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Fake It Till You Make It — The Real Secret to Becoming a Successful Photographer
98 Plays3 months ago
In this refreshingly honest solo episode, I’m sharing one of the most powerful truths behind my success as a photographer and it’s probably not what you expect. You might even laugh when you hear it, but it works. We're talking about the mindset shift that helped me grow from a brand-new photographer making $2K a year to running a thriving, multi-six-figure photography business with a fully booked calendar and a rock-solid reputation.
Spoiler alert: it all started with acting like I’d already made it.
Inside this episode, I’ll give you three practical steps to stop waiting for permission and start embodying the successful photographer you’re meant to be. If you’re stuck in that “someday” mindset, this one’s for you.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Success doesn’t happen by accident. If you're waiting for the “perfect time” or for someone to tell you you’re ready, you're holding yourself back.
- Mindset is everything. Adopting the identity of a successful photographer before you feel like one will change how you show up and people will notice.
- Take bold action before you're ready. Even if your income is tiny or your confidence is shaky, show up like a pro.
- Consistency wins. The most successful photographers don’t wait for the right moment — they act, daily.
- Your homework: Start acting, speaking, marketing, and shooting like you’ve already made it. Don’t wait. Decide. Do the work.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
You don’t need anyone’s permission to succeed. The only person who can decide you’re ready… is you.
So, what would you do today if you already were the most sought-after photographer in your area?
That’s your next move.
LINKS & RESOURCES:
🎓 Ready to fully embody the successful photographer within you?
The Elena S Blair Mastermind is now open for applications!
Next cohort starts July 29, 2025 — and there are only 5 spots left.
Apply here
We’ll chat face-to-face on Zoom. No pressure, just connection.
Download my photography business roadmap
🎧 Love this episode?
- Hit subscribe so you don’t miss the next one.
- Leave a 5-star review to help more photographers find Empowered.
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Transcript
The Key to Success in Photography
00:00:01
Elena Blair
What is up, empowered photographer? This is a fun little episode where I'm just going to share with you what I did, what I believe is actually pretty much the basics and simplest thing that you need to do to become a successful photographer.
00:00:19
Elena Blair
It's simple and it's powerful, but it's the truth. Okay. So you're going to be like, Oh my gosh, is she joking? Is this really all she's got for me today? But just listen, okay? just I'm in your earbuds. Just like really take this in.
00:00:32
Elena Blair
Have
The Power of 'Fake it Till You Make it'
00:00:33
Elena Blair
you ever heard the phrase, fake it till you make it? It's a bit cliche, right? But it's kind of the secret behind many success stories.
00:00:44
Elena Blair
And I'm not just talking about for photographers. I'm talking about actors and politicians and business people. It really is One of the biggest secrets behind success stories, including my own. Now, let me explain.
00:00:58
Elena Blair
So when I really began to carry myself as if I was already the most sought after photographer in Seattle, that was exactly what I became. Before
Adopting a Proactive Mindset for Success
00:01:09
Elena Blair
I was really just walking the walk, talking about my business, saying that it was already successful, starting to show up online show up in person, show up to my friend's house saying I'm a photographer, all those things, I was waiting for something to happen that was never going to happen. I was waiting for permission. I was waiting for that someday I will feel this way. Someday I will be the most sought after photographer.
00:01:32
Elena Blair
And that someday mentality was actually holding me back. So what does it take? Let's be honest, okay, right? Success does not happen on accident.
00:01:43
Elena Blair
It does not. It does not happen for those who are sitting around waiting for that one day, waiting for somebody to tell them it's time to become a successful photographer. You have to take bold steps today, not someday, today before you're ready.
Avoiding the 'Someday' Trap
00:02:00
Elena Blair
So here's here are three things that you can do right now to do from to get you out of that dreaming one day mentality and to get you into that living and embodying mentality, that embodiment of this.
00:02:14
Elena Blair
So number one, and want you to adopt the right mindset. Early on, okay, when I was early on in my photography business, I would look at other photographers and I would say, one day I'll have a business like theirs, right?
00:02:29
Elena Blair
That, I've already been, I've been alluding to this, talking about this, it's so important. That mindset was literally holding me back. Waiting for one day does not lead to success. It leads to stagnation and procrastination.
00:02:41
Elena Blair
When I decided to start acting, embodying, changing my mindset and As a successful photographer, walking the walk, becoming that professional photographer that I wanted to be, saying that I was that professional photographer, everything transformed.
00:02:57
Elena Blair
And I became her because I adopted that mindset. So number
Confidence and Consistent Action Lead to Growth
00:03:03
Elena Blair
two, I want you to show up like you've already made it. I told everyone about my photography business and it was making like $2,000 a year, okay? My first couple years were not successful.
00:03:14
Elena Blair
I was telling everyone about it though. I implemented new offers. I participated in local events and community building networking um ah things that were happening in my town. Like I was already the best in the business. I went to um like this newborn fair and had and showed up like I was the best newborn photographer in Seattle.
00:03:32
Elena Blair
Even when I didn't feel ready, I showed up. Within one year of doing this, I was earning as much as I did in my previous career as a nurse.
00:03:42
Elena Blair
And more importantly, my calendar was booked months in advance. And that was when I was able to leave my nursing career. Number three, take consistent action. Every successful successful photographer that I know has one thing in common.
00:03:56
Elena Blair
They take consistent action. They don't wait for a sign. They don't wait for their portfolio to be perfect. They don't wait for somebody to tell them that they're perfect because they won an award, whatever.
Building a Thriving Business without Validation
00:04:07
Elena Blair
None of that matters. so i took consistent after action just like these photographers that i was seeing doing that i showed up but every single day for my business for my photography for my community and i believed in my ability to succeed to succeed so where am i now because of this because i took those early steps like 15 years ago my business generates multiple six figures annually and not not the education part the taking pictures part
00:04:36
Elena Blair
It create captures hundreds of families a year and i would say thousands of students because of our school photography segment. I employ a small and talented team of photographers so my photography business is able to contribute to our economy.
00:04:52
Elena Blair
I didn't wait for someone to tell me I was ready. I decided. i decided i was ready. And I showed up as that successful photographer and it changed everything.
Acting with Confidence and Consistency
00:05:04
Elena Blair
So you're going to do your homework. Your homework for me before you listen to the next episode is to act as if you're already successful. Speak, work, and present yourself with confidence.
00:05:16
Elena Blair
Do the work today. Don't wait for inspiration or for the perfect moment. Practice. Get your camera out. Do the work today. Commit to showing up. Consistency for marketing is key.
00:05:30
Elena Blair
Consistency in all areas of your business are is the key to building a thriving photography business. I am so excited that you are here listening to empowered.
00:05:42
Elena Blair
If you are inspired by my lessons, if you are inspired by my teachings, if you want to be a successful photographer.
Invitation to Join Group Coaching Program
00:05:51
Elena Blair
I'm sure you're not ah so new to knowing that I have a five month group coaching program called the Elena S Blair Mastermind.
00:05:58
Elena Blair
It is open for applications right now. If you're listening to this in 2025, the next cohort starts ah July 29th of 2025, and we only have five spots left. I'm going to link the application in the description here in the show notes. I would love to see you apply.
00:06:15
Elena Blair
Applying takes about five minutes and then we will do a no pressure discovery call where you and me talk face to face via Zoom. hope that you'll consider applying. If that is not something that you feel like you're ready for, no problem.
00:06:28
Elena Blair
I'm so glad that you're here. i hope you're enjoying Empowered. Don't forget to leave five star review and don't forget to subscribe. All right. I'll see you in the next episode.