It’s so natural to want your photography business to stand out – but where do you start? And what does that even truly mean?
Recently, I was speaking to a client, and she mentioned that she really disliked a part of her process when it comes to working with clients. She felt like it blocked her creativity. She wanted her photography business to stand out, but felt trapped by what felt like an industry standard.
I asked her why she didn’t switch the order in which she was doing things to allow herself more time to get to know her client? Her face immediately lit up and I could sense her excitement, but I could still feel her resistance to my idea.
I think she knew deep down that this would be so much better for her creatively- which would lead to a better final result for her client. But, like many of us, she was reluctant to go against what others in her industry were doing!!
I have felt like this too, while designing my own offers and processes.
Nervous to do things differently to what I believe is standard in my industry. But deep down, I honestly believe that creating magical experiences for our clients begins with creating magical offers and throwing out the rule book to what you think you have to do!! This is what will truly help your photography business to stand out from others in a similar niche.
When my clients feel stuck about what makes their service different, I ask them what they dislike about their industry. So often they have long lists of things that feel icky, not in alignment with their personal values or just so overdone. They have tons of ideas on what they feel is better, and that is often where we can find their unique brand of magic is aka their unique selling point
Sometimes we just need to throw the rule book out and do things our own way!
Just because others have had success doing things a certain way doesn’t mean there isn’t room for you to bring your own unique perspective and magic into the industry you work in.
To help your photography business stand out – you need to let your magic shine!!
I really do believe that by fully embracing who you are and the way you like to work, you could connect with your soul aligned clients and do things your own way
My biggest advice to you, if you feel that you don’t have anything that makes you stand out in the photography industry is to spend some time looking into what makes you different, and how you can infuse that into the experience you create, as well as your process and systems!
You have so much value to offer your clients, you just need to discover what makes you shine and infuse that into your service. Build in opportunities to connect with your clients on a deeper level, and don’t be afraid to let your wonderfully weird personality shine and stand out!!
My biggest hope for you is that
- You can turn being different into your greatest advantage, to help you stand out from the crowd and avoid the comparison cycle
- You could work with like-minded clients who really “get you” and make you feel really connected and inspired by your work
- You could feel free to be your most authentic self and create genuine connections with your clients
- You could feel excited about doing things your own way!
- Create a system that supports you and your client, and helps you become known for your signature process.
- Be less reliant on social media, create more personal connections and build a business that is centred around referrals and slower marketing principles
- Be more intentional with your time, and feel more joy in your work
These are my three top tips if you are looking for ways to set yourself apart and help your photography business stand out.
You might even be surprised about how much more enjoyable your process becomes:
Focus on what makes your photography business different
Instead of looking at what everyone else is doing, why not try to see what makes you different and how you can use that to your advantage. Look towards your strengths, unique personality and soft skills. These are the elements of your photography business that truly set you apart from others.
You want to focus on the things you do well, and other areas of expertise you can use to set yourself apart from others within your industry. Do you have a unique method or personality trait that allows you to do things differently and stand out? Perhaps you have resources or knowledge that others in your industry don’t have.
I love working through this question with my clients during a Co-Creation or Reset Day. Especially because so often, many feel that they don’t have anything that makes them shine. But when we identify all the puzzle pieces and put them back together there is always something that makes them special!!!
Get really clear on your soul aligned clients
Do some soul searching and really find out who you want to serve and why. By connecting yourself to a higher purpose, you will be able to see who you can best serve, and work with people who understand the value you have to offer. Think about your soul aligned client in terms of their personality, their thoughts, feelings & most importantly values and how those align with your work.
The deeper you can dive into their personality, values & what they may be experiencing when deciding to use your service, the better you can serve them and create a deep connection. This will help you map out their client journey to make sure they feel a deep emotional connection to you and your brand.
If you want your photography business to stand out – then do it your way
Throw away the rule book and do things your own way. You have most likely always enjoyed working and doing things differently. So don’t let other people’s strategies, templates and hacks keep you from creating a system that works for you- making your photography business stand out!.
Don’t be afraid to experiment, even if you don’t get it right on the first try you would have gained some helpful feedback. Find ways that you can use your unique personality and approach to connect with your clients. Lastly, build a system that will support your creativity rather than doing things just because “everyone else is doing it”.
If this really resonates with you and you want to find out more – head on over to see how we can work together. Or sign up to my newsletter where I share more tips on how I run a thoughtful & intentional business rooted in slow business values & principles.
