As an entrepreneur, the daunting prospect of taking the next leap can seem insurmountable at times. Especially when you don’t know where to start. For photographers moving from hobbyist to pro, this is an all too familiar reality. Nothing can be more frustrating than trying to distinguish yourself in a marketplace. One dominated by an array of skill sets ranging from unqualified to top dollar pros. And as with most other pursuits, lack of knowledge can lead to common mistakes. The biggest mistake? Jumping onto social media and asking random strangers for advice. Although the unbiased perspective may at first seem alluring, credentials and credibility are too often overlooked. Enter Dorie Howell co-founder/co-owner of IPS Mastermind, an entrepreneur “boot camp” of sorts for photographers. Her origins into photography was a much needed return to her creative roots. As a former opera singer, Dorie found the insurance world fit like a square peg in a round hole. Thus, what started with photos of her own family, quickly expanded into photos for friends and then clients. Now with over a decade of experience, she notes one common thread among photographers starting out is the practice of devaluation as means of differentiation. I.e. giving products and/or services away for free. In the professional space where the price of many lenses can run a few thousand dollars, unchecked underselling can run a business to the ground. Dorie advises: if you’re adding value to other people, never sell yourself short. But how? Dorie wondered the same thing when she sought to answer this very same question. In her quest to develop her own business, she realized there was a tremendous gap in business training that would have otherwise saved her time, mistakes, and generated more revenue. In the coming years, she met her business partner, Rachel Boer, and together they founded IPS Mastermind. You can learn more about IPS Mastermind and the services offered at: www.ipsmastermind.net
