6 Mistakes I’ve Made as a Commercial Photographer (and How You Can Avoid Them)
When I look back on the last decade of shooting photography full-time…with the past five years spent focusing on commercial work; I can see plenty of wins. But I can also see some mistakes. Painful ones. In my latest YouTube video, I share the 6 biggest mistakes I’ve made as a professional photographer and the lessons I wish I’d learned sooner. Whether you’re just starting out or already a few years into your career, avoiding these pitfalls will save you money, stress, and maybe even keep your business alive.
Here’s a quick overview of the mistakes I cover but for the full breakdown (and some stories I don’t share here), watch the video.
Mistake #1: Getting Desperate About Payment
In the beginning, I panicked when clients were slow to pay. That desperation showed and it hurt me more than it helped. The fix? Clear contracts, deposits up front, and the patience to know you’ll get paid without chasing. Don’t chase clients down for your paycheck, I know that’s hard to hear, but instead get outside, pick up the camera, keep your head down and keep creating. You’ll get paid (eventually) but looking desperate for money, is a red flag for clients.
Mistake #2: Burning Bridges
Photography is half talent and half relationships. Burning a bridge today could block your dream client tomorrow. Instead, nurture those connections. The creative world is small, and your reputation travels fast. If you want to dive deeper into how to build and maintain strong industry relationships, I cover this topic in detail in my photography business course (linked on my website). It’s one of the most powerful skills you can develop for long-term success.
Mistake #3: Saying Yes to Every Free Shoot
I fell into the trap of taking on “exposure shoots” early in my career. A few helped my portfolio, but most weren’t worth it. Now, I only say yes if I genuinely want the product or see long-term value in the relationship. Your time is valuable; do everything you can to protect it. It’s rare that I even say “Yes” this far into my career and I try to stay true to that principle; saying Yes to free work hurts EVERYONE in this industry… it waters it down, muddies the waters for those of us looking to call it a full time job. It’s not just your career you’re hurting its everyone trying to make money with a camera.
Mistake #4: Overworking & Overcommitting
At one point, I said yes to everything — back-to-back tourism shoots, product jobs, retainer gigs. There was one instance where I had gear and clothing stashed in a parked car at an airport, so when I landed from one project, I could swap bags and head out for the next tourism gig, yikes. I burned myself out, and my work quality dropped. Learning to say “no” is tough, but it’s key to producing your best work (and staying sane). I say “No” all the time now, especially if a project isn’t hitting my lower rates or smallest package… you waste time on low paying gigs, so just learning to say “No” is a powerful lesson.
Mistake #5: Not Understanding Licensing
This one cost me thousands of dollars. Early on, I didn’t understand how image licensing worked. Contracts matter just as much as your camera. Usage rights, exclusivity, and copyright ownership can make or break your income as a commercial photographer. Take time to educate yourself on this nuanced topic so when that bridge is in front of you, you know how to cross it. I have a YT video linked below that talkes about image licensing in greater detail:
Mistake #6: Fearing Criticism
For years, I treated criticism like an attack. The truth? Honest feedback is one of the fastest ways to grow. Humility, openness, and the willingness to keep learning are what separate great photographers from good ones. It’s hard to take criticism when you’re first starting out, look I get it, but once you move past this and learn how to take it and improve… your work only gets better.
Final Thoughts
Every mistake on this list taught me something important — but I want you to skip the painful lessons and get straight to the growth.
Watch my full video for the details behind each of these mistakes and the strategies that helped me turn them around.
👉 Check out the video here:
And if you’ve made some of these mistakes too, drop a comment on the video or below this blog post — I’d love to hear your story, your struggles and your wins.
