How to Hire Your FIRST Employee 👉 and how to know when you're ready
If you feel like you’re drowning in work and scaling your business seems impossible without sacrificing your sanity, you’re not alone. Many photographers and entrepreneurs hit this wall at some point. The solution? Hiring your first team member.
Hi, I’m Vanessa Joy. Over the last two decades, I’ve grown a thriving photography business and a successful online education brand. In both journeys, one decision made the biggest difference: knowing when it was time to bring someone on board.
The Turning Point: Why Hiring Matters
Running your own business means wearing all the hats. You’re the photographer, the marketer, the bookkeeper, the customer service rep… and it’s exhausting. I remember wrestling with the decision to hire and being full of doubts:
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Am I financially ready?
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What if I choose the wrong person?
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What if it doesn’t work out?
But here’s the truth: you can’t grow without help. When I finally started delegating, everything changed. My business shifted from barely keeping up to truly scaling.
Who Should You Hire First?
The best place to start is with tasks that eat up your time but don’t require you. Think of the things you do over and over that don’t bring in direct revenue or showcase your creative strengths. Examples include:
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Admin work: email replies, scheduling, contracts
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Post-production: editing, album design, culling
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Marketing: managing social media, content creation
For me, outsourcing editing was a game changer. It freed up hours each week that I could reinvest into my clients and bigger-picture strategy.
How to Take the First Step
Hiring doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start small and ease into it.
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Make a list of your tasks. Spend a week writing down everything you do. Then highlight the repetitive or draining ones.
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Start small. Bring on a freelancer, part-time assistant, or virtual helper. You don’t need a full-time employee right away.
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See it as an investment. This isn’t “extra” spending. You’re buying back your time so you can focus on revenue-generating work.
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Use tools to make delegation smoother. Project management platforms or automation apps can make onboarding easier for both you and your hire.
The Results Are Worth It
Making your first hire is about more than reducing your workload. It’s about creating space for growth, energy, and opportunities you didn’t have before.
I won’t lie, the first step is scary. But once you take it, you’ll wonder why you waited so long.
If you’ve been feeling stuck in the day-to-day grind, maybe it’s time. Your future business self will thank you.
