Currently I am sitting in the airport waiting for a flight to Las Vegas for WPPI, I thought “What better topic for a blog post than about networking!”

As photographers, we don’t necessarily think about the importance of networking as much as other businesses. We operate independently for the most part, we have a client base that is (likely) created by word of mouth, and some of our vendors aren’t even located in our own state!

However, I believe that networking is more important than ever. While we may think that networking is purely for business purposes, it’s so much more than that.

Looking back on the last few years of being a photographer, had it not been for going to conferences, workshops, conventions like WPPI, there would have been connections that I lost out on that have been so pivotal to my time as a business owner and photographer.

Especially as creatives where we are usually sitting in front of our desk from 9am-5pm and working on marketing, answering emails, updating our portfolio, etc. we often forget about the importance of getting out and meeting like minded individuals. Some of my closest friends are photographers and it has led to amazing things like teaching workshops together, hosting joint, collaborative senior destination shoots together, going to shoot in amazing locations, bouncing business ideas off of them and just having someone who understands your industry perfectly like no one else can.

Not only that, but I also believe that networking makes you a better photographer and person. I think that by having outside people that you can turn to when you’re in a creative rut or are want to do something but you can’t do it alone.

I know it’s hard to commit to doing something in-person especially when there’s so much going on in a digital age. It’s that extra step of booking hotel, travel, setting the time aside in your schedule, but I truly believe that there’s so much value in spending face-to-face time with people and forming those connections that are lacking in a digital first world.

The next time you see something come up and wish that you could attend, do it! Take the steps to attend and force yourself to do something especially if you haven’t before. Just try it out because you never know what’s going to come of it.

Attending WPPI? Let’s connect on Instagram and let me know you’re in Vegas!