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How to Choose the Right Photography Mentor (Without Getting Burned)
59 Plays15 days ago
Episode Summary:
In this episode of Empowered, I’m diving into something that feels more important than ever in today’s coaching saturated world: how to choose the right mentor or photography coach. With so many courses, masterminds, and mentorships out there, it’s crucial to know what to look for, and what to avoid. I’m sharing honest, heartfelt advice based on my own experiences as both a mentor and a student, so you can invest with clarity, confidence, and alignment.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- The most important quality to look for in a mentor (hint: it’s not their income)
- Why “guaranteed results” are a red flag in the coaching world
- How to tell if a mentor has real experience or is just good at marketing
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Transcript
Introduction to Photography Education
00:00:01
Speaker
Hey, hey, hey, hey, empowered listeners. I am excited to talk to you today about something that I um spoke on another podcast about, and I think that it's an important thing in our current climate of our educational world.
The Abundance Mindset in Photography
00:00:16
Speaker
um system and I mean photography education there are a lot of new um coaching programs mentorships classes etc out there and I think that that's actually really amazing and I know that ah you're probably saying well of course you're saying that you have a mastermind But i I do think it's amazing. I think that the fact that photographers are believing in the energetic of abundance, meaning that we believe that if we give back to this community, we will receive that it will make for a better industry.
Choosing a Mentor: Personal and Critical
00:00:46
Speaker
But I do think that choosing a mentor is a deeply personal and challenging decision. And i also think that it's on you, the student, to make sure that you are doing the due diligence to make sure that you are choosing wisely.
00:01:01
Speaker
If you're going to join a mastermind or hire a coach or hire a mentor, you are trusting this person to be an integral part of your journey. So it's really important that you make sure that they are a good fit.
00:01:15
Speaker
So here are a few tips that I want you to roll through your mind when you are trying to decide who you should choose to be your photography mentor.
00:01:27
Speaker
so The first tip I think is probably the most important. Are they kind? so i want you to Pay attention to how they speak on the internet or elsewhere.
00:01:40
Speaker
Is their energy supportive? Is it lift uplifting? Or is it harsh? I very much dislike any language like the three mistakes you are making or let me show you how you're doing this wrong or this is what is causing you to not succeed.
Beware of Negative Marketing Tactics
00:02:01
Speaker
What this is doing is this mentor is tearing you down so that they can build you back up. Now, it is a marketing tactic that a lot of people, especially coaches and mentors use, but I don't believe that it is a positive way to start.
00:02:16
Speaker
If somebody's already trying to bring you down in order to build you up, that may be the essence of their coaching style. So think about that. But also pay attention to their tone.
00:02:27
Speaker
Are they kind? Are they nice to people on the internet? I will see coaches and mentors in Facebook groups really being snotty and weird and not nice and that isn't good.
00:02:39
Speaker
So really look into that. It's simple to notice. It's simple to recognize.
Importance of Mentor's Experience
00:02:45
Speaker
Pay attention. Are they kind? And the next tip that is really, really important, second to the most important one of them being kind is have they been or are they at a place where you want to be?
00:02:59
Speaker
I see a lot of educators teaching skills that I'm pretty sure they have not become an expert in yet. and i'm not I am not buying into the lack frequency here and saying that I'm noticing it people and saying, oh, they're not ready.
00:03:11
Speaker
But I really do believe that if you are teaching something, you should be able to repeat it and you should be able to give those results to your students. so I see educators teaching about business when I'm pretty sure their business is not off the ground yet.
00:03:25
Speaker
um A photographer who is teaching about business should have the years and experience to back their expertise and the statistics, meaning that they should be booking clients regularly and have a profitable business.
00:03:37
Speaker
So look into that. If someone's telling you they're going to get you to six figures, they're going to get you to XYZ, make sure that they've been able to do it a few times. And by a few, I mean for a couple of years at least.
00:03:49
Speaker
um If they are profitable only because of their education and not because of their portrait business, they may not be a reliable source. So I want you to think that through. Also, again, if they are at a place that you don't want to be, that's not good either.
00:04:04
Speaker
So if you are taking mentorship from a commercial photographer that you know got herself on Elle magazine, but that's not what you're trying to be, what you want to be is a super successful wedding photographer,
00:04:15
Speaker
Think again. Think about if they are where you want to be.
Scrutinizing Programs and Outcomes
00:04:20
Speaker
The next piece of advice that I would have for you is beware of false guarantees. I tell all of my photography mastermind students that I cannot guarantee anything except that they will build a beautiful community of supportive photographers.
00:04:34
Speaker
Why do I do that? Because guarantees are a lie. I know for a fact that I am giving really effective strategies really useful information and I know that I have seen tons of students now over a hundred students like change their life but I will not guarantee that that's gonna happen for any person why because I don't know what you're gonna do with the information I share that's on you the student we are co-creating in a coaching relationship I do guarantee that I'm gonna show up for you i do guarantee that I am going to be an open book and I do guarantee again the community piece but
00:05:13
Speaker
If you show up or not, that's in your hands. So any program that guarantees a certain level of monetary results, X amount of you know six figure this or this many bookings, et cetera, they're not really being truthful.
00:05:26
Speaker
I will say though, my alumni, yep, they are killing it. They're doubling, tripling their income um booking themselves a month or year in advance, refining their brands, working with other brands, overall becoming more fulfilled.
00:05:38
Speaker
But I'm telling you, I cannot guarantee anything. And you have to remember, like if someone's guaranteeing you something, that's not true. They don't know what you're going to do with the information. So I don't like those marketing tactics.
Evaluating Program Reviews
00:05:50
Speaker
The final thing that you need to do when you're picking a coach or mentor is read the reviews. We're of course going to sing the praises of our coaching programs, of our mentorships, of our masterminds, of our classes.
00:06:02
Speaker
Duh, that's our job. So make sure that you check out past student reviews. If there aren't reviews yet because the program is new, make double sure that you're considering the other suggestions that I ah mentioned in this audio recording.
00:06:17
Speaker
So yeah, some people do have their first run of things, and that doesn't mean it's not going to be great. So just make sure that you know that this person has been where you want to be and that they are kind. um But if they've already done it, you really want to read the reviews. It's important to look into what some of their other students have done before you decide to work with them.
00:06:37
Speaker
Choosing a mentor, ah choosing a coach, choosing a mastermind is a super personal experience.
The Transformative Power of Masterminds
00:06:43
Speaker
I've been a student in a mastermind twice. It was two of the most transformative years of my life as a professional photographer, as a career as a career entrepreneur.
00:06:52
Speaker
So I know how valuable they are. But I also think that I've seen and heard of friends and family members that are um and have done coaching programs etc and have been who really really disappointed and so I want you to make sure that you're doing the due diligence to pick the right coach or mentor for you