As a photographer, are you good at taking care of yourself? Do you set aside time for things that make you happy? 

A lot of us photographers are so busy that our own self-care is far from a priority. Since it’s a new year, you can start 2023 off in a better way. Like any professional in the creative industry, you need to take care of yourself so you’re always at your best. 

For many of us, we should learn how important self-care is for photographers.

How important is self-care for photographers?

As a business owner, YOU are the most important asset in your company. 

But taking care of yourself goes beyond that, you also need to feel good about yourself. Self-care must be a priority in your life, and it also must be part of your business plan. 

Self-care is the practice of taking time and energy to take care of your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It can be anything from getting enough sleep, taking a break from work, going for a walk, or reading a book. It’s about taking the time to do activities or things that make you feel energized, relaxed, and content. Doing this helps you reduce stress, boosts your mood, and helps you stay healthy.

4 powerful self-care tips for photographers 

Now that you know how important self-care is, here are some powerful self-care tips for photographers:

1. Work on your mindset

Studies have shown that a positive mindset is linked to improved self-care. When we have a positive outlook on ourselves and our lives, we are more likely to take care of our physical, mental, and emotional health. This can mean anything from eating healthy, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, practicing mindfulness, or engaging in other activities that make us feel good. Having a positive mindset can help us to create healthier relationships with ourselves and others, which can in turn positively impact our overall well-being.

Being positive when you’re feeling low isn’t easy though. It’s a catch where one will influence the other. So what can you do? 

Try doing positive affirmations, and surround yourself with people who are cheering you on. Those who believe that what you’re doing is great rather than rolling their eyes and thinking that you’re crazy for wanting to be a full-time photographer. Learn how to have an abundance mindset with Aislinn Eileen and achieve a more peaceful mind. 

2. Take enough breaks as part of your self-care

It sounds so easy, doesn’t it? But you have way too much to do. But you can always prioritize your work, and add breaks to your to-do list. 

Don’t take on too much work and outsource the things that aren’t worth your time. When you outsource, you save time. With that saved time, you could spend doing more shoots, being with your family, and getting educated to improve your business. 

You may really like doing editing, as many photographers do, but it’s not worth your time as much as other things. If you start weighing one thing against the next you might find it easier to stop doing things you “like”. And this could be hurting your business and you have to change the way you run things.

Because your photography business IS a business, you need to take it seriously if you want to make it. Making business decisions based on what you think is fun isn’t always a good idea. 

Take breaks and step away from the idea that you have to do all the things yourself, at all hours of the day. 

When you outsource, you can focus on the more important things, making more money in your business. When you hire someone to edit your photos,  

do you feel it’s not yours anymore? Does it take away from the value your clients get? Is it any different for you as a photographer? It’s still your photos, style, and responsibility. You review them and add your final touches when needed. 

But before you outsource, you have to know how you wanted it to be done and be clear on what you really want. 

3. Make sure you charge enough to maintain a good living standard that allows you to take time off

If you’re feeling burnt out and you have way too much work to do, chances are extremely high that you’re not charging enough. 

You need to calculate your prices, starting with your expenses. How much you want to get paid and how much you want to work. You should not compare your prices to other people’s prices, because they are not living your life and they don’t have your clients. 

When your prices are profitable, you don’t need to take on too much work. And you can focus on getting your job done, and getting enough work, instead of working yourself to the ground to make enough money to pay your bills. This is what happens to WAY too many photographers. So many are working 24/7 and think that’s how it should be to have their own business. 

But that’s not the case. 

You have to take care of yourself. And you have to take charge of your business to make that happen. Because if you’re not making any money or very little money, it’s very hard to have a good life. Learn how to learn 

4. Set your goals.

Goal-setting can also help you. But you have to set reasonable goals for your photography business. How do you set the right goals? Don’t burn yourself out by taking on too many projects or setting unrealistic deadlines. 

If you set goals that are achievable, it will help you to stay productive and it can help you stay balanced.

Setting achievable goals can be a great way to stay motivated and track your progress. Here are some tips to help you set achievable goals:

• Break down your goals into smaller, achievable chunks. This will make them easier to achieve and track.
• Set realistic, achievable deadlines for each of your goals. Make sure the timeframe is reasonable and allows you to complete the goal in a timely manner.
• Develop a plan for achieving each of your goals. Include specific steps and activities to help you stay on track.
• Monitor your progress regularly and adjust your plan as needed. Celebrate your successes along the way and learn from any setbacks.
• Utilize resources and support systems to help you reach your goals. This could include talking to a mentor, joining a network group, or getting help from a coach.

Key takeaways

In summary, you want to make sure you work on your mindset and surround yourself with positive people, you want to take breaks and not overwork yourself, work out your prices and set goals and follow a plan – that included breaks and time to yourself. 

Right now I’m offering My Power Hour, which is a two-hour session that dives into one of three different issues. You can choose to have a website that works for you, build profitable packages, or getting more bookings. Talk to you soon!

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