You pride yourself on going above and beyond for your clients…

…and yet you’re still not hitting your goals.
Not financially. Not creatively. Not personally.

You bend your packages.
You throw in extras.
You answer emails at 10pm.
You discount when someone hesitates—because you don’t want to seem “too expensive.”

And while your clients are happy, you’re quietly wondering:
“What about me?”

The People Pleasing Trap (And Why It Feels So Familiar)

You care deeply about your work and the people you serve. That’s your superpower.

But when your business model depends on being “nice” instead of being valuable, you get stuck in a loop:

• Overgive to prove your worth
• Feel resentful and underpaid
• Keep your prices low out of guilt
• Burn out while trying to please everyone

And the truth is—it’s unsustainable.

You didn’t start your business to become a servant to your inbox or to stay stuck at $500/session forever.

Here’s What No One Tells You:

Being kind and being profitable are not opposites.
In fact, your business will serve your clients better when you set boundaries, price with intention, and create a process that puts both of you at ease.

And it starts with shifting from being reactive to being intentional.

What This Shift Looks Like in Real Life

Photographers who’ve made the shift from overgiving to thriving have:

• Set clear expectations with clients through education and pre-session calls
• Created an offer that includes value (not freebies)
• Structured their IPS system to guide clients confidently—not hope they figure it out on their own
• Raised their average sale to $1,500+ without pushback

And guess what?
Their clients are even happier, because they feel taken care of—not left to navigate on their own.

“But I Don’t Want to Be Pushy…”

You don’t have to be.

Setting boundaries and raising your prices doesn’t make you greedy.
It makes you sustainable. And when you’re sustainable, you can show up better for your clients and your life.

What’s actually pushy? Hoping someone buys without guidance.
What’s generous? Walking someone through a beautiful, intentional experience that helps them see the value of what they’re investing in.

Start Redefining What it Means to Serve Well:

📖 Why You’re Working So Hard for So Little
If you’re stuck in hustle and people-pleasing, this will feel like a mirror—and a roadmap.

📹 What Most Photographers Don’t Realize About In-Person Sales
Learn how IPS can feel like service, not sales.

💼 How One Photographer Raised Her Prices and Got Her Life Back
Emily’s story is a powerful example of how boundaries = growth.

Final Thought

You can be heart-led and highly paid.
You can care deeply and still charge premium rates.
You can stop overgiving—and still overdeliver.

But it starts by shifting the belief that “nice” means saying yes to everything.

The real magic happens when you say yes to yourself—and build a business that reflects your worth.

Are you a people pleaser photographer, or is something else holding you back from reaching profitable rates? Take my free Quiz here!