had a better outlet than just dumping on my Facebook friends. I imagine stock photography pays less than a paper route but have some other ideas how I might be able to turn my photos into small income, partly just for validation/vanity. -Cheers
You’re welcome, Ben.
Just get the ideas and projects out there for fun. You never need to monetize if you don’t want to.
Good luck!
Dave
We come from the opposite side of the equation. Thirty years ago, at the nexus of fax machines and 28.80 baud dialup modems my then business partner and now partner in life and work had the difficult decision of how to leave pretty conventional creative jobs and go full-time as graphic designers. Working for ourselves and supporting ourselves seemed formidable at first, but by staging our departure from our ‘day jobs’ we gave ourselves the cushion we needed to go full-time. I think the urge to rush into to new paradigm comes from just wanting to get it over with. In our case we were able in the course of one year step off the dock of security and begin swimming for ourselves. We’ve never looked back!!!
May be the kick in the pants I need to start a web page and get this show started. I had my own business for 14 years so I know what it takes to keep people coming. That first step is always a big one.
Kevin, make the first steps as small as possible. Break the large project into the first 5 smallest steps & start.
I’d recommend writing the steps down, then go from there.
More writing on this concept coming soon.
Good luck!
Dave
Well written and insightful, Dave.
I like your new style of content and appreciate you sharing your wisdom and motivation. Cheers!
Thanks James. I just checked out your website. Good stuff!
Take care,
Dave
Appreciate your insight on a plan of action in easy to follow steps. I’m making a promise to myself to start something this week. And I just ordered the book you suggested, “The War of Art” by Steven Pressfield. Thank you.
Hi Sarah,
You’re welcome.
Did you like the book and put it to good use?
Talk soon,
Dave
Excellent, enjoy your works.
As a former aerospace engineer glad you are doing something you enjoy
Really considered the traveling partner concept; was not sure you would be up to my traveling skills (motorized chair and class A rv to trail head) would even consider small winch but what do you expect at 72.
Will consider your ideas as I start my business
Thanks
Keep the material coming
You’re welcome, Jerry.
Hope it worked for ya!
Dave
Hi Dave
Great blog. To the point with solid practical advice. How best to build an audience without spending a ton of time on social media is a question I have for you for a future blog article perhaps.
Thanks again for your inspiration
Hi Malcolm,
You’re welcome. I’ll write some stuff about building an audience without social.
Thanks for the input.
Dave
Dave,
You are admirable. The fact that you can be admirable and make a profit is super appealing. I greatly appreciate the advice you offer as well as the courseware you produce. I’d like to, eventually, do something similar.
I keep thinking I’ll get started. I often seem to make a mountain out of a mole-hill with my obstacles. Currently, getting a business license and understanding taxes are what I’m letting get in my way. The 12-hour workdays are, somehow, less of a concern to me than the steps to becoming “official.”
I’d love the harshest public critique you could throw at me concerning what I’ve got going thus far if you’ve got the time. Tho, I’d imagine you get far too many of such requests, so no hard feelings if you cannot; honestly.
Keep up what you do!
Thanks!
Jason
http://www.JasonFazioPhotography.com
http://www.instagram.com/Jason_Fazio_Photography
http://www.facebook.com/JasonFazioPhotography
ps- If anyone else reads this, your critique is welcome too. 🙂
Hi Jason,
I am in the same boat as you re wanting to start something but procrastinating about the small things, the business side scares me most also. At least you have a website, which I can’t say myself. I just checked it out. Very professional mate, very well laid out, detailed information and easy to navigate, not as common as should be this day and age. Then there is your photography, which is beautiful, you should be very proud of your work. I love the simple compositions and the realistic nicely saturated colours not too overdone. I hope you have continued with it and it is successful for you. Just my 2 cents, keep up the great work. From an Aussie fellow landscape photographer.
Dan
Dave, you’re amazing! I love your philosophy – you “give away” stuff that the usual money grubbers deafen you with demands for money for their “secretes of success!
Keep up the good work.
Much lone
Paul
Thanks Paul. That’s great to hear.
Thank you Dave. You have given me the courage to start, even though I am doing it late in life.
That’s great. How did the starting go for you?
Would love to hear,
Dave
Very good advice. I will follow these steps. I am producing many crafts
Thanks a lot
That’s great, Alex.
Share some of your stuff over here, if you like.
Dave
Thanks Dave. I love how you boil things down to simple, digestible bites…no wasted words, but obviously the result of a great deal of thought. I always read your blogs or watch your videos (often more than once) because I know that even if it is off topic to my own interests, there will be great applicable value within. Very much appreciated! ~Charlene
Thanks for the blog, Dave!
You seem to be producing really good, creative work. I’m impressed.
Having spent most of a lifetime in photography, both teaching it in high school and college, and doing it professionally, and now retired, I feel a few comments
are in order!
1. Your insights into starting a business are spot on.
2. Photography is a wonderful hobby, creative pastime and career.
3. One needs to be very organized before starting out a business, blog or in part time work.
4. The rewards are great, the energy required has also to be intense!
5. The field is also extremely competitive.
Thanks for listening!
Good, sound advice as usual Dave!
However, my work is never bad, I have always been happily deluded.
My website is still poor, after many years.
Thanks Dave! Although at my age, a business may not be on the horizon (my view is blocked by some fool with a big scythe); these tips apply to life in general. The old saying of anything worth doing is worth doing poorly until you develop the skills to do it well.
Your advice is quite sound .I am now retired from a creative small business (custom made furniture) and and have often heard about others starting out too big trying to impress everyone with appearances rather than good work and good pricing.I operated mainly alone and was always busy just by word of mouth.No advertising at all. I also fully agree you have to be passionate about what you do or you can’t sustain it in the long run.Good service and customer relationships are also vitally important .like you on your hikes I have also had endless time to think while working alone. Many people dont seem to have that time to reflect. I have found your photogrphy teachings very thorough,yet easy to understand .very good work!!!
I agree 100 % Dave.
Thanks so much,
Clare Colins
You’re welcome.
This is going to such a big help, I am at the point where people are wanting to buy my images. I have been struggling with web site builders, now that’s going to someone who knows what they are doing. I am going to continue to make images , look forward to the next post
Thank you
That’s great, Hank.
New post, next Wed.
Talk soon,
Dave
Excellent Dave, as usual to the point information a great read.Keep up the good work.
Regards Kevin
Will do, Kevin. Thanks for reading!
Dave
Hi Dave,
Having an online business is my dream too. I invested in a course to teach me the skills first. Your blog confirms exactly what they told me too. Your first “whatever it is you do” will not be good or pretty, but keep doing it and always try to improve. Thanks for the interesting posts as well as honest and sound advice.
You’re welcome, Annalien.
Start building ASAP! It’s so much fun and the challenge and rewards are great.
Let me know how it goes.
Dave
Dave,,, this melds so smoothly into your last post about thinking how the busy work of organizing the wrong elements of a start-up do not necessarily mean progress. You correctly point out that fear is a positive element in the creative process and it should not hold you back from constantly moving forward. Creativity and business can and do mix. Thanks so much for your simple and elegant thoughts.
You’re welcome, Dave. Glad you enjoyed the read:)
Dave
Great info, Dave. There is no one out there whose character, intelligence, advice, and expertise (backcountry survival, photography) I admire more than yours. At first glance I do see one potential pitfall. Let’s say I love landscape photography and exploring the backcountry as much as the expert, Dave Morrow. Now let’s say I want to write about that and promote it, like Dave Morrow. The problem I see is that unique creative space is already occupied by someone (you) with a) x years of a head start, and b) established name recognition who is the “go to” resource for such endeavors. Why on earth would anyone give me the time of day when there is nothing I could write about or offer that you haven’t already covered, and covered really, really well? Just an example here, but do you see what I’m saying? My wheel house is wildlife photography, not landscapes (though I have dabbled in them), so no worries about me taking on the king of backcountry landscape photography! 🙂
Hey Mac. Thanks for the kind words!
People will give you the time of day because you come at things a different way, which is only found through lots of experimenting and getting better in your own methods.
No one will produce things the same way, at a high level.
Different learnings “click” with different teachers.
It’s not a zero-sum game.
That’s why it’s important to start, learn, create, and follow the outlined methods. At least I think so.
Take care,
Dave
Thanks for the tips Dave! It’s appreciated.
You’re welcome!
Enjoyed your post gives some ideas to work on.
Much appreciated Carl. Anything specific you want me to write about?
Talk to you soon,
Dave
Makes absolute sense. Thanks so much for sharing.
You’re welcome, Gerard.
Thanks. I’m glad it was clearly conveyed through the writing.
Dave
Simple and poignant advice. Came just at the right time for me too. A good reminder to keep making art and putting it out there without a big digital marketing strategy. Thanks for this. I needed it.
Hey! Good to hear from you Charlotte:) really glad you liked the article! Talk to you soon.
Hi Dave, thanks for sharing your position. I’m just about to start something around photography. I don’t have really a plan what to do but your article brought me to the conclusion that I have to be strong and follow my path and don’t worry about who will pay me next month.
Thanks a lot and please excuse my terrible english – I am from Germany and years away fron any school.
Best regards
Werner
I had followed your photography related work before, and besides the clarity of the teaching, it was perhaps the honesty of your approach that most called my attention. With this new series, you seem to get into something that relates to many more things in life than photography. It certainly involves much more inter-disciplinary skills, and knowldege. But, you seem to have taken the way, no matter what. Many of us needs it, and I am grateful to you for that.
I am not sure whether or not it might be of any use to you or anybody else reading this, but while I was teaching digital imaging courses, I noticed that making students to do a digital self-portrait and showing them to the class contributed greatly to the confidence of each individual to trust the other, and sparkling relationships between them in ways that will be hard to achieve otherwise -while ticking all the boxes of the lesson’s aims and objectives.
Sincerely, B. Gualde
Hi Dave,
What an amazing article! I just wonder how your advice would apply to my situation. I’ve owned a few businesses, never been serious about it before but learned some basics.
Then I started building websites for my businesses. They all got stuck for various reasons.
I decided I wanted to get serious. I built a website and for three years began writing, about anything really. I taught myself to manage as much as possible on my own. Then last year I realised the direction I wanted to go in. I’ve since found a mentor and started to make my website more professional bit by bit (still working on that) and creating purposeful content and aligns with my business. Most of these recent changes are hidden at the moment until I feel ready to press the ‘publish’ button.
Your article about trust is fantastic as I am still to build this up, particularly now I have a firm direction which isn’t very public yet. I guess my pondering is around my website name. I want to trademark it as to now do all this work and potentially lose it like I have the rest would devastate me. In recent years I gave up a domain and it’s now owned by a global company. I’m gutted as this clearly held value and I just let it expire.
So many thoughts!
Dave, Great reading! I have a couple questions; what do you think of sell to stock photos, and is there a good inexpensive web site for beginners?
Hey Dave. Good food for thought. I’m retired and consider myself semi-professional. I several about 20 prints a year and do a few photo outings each year. A few years ago, I wanted to set up a landscape photo tour business in the Asheville area. But as I got into the legal / liability / insurance side of it, it seemed like it would be very costly. How did you handle these business issues as you started out? Love your stuff.
Thanks a lot Dave. I got a third of the way thru my wedding photography website last year and never published it. It’s more of a hobby than a business, but I think that’s become my excuse for inaction, so your article is now the cattle-prod I need to finish it! I am including the URL in the box below to force me to do so!
You’re welcome, Stuart. have fun.
Dave
Nice one. Quite motivating
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it!
Great read Dave. Always wanted a photography business but seem to never get it off the ground, your ideas have certainly given me motivation to push forward.
Just wondered how you get the word out to others or do people just find you?
Thanks Simoon. Glad you liked it. I use search engines and seo to drive traffic. You could use a combination of many different tools. Many like social media, which is ok short term. I think social is super risky long term. It will be different for everyone depending on what methods best suit their needs.
Really helpful article Dave – I find your constant showing up and, to paraphrase Seth Godin – always be shipping great content so regularly nothing short of fantastic. You deliver on what you say you will every time. I am really finding value in your move into this type of content and can only encourage and ask you to keep on doing it – it’s all useful. Hope the summer has been productive for you. Best, Alex – UK.
Hey Alex,
Great to hear that. Thanks so much!
I hope your summer is going well too. I’m just getting ready to head back out on a backpacking trip for a few weeks.
I’m glad you know about Seth. He’s the best!
Talk soon,
Dave
Great advice I am just starting a flower business creating work photographing and putting on Instagram. Building website next thanks
You’re welcome, Pam! Good luck & have fun.
Dave
This is great insight into building your business!
Thanks Carl. I hope it helps you out!
Take care,
Dave
Dave, I have watched your videos for a couple of years. This article does reflect who you are and what you do. Thanks so very much for kind heart and for sharing your expertise.
Kind regards, Arturo
Thanks for the great article Dave. As you well said in another comment; a 9-5 (7 to 7 in my case) is not always a bad thing. I love my job and also love travel and photography. My goal in having a photography oriented business is to allow me to do longer trips (1 month+) without having to worry about the financial implications it brings with it. These articles are a real eye-opener. I am consistent on my social media presence and do see some results from there, but nothing compared to having your own loyal following on your own website. Thanks again for your great insight.
I sincerely apologize for my post: I did not expect it to be published. I am not a troll. I totally support you and follow your work. Michael Staubes
Dave,
This is really groundbreaking stuff! I’m saving it to read again and again. Maybe I can use the ideas to gain access to people who would want to use my analytical skills and experience if they had a good idea that my work was “good enough” and available consistently. It might be that providing free work is ultimately ok. I really don’t need to work for money necessarily.
Thanks,
Bill
I’m definitely a fan and fully appreciate you reaching out to other photogs with insightful recommendations, suggestions, and considerations.
I’ve elected to backpack around the world and have been doing so for the last 18 months. I did well as a photog in Las Vegas, but I have since sold everything after some life events derailed me a bit. I expect to travel for the next 5 years, moving slowly and really getting to know an area instead of just collecting passport stamps. By this Nov, I should be done with Central and South America after two years. After the holidays, I think the South Pacific Islands will be my next launching point.
I have to figure out a way in the next year to reinvent my business, but I am set on concentrating on Landscapes, Art Nudes, and Portraiture. I need to find a way to make those mix in the venue of a travel blog. In 18 months, I will continue to read you and glean where I can.
Terrell
https://PhotoAnthems.com (main website)
https://PhotoAnthems.blogspot.com (blog)
Thanks Dave for another enlightening article. I am at the stage of perfecting my art and your article has given me a push to start getting my name out there. I guess I need to stop procrastinating and start looking into platforms and websites. Does it possibly help to enter competitions etc. to add some credibility?
You’re welcome, Andrew.
I don’t like competitions. Someone else’s opinion of my photos doesn’t matter to me.
Spend all your time getting better at your craft and building your website / brand.
Good content will give you credibility.
Dave
Hey Dave,
I’m really enjoying your content. I’ve always like the idea of having control over my website, my little piece of property on the internet – to the point where I designed and built it myself.
Now, having a blog and a small audience on a mailing list, I want to move away from worrying about driving the numbers up, but rather creating the content and letting things grow organically. Having said that, I realise that it’s important to know how to measure success.
Do you use any specific metrics to measure success (however you define it)?
For example, are simple page views or comments like this one your indicators?
Thanks
Hey Chris,
Thanks buddy.
Great question.
I don’t look at metrics very often.
I do look at comments under blog posts & videos to gauge interest in topics, for the future.
It’s also very important to understand how SEO actually works to ensure you have constant a traffic flow to your website, which in turn helps to increase your email list size.
An email list is one thing you actually own, where you can contact people directly. Unlike social media followings no one controls your email list, but you.
SEO is a science. You can drive lots of free traffic through targeted content, which allows you to get your ideas, which you care about, out to the world. (Brian Dean at Backlinko.com is my go to)
I have an article coming out this Tuesday which is all about this topic of “how to create”.
Talk soon,
Dave
Well I really liked reading it. This tip provided by you is very constructive for accurate planning.
Great. Glad you enjoyed them!
Dave
I enjoy your articles and video tutorials immensely. My photography results have improved significantly, thank you !
That’s great, Larry! You’re welcome.
This is article is pure gold to me right now. Thank you!!
Thanks a lot fr thus candid advice on how to build a. Business from scratch.
Hi Dave,
I’m really interested in your photography and your business ideas. I recently retired after a 37 year teaching career. I also spent 20 summers fighting fires, the last 5 were as a smokejumper out of McCall Idaho, so I’m really comfortable in the back country as a photographer. Your time in the back country is something I really admire! Anyway, I’m really looking forward to seeing where this part of my leads. Thanks for the thoughts, advice, and fantastic photography!
Darren Marshall
Hey Darren,
You’re welcome.
That’s a badass mix of professions. I dig it! Couldn’t imagine how rewarding & challenging both of those careers must have been.
I’m sure you already have the mental toughness part down.
Congrats on the new adventure. Hopefully, I’ll be able to help out here & there.
Talk soon,
Dave
Very inspiring…I just share your podcast to those I care
Thanks Brian! Really appreciate it:)
Hi Dave,
I read this article when you first published it, and have been striving to follow your advice. Mostly I’ve been really focused on improving my photography skills, and building a portfolio. I used Smugmug for that (per your advice!). I met one of my few Youtube subscribers for dinner last light. She is a 65 year-old grandmother, who is passionate about learning photography, but can’t go on my kind of adventures. It felt good to see someone benefitting from my work. All that said, after five years of work, I am still struggling to make any money at all. Reading this article again, helped me remember to just keep on keeping on. Small regular improvements will get me there eventually.
Photography is a complete profession. We move forward to any internet related service through the photography.