5 Reasons Why Building a Community is Essential for photographers
Photography - @sunnyjeephoto
model - @emmaisel
For many, freelancing can be quite a lonesome profession. Because a good portion of my work involves me sitting at my desk, it’s important for me to make room in my calendar to go out on personal creative projects.
As I was chipping away at editing some photos one afternoon, I was suddenly hit with the feeling that it was time for me to rise out of my solitude. I scrolled through my photography inspiration list and thought, “why not get some photographer gals together for this vintage car idea?” I called up my friends Alice (@alicebestcreative) and Becca (@beccawebbphoto) and got to work.
I’m a fairly introverted personality-type, but what I was reminded from putting this photoshoot together is that community always opens doors to transform your own creative journey.
Here’s what I took away:
Creative Inspiration and Collaboration
Being part of a community of other photographers can spark new ideas that may have been in our blind spot. Sharing concepts, techniques, and feedback with fellow creatives can lead to unique angles (literally & figuratively) that push our boundaries.
During the shoot, it was so fun to see what the other photographers got excited about with their fresh perspectives. We took turns taking photos and offered ideas when we saw something new. This ensured that we each got amazing shots that we were all giddy over.
Support and Motivation
Since photography can feel isolating at times, knowing you have built relationships with others in your community can offer you a place to share encouragement, constructive feedback, and even a space to share your struggles and victories.
After our shoot, each of us left feeling like we got some of our favorite photos to date and couldn’t wait to add them to our portfolios. We showed each other the shots we got on our cameras and kept hyping each other up on our framing and our use of lighting. Plus, it was really cool to see how different our photos looked even though we were all photographing the same subject matter. It was all so fun and inspiring!
Sharing Knowledge and Experience
When people make time to create together, you may quickly learn that you are in the presence of a diverse range of skillsets, experiences, and insight. Community allows for a space where you can ask questions from people who are operating in your same area or field and may have run into the same road bumps as you. You can also give back insight to those who may not be as established as you are. Being in a space with like-minded individuals who can help each other is invaluable to your growth.
Networking Opportunities
A community gives you a platform to network with others and can lead to future opportunities. In a community space, you have the grounds to connect with new faces and build exposure for your name. When others begin to remember your name and the exact type of work you do, you may become top of mind when people are looking for the service you offer. Additionally, these connections can also mean that you’ll hear about upcoming events and workshops that you may not have heard about otherwise.
Building Lasting Relationships
Beyond the professional advantages, these connections can go beyond the lens and can actually form into friendships who share your creative passion. Especially in professions like photography, it can feel very niche to talk about the struggles of being freelance. Having these deeper connections to others in your field can help to make your photography journey so much more fulfilling.
Truly, one of the best parts of my photo journey has been the friendships I’ve gained along the way. I’m a huge believer that having a community where you can share and support one another is vital to your professional growth. And when you have a spark of inspiration to do, say, a vintage car photoshoot, you have friends who share your passion and are ready to join you at a moments notice.
Make the time to find photographer communities near you and take a chance on joining! You can also follow me on Instagram and YouTube to join my community where I share more behind the scenes on photography tips and my photography lifestyle. :)
With that, here are the highlights of my photography session. I am happy with the results of these photos and I’m so happy to have experienced it all with my dear friends.
More photos to share soon!
~ Sunny
