4 myths about using photography for your business
Over the course of my career I was met with different reactions to the idea of having your picture taken in order to promote something such a yoga teacher - the idea of “branding” can seem somewhat incongruous when talking about teaching yoga.
I don’t need images to run a good business
Technically you're right, but why would you make your life more difficult when you have a very easy tool that can help you find more clients? You also don’t need social media or a website, you could use word of mouth and rely solely on the studio’s marketing if you are working for studios. But having myself experienced first hand living from paycheck to paycheck and not using marketing to help myself, I burnt myself out really quickly. Using marketing tools and therefore photography to create my own life allowed me to take control over my schedule, my career and my priorities.
It doesn't necessarily have to be of you, having professional pictures taken of your retreat can make a world of difference.
I’m not pretty enough to be in a photoshoot
You can refer to my other blog posts about this but please do not let patriarchy and diet culture tell you you are not worthy enough to be in a picture. We are told to look a certain way and it’s particularly true if you are in the wellness industry, with its thin white women posing wearing expensive activewear, but you deserve to be visible!
It’s not yoga
In my opinion yoga is a philosophy that needs to be applied in every single aspect of your life. Yoga is an important part of me and it matters for me to practice as a photographer, even more so than practicing on my mat. We know that asanas are not yoga, particularly when performed in front of a camera. But a photoshoot can be something executed with kindness, compassion, care, and oneness in mind. And you are using photography (and other marketing tools) to spread your message to more people, so more people can benefit from yoga. So as difficult as it sounds, to me it actually makes sense to be visible if I want this spiritual and philosophical practice to be broader.
It causes people to be self-obsessed
Whilst that can be very true of photography as well as social media usage, I have witnessed many photoshoots be very healing for some people who struggle with self-esteem issues related to their image and perception of themselves. Working with the right photographer can actually help release some of the obsession one develops when constantly bombarded with images.
I like to see my work as art rather than commercial, and therefore what I’m creating are little pieces of art for which I need muses - and everyone is my muse.