6-Month Jump Start for Photographers: A Game-Changing Method
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I Know This Works.
I’ve done it before.
I’ve coached photographers through it.
Not one photographer ever got to the 6-month mark without filling their weeks with assignments that paid.
And paid well.
Of course, there is work involved, it ain’t magic.
Of course, there’s research involved, it isn’t “easy”.
Of course, you have to work your ass off to create the momentum.
Did you expect any different?
I am not your typical internet guru promising you riches beyond imagination by doing only one weird trick or working ‘less than an hour a day’.
You know those guys are lying to you, right?
Right?
Look, nothing worth chasing comes easy. Nothing worth doing is not competitive. Nothing.
So let’s dig down and look at this tried and true way of starting your photography business or jump-starting the one you have.
Two things:
If you are already making $60K, you should not do this. There are other systems you can implement to help you double that. Just ask.
If you are a wedding, portrait, or baby type of consumer shooter, this may work, but you must be extremely careful not to establish yourself as the freebie shooter.
If you want to make money, working for real clients, whether full or part-time, by January 2025, here you go.
Ever feel like you're stuck in a rut, waiting for that big break?
You’ve got the gear, the passion, and the skills. But where are the clients?
Let’s explore a method I call the "6-Month Jump Start"—designed to get your photography career off the ground, fast.
Why the 6-Month Jump Start?
Because a tremendous amount of movement in your business can happen in 6 months. You can go from hobbyist to professional in 6 months. You can go from not making money at all to making enough to cover your expenses to making a profit in 6 months.
This is a jumpstart because we are going to ignore the conventional internet wisdom which has a very high percentage of wannabees, losers, and lazyasshams.
Time crunches work.
We will fill the hours given.
So we put a deadline on it. We give it a priority.
We simply frame it with intention, focus on the work, and expose ourselves to the possibilities.
Never underestimate the power of intention, determination, and follow through.
Portfolio Building
We all know that a killer portfolio is key. Absolutely.
But starting out, you might not have the high-quality, diverse shots that attract paying clients. You can have all sorts of stuff you shot for your book, but little to nothing shot for a client.
This method helps you build a portfolio that's not just good but jaw-droppingly awesome. And it features work from real clients so it builds your credibility as well.
Networking Opportunities
Photography is about connecting with people.
Taking on various jobs, even unpaid, can introduce you to potential clients and industry insiders.
Get to be known as “the photographer” and you get opportunities to be one. Time and again.
Being busy makes you attractive to those who want the best work.
Skill Development
The more diverse the project, the better you get.
Working the big gigs you want to eventually get is all about making the smaller gigs look and feel like a million bucks.
It is about practice, experience, and problem solving.
Think of it as a boot camp for your skills. You'll learn more in these six months than you would in years of occasional gigs.
Market Exposure
Word of mouth is powerful.
Do good work for free, and people will talk. Suddenly, you’re the photographer everyone knows and recommends.
This cannot be underestimated, nor can it be ignored.
(And I need to say something here; I see people on the internet saying things like “exposure doesn’t pay my bills”. All I can say is it can, if you use it. If you have a system that keeps your work in front of people it can be a huge marketing tool. Never take advice from broke photographers who don’t know what they are doing.)
Transition to Paid Work
Start unpaid, but with a clear endgame.
6 months out, you sit down and look at what you have done.
If you are not engaged in the effort, not pushing hard, and doing what you must, then your position is what it is. And you will have to own it.
But the truth is, this method can lead to paid gigs faster than you think. The key is how you handle it.
The Challenges
Financial Sustainability
Sure, money isn't everything at first.
But let's be real—you've got bills to pay. Equipment isn't cheap, and neither is running a business.
But I guarantee that the buzz will keep you in front of the people who hire you. And you will have to supplement the photography with savings, but this is not something that is peculiar to photographers.
This is essentially the same route that actors, musicians, artists, architects and others go through. Think about it, it is a path that is known to us, but very few photographers take it.
Time Management
Balancing multiple projects can get crazy. And you need to experience crazy. You MUST experience crazy so you know how to deal with crazy.
You need to deliver quality consistently, which means managing your time like a pro. And that takes experience.
Setting Boundaries
Ever had someone try to take advantage of your "free work"? Well, that is not what we are going to do here.
Set boundaries from the get-go to maintain your standards and avoid getting exploited.
Here are my rules:
If a photographer has been paid for this work previously, it is not a free gig for you to consider. We are not taking money from other photographers.
If it isn’t something that you can use for your portfolio, and/or access to people who can help you on your way, then we are not going to do it.
A. A 400 piece sink stopper catalog is not going to advance your portfolio.
B. An opportunity to photograph an award winning chef, or a new solar panel installation could be wonderful additions to your portfolio.I must be able to do what I want to do. If they want to tell me what to do at some macro level, then that sounds like a job to me. And not a gift.
Market Perception
“But Don”, you say, “some clients might start to expect free work.”
Yes, that can happen so we have to mitigate that by not doing free work for anyone more than once"*. We do it, we smash it, we get paid for the next one. We are not a source of free stuff. (*Unless it is an ongoing situation like a local magazine. But even then we may limit it to the 6-month deadline.)
You must be strategic about transitioning from free to paid services. This can be structured with careful consideration and planning, and it has to be done in advance. Let your customers know that you will be charging in the future, and keep making them unexpectedly happy with your results.
Legal Considerations
Contracts are crucial, even for free work. Do not ignore this important piece, as it helps you go forward in the best professional way.
Make sure everything is in writing to protect yourself and your business.
Exceptions to this rule: there are no exceptions to this rule.
The Plan: 6-Month Jump Start
Pre-Launch: Lay the Groundwork
Put together an excellent portfolio; aim for 42 photos of the highest quality.
Build a Website: Clean, professional, and easy to navigate.
Create Social Media Accounts: Showcase your work, and engage with followers.
Network: Attend local events, join photography groups, and meet lots of people.
Month 1-2: Get Busy
Take on Free Projects: Diverse ones—portraits, events, products.
Promote Your Work: Share everything on social media, tag clients, and ask for testimonials.
Build Relationships: Keep in touch with everyone you work with. Networking is key.
Month 3-4: Build for Clients, Not Jobs
Set Your Rates: Based on the market and your growing experience.
Start Charging: Begin with modest fees, then increase as demand grows.
Refine Your Portfolio: Only showcase your best work.
Month 5-6: Transition to Profit
Raise Your Rates: Use a small percentage across the board: 15-20%. Steadily grow your fees until you are above the norm in your area. Adjust to taste.
Double Down on Referrals: Network within your clientele, ask for referrals, follow up
Make Marketing a Habit: Marketing is how you got to where you are, but now it needs to be formalzied into a system that you can run consistently. Then run it or all your hard work gets flushed… and you may have to start over.
NOTE:
If you are in a big city you may achieve your outcome earlier, and 6 months is a good goal.
Smaller towns means regional reach, so add a few months on to the project.
In a word, logistics. You need to reach a wider audience if there are fewer in your area.
Real Stories, Real Success
Stefanie’s Journey
Stefanie joined Project 52 to learn to shoot more professionally.
She used the coursework and assignments to reach out to her rural community in southeastern Arizona, and by the end of the course, she was busy shooting for major clients in southern Arizona and surrounding areas.
She persevered, she worked late into the night, she shot and reshot for small boutiques that couldn’t pay at first, but when her photography made a difference, they all began paying.
And they told their friends and vendors and Stef’s phone started ringing.
Word of mouth, and strategically allying herself with some large clients in her area cinched the trajectory.
Stefanie is as busyas she wants to be, shooting industrial, construction, and people.
Stefanie Spencer, Topaz Photography
Mark’s Leap
Mark Manne was ready when he called me for a one-on-one mentorship.
He had saved enough money to make the jump and stay afloat for at least 12 months, but he wanted to be self-sufficient by the summer. It was early December, so we had 6 months to get him to where he wanted to be.
He had previously gone through the Project 52 System, so his portfolio was pretty solid. We decided to get him into food and lifestyle, so he focused like a laser on the food, while looking for every opportunity to shoot people.
A free shoot here, a low-fee shoot there, lots of marketing… and then, the phone began to ring.
“I saw what you did for my friend’s bakery, can you do something like that for me?”
“I don’t remember who told me about you, but we checked your website and we have some photographs we need taken.”
Mark replaced his income in under eight months and just opened his first studio.
The Bottom Line
The 6-Month Jump Start isn’t a magic bullet; there are no magic bullets.
So much depends on effort, frequency. personal commitment, and a great support system.
And everything depends on that portfolio, the presentation of your work that makes people want to tell others.
However, it’s a practical, strategic approach to kick-starting your photography career.
If you’re committed, organized, and ready to hustle, this method can transform your passion into a thriving business.
Ready to make the leap?
You got this!
If you give it a shot, let me know how it is working for you.
Remember:
Top notch portfolio
Shoot shoot shoot.
Do not be taken advantage of, but take advantage of opportunities.
Shoot everything you can.
Slowly raise your rates, and know the value of your work.
Develop a long term marketing strategy and stick to it.
Build for clients, not jobs. (Although jobs are necessary to build clients.)
And know that it is not easy.
If you want to change your trajectory fast, get assignments, finish jobs with happy clients and have that mushroom into a bigger part of your life, you should look into Project 52 Pro System. I guarantee the results will be in your favor.
When you are ready, here is how I can help you succeed.
Group Mentorship: a small group of photographers who meet to show images, work on their portfolio, and build their businesses with help from a wonderful group. Lifetime membership for one fee.
One-on-one Mentorship: You and me - working together in an intense 6-month push to get you on the way to over $30K in additional revenue. The work we lay down will help you increase and scale your business for years ahead.
And the brand new P52 one-year masterclass.
This class will make you a better photographer, no matter what your skill level. I guarantee that if you want to make the money this class costs back with your photography, you will. My style of teaching is one that will open your eyes to see solutions, not cookie cutter approaches. Join before July 8th and start the class on the 9th with four lighting classes free before we officially start in August.
Spot on!