Finding Photography Inspiration and How It Impacts Your Business

After a busy photography season, a photographer can sometimes lack further ideas or structure. Maybe you just finished a week of multiple sessions, hours of editing and social media marketing - I know what that is like! After those times, often my last thought is to "do the next thing," but, as I'm sure you already know, photography is an extremely fast-pace job. And it requires new ideas, inspiration, poses & much more!

In some ways, this job I am so privileged to have as a photographer, has proved to be a bit of a litmus test. How far am I willing to go to make my client's session great? How many hours will I invest in marketing? Am I going to take five extra minutes to edit the hair out of the little girl's eyes? Ultimately asking: how hard am I willing to work for His glory?

Friends, let's be photographers who give all our energy for His glory in every session!

Let's dive into some practical ideas for new inspiration.


\\ IDEAS FOR INSPIRATION \\

1. Never begin a business day without first being alone with Jesus

We all have those mornings when our first waking thought is "Wow, there is so much to do!" but so often the response to this is to jump out of bed, do the necessary things, then begin editing, replying to emails, and posting things on social media. And in so doing, miss the very most important priority: Jesus. If you desire to run a Christ-centered business, then He must be put first - before all the other to-dos on your list. If you haven't been in His Word and in prayer, then make it your policy that you have no business pulling out the paperwork and such for your job, until you have spent time with Him by yourself.  

2. Follow great photographers on social media

One of the best tips I have learned for having a fresh & lovely photos is to follow people who know how it's done. I ask myself a few questions before I follow a fellow photographer: (1) Are the things this photographer posts pure, appropriate and helpful? (2) Do I personally like their style? (3) Would I be glad if my photos looked the way theirs do?

Side note: I do occasionally follow photographers with different styles than I aspire to having; the goal is to improve, critique, and shape your personal photo style, for His glory. :)

Check out this post I wrote about a few wonderful photographers to follow on Instagram.

3. Have a photo mentor or teacher

When I first got interested in photography, I took a class with a professional photographer who had many years of experience, and it proved to be extremely helpful! He would point out what looked good in my photo, but also where I needed to improve more. This gave me a goal to work toward, and took me from amateur I-have-no-idea-what-I'm-doing style to a more put together and professional look.

4. Be willing to ask more experienced photographers questions 

Running your own business is hard work, and the simple fact is that I do not know everything, and I have found that taking a moment to message or talk to a photographer friend of mine can be extremely helpful.

For example, when I was asked to shoot my first proposal, I wrote to my friend Halley - who has years of experience and has done many weddings - and she gave me so much food for thought.

Think about where you are versus where you need to be. I was not very experienced with couple sessions, and needed to understand the flow of a proposal before I got behind the camera and captured one.

5. Read helpful blogs, magazines, and articles

This may come as a shock to you, as a photographer, since you have such a hands on job, but it's actually greatly beneficial to your business to read. I have found that looking though edifying resources - such as books, blogs, articles, magazines, manuals, etc. - can greatly enhance your business.

I personally love looking though the Set Apart Girl Magazine; it has tons of encouraging articles AND beautiful photos & inspiring graphic design. I also love checking out fellow photographers work, like my friend Emily Mitton who so sweetly sent me the bridal guide she uses for her wedding clients. Buying this guide gave me lots of ideas for the upcoming wedding season; what poses look good, keeping an orderly flow to the day, etc. Tons of helpful info.

Blog wise, you should definitely check out: Sarah Morgan Photography, Hannah Elise Photography, and of course Emily Mitton Photography. And there are many more!


Now I'd love to hear from you! What resources have you found to be helpful in your photography business? What keeps the creativity and inspiration fresh for you?

\\ This job has been given to me to do. Therefore, it is a gift. Therefore, it is a privilege. Therefore, it is an offering I may make to God. Therefore, it is to be done gladly, if it is done for Him. Here, not somewhere else, I may learn God’s way. In this job, not in some other, God looks for faithfulness. Elisabeth Elliot

Thoughts From a Photo All-Nighter || {written on 12.10.16}

Photography is a lot like football in some ways... You have a goal, and you have to do everything you possibly can to reach it. It's competitive. It requires hard work, late nights, unpaid overtime, problem solving, creativity, diligence, and endurance, endurance, endurance. Like right now... I am 55 photos in editing a session with 753 more to get through this evening {I mean morning}; they've got to be off and in the mail by tomorrow morning. Between then and now, I will (Lord willing) have all of the photos edited, select which ones I want to be black and white, write a card to the clients, sign a copyright release, and, of course, look up my client's address so that we're ready to go when it's time to ship them.

What I don't do during late night editing times:

-Listen to harp music
Though absolutely lovely, I already feel quite tired, and harp music is a bit like sleeping medication when you're exhausted... Don't listening to anything that will make you wayyyy calm down. It's probably time for a good Leonard Ravenhill sermon! He'll keep me awake!

-Lean against anything
Right now I really wish I could just jump in bed and completely forget about all the beautiful photos that await me on my computer - they do constantly call my name - and just sleep. For five whole entire hours... But that may or may not happen, depending on how much time I want to have to finish the large amount of communications homework that's due on Monday. Humm....

-Think about the level of exhaustion I have reached
Sometimes when I am editing, I find myself praying over an over that I would make it. Don't get me wrong, I don't think I'm going to die from over-stressing about the photos or anything like that... I am praying for endurance. I had no idea when I got into photography how important persistence, and overjoyed diligence would be to my business - and only He can supply it. :) I really try not to dwell on how many sessions I have done, as if I deserve a break or something; I try to loose sight of the distractions, and I pray for full focus on Jesus. It's the only way to keep on.


Football requires strategy. Photography requires strategy. When I sat down to start editing, I started going through each pose and deciding which of the shots looks the loveliest. I have broken my editing process down into portions:

~ Find the best photo from each pose, and delete all other pictures.
~ Upload all photos to Photoshop.
~ Check histogram, if necessary, or if any issues are noticed.

~ Use the healing brush to correct any blemishes, marks, scars, lines, lint, dirt, wrinkles (in clothing or face) or distractions (AKA, random pelican in the middle of your photo).
~ Airbrush away under eye circles, redness, bruises, and the like.
~ Run through all the photos, double checking for anything I may have missed while editing.
~ Select which photos to make black & white copies of. Decide between a light, semi-light, dark, and very dark black & white tone for each photo, depending on the white balance, amount of light, kind of lighting, and textural tone.

Sounds slightly complicated, but it really isn't. And no two photographers do every single thing the same way. A well educated photographer incorporates elements of design, the rule of thirds, good control of the camera, posing technique, and good lighting, but other than that, it's really up to the photographer to be creative and find out what will best suit their clients and business. Make every session unique; they chose you to take their photos out of many, many other available photographers. Give them the most wonderful images you possibly can. {And be so totally excited about doing it! Remember this is all for Jesus!}

Post photo editing all-nighter instructions: Be so thankful! You've made it! Maybe you should get a little sleep... But, hey, you're a photographer, and more than likely, you've been up past 3:30 before on this - so it's nothing new. Take a moment so stand in awe of who He is - the Faithful One - who has sustained you through editing each of the photos. Now it's done. Excellence was applied; now rejoice!

Well... It's 2:21... I think that's a perfect, random note to end this blog post on. Trust Jesus, and keep going! :)

|| 5 edifying photographers to follow on instagram ||

I have learned that one of the quickest ways for me to pick up tips, as a photographer, is to follow other photographers who are well experienced and take lovely photos, with Christ at the center of their business. Today I would like to share a few of the Instagram Photographers that I absolutely love and have learned a lot from:



For Tips/ideas:
1. Hannah Elise Photography

I got this lovely photographer's name from my friend Karen, and I have learned a ton from Hannah. She wrote an awesome article on her blog called "Some Things I've Learned: Blurred Cement," and wow, y'all! Just that one post has radically changed the way I do portraits. I barely ever gave my aperture any thought before I read this post, but after reading it, I realize that getting those "top notch" photos wasn't something you had to have years and years of experience to capture. I could seriously change my business with a 50mm lens, and a good control of my F stop (another word for aperture).


Besides her website, you can also find Hannah Elise's work in the Set Apart Motherhood Magazines.

HER WEBSITE || INSTA || FACEBOOK
SOME PHOTO INSPIRATION FROM HANNAH I LOVE:
KULBARTZ FAMILY : Iowa City
KAYLA + CLYDE : MOTHERHOOD
THOMAS FAMILY : Iowa City



2. Karen Grace Photography

My wonderful friend Karen Whisler is such a lovely photographer! She's also my boss (#incrediblebossaward). Jesus has really gifted this sweet friend of mine with a great eye for photos; she loves people with Christ's love, and makes their session a joy. One thing I love about Karen's work is that she gets lots of candids  - the shots that express what life is like when the camera is turned off, and everyone is just having a ton of fun.

Awesome random facts about Karen: She is genuine & joyful; she is the creative director at The Overflow Blog; her family just relocated, and yet she's still head-deep in photo editing ;) ; and she is extremely gracious {just ask her about those photo deadlines I begged for longer on... ;)}!

HER WEBSITE || INSTA || FACEBOOK
SOME PHOTO INSPIRATION FROM KAREN I LOVE:
Hanna: Downtown Belleville
Family Adventures: Virginia



3. Sarah Morgan Photography 

I just recently found this photographer on Instagram, and I have been so encouraged and inspired by her work! According to her website, Sarah is a Colorado photographer who loves Jesus (and it's very evident in her posts!). :) Something I enjoy about Sarah's work is that she does lots of classy portraits, and she also take lots of great wedding photos. If you are looking for some inspiration in getting good candids, sweet portraits, or capturing a wedding day well, then give Sarah Morgan Photography a follow!

HER WEBSITE || INSTA || FACEBOOK
SOME PHOTO INSPIRATION FROM SARAH I LOVE:
Emily + Philip | Engagement
kaila : a true friend
Alex + Emily || Windsor, CO Wedding



4. Let There Be Light Photography

This Instagram account is exploding with absolutely lovely photos! This photographer, Chenoa, is so gifted with capturing color and emotion. Her photos are lovely! I first found this photographer when I was looking through the list of photographers who contributed to the Set Apart Motherhood Magazine, and I was totally thrilled to have her work coming through my Instagram feed after I followed her; it's definitely beautiful!

HER WEBSITE || INSTA || FACEBOOK
SOME PHOTO INSPIRATION FROM CHENOA:
The Smith Family: Sweet Baby Girl



5. Husiman Photography

I live in Rockford, Michigan, and one of the most popular photographers in my area is Heather Huisman. And She is a wonderful photographer! At least 20 families I know have done photos with her, and have had absolutely stunning results. Heather (or "Mrs. Huisman" as I call her when I see her at MOPS :)), specializes in newborn portraits. And I can remember how grateful I was before I did my first newborn session that I had some of her incredible work to look through on Facebook for ideas. :) The photos of Huisman Photography are taken in incredible lighting, and the editing is done with excellence and beautiful class. If you're looking for a good photographer, I don't think there is anyone I would recommend more than Heather Huisman!

HER WEBSITE || INSTA || FACEBOOK
SOME PHOTO INSPIRATION FROM HEATHER:
MATERNITY & BABY
COUPLES



P.S. Cassidy Elaine Photography is on Instagram! Check it out: