2023–2025: my journey from shooting only food, to travel & hospitality photography - lessons learned and how it transformed my business and life (part 2)

(reading time: 7 minutes)

If you read Part 1 of my journey (click here), you know how pivoting from only food photography in studio, to travel and hospitality photography taught me to let go of pride, build relationships, and really observe before I shoot. Those are just a few of the things I learned in 2025.

Here, I’m sharing the lessons that came next, things that have shaped not just my work, but the way I approach opportunities and growth in life and business.

Like I said last time, even though I’m sharing my experience, this is less ‘about me' and more about what you can take with you (just like I’m carrying these lessons into 2026!).

So, while reading adopt a critical thinking and think about yourself and future self.

5. Don’t assume clarity, confirm it

Uh-oh, I made a silly mistake at one point, and it actually surprised me because I’m usually very careful with estimates/contracts.

I sent a sample package PDF to a potential client. They confirmed they were interested and we went back and forth via email, but I didn’t immediately send the contract.

My gut told me they had only glanced at what I sent. A month later, when I finally sent the contract, I realized there was a misunderstanding about the number of deliverables and the price, the client expected far more than what I outlined in the PDF.

I could have turned down the job at that point (and lose the flight money), but my gut now said to go ahead, and it ended up being a great experience that taught me A LOT.

I’ve always known how important contracts are since my food photography days, so I’m still not sure why this slipped, but it was a reminder that mistakes happen, and they’re part of the learning process.

Bottom line:

It’s always better to send that extra email or two to make sure they’ve carefully read and understood your estimate, rather than being surprised after you’ve already spent money. Ahi ahi Roberta!

The lesson for me here? Even with experience, mistakes happen, and that’s okay.

Even in areas where you have years of experience, missteps can occur. What matters is HOW you respond: learn from them, trust your instincts and use them to grow.

6. Experience doesn’t eliminate nerves, a system in place does

You know what I noticed when I started shooting outside my studio? My nervessss.
I would get anxious every time I was in a new place. Maybe it was the unfamiliar space itself, the light, or all the logistics (?)

Even now, before every photoshoot, I still feel a bit of nerves and wonder ‘Will I deliver the result the client wants?!” Spoiler yes.

It doesn’t matter how many years of experience I have. But over time, I noticed a pattern: my system, my process (including creating moodboards for personal usage) and the preparation I put in, always allow me to deliver great results. And clients are super happy.

I’ve learned never to let anxiety guide my decisions or creativity. I will problem solve, I will get it done. System in place.

Bottom line:

Don’t let nerves dictate how things will go. Trust your talent, trust your process and trust that you’re capable.

Feeling anxious is normal, but it doesn’t define the outcome…you’ll get the work done, and it will be great!

7. You NEED those people who understand your vision, lift you up, hold you accountable.

In the last few months of this year, I connected with 2 incredible groups of women photographers, one focused on food, the other on travel.

Fun fact: both opportunities came to me just a week apart, almost like serendipity.

When Giulia (for the travel group) and Fanette (for the food group) reached out, I worried I wouldn’t be able to show up fully for all the Zoom calls, and commit.

I thought I had too many things on my plate already. But I accepted, and slowly realized how much I needed this!

I found two amazing small communities. In my food photography group, I already knew all the people (Bea, Rachel, Eva, Shelly, Joanie and Fanette), but the travel group introduced me to a small new network.

With both groups, we discuss different things, exchange ideas and inspire each other to do things differently.

They get what I do, I get what they do, and we lift each other up constantly. I could not feel more grateful.

Bottom line:

Find your people, form a small group, keep each other accountable. Just like Fanette and Giulia reached out to me, you can also reach out to start a group, meet monthly, share projects, goals and learn from each other.

Surrounding yourself with the right people makes all the difference. It gives you faith, hope.

A huge thanks to all of the ladies!

Anna: https://www.instagram.com/annapurnauna/
Ula: https://www.instagram.com/ulablocksagephotography/
Daisy: https://www.instagram.com/daisywingatesaul/
Giulia: https://www.instagram.com/giulia_verdinelli_photography/

Fanette: https://www.instagram.com/lestudiodefanfan/
Bea: https://www.instagram.com/bealubas
Rachel: https://www.instagram.com/twolovesstudio/
Eva: https://www.instagram.com/evakosmasflores/
Shelly: https://www.instagram.com/shuttershelly/
Joanie: https://www.instagram.com/thebiteshot/

8. Your Mindset Sets the Path

Last but not least: mindset.

This is actually THE MOST important lesson. Your thoughts, your beliefs and then your actions set the path, your future. I’ve known how powerful this is for years, but this year, I finally saw some craaaazy tangible proof.

I’m not ashamed to confess: I reached a point where I feel delulu and completely certain, I will get what I want.

I will work with that client sooner or later. I will take on that project sooner or later.
It’s just about when, not if.

And just to be clear: this doesn’t come from being “full of myself”. No, it comes from knowing I can shape my own future. It’s up to me. No one will do it for me. No one will believe it for me.

To reach this point, I worked incredibly hard to dismantle limiting thoughts, pushed myself beyond comfort and stayed committed.

On a practical level, it meant being very mindful every time my thoughts were sabotaging me, and sitting down with them to analyse them.

It meant creating opportunities for myself, recognizing them when they appeared, persevering and having the patience to see them unfold right in front of my eyes.

I completely removed the thought of “If it didn’t happen this month or this year - because it was on my goals list -then it’ll never happen”

Even more practically, it meant traveling alone, something that used to scare the hell out of me.

It meant renting a car in a foreign country and driving two hours to reach a client (again, I was so nervous to do this alone).

It meant being alone in London (makes me anxious for past trauma), taking an Uber and spending 25x more because missing that appointment with a potential client wasn’t an option.

It meant awkwardly approaching someone at an event to hand them a print, an interaction that almost got me a cover on a very well-known magazine (working on this goal again now!)

It was damn hard work, but so worth it. Sometimes it feels like magical things are happening in my life (sometimes it is!), opportunities appearing out of nowhere, but in reality, they’re the fruits of what I planted.

Bottom line:

Please, please, please, start working on your beliefs right now. They guide every single choice in your daily life.

When you catch yourself thinking “That will never happen for me” or feeling triggered by someone else’s success, pause. Sit down, write down what you’re thinking, and dismantle that thought. Then, deliberately ask yourself Why CAN this happen for me? And how? … create scenarios.

Your beliefs shape your reality, please start shaping them intentionally.

So, how has all of this transformed my business and life? I’ll keep it quick.

Traveling for work while also maintaining my small family at home (partner, cats and all that comes with it!) has taught me balance.

I need to choose jobs that allow my business to grow, without being away from home too much.

That means aiming for higher-paying gigs if I want to limit travel to, say, one week per month (we’ll see how this evolves). I’ve always aimed at those, but now it becomes even more crucial.

At the start of this pivot, my income wasn’t exactly what I wanted, and indeed in 2023/24, a few projects, my Lightroom Ambassadorship, and the educational side of my business kept me moving forward.

On a personal level, this pivot has been life-changing.

I meet so many new people - both professionally and casually when traveling - and I’ve never been happier.

I always have something to look forward to, the next inspiring trip, the next exciting project/personal project.

I’m more proactive, confident and willing to take risks that truly push my career forward.

Opportunities I once thought were out of reach now feel possible (see above, what I said about being delulu), and I approach every thing with clarity and purpose.

It’s not just about getting clients or assignments, it’s about creating a life and a business that aligns with the vision I set for myself.

Good luck, my friend. You’re more powerful than you think.

I don’t have an oracle, and I’m not THE example, but I’ve been where you are. I know what it feels like to be that “old version of me” full of doubt, fear and uncertainty.

I want to give you courage today. The small steps you take, the thoughts you choose to shift, the risks you push yourself to take, the scary things you do, they all matter. They build the path to the life and opportunities you’re capable of creating.

Keep going. Be patient, trust yourself and remember that everything you want is unfolding, even if you can’t see it yet. You’ve got this, and I’m cheering for you every step of the way.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to send me a message on Instagram @roberta.dallalba