We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Laura Tannenbaum. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Laura below.

Alright, Laura thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?

I would do a lot of things differently if I were to start my business today. When I started back in 2018, it was out of necessity and I needed to get things up and running quickly. Within a month of being encouraged to start a photography business, I had my website, session offerings, and social media ready to go. If I knew then what I knew now, it would have been a much different process.

This is why I’m currently putting together a mentorship course for those wanting to start a photography business or who are within the first year of their journey and looking for extra guidance which I hope to begin offering next year. I’ve learned a lot through my own mistakes, by taking online courses, and personal experiences over these past five years that I want to share with others so they can become successful earlier on in their business. I’m a big believer in community over competition and success for everyone in this field is a good thing.

Aside from some of the financial to-do’s when first starting a business (setting up bank accounts, getting your EIN, budgeting) which I didn’t do early enough, there were a lot of things I wish I had done differently. For starters, I didn’t build a portfolio before I started charging clients. This is an important step for many reasons. First, it helps build confidence in your skills which is a factor that comes up a lot when photographers are ready to raise their prices (often charging what you need to doesn’t happen when you lack confidence). Second, it takes time to discover your style in photographing people and editing. Figuring this out early can help you grow faster since your work will be more consistent. Having a larger portfolio for potential clients to browse through is also helpful. But lastly, when you have your portfolio and confidence at a good starting point you can charge a higher price straight out of the gate. You can charge enough to cover your costs, support your business, your cost of living, and all of that helps you avoid burnout. When photographers starting out in the industry can charge more than $50 or $100 for a session it helps the entire industry, too.

Beyond building a portfolio first, there were many things I wish I had implemented earlier (like having clients sign a contract) so that it didn’t create a transition in my business, something new I was expecting of my clients, or a change in my booking process. Many of the things I put off that would have helped my business was delayed because of the financial burden involved. Using a Client Management System (CRM) is a game changer for photographers but it took me two years to start using one because I wasn’t ready for the monthly expense (because I wasn’t charging enough, because I lacked the confidence in my skills).

I often remind myself that it’s okay that I learned some things the hard way or implemented things later, because I’m in this for the long run. My business is always evolving and getting better. I’m making improvements all the time. Every time I pick up on a new trick or method, I add it to my workflow and offerings.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a lifestyle family photographer. From when you first meet your partner to welcoming your first baby to celebrating your kid graduating from high school, I want to capture it all because they are all important moments in one’s life. The lifestyle approach means there are very few photos where everyone is looking and smiling at the camera, with their hair perfectly coiffed, with hands and outfits perfectly placed. Instead, I focus on love, laughter, and interaction between family members. My families are active throughout the photo session: walking, playing, snuggling, exploring.

Most of my sessions take place in nature (I provide a list of options around the area) and I encourage my families to have fun at the location of their choosing. I want kids to be kids. If they want to run and play, I’m here for it. If they want to stay in Mom’s arms the whole time, I let them. My clients are given guides on how to prepare for a more relaxed photo session, what to wear, and tips for making the most of our time together. When families want to kick off their shoes to play in the grass or a creek, it is the best!

I love natural moments. So when I “pose” my families I give a lot of room for interpretation because I want kids and parents to do what comes naturally for them first. Every family is different with how they interact with one another and I want to show their dynamics authentically. I also want to capture the funny, not so perfect moments, when kids are acting themselves.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

There are a ton of resources out there for photographers who are just starting out. I don’t know if they all existed when I started over five years ago, but many of them were. It just took me too long to stumble upon them. I wish I found them sooner.

The first resource I came across that was extremely helpful was Elena S. Blair’s educational courses. She’s a lifestyle photographer in Seattle. I was already photographing with a lifestyle approach, but I didn’t know there was a term for it or that it was becoming a more popular way of approaching family photography. My work became exponentially better after signing up for some of her courses. Once I found her and became a part of her community, I started to learn about more and more resources out there. She introduced me to CRMs and gallery delivery systems which completely revolutionized and upgraded my business.

Unraveled Academy, Unscripted App, Click Community are just a few of the educational platforms I have learned about. There are tons of podcasts that discuss all aspects of owning a photography business including creative processes, workflows, SEO, marketing and finances.

Many photographers begin their own educational platforms or mentorship programs, too. Another photographer (or team of photographers) is Adventure Instead. They offer SO much amazing education for photographers. Though they’re platform is geared towards weddings and elopements, the information they share can be used across all types of photography and they share a wealth of knowledge.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Creative entrepreneurs who provide a service have some unique struggles that may be difficult to fully understand for some who haven’t been in that position.

Oftentimes WE are our brand. We are our company. It’s extremely hard to separate the two at times. This can lead to a few problems with setting boundaries and self-esteem.

When you are the person behind the scenes of every aspect of your business, knowing when to say no or to implement and stick to office hours becomes tricky. You feel like you have to be available 24/7. And not only that, but you have to be ON all the time. You don’t have room to have a bad day or not be at 100% energy or make mistakes. It can be draining to keep up with all the business tasks (marketing, website, client communication, financials, editing, planning, etc.) and have enough energy left over for your creativity to spark. Creativity (along with our technical skills) is crucial to our ability to do our job well. Our clients depend on that creativity to shine when we are working with them. Setting boundaries so that we have time to rest and not feel guilty about that rest is so important. We need to be able to recharge and refuel.

When WE are our business it’s hard not to take things personally. Our work, our art, our brand is a part of ourselves. When someone doesn’t like our work, doesn’t tap “like” on social media platforms, doesn’t hire us, or doesn’t value our time or pricing it can hurt. It’s hard not to take it personally. It’s also why so many of us suffer from imposter syndrome. Photographers who have 100k followers on Instagram, making 6 figures, are published worldwide still have moments of feeling inadequate. There are so many creative people who are so amazing at what they do and we see them everywhere. It’s hard not to compare our work with theirs.

If you have a friend or family member who is a Creative, give them grace when they show self doubt. Give them room to take a break. Because it’s also hard to find people who relate that they can speak to about these problems. Those who relate the most may not be people they want knowing about their insecurities (their colleagues in the industry, their friends who may also be clients).

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ohtannenbaumphotos.com
• Instagram: @ohtannenbaumphotos
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohtannenbaumphotography
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/laura-tannenbaum-1a38b514

Image Credits
Self portrait was taken by Sarah E. Cooper Photography (edited by Oh, Tannenbaum Photography) Oh, Tannenbaum Photography (all other images)