073 - If I Was Starting Out Now with Mary Fisk-Taylor

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The longer you’re in a space, it becomes easier to look back and reflect on decisions. As a photographer in the business for 17 years, I’ve learned so much through trial and error. But if I were starting out now, knowing everything I currently know, what would I do differently? </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is the question I asked today’s amazing guest, Mary Fisk-Taylor, who has been a photographer in the industry for 28 years. Mary is the former President of Professional Photographers of America and co-owner of Hayes and Fisk Photography where she specializes in incredible high end weddings and commissioned portrait paintings.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mary is just a wealth of information, but we wanted to kick around the idea of starting a business now. What would she do differently? What would she do the same? It’s no secret that the industry has changed significantly over the years and continues to change as advances in technology move at a faster rate. But something that hasn’t changed is how to get to a gold standard brand with a lot of work and trial and error.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this episode, you’ll learn how to:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Find and narrow your niche quickly.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Not feel guilty about self promotion.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Stay authentic to your beliefs and values.</span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><strong>Here’s a glance at this episode:</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">[02:59] - Welcome to the show, Mary!</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">[03:34] - After spending years on the board and a year as the president of PPA, Mary shares her thoughts on the curre