How I Hit $10k In Sales My 2nd Month Freelancing As A Product Photographer

Jumping into the freelance world can be daunting, but I wanted to share how my leap of faith turned into the most rewarding and fulfilling experience. In just two months since taking that initial leap into the freelance world, I've experienced an unexpected milestone – reaching $10,000 in sales. I thought I’d share the strategies, lessons learned, and pivotal moments that contributed to this achievement.

The Beginning of the Journey:

Two months ago, I transitioned from my corporate job to pursue product photography full-time. With years of experience as a product photographer, I launched my freelance business with high hopes, lots of manifesting, and a strong portfolio to hopefully attract my ideal clientele. There were several things that set me up for success so I wanted to touch on them below.

Successful Strategies for Freelance Photography

1.Building a Strong Online Presence:

-Leveraging social media platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook to showcase my portfolio, share insights, and connect with potential clients.

-Optimizing my website with compelling content, testimonials, and a user-friendly interface to attract and engage visitors. This included learning SEO and creating blog posts to make my website more searchable and relevant.

2. Nurturing Client Relationships:

-Prioritizing personalized communication and building rapport with clients to understand their needs, preferences, and expectations.

-Offering exceptional customer service and going above and beyond to exceed client expectations, fostering trust and loyalty.

-Pitching to new brands that shows that value that I can offer—which also leads into the next point.

3. Investing in Marketing and Networking:

-Allocating time and resources to networking events and online communities to expand my professional network and generate leads.

-Implementing targeted marketing strategies such as email campaigns, Google Ads, and word-of-mouth referrals to reach potential clients and drive sales.

4. Continuous Learning and Improvement:

-Embracing the growth mindset that my last corporate job engrained into me and seeking opportunities for continuous learning and skill development in photography techniques, business management, and client relations.

-Soliciting feedback from clients and peers, and using constructive criticism as a catalyst for improvement and innovation.

5. Key Milestones and Achievements:

-Securing high-profile clients and projects within a short timeframe, again, demonstrating the quality and value of my services.

-Receiving positive feedback and testimonials from satisfied clients, validating the effectiveness of my approach and reinforcing my reputation as a reliable and skilled photographer.

Lessons Learned and Future Outlook:

-Embrace uncertainty and adaptability as inherent aspects of the freelance journey, remaining resilient in the face of challenges and setbacks. One thing I’ve allowed myself to understand is that there WILL be slow periods. The days that are slow are the days that I am pitching, improving my website, creating new content, marketing, etc.

-Prioritize self-care and work-life balance to avoid burnout and maintain long-term sustainability and success in freelancing.

Stay committed to continuous learning, innovation, and growth, embracing new opportunities and challenges as they arise.

Set goals that feel unachievable. If you did $1000 in sales last month, set your goal to $3000 the next month. If you don’t hit that goal, evaluate what you could have done better and implement those strategies.

Final Thoughts:

This post is not to brag and many others will have different results in a different timeframe. More than anything, I want this to be an inspiration that if I can achieve it, anyone can. Photography has become a business with such a low barrier to entry that anyone could pick up a camera and start making money. There are also so many avenues outside of product photography that someone could make money from. Weddings, real-estate, families, fashion, food, and so many others. For my business, the health, wellness, and beauty industries are what I lean towards, but I also love food styling and fashion.

If you’re thinking about going freelance, jump on over to my other post about 10 Things You Should Do Before Quitting Your Job To Be A Full Time Photographer.

Taking the risk is worthwhile if you possess the passion, motivation, and dedication to grow.

My next goal is to have my husband quit his job to help grow the business together. Until then, onwards and upwards.