turning your CREATIVE PASSSION into a PASSIONATE CAREER by anna filly
“If I could give you any piece of advice, it would be to not forget the reason why you fell in love with what you do.� -anna filly
HI THERE! I’m Anna Filly, a Wedding & Portrait photographer in the sweet, deep South. I love hosting dinner parties, sparkling water, & magnifying love through the art of photography. When I’m not traveling with my camera, or trying a new recipe, I enjoy empowering & educating others, both as encouragement for their hearts & refreshment for their souls. With a background in education, teaching and speaking has always been a passion of mine. Thank you SO much for taking the time to come to todays workshop. We are THRILLED to have you here and can’t wait to see your creative passion grow into a career youre passionate about!! Blessings & best! xoxo anna filly
9 PRACTICAL STEPS to prepare you for taking
THE LEAP 1. Getting Debt Free 2. Get a Mentor 3. Get Educated 4. Get the Necessities 5. Get Branded 6. Get a Team 7. Get Busy Loving Clients 8. Get in Community
9. STAY AT IT & Get to Praying
1.GET DEBT FREE / MAKE A PLAN Paying off your past before pursuing the passions of your future
Growing a business takes a plan. If you’re in the small business world, that means that you should consider your business plan like that of a living, breathing, thing! One way to set your self up for major sucess in the small business world is to get debt FREE & live INTENTIONALLY towards your goal. Even the most sucessful businesses need a plan in order to stay afloat! Before you start pursuing your passion, PAY off any loans or outstanding balances that might be a hinderance for the PURSUIT of your passion later on down the road !
Questions to Consider : What outstanding debts do you have? When will you be debt free? What can you do to put more money towards your debt?
3 . G E T E D U C AT E D Learn the MOST you can, while you can
Just because you don’t have a long line of clients, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare for one! Get educated in your craft- there is ALWAYS more to learn. Some FREE Education tools are : Creative Live, Dave Ramsey’s blog, Youtube & BLOGS of other professionals in your industry. Education is not only limited to your CRAFT, but the business of your craft. Get educated on taxes, state policies, marketing, etc. as well as how to better create what you love!
Questions to Consider : What do you want to get better at? What is your greatest strength in your craft? What is your biggest weakness in your craft? 9
2. GET A MENTOR Find someone who is doing what you want to do
One of the scariest parts in the beginning stages of my business was when I emailed the top 5 photographers in the Mobile area and asked to second shoot with them. Not a single one said yes. I was heartbroken. But, instead of wasting time feeling sorry for myself, I made it my goal to keep reaching out! Finding a mentor can be hard- and might require you working for FREE for them, but you’re gaining an edcuation in a craft they have sucessfully built into a business! Hold on tight!
Questions to Consider : What are some businesses you look up to? Why do you look up to them? Who is currently doing what you would like to do?
5. GET BUSY LOVING ON CLIENTS Clients are one of the only differences between a hobby and a business!
It’s so essential to understand that your CLIENTS are the ones funding your DREAM. In essence, loving on them, means you’re allowing your dream to flourish! One of the ways to BEST love your clients is to create an experience for them as SOON as they come into contact with you. Each business experience is different & completely unique because each BUSINESS is different & completely unique. WAYS I CREATE AN EXPERIENCE : Bride Boxes, Email, Guides, Website/design, Consultations, Facebook Groups, Interactions, Questionaaires, emotions
Questions to Consider :
How do you want people to FEEL when they’ve encountered you and your business? What do you want people to SAY about you and your business? What are some creative ways you can enhance your client’s expereince with you?
4 . G E T W HAT YO U N E E D Bones are the building blocks to every body.
You don’t need the latest and the greatest tools to create incredible products. I feel like I need to say that again: You don’t need the latest and the greatest tools to create incredible products. When I started my business I had one camera ( it wasn’t even a full frame!) and two lenses. I shot with those three things for almost TWO YEARS. Figure out what you need and figure out how you plan to get it. Then, SAVE up for the rest. Don’t waste your time wanting what you don’t have, focus your time on what you DO have. And do it well!
Questions to Consider :
What are the basic tools that I need in order to do WELL at my craft? How much are the basic tools that I need? What is stopping me from getting the necessities?
6. GET BRANDED Be absolutely confident that being you is the best thing to be.
There are SO many incredible businesses out there. It’s SO easy to get caught up in the comparrison trap and lose sight of who you are. Don’t let yourself fall into that! Figure out what sets you apart. The BEST branding isn’t figuring out what you WANT to be, it’s figuring out who you are and marketing it accordingly. EMBRACE YOU. You are the best marketing tool for your business.
Questions to Consider : What is your company? Who is it’s ideal client? What is your business’s purpose? Whom does it serve? Why does it exist?
ABOUT
I love going to the movies, and Chick-fil-a icedream cones. There are some things you just need to discover to truly get to know someone - and I think those two are pretty high on my list. :)
HEY, GORGEOUS ! It is such an honor to be considered as your photographer! I adore what I do. It’s about so much more than capturing moments- it’s about creating experiences that allow you to feel confident, genuine, & completely radiant! Portrait sessions are such a beautiful time to capture who you are and what makes you, YOU. My wish is not only to serve you as a photographer, but celebrate with you as a friend.
As friends, here are a few things you should know!
>>>
Fun Fact #1
I love cooking pasta for dinner! Cooking is an experience for me, so I treasure nothing more than sipping a glass of red wine and listening to my favorite playlists while I cook. 14
These are a few of my favorite things....
1. I aboslutely LOVE being in the kitchen. 2. Unique, handcrafted tile amazes me. 3. One of my favorite places for a sweet treat is in Nashville, TN- I LOVE this bakery’s crossaint donuts! 4. My favorite ring to photograph is the one David gave me, I adore it! 5. With a hot, black cup of coffee -- most anything can be accomplished. 6. Traveling the world brings me alive. I treasure any opportunity to meet new people & see new sights. 7. In my opinion, fresh cut flowers make the best home decor. 8. Crusty, homemade bread is my specailty. 9. I’m an outgoing
introvert to my core. One of my favorite ways to spend an evening is cozied up with peppermint tea & a good book!
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7. GET A TEAM A great business owner DOES NOT do it all --that is how small businesses burnout. A great business owner knows her strengths, her weaknesses and delegates accordingly. You started your business because you had a passion to DO something. Hiring others who are gifted in different areas than you is the BIGGEST blessing for your business. Whether it’s hiring a virtual assistant, a book keeper, an accountant, an editor, employees, a social media coordinator-- whatever-- get a team. Keep it small and love them well, until the business demands otherwise.
Questions to Consider :
What are the top THREE things you LIKE about running a small business? What are the top THREE things you don’t like about running a small business? If you could hire someone tomorrow, what would they do?
8. GET IN COMMUNITY
“Friendship is born at the moment when one man says to another “What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .” - C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves It is easy to suspect that those who are in the same business as you are your competition, in actuality, they are your community. There are MORE than enough clients out there to support you, don’t feel the need or the urgency to prove that you’re “better than” those who are in the same business as you. Connect when you can. If not with people who are in the same business, connect to those who are in the same industry. Online groups like The Rising Tide Society are safe havens for creatives who just want to connect. Owning a businss is SO hard. Connect to others who understand, who can spur and encourage you as you both chase your dreams!
Questions to Consider :
What are some people in your area that you can connect with? What groups are you going to try to join?
9 . S TAY AT I T & G E T T O P R AY I N G I’d be lying if I told you that it would be easy. That after following these 9 tips- you’re good to go. There is so much that you will learn over the course of your journey that I can’t put into words, and that’s okay. As you seek to give life to your creative passion and transform it into a business, give yourself grace. Good things take time. Consistency is key. You get better and more efficient the more you do something. Create workflows, iron out kinks, stay consistent, even when things don’t seem constant. In all honesty, I started my business four years ago and it wasn’t until THIS year that I felt I was confident in my craft, delivering the experience I desired my clients to have. If you truly love what you’re doing, stay commited to it. Don’t be afraid of failure, failure is often the beginning of something brand new, that you may have never seen coming!
Questions to Consider : Do you think instant sucess is the only sucess?
How long are you willing to invest into taking your creative passion & shaping it into a passionate career? What does failure look like to you?
“JOY. I wanted see the “Annato made
joy on his Justin &face, I feel &super Annacomfortable captured it & relaxed during PERFECTLY.” our session. -Niccolefelt Everything NATURAL & the pictures showed how much we LOVE each other.”
- Leah
FAQ
for the creative starting a small business
WHAT SOFTWARE DO YOU USE FOR BOOK KEEPING? I use 17hats and quik books-- both are incredible. Look into HoneyBook as well! HOW DO YOU ACCEPT PAYMENT? My invoicing software (17hats) allows me to accept payment via Paypal, and credit card online. Of course, I don’t mind cash or checks-- though be careful with checks! They DO bounce ! Square is a great tool if you want to accept credit cards both in person and online as well. HAVE YOU EVER SAID “NO” TO A POTENTIAL CLIENT BEFORE? Yes yes yes!!! If you have any reservations about the “fit” between you and a potential client, it is TOTALLY okay to tell them you’re either booked, or unable to serve them in the capacity they’re requesting. Don’t be afraid to give them recommendations for other creatives in your area too! HOW MUCH IS SALES TAX IN ALABAMA? 10% on services AND products. If you’re making over $3,000 net, you need to start paying the government in order to run your business.
DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER? Nope! The dream was to start my own bakery/bed and breakfast.... I never knew my creative journey would take me here, but I’m thankful! WHATS THE BEST FREE MARKETING TOOL OUT THERE? Social Media!!!! Instagram. Specifically. I think, anyway! HOW DO I KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO HIRE SOMEONE TO HELP ME? When you have too much on your plate and you start to realize you’re not doing things WELL. If your client’s experience is being hindered, hire someone! HOW DO I GET MY NAME ON A GOOGLE SEARCH? SEO. But that’s a whole other talk for a different time. The best way to boost SEO is through written content. I’ve learned that blogging is the most effective way for my SEO to be raised AND for my clients to see fresh, recent work consistently HOW DO I GET CLIENTS TO REVIEW MY WORK ON FACEBOOK OR OTHER WEBSITES? Ask them, and offer something if they do it. I asked my following for a review for Christmas one year and it worked! (ALWAYS include a direct link!!)
HAVE MORE
? s n o i t s e u q Let’s connect!
xo anna filly
@annafilly 804.385.8815 HELLO@ANNAFILLY.COM
WWW.ANNA FILLY.COM 23