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“Your network is your net worth.”
- DAVID JAY
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Your business is as strong as the people and businesses with which you’re connected. If you don’t already have ‘em, here are the top 5 to add to your network:
1. Photographer Mentors
A must. A MUST is to have someone that’s walked ahead of you, who can guide you, be honest, be critical, be encouraging, and have the experience to back it up. A mentor is invaluable. They can really be gifts of God and we’ve been grateful for the people who’ve walked with us.
You can read a book. You can attend a workshop. You can practice tips from the internet. But it’s different to be face to face and shoot side by side by a professional who rocks and is willing to challenge you to be better in every way.
Learn from your mentor what it’s like to walk in their footsteps, what the typical day of a wedding photographer looks like.
Stay tuned to the D Park Photography mentorship program coming soon!
2. Small Business Attorney
Contracts, paperwork, liability. You need to be prepared and protected as a photographer, especially when you’ve got a family for which you’re providing. You should know your documentation is as solid as it can be.
Need a good recommendation? Here’s a rock star small business attorney we love:
Andrea Paris
3. Insurance
Godwilling, you’ll never have to use it. But God forbid you don’t have it in case equipment breaks down, gets stolen, or an event takes a turn for the worse. Even if nothing ever happens, there are plenty of top tier venues that will require you have insurance to show them in order to photograph there (and they normally don’t request it ’til near the wedding date…which, by then, you may not have time to scramble to get the insurance booked on time). Be prepared.
We’ve been so happy with our insurance at Pictage. Great coverage. Easy process. Good service.
Pictage
4. Tax Accountant
Personally, it’s hard enough keeping track of tax laws for personal taxes. But add in a business and there’s plenty of details, exceptions and exclusions that are hard to track. It’s been awesome to have someone who can take care of those hard-to-track details (especially for someone who prefers to stick to the creative side of photography, not the number crunching).
We’ve fallen in love with our tax accountant if you are looking for one:
Pamela Fisher-Payne: taxgoddess1040@aol.com
5. Wedding Vendors
Network! Our biggest referral source have been the amazing vendors with which we’ve had the pleasure to work as well as hang out. They know us. They know how we met. They know the struggles we face. They know how hard we work. They know we care about their business.
Go out there and meet other wedding professionals. Add value. Show appreciation and love to the vendors you work with on your shoots and weddings.
Join some wedding networking organizations: Utterly Engaged, WIPA, ABC, Thursday Therapy. There’s tons out there. Go go go!
what next?
With what hurdles do you need help? Message away!
With Our Love,
The Parks
