for photographers

Filter Out the Noise

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To my dear photographer friends:

I received a note from another photographer recently. A lovely one filled with kind words about my work. 
I was flattered beyond measure.

But intertwined with the compliments, was an undercurrent of uncertainty.

What should I do?
How do I manage?
I don't want to miss out.
How do you do it?
Help?

The answer is: I don't know.

I can't give you an exact formula, no one can.
That's why you see so many posts and messages and comments on the same thing.
How? Why? 

Because it's about you. And that's the very best part.
Because it's about your limits & desires.
Your focus.

You control your schedule. What you shoot. When.
Which clients you work with. How often. What kind.

Your business. Your art. Your rules.

So if you're here. Serving your clients. Serving your community.
You might as well enjoy it.

You might as well shoot what you love. Because then you'll shoot the best.
You might as well set your schedule. Because then you'll shoot the best.
You might as well set aside time for your family. Because then you'll shoot the best.

Being overworked, stressed, lonely. That doesn't lead to good work.

And with good work. And peace. And finding yourself.
The work will come.

Because your images will sing. They will cheer. They will breathe.
They will mirror you, and how you love what you do most.
Refreshing and honest and pure.

So be gentle with yourself. Allow your faults and your times of imbalance. 

Then move along and breathe and recoup.
Because then you'll find your why and your way.

washington dc baby fine art baby photographer

Kate Juliet Photography specializes in natural maternity, newborn, and family portraiture in the Washington DC and Northern VA area.
Contact me to begin planning your custom portrait experience.

For Photographers | A Reminder for when you feel like Quitting

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You're swamped. Between the kids, the job, and life (if you even still have one of those) it's all too much.
You're frustrated. And tired.
And just done.

Everyone has been there.

It would be so easy to just give it up. Think of all the time you would have!
No more inquiries to respond to. No more sessions to plan.
You could have your weekends to yourself and your family again.
No more late night editing marathons.
No more worrying about your work or taking classes or upgrading your gear. 
Sounds pretty good if you ask me.

But then... what would you be giving up?

You started a photography business for a reason.
Do you remember what it was?
What your vision for this creative outlet would be?

Are you staying true to that?

My guess is probably not. So before you throw in the towel, try re-thinking things.

Make sure you're shooting what you love.
Shoot something new, or re-visit something old.
Whatever it is, shoot something that inspires you.

Make sure you're shooting who you love.
That you're finding the right clients.
That they love what you do as much as you do.

But as much as you love it, don't overbook yourself.
Give yourself room to breath, room to grow.
Space.

Muscles get stronger the day after we work them.
Because growth doesn't happen in the work, growth happens in the rest.

Take care of yourself.
And look at your work again. The images that you've given your clients.
The gifts you've given their children.
Think about how much fun this job is.

Then take a deep breath,
pick up your camera.
And get
               to
                    work.

So you think you want to be a photographer? 7 pieces of advice | Washington DC Photographer

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I get asked a lot of questions about photography. What's it like to be a photographer? It looks like so much fun! How do I do that too? And the truth is, yeah, it is fun. I love my clients. And not just that, I like them. They are amazing and fun and a blast to be around. I love creating beautiful images for them. It's amazing to know that I'm doing something for them that will last a lifetime. But when you turn something you love into a business, well, there is an element of work to it too. You're no longer answering just to yourself, but your clients too and you owe it to them to provide a good experience.

Here are a few things about being a photographer that I've learned along the way:

1. Practice, practice, practice

It should go without saying that you should be good. And not just plain good, but good good. Shoot every day and learn your camera inside and out. Figure out what you can do. What you love. You have to take a lot of lousy photographs before you can start taking good ones, we've all been there.

2. Learn to say no

In the beginning it's tempting to take on every client that comes to you. But the reality is, if you don't love it, don't shoot it. I love babies and moms, so that's what I shoot. I love watching those babies grow up, that's why I reserve family sessions for clients I've worked with before. You know what I don't love so much? Sports. So I don't shoot 'em. I want to give my clients the best experience possible, and there are times when their best experience may not be with me. And that's okay. If I can't provide a high quality service and product that I'm excited about sharing with my client, then it's not fair to them and it would be a disservice to my clients to offer anything less than my best.

3. Get organized

Being a photographer is only about 10% shooting sessions. The rest of your time will be spent on the business end of things (and most of a photography business is the "business end of things"). Figure out your workflow and learn to manage your time. It's a disservice to both yourself and your clients otherwise.

4. Network

It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking every other photographer out there is your competition. And well, okay, they kind of sort of are. But even more than that, they're your colleagues. Owning your own business and operating by yourself can be lonely. Make friends and connections. Not only will it give you someone to talk to, it will give you someone to bounce ideas off of and help you work through your problems. Become part of the community and someone who is known for being open and helpful.

5. Cover your butt: be legal, have insurance, use a contract

I should have made this number one because it's just that important. Do not accept money for your photography until and unless you are running a legal business. No one wins when they have to deal with the tax man, so make sure your taxes are in order. Likewise, protect yourself. Use a contract and have insurance. What happens if a client breaks their leg during a session with you? It's safer for both you and them if you have all your business ducks lined up.

6. Learn, learn, learn

This goes alongside with practice, practice, practice. But it's not enough to practice if you don't know what the heck you should be working on. Take courses, read up, watch videos. Take in everything you can get your hands on. Will it all be good information? No. But you won't know that until you figure out what's out there. Explore different types of shooting and post processing. Be open to constructive criticism. And remember that the learning never really ends. It's a journey that we're all taking, not a destination.

7. Cut yourself some slack

It's easy to get overwhelmed, and that's because it is actually overwhelming. Trust, I've been there. When I first started my business it was a huge scary exciting crazy thing. There are so many hurdles and things to figure out, it's easy to get frustrated, especially when there are so many other photographers out there doing amazing work. When you feel overwhelmed by it all give yourself permission to take a break. A break from looking at what everyone else is doing. A break from booking clients. A break from running yourself ragged. Take care of yourself and remember why you decided to do this in the first place. And then take it one thing at a time.

4 Things I No Longer Believe About Photography | Northern VA Fine Art Portrait Photographer

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When I first got serious about learning the art of photography I dove into the deepend head first. I joined every class I could, read every book I could get my hands on, and asked a ton of questions. I actually still do those things, I don't think the learning ever ends (although I like to think I ask better questions now), but as much I tried to go into all those classes with an open mind, I made a few assumptions about photography that I've realized aren't really true. Here are four things that I no longer believe about photography:

1. There's one perfect way to capture an image.

There's not. There's just not. There are a hundred different ways to capture a beautiful image of the same subject. Maybe it's using different settings, choosing a different lens, or shooting from a different perspective. I've seen this most clearly with the group shoots that I've organized for local photographers. Even though we are all photographing the same thing, our images look completely different. There are no shortage of options a photographer has her disposable to create an image. If you put 12 photographers in the same place at the same time, each of them will create something different and unique.

2. If I'm good enough, everyone will love me.

Instead, almost the opposite is true. The better I get, the more developed my style becomes. And my style isn't for everyone. I have seen amazing photographers get trolled for their work (which is something I will never understand, that's so uncool), and ultimately it's because their eye isn't the same as someone else's. Their visions don't mesh; there is no meeting of the minds. And that's okay. Not everyone will love everything I do either. The important thing is that I love what I do, and my clients do too.

3. Gear is everything. No, it's not. Yes, it is.

New photographers are constantly told that great images aren't made with cameras, they're made by photographers. And this is absolutely, a million times over, true. The photographer captures the image, not the camera. But, solid gear does make a difference. It helps bring our vision to reality. Putting amazing gear in the hands of someone who doesn't know how to use it will be fruitless (not to mention expensive), but it's disingenuous to say that gear doesn't matter. Even the best painters choose amazing brushes and paints over crayons (although who doesn't love a giant new box of 64 Crayolas, am I right?). The important thing is to know your gear, know what it can and can't do, and make sure it meshes with how you produce your art. All that gear, it's tools to produce your vision, not the vision itself.

4. It's an easy art form.

Growing up I never considered myself particularly artistic. I can't draw (stick figures are my jam), I'm awkward with a paintbrush, and I can't even sing or play a musical instrument well (despite 4 years of clarinet lessons). When I discovered photography I thought I had discovered a special kind of art - an art with rules that I could learn. With techniques and methods and science and specific ways of creating an image. And that's true, those things are there, but it's far from easy. I will spend the rest of my life learning and mastering the art of photography. It's a journey, so it will never end. Ultimately though you have to go beyond the rules, even break the rules, to find your style and create your vision. The truth is, I haven't found a super secret easy way of creating art, I just found the best medium of creating art for me.