8 CRITICAL Mistakes Stopping You From GETTING PAID as a Beginner Photographer! (and how to fix them)

[@LauraBC]

How many of these mistakes are you doing? 🙈 ❤

[@FrankP83]

Me : yes!😂

[@joncothranphotography9375]

I need to do a website and stop relying so much on social media... Thank you so much Laura!

[@cameraprepper7938]

I used to be a professional photographer, now I have never been more happy as a hobby photographer, it is a joy and great fun to just do photography for yourself !

[@LauraBC]

We all get joy from photography in different ways. If you found out that doing photography just as a hobby works best for you, that’s great! 🥰

[@Jasterouge]

Of course. But then you have to have another job, which is not so fun. That’s the trade off.

[@cameraprepper7938]

@@Jasterouge For me the solution of being happy with photography was to quit being professional, it was NOT fun !!! NOW I have a lot of fun with photography ! A job is just a job, fun or not fun, but to have ones hobby as a job, it does not always work well.

[@Jasterouge]

@@cameraprepper7938 Sure, I understood what you meant. But if one quits as a pro photographer, they have to find another job to pay the bills. Being an artist isn’t just a job, it’s who you are. For a creative forced to work a mundane job outside of the creative industry it’s soul destroying. So some would say that earning a living from your passion, despite it becoming somewhat “work-a-day”, is still better than spending your life working at a job you despise. Which is the reality for many.

[@cameraprepper7938]

@@Jasterouge The are MANY other creative jobs than photographer, there are also many jobs you do not need to hate to go to work ! I always recommend NOT to be professional Photographer, because you risk as to get totally bored about photography in the long run, which I have seen several pros do ! As a hobby Photographer you are happy every time you pick up your Camera, you will lie if you say the same as a professional photographer !!!

[@N.D.Photos25]

Laura, Thank you so much for your videos I am a creative photography myself. Mistake I need to approve on is having a website and lacking confidence even though I’m a people person. ❤thank you so much for your knowledge & teaching me so much over the past year as a photographer.

[@MisterArgos]

Thank you Laura! I have been taking loads of pictures and I loved it many years ago, but had to stop and burry myself working something I don't enjoy. Few months ago I saw one of your videos and how happy you are, and it reminded me how happy I was then! Now I bought key gear and returned to it! Thank you for bringing happiness back to my life! P.S.: I haven't made any of those mistakes!

[@ModelSensation]

Great video Laura! Good information and presentation!

[@davidgaudet9168]

Laura, you are a ball of fire...you are sooo enthusiastic and driven. It is wonderful that you are willing to help other photographers...I love your videos, keep up the great work...😉😉😊😊💕💕

[@fotografonomada.digital]

Great video Laura! Really good tips and for sure many of this mistakes happen to EVERYONE, so it's good that we all realize that this is something normal, a process that we need to go through. Keep the good work, big hug!

[@linnearr]

dear Laura, thank you so much for your videos! you’re so inspiring, comforting and ass-kicking in a good way at the same time, and it’s giving me energy and passion to pursue my goals. I feel so much more confident with you on my side, you rock girl!!❤

[@seansiquig]

love your tips! thanks so much for sharing 😁

[@wisechoicemedia]

Laura, thank you so much for sharing your mistakes and personal experiences with us. Your honesty and vulnerability are truly inspiring. It’s comforting to know that we’re not alone in our struggles and that we can learn and grow together. Your story has made a real impact on me, and I’m grateful for your openness and wisdom. Keep shining and inspiring! 🌟💖

[@LauraBC]

Hi Wise! Thank you so much for such a meaningful comment. I love to be able to share my experiences because it was tremendously hard for me. And I often find that on KZbin, not many people share their beginnings… This can be very discouraging for beginners but the truth is that we all struggled when we started. I’m so happy to have you here and for all your support. I couldn’t ask for a better community! ❤️ Loads of love Wise! ✨

[@wisechoicemedia]

@@LauraBC 📸🔥🙏🏾❤

[@krzysztofkowalski4265]

As always, you are a priceless source of knowledge Laura :) Huge thanx

[@saral.9220]

Another great video Laura! So so useful! THANK YOU!

[@KingLeo-nf3bj]

You hit the nail right on the head with me. Seriously……but I really appreciate the straight forwardness because it actually give me confidence to move forward. I lack confidence because I lack the experience but this video really helps. Thanks

[@LauraBC]

I love reading this! 🫶🏼 I know how hard it can be when lacking confidence and being full of self-doubts. We can go very hard on ourselves sometimes. So glad to hear that this video helped! ❤️ And keep it up! 📸

[@NinjaSlapVanish]

Thank you for your honesty

[@LauraBC]

You’re most welcome! I hope it helped! 🥰

[@piloteertwo5393]

Thank you for sharing, delivered very well for the constructive feedback to be received. Particularly worrying about quantity in a portfolio!

[@LauraBC]

You’re most welcome! 🥰 I hope it helped. And about the portfolio, when you’re just starting it’s better to share less . A few good shots. And then feed that portfolio slowly slowly when you get more work or collaborations. It’s better to share a few good ones than many that are not as good. 🥰

[@oriolmartinezp]

Hello Laura. Thank you for sharing your own experience with all of us. Your process has inspired me a lot. I work in another sector, right now, nothing related to photography but, for the first time, I feel confident enough to start my own path to one day become a professional photographer, at least part-time. And obviously, I made all these mistakes and many more. In some cases I learned it on my own, in others I am grateful that someone, much wise, helped me. So once again, thank you very much.

[@MinistaJ7]

Hope you’re well! I’m a huge fan of your work and Bali snaps-seriously, they’re like eye candy! Your videos? Total inspiration overload!❤❤❤ Quick thought: would you consider hosting an in-person photography class? (In Bali) It’d be a blast for us newbies to soak up your wisdom in paradise. Picture this: a cozy group of 10, learning from the best while soaking up the sun. Plus, it could be a nice little side hustle for you! Make that $$ honeyyy lol And hey, if you decide to go for it, just know I’ll be first in line ….especially if there’s a discount for coming up with the idea lol ..Who doesn’t love saving some bucks while learning from their fave photographer? 😄 Big love from CT!

[@PatrickInnella]

As always Laura, fantastic and practical advice! You are a godsend to beginning photographers and I absolutely love how you pull no punches. A lot of what you said in the video resonated with me; especially the "when are you going to be good enough" and the "learn social media" points. So, thank you again and please don't stop with the videos! Do you have one on how to shoot tethered? I had to do it at a workshop but was not hands on in the set up.

[@itsmetracey9255]

for me it was or sometimes is the problem you mentioned in mistake 7. for me its like the more they see from my work the more their interest gets bigger and bigger no? i was posting around 5 pictures to announce to get back to photography, i liked them, but that was like 5 years ago! i guess i will take them off and only focus on the real ones i love today, not many years ago. thanks for your helpful video laura, i'll take it to heart and try to get better and better everyday 💙

[@LauraBC]

Thank you for sharing your experience! ❤️ Yes, that happens a lot too. We have to remove old photos that may not represent who we are today as a photographer. We have to clean our portfolio and keep it up to date with our current photography quality and style. I’m glad the video helped! 🥰 Loads of love!

[@RobiePunsalan]

Thank you so much Laura! I have to agree with all your points, happy to say I've done the opposite for some but still guilty for others. I started culling my Instagram the moment you shared the tip. From about 100 posts I cut it down to 49. Hopefully the photos I have left can convey a better image for potential clients.

[@Gerald_G]

Hello, Laura! Right now I'm doing real estate photography primarily, and each time the Seller is at the property and I do get nervous because I'm trying to balance being cordial and rushed with them with capturing the images...and each time I noticed that it cost me forgetting to do certain things like opening all the window blinds, or turning off all of the ceiling fans. Which I know I wouldn't do if I were there alone and had time. But the last property I did notice that I was able to concentrate more and still have some "small talk" with the seller. Definitely looking forward to some shoots where no one else at the property but me. 😆. Thanks for the honest talk...we need it! 🥰😍

[@Janelle-u6h]

This couldn't have come at a better time. I've been doing photography for 4 years with 2 courses, and I still consider myself a beginner. A friend said yesterday, I need to break the ice and have a social media presence so people know I'm a photographer. It's time to rip off the bandaid!

[@wilfredo-teyrosalesfotos]

thank you for always sharing your knowledge and pass experiences to better this community, gracias! Side note: Ants was trying to collab with you 🤣🤣🤣

[@LauraBC]

You’re most welcome Will! ❤️ hahaha indeed! You can’t see them in the video but there were hundreds of them. Till the point I had to do the second take in another place because I couldn’t focus on what I was saying. 🤣🤣🤣

[@johnclay7644]

informative video thanks Laura

[@LauraBC]

Thank you so much John! 🫶🏼

[@ALFRZProject]

what a great video. i'm a beginner photographer. and planing to go to bali the end of this year.

[@GUILLERMOJALDANALOPEZ]

Estupendo Video Laura, saludos sigue adelante

[@LauraBC]

Muchísimas gracias Guillermo! 😊

[@Peterogen]

Thank you Laura ❤

[@LauraBC]

You’re welcome Peter! 🥰❤️

[@jacinpvr]

ugh! I´ve labeled myself as an ¨amateur¨photographer for 7 years now. I have gotten paid for portrait sessions through word of mouth but not as much as I would like. I have both FB & instagram but never invested in website, seems complicated. My biggest issue now is having to wear glasses & I'm finding I get much better quality & clarity wearing glasses using iPhone 15 plus with all the pro settings vs my Nikon 3400. It's a huge investment to buy a new camera to compete with a new tech iPhone. No client will pay a photographer when they show up with their iPhone, but I know I can produce much better quality with it versus my camera. I did have one client that I shot with both and I just said I wanted some shots with my phone. All the best images were taken with my iPhone, she had no idea, but not everyone will go for that.

[@milestonowhere]

I guess I am making the second mistake so I keep on watching that part on and on 🙂😊. Anyway thanks for the tips great video..

[@ViktorAndy]

If any of you are getting triggered because someone is trying to teach you or expressing critique towards you, you should not work in art and design industry.

[@LauraBC]

Right? 🙈 I’m very open and honest but I had already situations when some people got upset about the way I express myself. I’m just trying to help. 🥹🫶🏼

[@ViktorAndy]

@@LauraBC You express yourself like a true art/design professor that loves what she does and cares for her students growth.

[@digitaldiariesofaniyah]

Thank you!

[@LauraBC]

You’re welcome! 😍🫶🏼

[@guyphoto9437]

As a professional photographer, I have to say one of the things that would discourage me from recommending another photographer would be to see them looking at the back of their camera rather than the viewfinder. Too much phone snapshots and not enough real camera training. If you look at the photographers at the Olympics, going on right now, they look through their viewfinders. They're all professional photojournalists. They know what they're doing. Nothing screams amateur more than using the back of your camera to compose and shoot an image, regardless of whether you say you're a professional or not.

[@LauraBC]

I have to disagree so much with this. 🙏🏼 And I say this shooting 90% of the times through the viewfinder. But sooo many times, having the screen helps to get shots impossible to get through the viewfinder. What’s the point of having incredible features in a camera if you’re not going to use them because you think it’s “amateur behaviour”? The articulated screen of my Sony A7RV helped me to get incredible shots when I had to lift my arms a lot to get specific angles or lie flat in the floor to get low angles. The cameras these days are insane and even though I prefer shooting through the VF, it’s perfectly ok to shoot looking at the screen. Reason why incredible professional at the olympics are doing so. They know what they’re doing, trust me, otherwise they wouldn’t be working in the olympics. 😄

[@Kamil.Damian]

Great advice

[@cipriannituphotographer]

Did you open an LLC or LTD? Can you share more info on this subject? Thank you in advance.

[@dorianevans1588]

Thank you

[@alrevolver6061]

Wiche cams you use ???

[@tobbbse]

I can't find the video : when a client tells you you are too expensive does it have a new name?

[@philipgilligan_art]

Great video Laura I am terrified already missy 😅😅😅

[@LauraBC]

Thank you Phil! Haha why?? 🙈❤️

[@philipgilligan_art]

@@LauraBC just the thought of messing up on a job x

[@LauraBC]

@@philipgilligan_art hahaha I hope not! 🙈📸

[@philipgilligan_art]

@@LauraBC 😎😎😎😎😎

[@philipgilligan_art]

@@LauraBC got my first shoots Thursday next week 2 bookings

[@Dariusproductions]

I'm actually having trouble growing a presence on Instagram as a photographer and idk what I'm doing wrong

[@LauraBC]

I totally get you Darius. Instagram has changed so much and it’s soooo hard to grow unless you start sharing reels every single day. I’m planning a video to help with this. Explaining how photographers should build their Instagram account for growth and client conversion. ❤️

[@Dariusproductions]

@@LauraBC yes lol surprising the only way to grow is use the boost post option and reels i actually have gotten good results off that lol but I don't wanna always do that lol I think Instagram does that on purpose only half shows it people so u purposely boost or do reels

[@Jasterouge]

Sliced fresh lemons will get rid of those ants, they hate the smell of lemon.

[@360.Outdoors.Videos]

👍👍

[@--AnonymousUser--]

Does not wanting to make a living with my camera count as a mistake?

[@LauraBC]

That’s not a mistake, it’s a totally respectable choice. 😄

[@ActorMaurice]

😊❤

[@LauraBC]

Thank you! ❤️

[@mrjke007]

🖤🧑🏻🤍

[@LauraBC]

🥰❤️🫶🏼

[@mrjke007]

@@LauraBC ☺️🤗