HOW IT STARTED

How I Started and Grew a Successful Photography Business

If you’ve read a little about me already, you probably know the basics of how I started my photography journey.

But I wanted to write this post a little differently.

Instead of just sharing my story, I want this to be for the beginner photographer who is sitting on the edge of starting but feels scared to take the leap.

Because three years ago, that was me.

How I Got Started in Photography

My photography journey didn’t start with fancy gear or a big investment.

It started with a $400 Canon Rebel T6 that I bought on Facebook Marketplace.

At the time, I didn’t know everything about photography — but I knew one thing for sure: if I was going to do this, I wanted to learn it the right way.

So from the very first day I picked up my camera, I forced myself to learn manual mode.

I didn’t even give myself another option.

I watched videos, read articles, and practiced constantly. I photographed my friends and family as much as possible just to learn and get comfortable behind the camera.

If you’re just starting out, two things I learned early on are:

• Shoot in manual mode so you truly understand light.
• Shoot in RAW so you have the most flexibility when editing your photos.

Learning those two things early made a huge difference in my growth.

Falling in Love With the Process

What surprised me the most wasn’t just how much I loved taking photos.

It was how much I loved running the business.

I quickly realized I thrive when I’m busy, learning, and constantly pushing myself to improve. I’m the type of person who always wants to be growing and getting better.

Sometimes that drive can be a blessing… and sometimes it’s a curse.

But in business, it became one of my biggest strengths.

Taking a Bigger Leap

Not long after I started, I decided to fully invest in myself and my business.

I went to Best Buy, opened a no-interest credit card, and purchased my first major upgrades:

• Canon R6 camera
• Lens adapter
• Brand new MacBook Pro

At the time it felt like a huge step.

But one thing about me is when my heart is set on something, I will find a way to make it work.

Shortly after that, I bought a 35mm lens on eBay, which is why I needed the lens adapter for my camera.

None of it was perfect. None of it was glamorous.

But it was the beginning of something that would grow into a real business.

Starting My Photography Business

While I was learning photography, I was also learning how to run a business at the same time.

I created a brand new Instagram account and social media pages to start getting my name out there. I also built a very simple starter website so people could book sessions.

Every time I learned something new about business — contracts, pricing, booking systems — I implemented it as I went.

One of the first official things I did was register a DBA (Doing Business As) so my business was legal for tax purposes.

I also created Google Sheets to keep track of everything:

• A spreadsheet for all income from sessions
• A spreadsheet for all business expenses

Looking back, those simple systems helped me stay organized and treat my photography like a real business from the beginning.

Three Years Later

It’s now been three years since I started this journey.

And honestly, I’m incredibly proud of how far I’ve come.

This past year I invested in a professional website designer and completed a full rebrand of my business — something I absolutely love.

I’ve been growing in the wedding industry, built a style that feels authentic to me, and created a brand that I’m genuinely proud of.

And the best part is that I’m still learning every single day.

My Current Photography Gear

For anyone curious about the gear I currently use, my setup is now fully Canon.

Main Camera:
Canon R6 Mark II with a Sigma 24–70mm lens (using an adapter)

Backup Camera:
Canon R6 with a Sigma 35mm lens (also using an adapter)

Flash:
Godox V1

My next gear upgrade will likely be the Canon RF 28–70mm lens, which I’m really excited about.

Advice for New Photographers

If you’re dreaming about starting a photography business, my biggest piece of advice is simple:

Do it scared.

If I had waited until I felt fully confident, I would have never started.

Growth happens when you take action even when you feel uncertain.

A few other things that helped me tremendously:

• Be consistent on social media
• Get your name out there locally
• Join local photography groups
• Connect with other photographers

And most importantly — don’t view other photographers as competition.

Building community has been one of the best things for my business.

Photographers often refer clients when they’re booked, and having friends in the same industry makes a huge difference. You can learn from each other, support each other, and grow together.

A Final Thought

I am far from the best photographer, and I definitely don’t know everything.

I’m 100% self‑taught, and I’m still learning all the time.

But if my story can encourage even one person to take the first step toward starting their photography business, then it was worth sharing.

And if you’re a photographer just starting out and I can help in any way, I truly mean it when I say I would love to.

Because we all started somewhere.

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How I Started and Grew a Successful Photography Business | Kristen Evans Photography

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Kristen Evans shares how she started her photography business with a $400 camera, the lessons she learned along the way, and advice for beginner photographers.

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