The Invisible Bottlenecks That Can Kill Your Photography Career
Most emerging photographers don’t fail because of talent.
I help photographers and creative entrepreneurs over 40 reclaim their confidence, cut through the noise, and build bold, independent lives through no-BS insight, experience, and action. Welcome to my Substack. I am glad you are here.
Far more creative businesses fail than succeed.
That is such an unfortunate fact.
Failing is often the result of bottlenecks, blockers, and perceptions that blind us to our inadequate, and sometimes unknown, attention to detail.
It's not gear.
Or the algorithm.
Or the economy.
Or your logo.
I call them invisible bottlenecks.
Quiet, sneaky, hard-to-pin-down blockers that stall momentum, destroy confidence, and keep otherwise talented photographers on the sidelines.
Here are four I see all too often, especially in beginners and early-career shooters trying to break into commercial or client work.
(And I also see it in those shooters stuck below that $60K barrier quite often.)
Medium articles you may be interested in:
What Artists Will Do to Stay Relevant in the Age of Automation
Not Every Photograph Is Planned, Some Just Demand to Be Made
We Capture, Therefore We Exist: Why Photography Is Woven Into Who We Are
The Confidence Leak
This is insidious, a nearly imperceptible one-person disaster.
It shows up as hesitation.
Apologetic language.
Wishy-washy pricing.
Emails that end with, “Let me know if you’re interested…” instead of a clear ask.
The photographer’s work might be exceptionally strong, but their communication style says, “Please like me?”
And clients can smell it.
Confidence is a huge part of your brand.
If you don’t sound like a pro, you don’t get treated like one.
Random Acts of Drive-by Marketing
A post here.
A story there.
A newsletter once every equinox or blue moon.
No voice.
No strategy.
No consistency.
Just flinging stuff out into the void and hoping someone says, “Wow, I should hire this person.”
Spoiler alert: They won’t.
And marketing doesn’t mean you have to be everywhere at all times.
You must be intentional.
With a message.
With a target
And a good, articulable reason to reach out.
Then create a system.
Choose a platform.
Commit to a schedule (you know, like write it down!)
Do it until it becomes a habit.
Otherwise, you're just noise, a background blur in someone else's feed.
Perfectionism is Procrastination in a Clever Disguise
“I just want my site to be ready.”
“I need to update my portfolio before I email anyone.”
“I’m still dialing in my style.”
”I’m waiting for the 35th revision to my logo.”
What all of that crap really means: I’m comfortable and safe with failing to launch.
Look, we’ve all been there.
Rejection sucks.
But all the tweaking and polishing in the world won’t help you build a business if you’re hiding behind the work.
Perfection isn’t coming because perfection is not possible.
For most of us, progress will be a welcome outcome.
Ship it.
Publish it.
Push the damn button.
The thing about our art is that it is ongoing, and we can change it up as we go.
The Poor, Starving Artist Mindset
This one is toxic. And it’s literally everywhere in our industry.
It slithers through the feeds, “Real artists don’t market themselves.”
Or worse, “If you’re not struggling, you’re not doing it right.”
Other, more insidious versions run through our every interaction.
We price at bargain basement level.
We can’t do anything unless we know what others charge.
We say things like, “No one will pay anything anymore.”
We believe it when people say, “There’s no work out there these days.”
We mutter things like, “Someday I’ll get a real job.”
Bullshit.
Being creative doesn’t mean being broke.
And success doesn’t mean selling out.
If you’ve got the skill, you owe it to yourself and your clients to build something sustainable.
Otherwise, it’s just a hobby with a Leica.
NOTE: Tomorrow morning I start the Ghost-Proof Your Business workshop here on Substack. You don’t have to sign up or anything, it will come to you each morning this coming week: July 28, 2025. I hope you all learn new ways of being found.
The Challenges No One Talks About
You can’t fix them with a new preset or YouTube tutorial.
But once you identify them, you can work on dismantling them.
Piece by piece.
Practice by practice.
And we’re going to do just that.
Coming next week: Visible Solutions to Invisible Bottlenecks.
Real tactics.
Small wins.
Forward motion.
Until then:
Audit yourself.
Where are you stuck?
Where are you scared?
What are you pretending is the problem?
Here is your Invisible Bottleneck Workbook.
If you are ready to move these obstacles to the rear view mirror, I can help. I’ve worked with hundreds of photographers looking to change their situation, and I know I can help you.
Give me a shout and we can talk.
Module One Worksheet:
Worksheets 2, 3, and 4, for the Premium Members, follow.
The Shift – From Artist to Visual Problem Solver
Most photographers start with passion. The love of light, the joy of creating, the thrill of capturing something beautiful. But passion, while vital, is not a business model. The shift from hobbyist to commercial photographer begins when you stop thinking like an artist waiting to be discovered and start thinking like a creative professional hired to solve problems.
Chapter One of my new book can help.
Three photos from my trip to Maine 12 years or so ago.
Looking forward to going again next spring.
All photos by the author.
This short one-on-one with me will get you up and running, fast.
You’re a good photographer. Let’s make you a paid one.
Mentorship. System. Results.
P.S. If you’re still nodding your head, shaking your fist, or yelling “yes!” at your screen… good. That’s what this space is for. Let’s talk.
If you’re over 40 and still hungry to make, build, and create, stick around. This space is for people who aren’t done yet (and never will be). I’ve got five decades of wins, failures, comebacks, and creative battles under my belt, and I’m sharing everything that still works—and burning the rest.
No fluff.
No hustle porn.
Just real tools for building a creative life on your own damn terms.
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