Why Wedding & Elopement Photography Mentorships Are Essential for New Photographers
PART 1: THE STRUGGLES OF STARTING WITHOUT GUIDANCE
Starting out as a wedding or elopement photographer can feel like stepping into a maze with no map. I remember the confusion, the late nights editing, and the overwhelming pressure of trying to “figure it all out” on my own. Every mistake felt like a personal failure—overexposed shots, awkward posing, workflow disasters, and missed moments were all part of my early journey. And the imposter syndrome? It never really left.
When I first picked up a camera, I didn’t have anyone to guide me. There was no mentor, no roadmap, and no voice of experience to warn me about the mistakes that would cost me both time and confidence + money. I made them all—and while those mistakes shaped me into the photographer I am today, they also stretched out my learning curve longer than it needed to be.
In this first part of the series, I’m sharing my experience of navigating the early years alone, and why mentorship can be the guiding light that helps you avoid years of frustration.
This was how my road literally looked, beautiful and green, but with no focus!
Looking back, I can see how much shorter that journey could have been if I’d had a mentor—someone to help me see the bigger picture, build confidence, and make intentional choices. That’s why I now offer mentorship sessions. They’re designed to give you the clarity I never had so that you can grow faster and more confidently.
This is why mentorship is so powerful. Having a mentor isn’t about skipping the hard work—it’s about shortening the exhausting, confusing years of trial-and-error and replacing them with clarity, accountability, and growth.
Learning & refining your camera settings is only one aspect of being a great photographer. Learning to build your craft, your workflow, and your confidence as a creative business owner is more than 50% of the work. We dive into whatever you need most—posing, editing, branding, business strategy—and create a foundation you can build on.
A mentor doesn’t walk the path for you, but they do light the way. Instead of years of trial and error, you can shorten your learning curve, refine your skills, and step into your role as a photographer with confidence.
Starting without guidance is exhausting—I know because I lived it. But you don’t have to stay stuck in the cycle of trial and error. In the next part of this series, I’ll share the exact thing that helped me take control of my portfolio and finally attract the kind of clients I wanted: creating styled shoots with purpose.
In the next part of this series, I’ll share how creating styled shoots gave me control over my portfolio, helped me grow creatively, and allowed me to start attracting the clients I truly wanted.
👉 Next up: Part 2 - Building Your Portfolio through Styled Shoots ͢