📸 How I Became an Accidental Entrepreneur

What starting a photography business taught me about confidence, pricing, professionalism, and building something real.

In 2019, I bought a camera because I wanted better football pictures of my son.

I accidentally built one of the highest-rated photography businesses in Ashburn, Virginia instead.

And along the way, I learned a lot about running a profitable business, risk, pricing, confidence, and what happens when your “little hobby” starts making real money.

Buckle up, Gladys. Let’s dive in.

If You’re Going to be a Real Business, Be Legal and Keep the Money Straight

When I first started, I was taking photos of every kid on the team and giving out photos (for free) after each game. It was fun getting better at photography and having both the players and parents appreciate the photos.

By the end of that season, the coach’s wife asked if I’d come photograph her other son’s team—and said she’d pay me.

A lightbulb went off.

I figured, okay… maybe I should make this an actual business.

I met with my CPA to talk through what I needed to do. I registered with the IRS (got an Employer Identification Number, or EIN) and went to work building a website.

I also opened a separate bank account just for my business to keep my photography income separate from our personal finances.

It’s also worth noting that I registered as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) when I officially formed the business. An LLC helps protect your personal assets if someone sues you, so it was the best option for me.

I also keep track of every piece of income and any expenses using Quicken.

I am of the firm believe that a lot of small businesses fail because people are good at a craft, but lousy at the financials.

Be Excellent at Your Craft

If anyone’s tracking timelines here, the global COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, and it absolutely killed a lot of the momentum of starting a new business.

An absolute buzzkill.

So I tried to make the best of it and forced myself to learn how to use my new pro-grade camera in manual mode.

For those who aren’t photographers, that means understanding things like light, shutter speed, aperture, and depth of field—and then adjusting your camera settings accordingly.

Modern cameras have a ton of automatic settings, but learning to shoot in manual mode is where professional photographers really start differentiating themselves from hobbyists.

I’ve also invested money over the years in education to become better at photography as a craft. I’ve studied lighting, composition, editing, and all kinds of other topics related to photography itself.

I am constantly trying to become better.

You can’t charge premium prices for mediocre work.

It turns out people are willing to pay for excellence—but first you actually have to become excellent.

Know How to Set Your Prices

When I started out, I read somewhere that you should charge $50 per hour of work for a photo session.

For example, a one-hour session would cost $150 because I planned to spend:

• one hour shooting
• and two hours editing and delivering the gallery

Before even getting to that point, though, doing free work to build a portfolio of images (for your website, social media, etc.) is actually a smart starting point.

Clients need to see the type of work you do in order to decide whether they want to hire you—and pay the prices you’re charging.

But don’t stay in the “free zone” for too long.

I’ve found that clients expecting professional-quality images at bargain prices are often the most demanding and difficult.

After a few months, I met with another local photographer who was kind enough to share her thoughts and experience with me.

She suggested pricing for where I wanted to be in five years—and then discounting from there when needed (sales, teachers, first responders, etc.).

This honestly blew me away a little bit because I wanted to be charging more like $300–400 for a one-hour session, but at the time, I didn’t quite feel good enough to charge that yet.

That piece of advice completely shifted my mindset and helped keep me focused.

It’s also worth noting that you need to calculate your Cost of Doing Business (CODB).

You have to charge enough—and/or book enough clients—to cover your costs:

• website hosting
• equipment
• software
• insurance
• taxes
• education

Otherwise, you don’t actually have a profitable business.

I’m now at a point where I charge:

• $300 for a 15-minute session
• $450 for a 30-minute session
• $650 for a one-hour session

That’s not only a reflection of my photography skills improving, but also a reflection of how quickly I turn around galleries for my clients. Looking back, I probably undervalued myself for a while.

Impostor Syndrome

I managed to grow this new business through the pandemic, with a steady increase in annual revenue each year.

And yet, for a long time – years, even – I still didn’t think I was truly operating at a professional level.

This is actually a real thing called impostor syndrome, where someone doesn’t see themselves as capable or qualified, even when they clearly are.

And friends, I’m generally a confident person.

But for me personally, the emotional toil of learning something new can sometimes be a real confidence wrecker.

I also never want to become overconfident and operate outside my level of intelligence, skill, or capacity.

I’m thankful to have been doing this for seven years now (seven years!), because when I start to feel anxious or doubt myself, I remind myself:

You’ve done this before, and you’ve done it well.

You know your camera.
You know how to use light.
You know how to manage a session.

You’ve got this, Boo!

Deliver Fast

I mentioned it above, but one of my hallmarks is quick delivery.

I’ve met other photographers—and read posts in Facebook groups—about how long some photographers take to deliver galleries.

In some cases, I’ve delivered galleries the very same day.

You have to realize that clients are excited to see their images, and from a business perspective, word of mouth remains one of the most powerful forces for growing your business.

Happy clients talk.

But don’t deliver so quickly that your work becomes sloppy.

I’m speedy by nature, but I still make sure to carefully review everything before it goes out.

I’ve also invested in software that helps me tear through editing quickly, including one application that allows me to retouch portraits and batch-apply those edits in seconds.

So investing in equipment and software that support fast delivery is something I strongly recommend considering.

Ask for FIVE Star Reviews

In 2025, I was named Ashburn, Virginia’s highest-rated photographer based on Google reviews.

At first, I thought it was fake because sometimes I get spammed by businesses offering bogus awards and recognition.

Then I actually read through it and realized it was real.

But I played a role in that.

Every time I deliver a gallery, I ask my clients for a FIVE-star review if they’re happy with their experience.

And if they’re not?

I ask them to let me make it right.

Why not just ask for “a review?”

Because what some people define as excellent (four stars) could still be perceived publicly as just okay.

I also believe in being direct with people and giving them a clear call to action (CTA) to follow.

As of today, I have 105 five-star reviews on Google.

Not because I whipped people into some local voting frenzy with a magazine contest.

Actual five-star reviews from real clients.

I just won the same award again for 2026, and honestly, I’m still blown away by it.

Reputation compounds just like money does.

Be Organized and Manage Your Time

One of my gifts is organization.

I actually can’t seem to turn it off.

It is critically important to run a session efficiently, which means tracking time while also guiding clients through posing, moving through locations strategically, finding the best light, and wrapping things up on time.

It’s also important to have:

• a solid scheduling platform
• clear communication
• contingency plans for weather
• and responsiveness with clients

Do not undervalue the importance of having your act together.

This is one of the cornerstones of my business, and I know my clients respond positively to being organized, prepared, and efficient.

That’s it!

Sometimes the thing that changes your life starts as a random idea, a curiosity, or a hobby.

Then one day you wake up and realize:
“Oh crap… this is a real business.”

I’ve learned that talent matters, but consistency, professionalism, responsiveness, and reputation matter just as much.

And if you’re willing to keep learning, improving, and occasionally making yourself uncomfortable?

You might surprise yourself with what you can build.

🐝 That’s the buzz for today – now go forth and make good financial decisions!