This topic is incredibly relevant to many of us in the industry – the transition from being a photographer to stepping into the role of an educator. Transitioning from capturing those stunning senior moments to educating others is both a thrilling and challenging journey. If you’re interested in making the jump, then this blog is perfect for you! I’m sharing my advice on making the shift from photographer to educator as smooth as possible!

You might be wondering why should you transition from behind the camera to becoming an educator. The world of photography is built on the pillars of growth and sharing knowledge. This shift allows you to play a part in that. It’s about giving back, nurturing the growth of our industry, and leaving a lasting impact on the aspiring photographers who look up to you. If you’ve been a senior photographer for a few years now, you might be starting to have that itch to do something a little bit different. Or even just something new and challenging. As business owners, I think we all can crave that feeling of meeting a challenge and trying something new! If dipping your toes into the world of photography education is appealing to you, I would challenge you to first really consider what your WHY is.

Now, once you’ve decided to embrace the educator role, how do you go about building your educational platform? It’s more than just saying you’re an educator – it’s about crafting a well-thought-out strategy. Start by identifying your strengths. What sets you apart as a senior photographer? Is it your unique shooting style, your editing techniques, or perhaps your exceptional rapport with clients? When you can narrow down what it is that you specialize in, and what you are most passionate about, it will be easy for you to start brainstorming ways to educate others on those very things! After all, the best teacher is one who is passionate about what they are teaching, and who has the real-life experience to back up what they are preaching. 

Next, think about your target audience. Are you catering to those who are just starting their photography journey, or are you focusing on helping more experienced photographers refine their skills? When starting in the education world, it’s so important to know that you can’t teach everyone everything. Start out knowing what your niche area of focus is, and then determine who the audience is that will need help in this area.

For example, maybe you want to teach other senior photographers how to make the best experience for their clients. You have nailed down your own client experience over the years from the first interaction you have, the photoshoot day, and the delivery of the final photos. Well, with that focus in mind, your target audience is probably going to be newer senior photographers or photographers who aren’t strongly suited to customer service practices. Knowing your focus will help you promote yourself with your target audience in mind! 

One of the most important aspects of being an educator is determining the type of education you want to provide. There are many options out there and like I mentioned at the beginning of this episode, I’ve pretty much done them all. And just like with everything else there are pros and cons to the type you choose. Finding the one that works best for you is key. So what are your options?

In-person workshops – these can be as big or as small as you want. But the key here is that they are in person for a specific amount of time and you will teach on your topic. My first ever in-person workshop was the Seniorologie Tour which took place in Atlanta GA for 24 students! I can still remember how nervous I was and every little thing that didn’t quite go as planned. But that is the thing about in-person workshops, you can plan and plan and plan but sometimes things don’t go according to plan.

My advice for you, if you are considering an in-person workshop, is to be ready to pivot and make on-the-fly decisions! I remember not having the right adaptor for a slideshow and having to run to Target at the last minute to get one which meant changing the schedule. But hosting an in-person workshop can be so rewarding for both you and the students. There is nothing like the personal connection that can be gained by hosting an in-person workshop. It’s why I still host two in-person retreats per year for my Seniorologie Semester students! No matter how much online education we do throughout the six months, in-person is still such an important piece of education!

If planning your in-person event doesn’t sound up your alley, you could be a speaker at someone else’s event! There are lots of conferences out there that need good speakers. This means you get to teach and gain exposure but you don’t have the risk of hosting the event.  Generally, you show up, teach at your specific time and then attend the rest of the event. This is a great way to get your feet wet in the education world without having all the responsibility! 

Now I have been both a speaker at events and on the other side where I hosted the conference and was in charge of all the other speakers. It is a lot of work for the host! So if speaking at a conference is something you are interested in, please make sure to be mindful of all the work that goes into creating and hosting this event! Acknowledge the host, see if you can help in any way, and understand that they are the reason you are there.

My second piece of advice on this type of education is to make sure you have something in place for those who connect with you at the event to be able to learn from you outside the event! Speaking doesn’t always pay so you have to make sure that you are getting something out of it for the exposure you are getting! And having an email list, an online course, mentoring opportunities, or an in-person workshop available for anyone who saw you at the conference and wants to learn more is key.

Speaking on online courses is another type of education that you can consider. The online education world is huge and there are plenty of students to go around. The key is teaching something that you are an expert in, something that you do well, and something that stands out. Creating an online course is a way to help a lot of students in a self-paced form. My advice if this is the type you are considering is to narrow down your topic and make sure your course covers that topic in detail. Once you know your topic, lay out the lessons and modules for that topic. I like to use a sticky note system to help me visualize the topics I want to cover in the course.

Lastly, you could host a group program. Similar to a course, this type of education takes place online but has a more personal approach with Zoom meetings and access to the educator. I love this type of education because it allows me to help students in a group setting but still provides that one on one education. I love seeing students grow and have lightbulb moments while inside the Semester. Typically a group program lasts for a specific amount of time with a combination of course materials, group coaching calls, and more. Just like with an online course, you need to specify your topic, figure out the lessons, determine when your calls will be, and more!

Now that you know what types of education there are and you’ve determined which you want to do, it’s time to market yourself as an educator. Transitioning from a photographer to an educator also requires you to market yourself in a new light. Up until this point, you have only ever marketed yourself as a photographer, with your target audience being seniors and their parents. But now you need to start reaching a whole new audience of photographers themselves. 

So how can you make this switch in your marketing and reach the right new audience? Leverage your existing network and social media presence. Start transitioning the content you post to target photographers! Make a big announcement across all your platforms that shares your new role as an educator and the course or program you are offering. Start interacting with more photographer accounts, and maybe even offer an incentive for anyone who shares your content or signs up with a friend!  If you don’t already have a blog on your website, this would be a GREAT place to start building up your presence as an educator, not just a photographer. 

Hosting a webinar or workshop would also be a great first step to introduce yourself as an educator! Address the pain points and challenges that your audience faces in their photography journey, and provide solutions that demonstrate your expertise. Remember, testimonials from past students can serve as powerful endorsements that vouch for the value you bring as an educator. As you are growing and start working with photographers, be sure to ask for testimonials! Whatever you choose to start with, just start! That first step of putting yourself out there in a new role can be nerve-wracking, but there are so many amazing things in store for you on the other side! 

When you first start transitioning into the role of an educator, you are most likely still going to continue working as a photographer too. After all, it’s hard to give up what we are most passionate about! I even still see clients in my area and offer photoshoots regularly! 

Balancing your new role as an educator with your ongoing photography business can be a challenge. But it can be done with the right mindset and boundaries. Effective time management is going to be key. Allocate specific time blocks for both your educator and photographer roles. Communicate your availability clearly to both clients and students. Don’t hesitate to delegate tasks or seek support when necessary. 

As you grow both of these business ventures, you may find yourself in a position to outsource some work either through an assistant, a business manager, or a second photographer. Remember, we don’t want to get burned out. Be sure to not bite off more than you can chew at once, and carve out downtime. We can’t work constantly! We need to prioritize time with our loved ones and time to relax. This might mean that you focus a little less of your time on photography and a little more time on the education side, and that’s okay! Find the right balance that works for you.

Well, there you have it! The journey of transitioning from being a photographer to stepping into the role of an educator. I hope this left you feeling inspired and equipped to take on this exciting chapter in your career! I would love for you to check out my freebie, The Quick Start Guide To Becoming An Educator! You can download it at www.seniorologie.com/educatorguide Remember, you have something unique to offer the photography world! Don’t be afraid to push yourself out of your comfort zone and try something new! If you need more help with growing your senior photography business, making 4 -figures per senior session, and becoming the go-to senior photographer in your area, The Seniorologie Semester is for you! You can learn more about it by visiting www.seniorologie.com/semester.

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