I’ve officially hit the six month mark in my business! I thought it’d be the perfect time to sit down and reflect on these last few months and what I’ve learned (which is A LOT by the way). It’s been an exciting, scary, overwhelming, crazily amazing half of a year but I wouldn’t change a thing!

Running your own business takes the word “self-discipline” to a whole new level. Far and away the biggest hurdle I’ve had to conquer is figuring out a system that works for me to stay organized. Scheduling shoots, editing, blogging, creating social media content, tracking mileage, business expenses, etc. I knew I’d be busy but damn! It can sometimes feel really overwhelming at times when you’re working on your own! I no longer have a 9-5 gig, which means sometimes my “off day” is a Tuesday, and on some Friday nights, I may have to pass on a night out if I have deadlines to hit over the weekend. Allotting myself specific times to work when I’m planning for each week has been challenging but necessary if I want to keep things in balance.

Don’t be afraid to make the first move. People are awesome and want to help you. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve drafted an email or insta message to someone I was interested in networking with, only to let the draft sit for days, convincing myself I wasn’t good enough, cool enough, or just plain enough for the person to want to take me up on coffee or an exchange of emails in their busy schedule. 99% of the time I’ve received not only a response, but an eager response. It’s resulted in new collaborations, opportunities, and even friendships. All of which I’m extremely grateful to have in this first year of growth.

Don’t take noes too personally. Hearing a potential client say they aren’t interested can feel like a punch to the gut. I’ve learned to remember it’s more important to appreciate the clients who I’ve had that said YES. I’ve also been learning more about the types of clients that I want to actually serve. Not every client may be for me, and that’s okay. Because the ones I do have are amazing! I think it’s important to note here that I also try to remind myself not to assume that a no is always because of me. There could be external factors or changes occurring in people’s lives that resulted in them making that decision or changing their mind. If someone wants to work with you, they will, even if it’s at a different time.

Your work IS worth it. You pour your time, energy, heart, and soul into this passion of yours. So when someone questions things, like your pricing model, or starts comparing your specific practices to someone else, it can be hard to handle. With the help of others in my field, I’ve learned to remind myself to be confident in what I’ve put out there and that ultimately, this is now my full-time job! Not some hobby or part-time gig, but a full blown business that has many operational costs. Your time and work has value, and when people choose to invest in me, I do my best to ensure they are investing in a positive and memorable experience. 

Listen to your gut. Before I decided to make the giant leap of leaving my stable, full-time job, I was not in a good headspace. To be frank, I was just not happy. I knew deep down that what I really wanted was to pursue this side-hustle of mine 24/7 but kept being confronted with my own doubts and fears. But my gut feeling didn’t go away, and instead, it kept poking me for months, chirping “Rach! What are you waiting for?!” Does my new business cause me stress? Absolutely. But it’s stress I’m okay with dealing with because I truly LOVE what I get to do everyday. So thank you to that annoying little gut of mine for pestering me when I needed it the most. Without it, I wouldn’t be where I am now. 

Excited to see what the next six months have in store here at Rachel Roshani Photography + Lifestyle! For those of you who have worked with me or simply just follow along, THANK YOU! It means the world to me to have you by my side along the way!