Running a small business isn’t just about doing what you love.
It’s about growth, mindset, boundaries, and learning how to keep showing up – even when it’s hard.
As a yoga and wellness photographer, I’ve learned so much beyond taking beautiful images. I’ve learned how to navigate self-doubt, social media, burnout, visibility, and treating my work like a real business. And I know these lessons don’t just apply to photographers, they’re true for anyone building a creative or soul-led business.
Whether you’re a yoga teacher, a coach, a maker, a retreat leader, or any kind of small business owner, I think some of this might land with you too.
1. Doubt is part of the creative process
Even when you’re experienced. Even when you’re booked out. Doubting yourself doesn’t mean you’re not good at what you do, it just means you care. Learning to move through self-doubt instead of letting it stop you has changed everything for me.
2. Saying no is essential for business growth
As a creative, it’s easy to say yes too often – to work that doesn’t align, to unpaid collaborations, to doing things that don’t feel like you. But saying no creates space for the work you’re meant to do. Learning to protect your energy is part of running a sustainable business.
3. Not everyone will support you – and that’s okay
Some of your competitors will cheer you on. Some will unfollow or block you. Some will quietly copy you. Let them. You’re not meant to be for everyone. Focus on the people who truly connect with your work and your values.
4. Free work has its time and place, but be intentional
When you’re starting out, or when it’s a truly aligned collaboration, free work can be valuable. But don’t do it out of guilt or pressure. Your energy, creativity and experience are worth something – even if not everyone understands that.
5. Niching down helps, but it doesn’t solve everything
Finding a clear niche can bring focus, but it’s not the magic fix for every business challenge. You still need to evolve, check in with yourself, and stay aligned with what feels right. A niche is a tool not a box.
6. Comparison is part of the journey, just don’t let it run the show
Social media makes it so easy to fall into comparison. I used to compare myself daily, and sometimes I still do. But now I catch it sooner. I breathe, I step back, and I remind myself that someone else’s path has nothing to do with mine.
7. You can love your work and still feel burnt out
Doing what you love doesn’t mean it’s always easy. You can feel fulfilled and tired. You can be confident and have wobbles. That’s the paradox of running a heart-led business, it asks a lot from you, but it gives a lot too.
8. Social media is a tool – not your enemy
Most small business owners I speak with feel overwhelmed by social media. It’s exhausting if you treat it like a personal diary. But when you treat it like a business tool – to connect, to share your story, and to find aligned clients, it becomes something else. More intentional. More empowering.
9. Scrolling isn’t the same as showing up
If you wouldn’t go to five networking events a week to find clients, why spend five hours online passively? Use your time with intention. Engage with purpose. You don’t have to post every day, just share something meaningful when you do.
10. Treat your creative work like a real business
This was the shift that changed everything for me. Once I stopped seeing myself as “just a photographer” and started treating my work like a business; with offers, boundaries, systems and a bigger vision, everything became more grounded and sustainable.
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Krisztina
