We've all heard about continuing education courses and the endless online course options out there. But as a business owner, it's easy to fall into the trap of "I'm too busy", "I learned already, now I need to just do it for my clients.", or "I know all I need to know about my services."
Well, not quite.
Even if you're an expert with interior photography, you can always keep learning (I do at least one large investment per year on an educational experience, either online or in-person). And if you're just starting out in this niche - or any other - then you need to be like a sponge soaking up information!
With all the options out there, though, it's hard to sort through the noise and find the approach that works for you. Let's break down the different types of learning experiences you can look for.
Conferences/summits
If you want a classroom type of setting that also incorporates networking over food and drinks, consider attending a conference of some type! Conferences are great if you love being around people, learn best in a group environment, and want a major dose of information at once that you can take home and process over time.
Attending large events like this also serve as great opportunities for finding and building strategic relationships (and just plain ol' friendships, too!). Mixers and social events are often mixed into the itinerary, making it easy to seek out people to connect with.
Conferences are ideal if you:
- are a social person
- love learning in group environments
- are looking for a major dose of information that you can process later over time
- want to build in a getaway to your learning experience
Conferences are NOT ideal if you:
- are a total hermit
- prefer one-on-one learning
- want information in small doses so you can process as you learn
- are on a majorly tight budget
- need to stay close to home
- only have small bits of time in your day or week to devote to learning
There are MANY events out there that offer opportunities, but here are my top three favorites:
- I'm a fan of Altitude Summit, which happens every Spring in Palm Springs, CA. There are loads of conferences out there to choose from, though!
- The Haven Conference is design-focused and offers opportunity to connect with designers. The last one was in Atlanta in July, and the 2020 one hasn't been announced yet.
- Showit United is another one that seems fantastic! It's all photographers, attending to share information and support each other's growth. It's happening in November in Tempe, AZ.
- The only conference out there that’s specifically for photographers of real estate, architecture, and interiors is the PFRE Conference. 2019 was in Las Vegas, 2020 is virtual. Worth the ticket!
Online courses
The amount of online learning opportunities available to us these days is staggering. Whether you want a PDF that you can view at your leisure, or a full-blown course with videos and worksheets that an instructor guides you through, it's all out there!
What I love about online courses is the ease. You can do them around your busy schedule, you can revisit a section if you need to see it or read it again, and there's no rush to fit it all within a weekend trip.
Online courses are great if you:
- don't love social situations
- have only small bits of time in your schedule
- have a limited budget
- want to try something out without having to invest much money
- need to stay close to home
Online courses are not ideal if you:
- need personalized attention to learn new material
- want to be immersed in the learning environment
- learn better in a group setting
- want to mix learning with networking/relationship-building
- are an extrovert
- want to dive deep into specifics
Just doing a quick Google search will show you tons of online course options, but here are some of my favorites resources:
- First, I have to mention The Grove's courses! Our shop has some digital products to help you get started, and our courses are a more in-depth dive. New courses are cooking constantly, so bookmark this page and visit back for more course options!
- CreativeLive - affordable and varied. they also have a bundle of architectural classes!
One-on-one
Ultimately, one-on-one learning has the biggest impact. You can tailor what you learn to specifically the things you need help with, and it can allow you to be more hands-on in your learning.
One-on-one learning is ideal for you if:
- you learn best in a small, private setting
- you have a solid base of knowledge on the topic but need help with specific items
- you have a slightly larger budget to work with
- you've done group learning and online learning, but need to bump it up to a higher expert level
One-on-one learning is not best for you if:
- you still need to master the basics
- you have a limited budget to work with
- it's your first go at any type of professional learning for your business growth
There are a few ways to go about finding one-on-one learning opportunities, but it often comes down to seeking out the expert you want to work with and reaching out to them.
You can Google "architectural photography workshop" for some results that offer short hands-on learning opportunities with experts in a very small group setting. These offer you the access to the expert and loads of attention, but at a slightly lower cost than a direct mentorship type of arrangement.
If you have a photographer that you admire, consider reaching out to them and asking about coaching or mentorship opportunities! Often, field experts are happy to give out an hourly rate for one-on-one sharing of expertise.
If you’d like to work with me, please reach out! I offer in-person or virtual mentorship sessions, packaged for ongoing support or as hourly chats as needed. You can find more info on the Mentorship page and I’m always here for you if you want to chat about how we can discuss exactly what you need! We can discuss any specific questions you have, walk through any part of the process (client relations, marketing, editing, shooting, gear, etc), or we can cover any other topic related to your photography journey.
xo,
Natalia