WELCOME TO
The Shutterhood
Launch your photography business and get your first 10+ paying clients…
… So that you can feel the pride and fulfilment of getting paid for something you truly love.
Doors are currently closed but will reopen soon.
Launching your photography business can feel really tough…
Even nearly 20 years later, I remember this so clearly from when I was about to start my own – I felt SO ready, but not-at-all-ready at the same time!
I loved taking photos but felt shaky about the business side of things (literally no clue!) and had no idea if I was cut out for doing it professionally. I saw others doing it and just couldn’t shake the envious feeling of “Why them and not me?”
I spent every spare minute thinking about / doing / planning photography-related stuff, even though at the time I had my hands full as a single mum with a toddler and a day job. Soon it stopped feeling like a hobby, but since it didn’t yet feel like a business either, I really struggled to feel ready to launch it.
I was so scared to tell people how much I wanted it in case they laughed or it failed, and every time I thought about just doing it, fear took over, mainly about these three things…
IMPOSTOR SYNDROME
I felt like I was just playing at it and making it up as I went along (especially as I was self-taught!) so instead of launching I’d overthink and procrastinate, insisting I needed more training and time.
FEAR OF WASTING MY TIME
I’ve never been scared of hard work, but I had scarce energy and time and couldn’t justify wasting what little I had doing the wrong things, and building something no one wanted.
OVERLOAD & CONFUSION
I gobbled up as much free information about photography and business as I could find, but it was exhausting and bewildering piecing it all together (and realising loads of it was conflicting advice!) Having 17 tabs open on my computer with my head spinning made me feel more ‘rabbit in the headlights’ than inspired and ready.
The good news? It’s simpler than you might think!
ALL YOU NEED IS A FEW MONTHS AND SOME HARD WORK!
I’m happy to say that I did finally do it! Another photographer saying, “Leap and the net will appear” was the thing that finally prodded me into action and I’d love to be ‘that’ photographer for you!
I can take you from dreaming about being a professional photographer to finally being one… Even if you’re tight on time, juggling other responsibilities or starting from scratch.
I advise and teach a ‘Minimum Viable’ approach, keeping things quick, lean and efficient so you can start small and simple, but grow and get paid fast, building on a basic foundation as your business develops.
Here’s all you need…
A MANUAL CAMERA
No need for all the latest gear – just an SLR or mirrorless camera with detachable lenses that can be used in Manual mode.
PASSION & AN EYE FOR PHOTOGRAPHY
You don’t have to have a logo, website or even be sure of the exact type of photography you want to specialise in yet – you just need at least a few months as an active, hobbyist photographer and to know that you want to do some kind of ‘people’ photography (family / wedding / pet / business branding / a mixture of these).
A WILLINGNESS TO PUT IN THE WORK
You don’t need previous business or marketing training, nor a desire to dance on Instagram (who does?!) – just hard work and knowing that there is no ‘magic bullet’ – just you and a decision to start making it happen.
A DOLLOP OF COURAGE
It’s totally normal to feel scared. If you wait until you feel ready it won’t ever happen because no-one feels this way before they start. Leap and the net will appear. Confidence comes from action, not the other way around. The people who make it are those who take action despite fear and bravely step out of their comfort zone (because that’s where the magic happens!)
THIS IS WHY I CREATED
The Shutterhood
The Shutterhood is the exact thing I wish I’d had when I first started out. The reason your dream feels out of reach is just because it hasn’t been structured yet. Together we’ll help you stop spinning and step into a new era where stuff gets done, real progress is made and money finally lands in your bank account from doing something you truly love.
Within days… you’ll stop spiralling in a sea of endless ‘to do’ options. You’ll know exactly what to do this week, then next week, then the week after.
Within 6 weeks… you’ll have your own photography brand, systems and workflows set up.
Within 3 months… you’ll have a solid portfolio of images pulled together, ready to sell your work.
Within 6 months… you’ll start to get your first paying clients in the diary.
You can work at a slower (or faster!) timeframe than this if you want to – the curriculum is learn-at-your-own-pace and you have live support from me and the community for 12 months, so there’s plenty of contingency time built in for when life throws a spanner in the works (doesn’t it always!) Provided you can devote a few hours each week to following the curriculum and implementing the work within suggested, realistic timeframes, you’ll have plenty of time to achieve all of the above during our year together.
“I was worried the timing wasn’t right to join The Shutterhood – I was still in full time work and due to go off on maternity leave. However, it gave me so much motivation as I had more confidence to go for it! I’ve booked more work and quit the day job since starting!“
– LAURA
INSIDE THE PROGRAM
The Shutterpath
The Shutterhood’s signature core curriculum; a step-by-step, no-nonsense roadmap leading you through the exact, essential actions needed to launch your photography business and get your first paying clients.
The 9-stage action-based blueprint (you can see this in detail here under ‘Course Curriculum’) shows you how to:
⭐️ Improve your technical & creative photography skills
⭐️ Strengthen your mindset
⭐️ Set up essential tech, workflow & admin
⭐️ Create your own unique brand
⭐️ Build a powerful portfolio
⭐️ Create your first brochure
⭐️ Open your online ‘shop fronts’
⭐️ Get your first paying clients
⭐️ Formulate a simple marketing strategy
Once you’ve completed The Shutterpath, there is also a huge bank of additional, optional Booster trainings to help you continue to grow your business beyond the basics and upskill further, covering all 3 key areas you need to succeed as a photographer – Business, Mindset and Creativity. You can see all of these here.
Mentoring from me
You get regular, personalised, direct access to me, so you never need to feel stuck or second-guess yourself.
We have 3 live group Zoom coaching calls per week, where you can ask advice and get feedback on your work. All calls are recorded so you don’t have to worry if you can’t attend live – you can submit questions or work in advance and watch the replay at a time that suits you. You can see topics of all recent ones here under ‘Call Recordings’. During school holidays live coaching calls are replaced by Holiday Challenges.
You also get two 1-1 calls with me – a 20 minute Kick-Off Call when you first join, and a 30 minute session with me after you get your first 3 paying clients to help ensure you continue to book some more!
The Clubhouse
This private Facebook community is the friendly hub of The Shutterhood. In here you can ask me and your fellow ‘Hoodies’ questions at any time, talk more in-depth about your own journey, connect and make friends with others at a similar stage in their business, develop peer referrals and find accountability partners to help keep you on track.
It’s a warm, supportive, active community, full of encouragement, companionship and practical advice from people who really do get what you’re going through. Hoodies local to each other often meet for photo walks, drinks and reciprocal headshots, and many have become firm friends.
Monthly projects
There are monthly, optional projects you can get stuck into if you fancy them! Some are peer-based such as Define Your Style (others review your portfolio to help you find and define your own photography style) and Secret Santa Reviews (for those who want their first website or brochure critiquing once it’s in place).
Others are solo projects such as the Holiday Challenges where I give you suggestions for your own seasonal promotion or project. Every two months there’s also a live 6 Week Masterplan session where we map out fully personalised plans to keep you organised and on track in the weeks ahead.
HEY THERE
I’m Anna & I’d love to help you!
I set up my own photography business nearly 20 years ago after the birth of my eldest son Joe, totally self-taught and flying largely by the seat of my pants with with plenty of trial and error and learning the hard way. I’ve made every mistake you’re scared to admit and in those early days I just wanted someone to grab me by the hand and show me exactly what to do.
Now I have a business that thrives. I’m still an active, working photographer shooting families and commercial work, and I also spent over 10 years shooting weddings. I’ve been a photography educator for nearly a decade, helping hundreds of other photographers to successfully launch and grow their photography businesses, as well as regularly speaking on podcasts, panels and at big photography industry events (check those out here if you want to!)
Teaching credentials
I’m also a fully qualified secondary school English teacher, so I’m experienced in helping people reach their potential (as lovely ‘Hoodie’ Marcia said: “You’re 100% invested in seeing others succeed”). Knowing how to run your own photography business is one thing, but being able to effectively teach it to other people is another. I’m not just an experienced photographer, I’m an expert in breaking down and teaching large, overwhelming topics so they’re simple, practical, well-structured, easily-digestible and doable – no complicated or fluffy advice in sight.
CELINE:
“The Shutterhood was the best thing to happen to me this year”
As seen in
SUCCESS
Stories
Don’t just take it from me – hear from some of the ‘Hoodies’ themselves!
My business has gone from strength to strength, being booked up months in advance.
“Being in the Shutterhood has completely changed my business. I felt so lost, I didn’t have any bookings, I had hardly any systems in place and I didn’t know what to do. Someone in a Facebook group recommended Anna and when I looked into the Shutterhood, I knew it was for me. Since then my business has gone from strength to strength, being booked up months in advance. Thank you, Anna for giving me the confidence I needed.”
Exciting and transformative. Take the leap with The Shutterhood. You will NOT be disappointed.
“For years I wanted to start my own photography business but it’s never really materialised. A lack of vision, an inability to stay focused or an appearance from the dreaded “Imposter Syndrome” would always see any momentum I built up run out of steam. Step forward Anna and The Shutterhood! My confidence has improved and I have a clear vision of how I can make my photography goals come true. It can be scary starting out and not knowing what to do (and in what order to do it!) With Anna, not only will she make overcoming these formidable challenges possible, but exciting and transformative. Take the leap with The Shutterhood. You will NOT be disappointed.”
The Shutterhood is the best thing I’ve ever invested my time and money in.
“The Shutterhood is the best thing I’ve ever invested my time and money in. My confidence has changed, my business has improved in every way. I wasn’t expecting it to be so life changing! You Anna are an absolute legend! Always there to offer killer advice and pick us up when we are feeling like we want to give up. You take something so overwhelming and completely break it down step by step to make it achievable. I would have given up ages ago had it not been for the Shutterhood.”
The best decision I have made for my photography business. I’ve gained much more than I could have hoped for.
“Joining the Shutterhood is definitely the best decision I have made for my photography business. I knew I loved taking pictures and had bumbled along doing some paid shoots but it all felt a bit haphazard and aimless. Anna’s step by step training and clear framework in everything from marketing to practical photography and even how to improve your mindset has given me the direction I desperately needed and most of all has made me feel confident and excited to get out there. I did have reservations as to whether I ought to commit to this; however I have gained much more than I could have hoped for. Anna is always available, incredibly supportive and helpful with her wealth of knowledge and experience. Most of all I now have a fantastic support network to help me on my way. Thank you Anna and The Shutterhood!”
As a beginner it’s mystifying to know how to start. The Shutterhood de-mystifies!
“There are so many questions that no one really talks about openly, so as a beginner to a photography business it’s mystifying to know how to start. The Shutterhood de-mystifies! Also I love the community – so many lovely people and I don’t feel silly when I ask a question as I know everyone just wants to help and see each other succeed.”
I’d 100% recommend The Shutterhood – such in-depth guidance and support. I love it, thank you Anna!
“I didn’t know where to start!! So many things you need to do but at the same time I had no idea what to do. I know that sounds really bizarre but it’s true. I felt really lost, and couldn’t see the light through the trees. The Shutterhood seemed like a no brainer! Support and guidance, 100% what I was looking for. I love the calls, I can’t always make them but if I miss one it’s so helpful watching it back. Getting my images critiqued has been fab and the 6 Week Planning has really helped. I’d 100% recommend The Shutterhood – such in-depth guidance and support. I love it, thank you Anna!”
What does it cost?
THE SHUTTERHOOD
£595
Pay in full or spread the cost over 2, 3, 6 or 12 months
12 MONTH GROUP COACHING PROGRAMME
THE SHUTTERPATH STEP-BY-STEP CURRICULUM
80+ BOOSTER TRAININGS TO UPLEVEL FURTHER
LIVE, DROP-IN GROUP MENTORING CALLS 3 TIMES A WEEK
TWO 1-1 CALLS WITH ME
BI-MONTHLY LIVE PLANNING SESSIONS
THE CLUBHOUSE COMMUNITY
OPTIONAL PROJECTS AND PEER CHALLENGES
GOT SOME
Questions?
I'm not sure this is the right time, I've got a lot on
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been saying, “After this month, things will slow down a bit,” for the last 10 years, every month on repeat. There will always be busy times coming up – gluts of work, school holidays, milestone birthdays, building work, refurbishments, a house move, a holiday, a reason to wait. From our 30s onwards especially, life is like that, and will continue to be.
Your plans and dreams for your business are happening right now. If you join, the changes you make will ensure you spend your time wisely and will make your life feel easier and more enjoyable. But to make those changes, you’ve got to commit to them, even if it feels a bit of a stretch (which it probably always will). Better to be busy following your dreams and carving out some well-earned joy, than still being busy but full of regret and frustration. After all, when was the last time you said, “I have all this spare time, hardly anything on right now and not much coming up”?
How many hours do I need, and what if I fall behind?
Don’t worry, there is no ‘falling behind’! Every aspect of The Shutterhood is recorded online for you to work through at your own pace and digest at a time that suits you. Everyone’s capacity and commitments vary over the year, and it’s totally fine and normal to do loads one month and not so much the next.
As with anything, the more you put in, the more you get out! As a minimum though I’d advise completing one or two pieces of training (either from The Shutterpath or The Boosters) and attending one or two group coaching calls each month to keep yourself on track – which equates to about 4-8 hours a month. Many Hoodies manage this comfortably alongside a day job and/or childcare.
Time is always tight, what if I don't have time to use it?
Many photographers waste huge amounts of time procrastinating, agonising over decisions or running themselves ragged doing tasks that don’t actually move the needle. The Shutterhood cuts out the overwhelm and so you achieve more in less time, to help you to work smarter, not harder. As much as I’d like to, I can’t magic more hours into your day, but I can definitely help you to make the most of the ones you have.
There will undoubtedly be months where life takes over and you have less time to engage with it, and this is totally fine and normal! This is why, despite having a 6 month curriculum, The Shutterhood lasts for 12 months – so it has plenty of contingency time built in to see you through these peaks and troughs.
I'm not sure I can afford it!
I’m not about to try to persuade you to part with money that you don’t have, and only you know whether you can really spare it or not. I do know that every time I’ve invested in coaching/mentoring, it has easily paid for itself and more. If The Shutterhood brings you just one or two paid photography clients, then that’s the entire program all paid for. I am confident that it will bring you many more clients on top of this, which will pay for it several times over!
There are also payment plans available to spread the cost over 2, 3, 6 or 12 months, so you are able to pay for it as the paid work comes in. However if you definitely can’t afford it, no problem at all – I have heaps of lower-cost self-study courses available in The Library (the Shutterhood includes all of these) as well as free resources that you’re welcome to help yourself to!
I'm not a 'new' photographer, is this suitable for me?
The Shutterhood is an entry-level programme designed for photographers in the first 2 years of setting up their photography business. However, many ‘Hoodies’ choose to stay longer as they value the community and group coaching calls, and have enough material in the Booster trainings to enable them to continue to progress beyond the basics.
However, for more established photographers I have The Greenhouse, my intermediate-level 12 month programme that gives you all the systems and strategies to generate a consistent, full-time income from your photography. Many Hoodies ‘graduate’ to this once their time in The Shutterhood has finished. It also includes the Shutterhood’s Shutterpath curriculum and Booster trainings for free, so it’s a great choice for people who might consider themselves borderline between the two, as they have a clear pathway forward but also can fill in any gaps they might have at a more foundational level.
What format is The Shutterhood delivered in?
The Shutterhood contains a mixture of videos (some with voice-over slides, others with live interviews), text-based tutorials and pdf / Google workbooks for you to work through. The community hub of the program is within Facebook and the coaching calls are on Zoom.
Is this a membership and does it auto-renew?
No, and no. The payment plans aren’t subscription payments, they are just for convenience so you can spread the cost of over the coming year if this helps you. The Shutterhood is a single, year-long coaching programme, and after your 12 months is up, your access will automatically expire, your time in The Shutterhood will end, and no further payments will be taken.
Many Hoodies do voluntarily choose to sign up again for another year (I’ll get in touch when your time is nearly finished to give you a code you can use for a discounted second year if you want it). However, this is totally optional and by default, your enrolment will close after 12 months.
What are the live coaching calls and what if I can't make one?
The group coaching calls are live group Zoom call meetings where you can chat directly to me and your fellow Hoodies, ask questions about whatever you like and bring along your images/work for review. There are three every week (so you never need to wait long for the next one!) and times/days are varied each week to suit different schedules and commitments. All calls take place during working hours, Monday-Friday, 9am-3pm.
If you’re unable to make a call live you can submit questions, images or work to me beforehand so that I can still answer/review them – the calls are all recorded so you can watch the replay at whatever time suits you.
Can I get 1-1 support?
Absolutely! The Shutterhood is a group coaching program but I love working intensively with people to help them take their business to the next level. Currently the only way to work with me 1-1 is through my Accelerator. However, when you enrol in the Shutterhood you get a 20 minute 1-1 Kick Off Call, where I problem solve the biggest issue facing you at the moment, advise you on next steps and signpost you to the relevant resources. You also unlock a 30 minute 1-1 once you book in your first 3 paying clients.
Throughout your year in The Shutterhood there are still plenty of opportunities to get fully personalised help – asking questions within The Clubhouse Facebook community, and using the group coaching calls to ask me for advice and submit images and work for critique. I’m here to support you in as many ways as I can!
BEHIND THE
Scenes
Take a tour behind the scenes to find out what you can expect from the programme.
Still feeling the fear?
IT’S TOTALLY NORMAL TO FEEL SCARED TO START
Fear of failure? You could just as easily succeed! The dreaded ‘What if?’ regret is a far worse feeling than failure. Failure is temporary – you pick yourself up, dust yourself off and move on, proud knowing you bravely gave it a whirl. ‘What if?’ lasts a lifetime.
Fear of what people will say? Anyone whose opinion is worth caring about will be excited and happy for you. Most will be entirely indifferent (we always think other people give us more airtime in their heads than they actually do!) Don’t let imagined or misguided negativity dictate and dampen your future.
Fear that it’s not the right time? Your nervous system will always tell you it’s the wrong time. It’s doing its job – it’s biologically programmed to behave like a fussy, overprotective grandparent, keeping you ‘safe’ within the comfort zone of things you’ve already done. See it for what it is, thank it for caring, but don’t let it hold you back. The truth is, because starting a new business is waaaaay out of most people’s comfort zones, it will never feel like the right time – so unless you’re prepared to never do this, you’re going to have to override it at some point.
Stop waiting to be chosen, or for a sign to descend from the sky – the only way to do this is to choose to just start, however imperfectly, one foot in front of the other. The Shutterhood is for you when you’re ready to stop spinning, hoping and dreaming, and ready to step into a new era where stuff gets done, real progress is made and you feel proud seeing all your efforts rewarded.
With The Shutterhood you can look forward to…
HAPPINESS & FULFILMENT
You no longer envy the people who are doing it – you ARE the person who’s doing it, and can proudly say, “I’m a photographer” when people ask you what you do.
CONFIDENCE & SELF-BELIEF
You still get the odd wobble but now have a range of practical mindset tools to clear the mental blocks that have been holding you back.
ENQUIRIES & BOOKINGS
You check your inbox over breakfast and there’s a new enquiry – “I love your photos, how can I book you?” – and it’s from someone who’s not a ‘friend of a friend’. Your banking app shows payments from two recent shoots and you don’t have to justify to your friends and family why you’re doing this any more.
BETTER WORK/LIFE BALANCE
Your business works around your life, not the other way round – you have the freedom to earn money whilst working around school pick ups and drop offs, sports days and medical appointments, working to a clear, no-nonsense, step-by-step plan that maximises the time you have available to you.
FEEL-GOOD, CRINGE-FREE MARKETING
Strategies and systems that are completely aligned with your own personality, preferences and strengths, so you can get your name out there consistently, authentically and proudly without feeling like a pillock.
EXPERIENCED MENTOR WITHOUT THE 1-1 PRICE TAG
Me as your loyal sidekick to help you do all of this, a nurturing space to ask questions without feeling silly, as well as a supportive community of like-minded folk who’ve got your back as you grow your businesses together.
14 Day Satisfaction Guarantee
I want you to love being in The Shutterhood and wouldn’t dream of trying to keep you in there if it’s not for you! Within the first 14 days you can get a full refund, if you decide it’s definitely not going to help you. But I’m really confident that you’ll love it and I’ve never had anyone do this!
ANNA
