The Myth of “Follow Your Bliss” and What it Really Takes to Build a Business You Love.

For years, I’ve heard the phrase: “Follow your bliss and the money will follow.” And its cousin: “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

As a brand photographer and entrepreneur for nearly 14 years, let me tell you—these phrases sound beautiful, but they can also be incredibly misleading and even damaging.

Don’t get me wrong — I love what I do. I feel deeply connected to helping entrepreneurs, executives, and thought leaders show up authentically in their branding through powerful photography. But running a successful brand photography business takes far more than passion. It takes grit, strategy, and a lot of work that has nothing to do with picking up a camera.