Niagara, Ottawa + Montreal Photographer | 8 Things About Entrepreneurship I Wish I Knew Earlier

This blog post is far different from what I usually post, but it’s equally as important.

I’m writing this to my younger self. The Emily, who for the longest time, never wanted to be an entrepreneur. But somewhere along the way, loved the idea of working for herself and holding herself accountable for your her own growing business. 

Flash forward many years, and here I am. With enough wisdom & knowledge to conduct this list for you; but with enough modesty to admit I still know very little. This post is for young Emily, and for so many other young entrepreneurs. I hope this helps you find your way in the world of managing your business.

Scroll down to read 8 things about entrepreneurship I wish I knew earlier.

1. Understand Your Vision Clearly

Some call this “niche-ing down”, but it’s just really important to understand exactly what you want to do as you’re just getting started. I dabbled a little bit in wedding photography before really finding my passion in portrait, family, motherhood + branding photography. And now that is how I market myself.

2. Not Every Client Is For You

This should go without saying, but it’s a difficult lesson to understand when you’re just starting out. You might be thinking, “Why doesn’t everyone want to work with me?” Because every single person is different. So many factors are at play, budget + style to name a couple. The clients that are perfect for you will find their way to you. That’s how it always works out.

3. Set Clear Boundaries

Whether it’s capping off your calendar after a certain number of sessions or only working within certain business hours, it’s insanely important to set clear boundaries for both yourself + your clients. Do anything you can to prevent yourself from “burning out”…and never (although I know it’s hard!) feel guilty for it.

4. The Right Support Is Crucial

You probably hear it all the time. To surround yourself with the right people. Well, it’s especially important if you’re tackling something as huge as starting your own business. You’ll need the right people around when you have good news to share. And the right people around when things don’t quite go your way.

5. LEAVE BREAKS 

I’m not sure why it took me so long to understand this, but it did. When you’re just starting out, you’ll be so excited the minute you get a bunch of interest. You may schedule sessions back to back, without taking any time for yourself. But it’s kinda important to eat, drink, and use the washroom.

6. Protect Your Peace

There will come a time in starting up your own business, that you’ll have to make difficult decisions. Perhaps ones that you don’t even feel comfortable making just yet. With any decision, big or small, make sure the protecting of your peace takes precedence. Do what you think is best for you in any situation.

7. There’s No Such Thing As Overnight Success

I don’t know who said there was, but they’re way wrong. Real success takes time. And a lot of it. If you’re starting a business because you want to be instantly successful, perhaps you should think again. Success comes along with putting in all the hard work + dedication.

8. Failure Is Part Of The Journey

Last, but certainly not least. Don’t be afraid of making any mistakes because trust me when I say, they’re inevitable. As yin is to yang, success doesn’t arrive without failure. There will be bumpy spots in your path, but it will allow for a fun ride.

Love what you read? Click here to follow along on Instagram.

Emily VanderBeek is a Niagara, Ontario; Champlain, Ontario; and Vaudreuil-Soulanges, Quebec Photographer who specializes in timeless & candid family, portrait, motherhood, and branding photography.

Love these photos? Click here to start planning your own photo session today. Or click here to view all available 2024 Spring Mini Sessions.

Booking into March 2024 for Champlain & surrounding areas and booking into May 2024 for Niagara & surrounding areas.

Let’s create memories together!