I’m unlearning everything I thought I knew about pursuing photography.

Here’s Why It’s a Game-Changer.

I was stuck at my desk, staring at a website template I bought for my new re-brand. I wanted this website to be different. I wanted to stand out and attract my ideal client, who has shifted from mothers and soon-to-be brides to athletic apparel brands and athletes. I am leaning more toward wanting to become involved in the sports photography niche.

I started adding images and copy here and there, going from one page to another, ultimately getting frustrated with myself.. What was I looking at here? I thought to myself, “this LITERALLY looks and sounds like every other photographer out there.”

It was then I knew… I needed to stop doing everything I had previously done to achieve what I had not yet.

The Audit That Changed Everything

I pulled out my notebook and started writing down everything that I was doing NOW to attract clients and promote a photography brand-

1. Only posting pictures that were aesthetically pleasing even though I didn’t necessarily feel like they were very good. Oh, and yes, they were just beige, brown, some yellow, and a subtle hint of tan.
   
2. Using the same words and statements in every text block. Words like “Capture” (for everything from love to memories to stories) and “Telling your unique story.” I never said that in real life; why would I litter my web pages with that?
   
3. Doing everything on my own, scared of investing in myself and my business. Ultimately, this is a lack of investment in my future (more on this later).
   
4. I waited for clients to contact me or went to planned photoshoots in absolutely GORGEOUS niches, but the final products were not aimed toward my ideal clientele.
   
5. Trying to fit in! I would spend countless hours scrolling and following photographers nationwide in the wedding, couples, and family niches, looking for what was getting the likes and attention. Then, I would try to emulate that on my profile, too.

By doing the above, I just felt exhausted. I wasn’t excited about what I was sharing. I was getting inquiries from people who wanted photos like Photographer A (let’s just use a talented photographer based in Utah as an example) but wanted to pay me less than 50% of my asking rates because, hey, if I wouldn’t give them a discount, there are other photographers like me around who would.

I was replaceable; I was one of many.

Time to Soul-Search

So I took some time and did some soul searching (ok, I may have hopped on a few quizzes on Pinterest, same thing). I did a collage on Pinterest and narrowed down what images really inspired me. I did a Follower Audit on social and unfollowed people who were just not lighting some sort of fire under me.

I found that most of the people I was attracted to and who made me feel excited and creative were athletes, female sports photographers, and small businesses immersed in the fitness and wellness space. I looked at my Canva Mood Board, and surprisingly (not really, but at the time, I was stunned), the colors, the content, and the motivation matched. I posted pictures of Collen Quigley at the finish line in Eugene, OR. Gabby Thomas was screaming “hell yeah” after she crossed the finish line to win gold at the 2024 Olympics. Pictures of Tia Claire and Baylle Rayl high-fiving after completing a 5k at the CrossFit games. Sports photography was taking over all my inspo boards. Not only did these images feel relatable and exciting, they also evoked a beautiful surge of motivation and desire to pursue a career where I would be surrounded by like-minded athletes.

The Epiphany

It rang high and loud. This is what I need to be doing. This is where I want to be and the people I want to surround myself with. As a former track athlete and long-distance runner, I related to their expressions. I knew how incredibly important capturing these moments was – to celebrate within and to inspire others.

That’s when I took a vow. Even if just for a trial run, I was making 2025 the year of The Pivot! Pivoting from doing what I always had to try new and unconventional ways to build a business that serves athletes with high-quality sports photography and women in the fitness world with images and copy that helped them propel their dreams forward!

The List

To do this, I am going to follow some new “rules”:

1. Go to events like local races and sporting events, and run clubs to get pictures of people being active in the sport. No more waiting around for opportunities to find me.
   
2. I posted photos and blog posts about things I loved and was proud of! Not worrying about a “feed aesthetic” and just sharing what I want to share. Simple but effective- Social media is a place to be social… WHO KNEW?
   
3. Connect with people in my desired niche and offer free or discounted work to get my foot in the door. There’s nothing wrong with taking a few steps back and getting experience and portfolio pieces. The value is high, even if what I make in the beginning isn’t. It will pay off – I need to believe in this.
   
4. A BIG ONE – Hire people to help me with things slowing me down – like my new web design (as much as I love doing it for other businesses, I struggle to find the time and attention to do my own). I am also looking for a mentor who has gone before me in the world of sports photography.

My Biggest Takeaway (For You)

Do things that others aren’t. Find the people who inspire you and those you would innately LOVE to work with (even if it feels BIG now). I have a list here in front of me now with Olympians, A-List athletes, and globally recognized brands. Don’t limit or judge yourself. Dream it, then believe you can do it.

Don’t let the pressure of “fitting in” or the desire to have a huge social media following stop you from sharing your work. Go after what you want, even if it’s unconventional. Easy typically means unfulfilling. Challenge yourself to try the harder of two routes. Exercise your creative muscles as much as you exercise your physical ones.

And lastly… don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you know what you want to do and will propel you forward, relieving some unwanted yet crucial tasks to someone else could be the key to reaching new levels of success. And find a mentor. The advice and leadership you will gain from someone one or two steps ahead, doing what you aspire to do, is an invaluable gift.

When things aren’t speaking to you, when you feel stagnant in your day-to-day, know that by trying a new path, or a new way of doing things, you can find the cure you’ve been searching for.