Dear Jasmine,
Recently I was asked to take pictures of a house because the client is opening up a bed and breakfast, but I don't know whether or not to take the job. I just started my business and I solely want to be a portrait and wedding photographer.
Do you think I should take the job, get the extra cash and hope I can get some word to mouth references from her? Or should I stick to just taking pictures for clients that fit my ideal business?
Sincerely,
Forever focused

Dear Focused,
These questions? They're great to be asked at such a new phase in your business. Knowing what you want–ultimately–is powerful, as it hones your trajectory. If life was black and white, I'd say just shoot what you want to shoot. Period. The end.

But life isn't monochromatic, but, rather, a thousand shades of gray. I knew I wanted to just be a Los Angeles and Orange County wedding photographer. That's it. But I also realized I needed to things:
1. real life practice; and
2. paying jobs to help fund my photography aspirations.

It was then that I set distinct rules and parameters to the shoots outside of weddings that I'd accept. Here were my rules:
1. The shoot had to pay.
2. The shoot couldn't be on a weekend (as it would conflict with wedding shooting opportunities).
3. I could shoot with objectives in mind. For example, if I accepted a shoot for family portraits, I used it as practice for posing families on a wedding day. Likewise, posing a young couple during a portrait shoot was great practice for weddings (for photos when the kids weren't in the picture).

If your position is anything like mine, it'd be best to set up parameters to ensure you use the shoot as a valuable experience you can use for future building blocks. If you decide to photograph the Bed&Breakfast, be sure to set up the dining room table the same way you might shooting a reception table. Set up stationary, notecards, and business cards from the owner the same way you'd stylize a wedding invitation suite. Basically, find ways to make the experience valuable.

Lastly, one final rule I set for myself was to establish when I would stop accepting commissions outside of wedding photography. I gave myself one year to use outside shoots as experience, but anything more than that–for me–was time spent running in the wrong direction.

I hope this helps and I wish you all the best as you using every shoot as a learning experience…then take off in the direction of your dreams.

Make Your Own Rules,
j*