Since we are nearing the end of 2022, I figured I would take a few moments to write a short reflection on my business over the last year!
For those that do not know the history of Rachel Dodson Photography, I started taking photos during college and took every opportunity to take photos of my friends and my cousin Hannah (whom you've probably seen a lot of on my website and social media - she's my go to model). In 2020, when I started working as a full-time teacher, I had opportunities to capture senior photos, a few family sessions, and some other miscellaneous things as a side gig. It started to become a dream of mine to be a photographer, so after leaving my teaching job in June, I started working to open my own business! I worked for weeks on end designing my own website that launched in July and starting my social media profiles. In August, Rachel Dodson Photography became a registered LLC. Woohoo!
I knew that trying to start a business was crazy, especially in a field that is quite saturated. I didn't have the most expensive equipment or the knowledge to be able to confidently run a business, but as the kids say - YOLO (that's "you only live once" for those that didn't know ha-ha).
I didn't want to let my life go by without trying to chase something that made me feel excited and passionate. I invested in higher quality equipment and did as much research as I could to give myself a good start. I owe a huge thank you to my parents for supporting me and to my fiancé (at the time my boyfriend... he got an upgrade haha) for encouraging me and basically being my business partner.
December 12 marked roughly the 6th month mark of pursuing this business. Even though a short time has passed, a lot has changed. I have had over 40 sessions from families, seniors and beyond - which is a huge milestone for me. I have gotten to photograph seniors and families that are near and dear to my heart, as well as meet so many new ones who have let me into their lives for special moments.
If you have booked a session with me or supported my business in any way, thank you. Thank you x1000! Each and every one of you has helped support my dream and made it a wonderful reality. For the past 6 months, I have felt like I am doing what I was meant to do, and there is no greater feeling that that!
So, what can we expect for 2023? I would love to answer that, but frankly, I have no clue. Much of this career comes with uncertainty. You really don't know when someone is going to book a session or how many you will get each month, so my life heavily relies on trusting God to bring the right people to me at the right time. He hasn't left me hanging in the past 6 months, so I feel confident that 2023 will be the same.
I do have some goals for 2023 that I will share with you, if you're still here. ;)
Upgrade my camera equipment. I want to provide the highest quality work, so I am hoping to upgrade to a new mirrorless camera and have my current one serve as a backup.
Expand my services. I would love to add elopements and small weddings on to the list of services I specialize in. If you know someone who may be looking for a photographer for one of these things, please share my information! I will be offering these services at a lower rate while I gain more experience.
Be more active on social media. I love being on social media, but I'm not always the best about posting. I hope to be more active in posting photos from sessions, behind the scenes, educational videos, and blog posts. I especially want to utilize TikTok to make education content for other photographers who are just starting out.
Book another 40 (hopefully more) clients in the next 6 months. I would love to expand my clientele and welcome more people into my photography family!
Phew, now that I've gotten all that out, I'm going to treat myself to a Dunkin iced coffee, continue editing photos, and living my dream. I sincerely hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and that 2023 brings you nothing but joy.
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