Something I love to do during my off-season is catch up on reading! These days I’m mostly reading business books and toddler-related books, ha! On my desk right now I’ve got “Marketing Made Simple” by Donald Miller right next to “Oh Crap! Potty Training” by Jamie Glowacki. Let’s just say it’s all about balance these days!

Since the winter is a good time to curl up with a good book, today I thought I’d share some of the books that have most impacted me as a business owner.

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Purple Cow by Seth Godin

This book has been around for years now but it’s such a classic in the marketing world! If you’re looking for ways to stand out in the saturated market of photographers, definitely read this book. It’ll shed a lot of light on how to avoid feeling like you have to depend on traditional marketing strategies.

Quitter by Jon Acuff

If your photography business is currently a side hustle that you’re trying to leave behind as you make the leap to full-time photographer, this book is a must-read. I read this book back in 2016 when I was getting ready to leave my teaching job and it really impacted the ten months leading up to the end of my teaching career. This book will give you actionable items to help you prepare for the big leap.

Start with Why by Simon Sinek

You’ve probably heard of Simon Sinek’s TED talk by now – it’s one of the most viewed. This book talks about why good leaders and organizations inspire others and it helps you analyze your own business and purpose so that you can determine the kind of business owner you want to be. After reading this book you’ll also be more clear on creating a mission statement and philosophy for your business that will be rewarding to you.

Make it Happen by Lara Casey

This book is great for helping you prioritize what really matters in life. I’ll be honest, I could’ve done without so many Christian references, but I still found this book extremely valuable and inspiring.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

This book was first published in 1936, but the ideas presented in the book are still valid today. This is a classic book that should be read by all business owners, no matter what season you’re in. You’ll want to take lots of notes when you read this one, and the principles that are presented will help you learn to communicate better with other people.

Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook by Gary Vaynerchuk 

I hesitated to put this one one the list because it focuses on social media strategies that are now outdated since the book was first published in 2013, but it presented so many fundamental ideas that are still valid today, and it’s a great introduction to Gary Vaynerchuk and his teachings on marketing strategies. When you’re done with this one, you’ll want to read Crush it! and Crushing it! 

Bonus

One of the best books I read in 2020 was Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller. It’s a must-read for anyone with a business and website. If you’re spending any time this season revamping your website, you’ll want to read this book before you do that. It’ll change your entire perspective on the flow of your site, what you should include, and how you should present information.

I hope this list is useful to you as you look for ways to stand out as a photographer and business owner!