discover the magic of your business.
I used to read books every day. Now, I generally opt for audiobooks to listen to on the way to weddings. Either way, I’m always trying to consume as much knowledge as I can. Business strategy and technology is always changing, and I think in order to stay successful and relevant, you need to be growing as well. Here are some of my favorite books that have helped me along the way to becoming a full-time wedding photographer.
THE PHOTOGRAPHER’S MBA BY CAL CINCOTTA
This was the first book I invested in when I was interested in pursuing photography as a full-time career. Business plans, pricing, banding, contracts and so much more information are included in this gem of a book. The sections are broken down and easy to digest so you can quickly implement the practices in measurable ways. It can be tough to find straight forward and specific information for your wedding photography business, but Sal niches down to tell you exactly how to start and how to grow.
HOW TO WIN FRIENDS & INFLUENCE PEOPLE BY DALE CARNEGIE
As a psych major, I loved this book. It really clicked for me. As someone who works from home, social interactions don’t happen for me as much as they used to. I enjoyed reading this book because the principles can be applied to most experiences in my business. At weddings, most of what we do is small talk with guests and other vendors. These people are important in helping our business grow. At networking events, creating a lasting first impression is so important in a saturated industry. All of these principles can also be used in marketing your business, so I highly suggest this book!
THE PUMPKIN PLAN BY MIKE MICHALOWICZ
I love this one as an audiobook. The author is energetic and humorous, encouraging you through various examples of the “Pumpkin Plan” in action. In this guide, the author shows you simple strategies to grow your business in many different fields. Each chapter is a story from a different business, which I think is incredibly important. If you’re only learning about your photography business from other photography businesses, you’ll exhaust your options quickly. There is so much to learn from businesses that are in a completely different realm from you because key things are important for business growth no matter what field you work in. My takeaway from this book is that if you plant the right seeds and take good care of them, nurture them and get rid of the weeds, your business will grow to incredible heights.
HOW TO STOP WORRYING AND START LIVING BY DALE CARNEGIE
Another Carnegie bestseller, this book changed my life. I’ve always been a worrywart, and working in such a competitive industry in today’s world of Instagram “highlight reels” made me the most anxious I’ve ever been. Lance encouraged me to read this book, and I can’t believe how much it clicked. Everyone has their fears, worries, and doubts, so I encourage you to check this one out to gain a new outlook on life and what matters.
Not only for business but life in general, this book will help you soar and reach your goals by implementing small changes and becoming better each day, 1% at a time. As entrepreneurs, we have big goals that can seem impossible to begin to achieve, but this book helped me break things down into little pieces that are easier to accomplish and lead me to better habits, better time management, and growth in my business.
PROFIT FIRST BY MIKE MICHALOWICZ
While I haven’t finished this book at the time of writing this, I have already implemented changes and have seen my profits increase literally instantly in my business. This book is written by the same author as The Pumpkin Plan, so I knew it was going to be a good one. I’ll update this after I complete the book on just how much it helped me with money management!
Do you have a book you think would be a good contribution to this list? Send the recommendation my way!