Jennifer,
As a photographer, I think the three things I'd have done (with the knowledge I have now) when I first started out would be:
1. CHARGE MORE for my work ... and definitely NOT trade for "exposure" or barter for services I don't need just to get a job. That's a common pitfall, and I'm not the only photographer who has fallen in it. It simply doesn't do much for you in the long run and sets a pattern of lack versus prosperity.
2. Be more professional with my contracts, licensing and paperwork. It is important that there be a contract (even for the small jobs) with agreed upon pricing, stipulations, usage privileges, restrictions, and policies especially around copyright.
3. Build my email database from the get-go and keep in good contact with them regularly. (Although dually noting that there was no email when I first became a pro, lol!)
As a marketing coach, the three things I wished photographers would do when it comes to their businesses are:
1. Write a business plan. You are moving from a hobby to a business and it needs a business plan. An official one. Get help from your SBTDC (Small Business Technical Development Center) for free. Just Google it.
2. Make peace with the long haul of being an entrepreneur. It takes years to become successful, and lots of hard work. Don't get frustrated when you don't immediately have clients lined up around the block.
3. Know that in-person, face-to-face marketing and self-promotion are necessary — even in a digital age — and that follow-up is the key to making customers.
One final comment: As a newbie photographer, I would hesitate to ask advice of veteran photographers. Probably because the first few I approached were prickly about sharing. I wish that I would have been more tenacious. There are so many pros who are willing to lend a hand up and, had I found them, I'd have gotten much further, much faster. As a pro now, I always try to lend friendly advice or answer questions.
Good luck on your journey!
Thanks
Kim
One more thing: shameless self-promotion, join me for an upcoming webinar I'm doing on visual content marketing for photographers. Register here:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/regist ... 7410022146