5 Essential Tips for Starting Your Creative or Birth Business

My journey as a creative entrepreneur began 12 years ago, at the tender age of 20. It's been a road marked by vibrant highs and challenging lows - a path where every misstep was a learning opportunity and every success, a moment of gratitude. When I started as a photographer, I had no plan and didn’t take myself very seriously at all. I did the occasional wedding or engagement session here and there, but it took a few years and life circumstances for me to actually take myself and my business seriously. In 2015, I got married and needed a job. I had this dream to work as an artist, but that was the extent of my business planning. After a few months of aimlessly "trying," I got a job in corporate America. And that was the best decision I ever made. (I know that sounds silly), but the structure and organization, mixed with the very low stakes of my job (I was the lowest-tiered receptionist on a team of four amazing ladies), opened up a world for me. I was able to gain confidence, skills, and during the slow hours, I had a lot of motivation to learn about business. In the one year I worked there, I was able to grow a full-time photography business, get back into birth work, and launch myself full time.

Now, I know my journey is not the same as yours, but I wanted to share a little piece of it before I went straight into teacher mode. Because I promise, I have been there too, and I want to share with you the distilled wisdom of these years, the essence of what it really takes to start and sustain a business in the creative and birth professional fields. From navigating the early days of uncertainty to celebrating milestones, I've experienced it all. And I see so many people wanting to get started but feeling really lost on the "how."

So today, I’m sharing the five tips for starting your own creative business or getting into birth work. Because the passion and dream only get you so far, and these are things I really wish someone would have told me when I was getting started.

Tip 1: Identifying Your Niche and Your Target Market

The first step in your entrepreneurial journey is pinpointing your niche and understanding your target market. This is about more than just deciding what you love to do; it's about recognizing where your passion meets a need in the market. When you find that sweet spot, your work resonates more deeply with those who need it most, creating a loyal client base. It’s like finding your community - those people who don't just like what you do; they believe in it. This alignment not only brings fulfillment but also drives sustainable business growth. Remember, when you try to appeal to everyone, you might not truly connect with anyone. So, take a moment to reflect on what sets you apart and who will most appreciate and need your unique offerings.

For Photographers and Creatives

If you're a photographer or a creative, identifying your niche might mean focusing on a specific style or subject. Are you drawn to vibrant, high-energy events, or do you find beauty in quiet, intimate moments? Do you excel in capturing the unspoken bond in family portraits or the raw emotion of birth and documentary photography? Then understanding your unique style and whom it appeals to is crucial. You want your style to be unique, well executed, and also be an end product that people are actually looking for.

Your target market could be couples looking for an unconventional wedding photographer, other small businesses needing compelling branding images or artwork, or families seeking a photographer who can authentically capture their transformational birth journey. By honing in on your specific style and audience, you create a brand identity that speaks directly to those who will cherish your art the most.

This may take time to truly nail down exactly your style and market. But at the beginning its so important to be specific and focused so you aren’t wasting years (like I did) photographing anything for anybody. I could have used those years truly focused on the photographs I wanted to create and actually getting better instead.

For Birth Workers

As a birth worker, whether you're a doula, midwife, or birth photographer, your niche is already specialized, but there's still room to refine. Consider the type of birth experiences you are passionate about supporting. Are you drawn to home births, hospital births, or do you have a local birthing center that you can work intentionally with? Do you have a special connection with first-time parents, or do you resonate more with those who've had challenging past experiences like VBAC, birth after loss, or struggles with infertility? Perhaps your strength lies in providing holistic care or advocating for birthing rights. Understanding the uniqueness of you you are as a birth worker and the specific needs and preferences of your ideal clients helps you tailor your services and communication. Your target market might be expectant mothers who value natural birth methods, families who want comprehensive support, or those who seek a birth worker with a particular focus or expertise. By knowing your strengths and who benefits most from them, you position yourself as an indispensable part of their birth journey.

Now I know this one can be hard for a lot of birth workers. We want to support everyone but like I said “when you try to appeal to everyone, you might not truly connect with anyone” which can be a huge stumbling block for birth professionals just getting started.

Tip 2: Building a Strong Brand Identity

Building a strong brand identity is crucial in setting yourself apart in the competitive fields of creative arts and birth work. Your brand is more than a logo or a color scheme; it's the embodiment of your unique story, values, and the experiences you offer. It communicates who you are, what you stand for, and why you're different. A memorable brand not only catches the eye of potential clients but also fosters a deeper emotional connection, making your services more desirable and your business more successful. It’s easy to create a brand that looks like everyone else so this step can be really powerful when you are getting started. It sets you apart and sets you up for success. A great place to start is starting with yourself as an ideal client and asking yourself what types of business you like working with.

For Photographers and Creatives

As a creative, your brand should be a reflection of your artistic vision and style. It's important to create a visual identity that is cohesive, resonates with your artistic sensibility, and appeals to an audience that is already out there. This might involve choosing a color palette that reflects the mood of your work, designing a logo that captures the essence of your style, or crafting a tagline that succinctly communicates your unique approach. Your portfolio, which showcases your best work, should also align with your brand identity. You should be sharing the photography you WANT to create not just every photo you’ve ever taken. If you want to photograph weddings don’t confuse people with Christmas mini sessions and if you want to photograph births then start there and stop posting images that distract from that goal. Consistently presenting your brand across all platforms and interactions helps establish a recognizable presence that speaks directly to your ideal clients and over time builds authority. So even if you don’t have that many years under your belt your consistency will shine and add a few years to your respectability alone.

For Birth Workers

For birth workers, your brand identity should communicate trust, care, and expertise. It's essential to convey a sense of empathy and understanding, as your services are deeply personal and emotional. It’s also important to identify the type of birth worker you want to be. If you are an advocate in the space and no-nonsense about informed consent and birth autonomy, it’s important your brand reflects that. You want your brand to attract the families you want to work with. A great birth worker branding includes a color scheme that evokes your birth support, imagery that represents you in the support space, and your respect for the birth experience. You’ll also want to think through a tagline that speaks to your dedication to empowering birthing experiences and the services you provide. The testimonials and stories of the families you've supported can be powerful components of your brand, showcasing your role in their transformational life moments. By aligning your brand with the values and expectations of expectant parents, you position yourself as not just a service provider, but as a vital partner in their experience.

Tip 3: Developing a Solid Business Plan

In the early years of my entrepreneurial journey, I navigated without a business plan, which in retrospect, feels like time lost in aimless wandering. It was only when I began to map out my goals and strategies with a solid plan that I found real direction and success. This shift transformed my approach, leading to significant growth and achievement. A well-crafted business plan is not just a formal document; it's a roadmap that guides your business through its growth and challenges. It helps you foresee obstacles, allocate resources wisely, and seize opportunities. Both for creative professionals and birth workers, a strategic business plan is a foundation upon which sustainable businesses are built.

The Necessity of a Business Plan for Success and Growth

A business plan is essential for both tracking your progress and securing support, whether from investors, partners, or clients. It forces you to think through every aspect of your business, from your unique value proposition to your financial projections. For creatives and birth workers, it also means aligning your artistic or caring instincts with sound business practices, ensuring that passion, sustainability, and profitability go hand in hand. The process of creating a business plan can be as enlightening as the final product, giving you a clear vision and a path to follow.

Key Elements of a Business Plan

1. Mission Statement: This is the heart of your business, summarizing its essence, goals, and values. Whether you're a photographer, a painter, a doula, or a midwife, your mission statement should reflect the impact you aim to have on your clients and community.

2. Financial Planning: Understanding and planning your finances – including pricing strategies, revenue projections, and budgeting – is vital. It helps in making informed decisions and ensures financial sustainability. I advise both photographers and birth workers to set a pricing structure that encourages growth as you gain experience and a portfolio.

3. Marketing Strategies: Identifying how you will attract and retain clients is crucial. This includes deciding on the channels you'll use to reach your audience, whether through social media, networking, or partnerships and how you'll communicate your unique selling points. This one gets lost a lot in the beginning. It boils down to posting sparingly on social media and hoping the clients you worked with cheaply to tell their friends and everyone they know that you were awesome. That’s not “really” a strategy or it’s definitely not a good one. This is also my specialty so if you want extra help let’s book something together!

Tip 4: Legalities and Finances

For both creative professionals and birth workers, navigating the legal and financial aspects of your business is essential for its protection and growth. Legally, this means securing the right licenses and permits and understanding copyrights for creatives or certification requirements for birth workers. Financial management involves setting fair prices, budgeting wisely, and staying tax-compliant. While these tasks may seem daunting, they are crucial for ensuring your business operates smoothly and remains on the right side of the law.

Insurance and liability are also important considerations. Liability insurance safeguards against legal claims, crucial for both photographers capturing once-in-a-lifetime events and birth workers involved in the delicate process of childbirth. Other insurance types may cover your equipment or workspace. Addressing these legal and financial aspects is fundamental to building a secure and sustainable business. It’s taken me years to get organized on all of this and it’s not the fun part but it will bite you in the butt if you don’t start things off with the legalities in mind.

Tip 5: Networking, Community, and Marketing Strategy

The growth of your creative or birth work business is significantly influenced by your ability to network, engage with your community, and implement effective marketing strategies. Networking helps in building relationships that can lead to collaborations, referrals, and support. Engaging with both online and local communities expands your visibility and establishes your presence in the market. In today’s digital age, a robust online presence through websites and social media is not just beneficial; it’s essential. This blend of networking, community involvement, and digital marketing creates a comprehensive strategy for reaching and resonating with your target audience.

For Photographers and Creatives

Creatives thrive on building connections and staying on the tip of people’s tongues (basically you want to be the go-to for your style or type of photography in your area). Leveraging social media to showcase your portfolio and connect with other artists and potential clients is crucial. Platforms like Instagram or Pinterest are perfect for visual artists to display their work. Creating a website that not only showcases your portfolio but also tells your story and philosophy can attract a more engaged audience. Networking isn’t limited to online; go where your ideal client is, maybe it’s a wedding fair, leaving your business cards at a yoga studio, or attending photography workshops to connect with others in the community. All of these in-person interactions can potentially open doors to your growing business. Your strategy should be a mix of showcasing your creativity and being yourself in a professional way both online and in person.

For Birth Workers

F. or birth workers, building trust and a supportive network is key. Utilizing social media platforms like Facebook groups and Instagram can help you share your experiences, connect with expectant families, and join birth worker communities. Having a website that provides detailed information about your services, client testimonials, and a blog sharing valuable insights into birth work can establish your credibility. Engaging with local hospitals, midwives, birthing centers, and prenatal classes helps in building a referral network. Participating in community events or parenting expos can also increase your visibility. Your marketing strategy should focus on building trust, showcasing your expertise, and creating a supportive network for families.

As I write this blog out for you, I am vividly reminded of my own journey. From my early beginnings feeling completely lost but determined; to hitting goals as an entrepreneur I never knew I could. Every step forward taught me so much and deepened my understanding of the world of business and self-starting. I know intimately the challenges you face, and I've celebrated the same victories you're striving for. I really hope these tips and knowledge from my own experience feel like a guide to your transformation and success.

And if you need more tailored support I would love to talk with you more.

With my background as both a photographer and a birth worker, I offer not just advice, but real-world solutions tailored specifically to you. I've walked in your shoes, navigated the same paths, and processed through similar obstacles. My services in marketing strategy, web design, and business growth are not just offerings; they're a partnership. I'm here to empower you, to help build a foundation that amplifies your unique voice and propels your business forward with confidence!

Web Designer, Brand Curator, Social Media Supporter, Boy Mom, and lover of seeing other creative businesses flourish and succeed!

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