Whether you’re just starting a photography business or feeling like you’re in a rut, a photography workshop can provide education and inspiration. Every photographer has room to grow and learn new skills. Let’s look at five ways attending a live or virtual photography workshop could benefit your business.
1. Creative and Business Inspiration
Every creative professional will, at some point, feel like they have hit a plateau. Whether your business is growing slower than you’d like or your images are all starting to look the same, a boost of inspiration may be exactly what you need. A workshop with experienced photography business coaches and mentors can help lift you from the daily grind and renew your creative and professional spirit.
The guidance you could receive at a photography business workshop can provide a new perspective and a source of motivation. Learning from the experience of experts gives you a clearer understanding of what works and what doesn’t when it comes to running, growing, and marketing your photography business.
2. Expert Mentorship
Every creative professional has their own strengths and specific talents. What better way to pick up new skills than learning from a photographer with proven success in areas where you struggle? Photography workshops are the perfect place for this. Consider investing in workshops that include expert portfolio evaluation and advice.
While plenty of workshops focus on setting up studio lighting, posing and other technical and artistic skills, some photography workshops also look at these key camera skills through the lens of what a potential client will actually buy. To succeed, a photographer needs more than just a creative eye. Running a profitable photography business requires wearing a lot of different professional hats. From advice on client communication, marketing, bookkeeping and more, photography business coaching could significantly impact the success you experience as a professional photographer.
3. Professional Collaboration
Photography workshops are a wonderful place to meet like-minded photographers and collaborate on creative projects. No matter where you are in your career, there will always be something you can pick up or improve on with the help of others. Share ideas, experiment with new techniques, and get feedback and advice. Having other photographers to reach out to in the future who understand the ins and outs of the photography business will be highly beneficial.
A photography workshop can also be a very supportive environment. When you’re running a photography business, you spend a lot of time on your own. Finding other photographers to connect with can help build a much-needed sense of community. The connections you make at a workshop can stay with you throughout your photography career.
4. Self Investment
As a photography business owner investing in your business and yourself is essential. Seeking further education, mentorship and skills development is an investment in your life. Stepping away from your daily routine to connect with others, seek inspiration and ask for advice can also positively impact your mental health.
5. Introduction to New Ideas and Equipment
Attending a photography workshop can introduce you to new ideas, techniques and equipment. Whether this means learning about a new post-processing technique, allowing you to try out lighting equipment or discovering an idea for more efficient marketing, workshops provide space for education and experimentation.
Choosing the Right Workshop for You
The most important factor in choosing the right photography workshop for you is the person or persons leading it. Not all photographers, even successful photographers, understand how to lead an impactful workshop. Consider the backgrounds of the photographers, coaches and speakers. Do they have experience mentoring other photographers? Have they reached the level of success you aspire to?
Reputation of the Photographer and Organization
Any photographer leading a workshop should have a profitable photography business as well as have experience guiding other photographers. Research the reputations and credentials of photography coaches and speakers who contribute to workshops and read reviews of past workshop attendees.
For example, Sarah Petty has designed the photography business workshops and coaching sessions the Photography Business Institute offers. She is a New York Times Best-Selling Author, a photographer with over 26 years of experience, was named one of America’s Most Profitable Photography Studio Owners by the Professional Photographers of America, and has proven success as a photography business coach.
In-Person or Online
Photography workshops can be held in person at a studio, in a picturesque outdoor setting, or online. Whether you select an in-person or online photography workshop depends on what you are looking to get out of it.
While in-person camaraderie and hands-on guidance can be helpful when practicing technical photography skills, you can learn many things just as easily from a virtual session. An online setting with live critiques and feedback sessions provides flexibility for busy parents and is often more affordable because it doesn’t require travel expenses. Workshops that focus more on developing business processes and skills are also delivered successfully in a virtual environment.
A photography workshop can provide business coaching, advice, technical guidance and creative inspiration. Whether you’re a beginner or have been a professional photographer for years, workshops will help you grow and improve. Working with expert photography mentors is one of the best ways to learn skills, develop in areas you can improve and break yourself out of a business or creative rut.
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