Not long ago, I put myself on a STRICT budget. Like … for-real-you’re-doing-it-this-time-no-matter-what STRICT. I have very specific goals that I’ve wanted to achieve for a while … and the strict budget is a must.
Thing is … I’m just terrible at strict budgets.
But I began this new wave of penny pinching with a bottle-returning gusto! (Bear with me here, I promise I’m going to tie this straight back around to our photography businesses.) For the first time in Kate-on-a-budget history, I was actually on a roll. And once the ball got rolling and I made it through the initial detox period, I became increasingly ambitious!
Fast forward to the other week when I realized that I really did NEED a new bra. I mean, I need like five new bras. But remember … I’m ambitiously penny-pinching, so I settled on ONE new bra.
Now the brand I happen to love (Wachoal) typically runs me $65 to $85 a bra … and I’m ok with that. They are the best bras I’ve ever worn. My larger-chested readers out there will totally send me a virtual AMEN when I say that it’s just plain old NECESSARY to get a supportive, quality bra.
Now, here comes the part of the story where I’m actually really proud of myself. READY?!
It dawned on me that I had recently seen NWT bras on Poshmark. So I checked and found the style of Wachoal bra I love available for $20. The only catch was that it was one band size smaller than I typically wear. The brand new thrifty me was like, “NO PROBLEM! It’ll stretch!”
So I bought it. I did a little happy dance when I pulled it out and it was in perfect shape. I was so proud of myself for saving that $40 or so.
It was tight. Waaaaaaay too tight.
“But it will stretch,” I repeated to myself over and over.
Two weeks of pain went by and you know what … it didn’t stretch. Not enough, anyway.
I started feeling annoyed at myself that I had actually WASTED $20 because now I’d have to go buy a new bra anyway!
Here comes the part of the story where it’s a good thing I talked with someone else …
My best friend came to visit the other day. I laughed and told her about my silly bra experience and how I thought the deep red welts along my back were probably permanent at this point.
“Get one of those extenders,” she said nonchalantly.
I shook my head in disbelief. Duuuuuuuh! Of course! Why didn’t I think of that?! A bra back extender!!!!
So, for $4, I now have an extender thingie, and my bra is perfectly comfortable.
Here comes the part of this post where I actually talk about the business of photography …
Sometimes our brains get so focused on one thing, that it’s almost like we have blinders blocking out stuff that would actually benefit us. I was 100% focused on sticking with my new budgeting plan. I was just DETERMINED to FOR ONCE IN MY ENTIRE LIFE (seriously, I’m so bad at budgeting), follow through on my plan. My eyes were on the prize. I was willing to have welts on my back, for Pete’s sake! And then, frustrated, I was ready to toss the bra and just buy a new one because it seemed the wisest thing to do in the situation.
All it took was one brief conversation with another person and I was shown that there was a better solution.
So the question is: when it comes to your business, are you isolating yourself? Or are you allowing yourself the absolute NECESSITY of taking in outside input? There just might be some better solutions out there that you don’t yet know about!
Where might you find this outside input? Books, podcasts, blog posts, and online workshops are a great place to start. But don’t stop there. The actual physical act of sitting down in front of someone — whether it’s a mentor or a group of peers, someone in the photo industry or someone in a completely different line of work — and just chatting through your current and future plans can generate ideas that will TRANSFORM your business and your life.
Do you already have a mentor? If not, this is the year. Make it a goal to find the person who can help you absolutely TRANSFORM your business. This is just my opinion of course, but I firmly believe the investment in business mentorship is more important than your investment in equipment. Of course, photographers need great equipment! But photography business owners won’t have any need for their equipment if no one is hiring them! Or, if they aren’t making enough money to actually grow their businesses.
So … keep going. Keep learning! And don’t buy a bra that’s too small. It really hurts.
XO,
Kate
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Kate Callahan is an on-location photographer who LOVES to capture authentic memories for families. She’s available for weddings, senior photos, child photo sessions, and family photography. Kate works with clients throughout the Hudson Valley, NYC, Delaware (and the tri-state area), and beyond. She also writes motivational books for photographers. Find them at Dear Female Photographer.
