findingmagiceducation

PRO PHOTOGRAPHER; YOU CAN’T SUCCEED UNTIL YOU ACCEPT THIS

You have no control of what other people think or say about you. Be okay with it.

Social media rules the internet, and photographers are not immune to its effects. From losing countless hours that could be spent on more productivity to placing all of their confidence on the amount of likes an image gets. Often, photographers who complain that they aren’t getting any clients are the photographers who refuse to stay away from photography groups. They are chasing the approval of other photographers and claiming they need Facebook or other social media to get clients. What other photographers think of you isn’t as important as what potential customers think of you. Start focusing on creating social media content that gets real people to engage with you. (Unless you are posting in our Finding Magic Photography Education Facebook Group. We always want you to post there!)

The amount of money you make is in direct proportion to the amount of value you provide.

Photographers are not getting paid for creating and capturing the most beautiful images in any market. Yes! We said it, shocking isn’t it. Do you need to sit down? We find so many photographers spend time and money to learn all of the “secret” techniques of their favorite educators only to find out that there is a brand new secret technique out there. In the meantime the clock keeps on ticking and their business acumen never gets better. Dedicating the same amount of time, if not more, on learning how to provide excellent service and value will increase your ability to monetize your art. You can get some tips from us here on the blog or by joining our Facebook group here: Finding Magic FB Group

To be recognized as the best, you need to be the best, by always editing your service and workflow.

Let’s be clear here. You don’t have to be the best photographer to have a successful business and have a line of clients out the door. You have to be the best at attracting them, making them fall in love with your service and getting them to tell everyone about you!

Every new client is an opportunity for you to perfect your service and add value through: ease of service, speed, availability, communication, attention to details, and delivering on your promises.

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together – African Proverb.

Anyone can be successful. What you need to do first and work on is creating a strategy for each department of your business. Departments you ask? Yes! Your business is structured through departments. If you don’t have them and don’t know where to start, we are here to help you. Because to get to your destination faster you need the education, someone to give you the shortcuts and give you direction. You don’t have to be on this path alone. We want to invite you to join our FREE Facebook group where we discuss how to implement business strategies and get paid to do what you love. Photography.

How to Get Testimonials From Your Photography Clients

Testimonials are a great way to market and promote your photography business. But how do you go about getting high quality testimonials?

1. Don’t just ask for it. If you send your client a message asking them to leave you a review or write a testimonial, 9 times out of 10 you aren’t going to get it. Clients are busy and the thought of composing a testimonial sounds stressful so, more than likely, they won’t actually get around to it – even if they loved your photography services.

2. Phrase it a different way. “Testimonial” sound so official. Simply ask your client is they would be willing to provide you with some “feedback” instead.

3. Guide your client. Instead of asking the client to do all the work, you provide the questions. Answering a series of questions is much easier than composing their own paragraph. Make sure your questions are open-ended and encourage your client to provide answers that could be helpful to other clients, not just one word responses.

4. Ideas of questions to ask:
– “What was the primary reason you chose me as your photographer?
– “What was your biggest fear before hiring me? Did it come true, and if not, what happened instead?”
– “What, specifically, was your favorite part of your session, and why?”
– “If you were to recommend us to your best friend, what would you say?”
– “What was your favorite part about working with me?”
– “Do you love your photos, and did I capture your day/family/personality well?”

How to Elevate the Client Experience

Thinking of raising your prices in the new year? As your prices climb, you want to make sure that the level of service you are providing matches your new pricing. So, what are some ways we, as photographers, can do this?

Before the Session

Gather information. Get to know your client as well as you can before the session. You could send them a questionnaire asking things like the names and ages of those being photographed, is the photo shoot to celebrate a milestone or special occasion, birthdays or anniversary. Think of questions appropriate for your genre/client. Reference this questionnaire before the session so that you can learn the clients’ names. Calling your clients by their names goes a long way. Bring up other points from the questionnaire during the session to create conversation. Keep track of birthdays or anniversaries so that you can send them well wishes when their special day rolls around. When you show a real interest in your client, it makes them feel as if you actually care about them as a person.

Communicate. There are lots of ways you can communicate with your client before the session to foster the relationship. Send them a welcome guide after they book with you. Email your clients periodically and fill them in on how your process works, answer questions they could have, and set expectations. They may or may not have worked with a professional photographer before and even if they have, your policies and procedures will be different. Think of everything that might need managing and create an email to explain before the issue arises. Some things that might need explaining: how your pricing works, how many images they will receive, the amount of time they should expect before they receive their images, what happens if the weather doesn’t cooperate, what to wear, how long the shoot will last, etc. These emails should be brief and to the point. You wouldn’t want to put all of these things into one long email. We all know that clients typically don’t read and/or don’t remember. Break up the information into smaller chunks and send in separate emails.

Repetition. Know that your clients will forget things and will ask you questions that you’ve already answered. Be prepared to repeat yourself. Over-communication is better than lack of communication.

During the Session

Remember the questionnaire you sent the client when they booked? Be sure the read over it before the session. Memorize names and details to help you create conversations during the session. Make sure you are prepared and ready to start when the client arrives. Make a point to be fun and upbeat during your time together. If young children are a part of the session, let your client know that you do not expect perfect behavior, nor do you expect them to be still and quiet the whole session. Assure them that you will lead them and let them know exactly what they need to do. If you have a senior or teen client, maybe you play their favorite music during the session. Whichever genre you are shooting, keep the conversation flowing and give your clients positive feedback throughout.

After the Session

Thank them. After the session, send your client a thank you via email within 24 to 48 hours. Additionally, send a handwritten thank you card after the gallery and/or products have been delivered. You can also thank them when you post their images to your social media accounts.

Keep in touch. When you blog your client’s session, send them a message to let them know. Follow up with your client a few weeks after delivery to make sure they don’t have any questions. Wish them well on their birthday or anniversary. Keep in touch through email a few times a year. The next time the client needs a photographer, you want to make sure that you are the first one that comes to mind.

The Top 10 Tools I Use in My Photography Business

There are an overwhelming number of online tools geared towards photographers and entrepreneurs these days. It can be overwhelming deciding which ones your really need and which ones are going to meet the needs of your business. I often get asked about which tools I use and why so here are the tools I use to run my photography business:

Website Host

I have been using Zenfolio for my website host for about 8 years. They offer everything I need so I have no desire to switch. Are they the best website host? Maybe or maybe not. I honestly don’t know. Like I said, they offer everything I need such as proofing galleries, direct ordering of products, file backup, and blogging capabilities. Furthermore, I find their price to be very reasonable and the setup and navigation to be simple and easy. They have plenty of helpful video tutorials as well. I have found their customer service to be top notch.

If you’d like to try Zenfolio, use this link for 10% of: 10% off Zenfolio

Client Management System (CMS)

I use 17 Hats for my Client Management System. I have used 17 Hats for several years. They have continued to improve and I am very pleased with their service. I can manage all my contracts, invoices, emails, etc. through 17 hats. They even have an online scheduler now which makes me very happy! I love how it keeps track of everything and clients can even access all of their documents through their client portal. 10% off 17 Hats

StickyFolios

I love StickyFolios! I love it so much, I bought the lifetime membership on Black Friday last year. With Stickyfolios, I can make a custom mobile app for every client. They love it and it’s a great way for me to market since my contact information is available right in the app to everyone that they share it with! I also use StickyFolios for my pricing guides, landing pages and Instagram bio link. The site is so much more than just photo apps. I highly recommend StickyFolios!

Planoly

Planoly is my favorite app for scheduling all my Instagram content. They have a free option but I upgraded to the paid plan for the extra benefits. Scheduling out my content is a MUST! It helps me be consistent (which we all know is key) and be more intentional with my posts. Planoly is super easy to use and I seriously could not do without it!

MailChimp

MailChimp is the program I use to collect email addresses from potential clients. I also use MailChimp to send regular emails to my lists. If you don’t have an email list, I highly suggest you start one. We don’t own social media but we do own our email list. MailChimp is free up to a certain point. I would say that MailChimp has been one of the harder programs to learn but there are video tutorials on YouTube that can help. I still don’t use or understand all of the things MailChimp can do, but I have learned the functions that I need for my business.

Trello

Trello is the best FREE tool for organization out there! Trello is simply a way to organize things into groups and lists. I use it for planning out my social media posts and to keep track of my opt-ins but it can literally be used to organize anything! There are lots of Youtube videos that will quickly teach you how to use trello if you are interested. Trello also has an app which makes it super convenient.

Fundy

Fundy is a great program for designing products. I personally use it to design albums and wall collages. It has been a little bit of a learning curve, but now that I have the hang of it I’m starting to prefer it over my former album design software, Album Stomp. Album Stomp is still a great product (and it’s cheaper) but Fundy can do so much more.

Canva

Canva is the best program for making graphics. I use Canva to make all sorts of graphics; Pinterest graphics, IG stories, Facebook graphics, and graphics for my blog. Canva is simple to use and the best part is – it’s FREE!

Animoto

Animoto is a video making software that allows you to create impressive videos in minutes with its drag-and-drop video interface. No video editing experience is necessary to use the program. It is very simple to use. This is one program I probably don’t use enough. With video getting more views on social media than images, Animoto is must. I can also use it in my image reveals to show images to client. You can even offer the video as an upsell item or incentive. Use this link to try Animoto

Tailwind

So I am relatively new to Tailwind but I am already seeing how it is a must if you are marketing your business on Pinterest. Tailwind has so many more features that just simply scheduling pins. You can join and create tribes to help get your content seen which is super helpful. In my first month of using Tailwind I saw a huge rise in my Pinterest traffic and engagement. Tailwind is primarily a Pinterest scheduler, but can also be used to schedule Instagram posts. I don’t use that particular function of the program so I can’t speak to that area of the application.

Those are my top 10 tools – what are yours? Which business tools could you not live without? Tell us in the comments!

12 Things I Do to Stay on Top of it All

I often get asked, “How do you do it all?” Many people struggle with work-life balance and staying in control of everything. There is no easy trick, no one-size-fits-all answer. My hope is that the strategies and tips that I share here will help other business owners organize their tasks in a better way.

So before we get into how I organize and prioritize and all that good stuff, I want to tell you a little bit about me personally.

I have been married for 23 years and we have three sons. Our boys are spaced out in age, so that means they fight a lot as all siblings probably do. Their ages span from high school to elementary so we have a range of extracurricular activities going on year round. My oldest son has Down Syndrome so that adds a whole level of other challenges.

I have been an elementary public school teacher for over 20 years. I work from 7:30 to at least 4:00 Monday through Friday. Although I wish I could retire and focus on photography full time, I need my retirement! That’s the one thing they haven’t ruined for teachers – yet. So leaving my full time job isn’t an option at this time. I tell you all of this so that you know when I say I’m busy – it’s true!

So, back to the original question then, “How do you do it all?”

I don’t bring work home. When I am at school I work. What does that mean? Before class starts, on my conference, after class – I’m working. I get everything done that I need to do at school. I don’t bring my school work home with me.
I pay for a housekeeper. I cannot keep my house clean on my own with everything else that I have to do. I pay to have help come in every other week. This is one of the best decisions I have ever made!
I do housework every day. Not a lot, but I don’t let dishes and laundry pile up. I do one load of laundry almost everyday (and fold it immediately after it dries), usually run the dishwasher, and pick up here and there.
When I get home from my full-time job, I don’t stop. If I sit down when I get home, I’ll never get up. When I come in the door, I’ll do a few chores while starting to prepare supper (recipes are simple and easy around here). After supper I will sit down at the computer for usually about an hour to work on whatever needs to be done. It could be editing, product design and ordering, social media scheduling, etc. After this hour or so, my “work” is done for the day. We then move on to do homework, baths, etc. I rest when the kids are in bed.
I am a low volume photographer. I don’t schedule more clients than I can handle well. I typically schedule one client per week. This helps me stay on top of editing, design, and delivery.
I work on weekends. It’s necessary for me to work on weekends. One hour per night just doesn’t cut it for all that needs to be done.
I plan and schedule all my social media content. Consistency is crucial when it comes to social media. There is no way I could be consistent if I didn’t schedule my content. With Facebook, I plan three months at a time and schedule it right inside Facebook. My Facebook group, I schedule a month at a time. With Instagram, I schedule 1-2 weeks at a time. I use Planoly to schedule my Instagram posts. For Pinterest, I use Tailwind to schedule posts.
I batch work. What is batch working? Batch working is when you devote a section of time to one task. For example, when I write blog posts, I write several at a time. It’s easier and faster to do the same task over and over than it is for your brain to go from one thing to another.
I repurpose old content. I use a free tool called Trello to hold my evergreen captions and content. That way, when I get ready to use them again, I can just go to Trello, copy and paste. I repost old images, blog posts, etc. I don’t feel the need to come up with fresh new content all the time. Chances are, whoever is seeing your post has never seen it before.
I use a calendar. My paper calendar goes everywhere with me and I write everything down. I look at it often in order to keep track of what’s coming up. If it’s something I think I may forget, I set a reminder on my phone.
I take time off. In order to avoid burnout, I take December and most of July and August off each year. July and August are very slow here in Texas anyway because of the heat. I could stay busy in December but choose to spend the month with my family.
I say “no”. I have learned to say no to commitments that I don’t want to take on. If I know that it’s going to make me feel overwhelmed, then I simply say no.

What I Learned From Participating in Facebook and Instagram Pods

So what the heck is a pod anyway? A pod is simply a private group conversation through direct messaging that is used to communicate when you post new content to your Instagram or Facebook account.

When you post new content, you alert the pod members of your new post. Within the next few hours the pod members will visit your new post, like it, and leave a comment. The purpose of all this is to show the algorithm that your content is popular and that it should push the post to a larger percentage of your followers.

There are mixed opinions about pods. Some advise not to use them, and some say they are a great way to gain engagement. My personal experience is that pods did help me to grow my Instagram account. Whether they will hurt my account in the long run, I can’t say. I do know that since I left all of the pods, my engagement is definitely lower and my account is growing more slowly.

However, I’m not here today to talk about whether pods are good or bad or how well they work. I am here to talk about what I learned from participating in pods.

Like I said, I was a member of several different pods. Some were with photographers from all over the world. It’s easy to like and leave comments on your fellow photographers images and posts when they live halfway across the country. But what if they were your local competition?

A few years ago, I created a Facebook group for local photographers only. It’s a really great group and lots of friendships have been made. It’s now grown to about 300 members and we even have meetups sometimes. It’s actually pretty drama free since the people are all local to each other. It’s different when you are talking to a person just right down the road from you. Anyway, we had this idea that if we created a facebook and instagram pod including only us locals, we would attract more local people to our pages and our work.

Once we got started and it came time to actually start complimenting and lifting up my local competitors, doubt started to creep in…

Am I going to lose clients because of this?

Are my current clients going to find a new photographer through my interactions?

Am I leading potential clients right to my competitors?

At first, it was really hard to comment on my local fellow photographers posts. But over time, it became easier. And you know what happened to my business when I lifted up my fellow photographers? Nothing. Not one thing changed that I was aware of. My clients didn’t all run away to the competition.

You know what did change? My attitude about praising my competitors. It actually made me feel good to compliment my colleagues. You know that saying, “we rise by lifting others”? It’s so true!

Never be afraid to leave a nice or uplifting comment on another photographers work. It can only make the photography community a better place!

The 6 Must Have Apps for Instagram

Staying consistent with your social media accounts can be overwhelming. Utilizing the right apps can help you save time and attract new followers. These are my 6 must-have apps right now…

1. Planoly

I literally don’t know what we would do without Planoly! Planoly keeps us posting consistently with purpose. I plan my Instagram posts one to two weeks in advance. I love being able to type captions on my computer verses my phone. I also love how Planoly saves groups of hashtags that you can add to a post with one click. Plus they just added a new quick scheduler feature which lets you quickly schedule your posts for the most popular times.

2. Mojo

This is my new top app for creating stories. SOme of you probably remember when you could purchase animated Instagram story templates and customize them in Photoshop. Now Mojo does all of that for you right on your phone! You HAVE to check out this app.

3. Unfold

Another of my favorite story apps is Unfold. They have quite a few story templates to choose from and more available for purchase. Their templates are clean and professional looking.

4. Repost

Repost is great if you want to re-share posts from another account easily. Maybe you want to repost a quote or funny saying. Maybe an account is hosting a giveaway and you need to repost to enter. Whatever the case, Repost makes it simple!

5. Layout

Layout is great for making quick collages for your feed. Layout is super easy and fast, with several different templates for your collages.

6. MilkShake

If you want to maximize your one Instagram link in your bio, check out MilkShake. This app allows you to create a mini-website to redirect your traffic to the right place or resource. They have lots of templates to choose from so you are sure to find the look for your brand.

Did your favorite make the list? I hope this was helpful information and you find a new favorite app or two to help you make the most of your Instagram account!

Photographers Constructive Criticism on Facebook

Constructive criticism, sounds a bit cold. The term alone doesn’t sound too inviting does it? A more formal word followed up by a negative. No thanks, not for me. You sit scrolling through Facebook as a means of winding down at the end of the night or an attempt to enjoy what feels like a very short lunch break. Image after image, comment after comment. You’re not even invested in most of these folks but you find yourself drawn into reading all 43 comments on their photo. Why so many comments? 43, wow that’s a lot! Down the rabbit hole I go suddenly drawn into someone else’s battle zone. You read through all the negative comments from the negative nellies that somehow seem to take up far too much space in this virtual world. The negatives are usually followed up by the sweet souls that have a mother’s heart and come to defend the wounded. THIS is why I don’t post I’d say to myself. Nope, not me, no thank you. Those brave souls that put their best work out into the world only to be criticized by others. If only they saw how hard I worked. If only they knew I just started a few months ago. If only they knew I can’t afford that new full frame camera with the Art lens like they have. The ifs could, and do,seem endless.

I thought this way myself for far too many months. What changed for me? I met a fabulous someone. Monika is confident, not afraid of the fall, not afraid of the climb, talented, and lucky for me so very giving. In a way it feels like having an older sister, you’re just more comfortable knowing she’s there with you. I sent her a private message to do a little girl talk, or so I thought. I of course went into the conversation thinking she’d agree with me. Look at this poor woman being attacked, in my mind, by these mean people! Her reply left me speechless. “ I don’t know why people are so afraid of constructive criticism any way”. Like the cool girl in school who had enough confidence to not care what anyone else thought. I forget her exact words after that because my world was spinning. I never thought of it from that perspective so it felt too foreign and crazy to accept without reflection. So often we’re so defensive to constructive criticism that we don’t stop to think about what we’ve actually heard without being on defense. It took me a while to sit and really think on her words. Her over all follow up was basically, it’s part of what has her successfully standing in her new studio living her dream. I personally never even thought of it that way. Why did I view constructive criticism as just criticism?

What if we did post that photo? I’m not sure how many of you follow Rachel Hollis, but it seems to be all of you these days considering her continuous bestseller status. I too find her very inspiring as well for those big moments when I need that Rocky swagger. Or hell even just a strand of confidence if I’m being totally honest. The I GOT THIS attitude needed to do all the scary things I’m so afraid to do. As I was driving to throw myself into certain death,or possibly I’d wish I were dead afterwards, aka my first wedding photography attempt I listened to her podcast for 5 hours!! Granted it was in a different state but thank goodness because surely this would do the trick! She said in her RISE podcast “what is the very worst thing that could happen”? Then talk yourself down from there. What is the worst that could happen if you post the photo? A mean comment,…. consider the source. Not too many likes? We’ve ALL been there and some days still are! I’m not as good as they are. They didn’t get good by sitting on the side lines. They all jumped! It’s ok to cover your eyes on the way down screaming. Just remember to remove your hands on the way back up and take in the scene.

You never know when or where that next trick, tip, or greatest action might be learned. What if that photographer in Florida teaches you something you’ve never heard of before. I myself recently really over did the highlights on a portrait. That was until a photog friend said they needed to come down a bit. How did I not see that I wondered? It was suggested to me from a place of helping to make it the best portrait it could be. I made a new layer and tried out her thoughts. She was right, so I merged down. If you don’t like it you can always delete the layer right. Heck you don’t even need to listen to the criticism that’s being given. Photography is just another form of art. As we all well know just like with music, we all feel it very differently and for different reasons.

Now that I mention my friend(s) it makes me realize it’s a part of why I’ve recently found comfort in my own place in what often feels like a race. I’ve managed to surround myself with some really fantastic photography friends. I’m not sure how I got to this great party but you better believe I’m going to stay for dessert. You might say oh you got lucky but I could never find that. You might say the photographers in my area are too unwelcoming. Even that you are just too much of an introvert. I actually found all but one of my creative friends online. Yep, one connection led to another and another. Possibly by posting that one image you’ll connect with someone who sees something in it and a great friendship of your own might be created. Go find your Monika. Give yourself the chance to try. What’s the worst thing that could happen?

Are you a member of our Finding Magic Photography Education group? If not you are missing out on an amazing community of photographers who specialize in all types of genere. We talk photography and business while growing together.

Written by Contributing writer Catherine TapperYou can find her on Facebook at Catherine Tapper Photography

Catherine is a photographer from Wisconsin married to a supportive husband named Eric Tapper.

The Finding Magic Story | Our Photographer’s Education Journey

Teaching is ingrained in my soul and for Shana, it is a way of life.

The biggest compliment I can receive is to see my fellow artists succeed, and if I have a small part in helping them achieve their goals, there is no greater success for me as a teacher. After working with Shana for a number of years, I know that she 100% feels the same way I do. There is excitment in the air when anyone we know finds success. We feel pride and admiration for our friends, because in this life everyone can talk the talk, but few can keep walking when it gets hard.

Shana and I recently had the opportunity to meet a photographer who has been an active member of our Facebook group. It is interesting how normal it is to become friends with people who you have never met. Through the internet you find yourself connecting in ways that were not possible 15 years ago.

Catherine emailed us a few days ago, and I asked her if she minded us sharing her note. She told me she would like to write something for us and would email us once she felt ready to share. Today we received her note.

“Often in life when we’re on a path towards a goal we’re naturally drawn to others that have already put in more miles. We do it in fitness, motherhood, careers, and creativepassions. When I finally got my “good camera” I dove so hard into anything and everything that would make me better and this journey a bit easier. I’m not sure if I was first drawn to Shana’s accent or her work but either way I was instantly mesmerized by her romantic edits. I started following her immediately and quickly learned she’s equally as talented at capturing seniors and families. Shana led me to Maria and gosh when confidence meets talent there’s true magic! I wasn’t sure what to expect at my first workshop, but I knew if they were there I had to go. True to internet form they are an open (best seller) book. So giving of their time and talent I feel so lucky to be able to access them through Finding Magic. I’m absolutely certain that I have big things ahead of me this year because I have access to some of the best photographers, editors, and friends in the industry. “

–Catherine T.

I can’t truly express what testimonials like Catherine’s mean to us. It is like feeling a wave of electricity flowing through your body. It inspires us, pushes us to new heights, and makes us determined to be successful in my own business because we have to lead by example.

I want to tell you how it all started. How two seemlingly different women came together and decided to heed the calling to teach.

Shana and I met in the summer of 2016. I was honestly blown away by her talent and southern charm. How can you not fall in love with her? She is funny, kind, and so honest and direct you always know where she stands, and she doesn’t pull punches! I mean, she loves to tease me about my ADHD.

The truth is Shana and I are as different as opposites can be. But it works. We balance each other’s weaknesses and push each other to grow and succeed. When we met neither of us were teaching photography classes or workshops. Shana had just started implementing in-person sales and I was exploring a new genre.

Our first Finding Magic Workshop was one year later in October 2017, and it was at this time we decided to become official team mates.

Our first finding Magic Production: The Goddesses Shootout May 2017

I had a Facebook group “Finding Magic: Through The Looking Glass” and made the decision to shorten the name to Finding Magic. To be successful in photography you can’t just focus on the magic of photography, you have to find magic in business as well. There is a balance that has to happen where artist meets entreprenuar, and the advantages are tipped in your favor. Our group grew to a little over 1000 members. At this time we really had no posting or engagement plan, and try as we might, we just couldn’t get enough interaction on the site.

In March of 2018, the Finding Magic Subscription site launched, and I steadily added to the video library. Before I knew it, I had produced over 100 videos to the site. I focused on a lot of editing and added both English and Spanish videos. Through the year I began touring all over the United States presenting photography workshops in both languages. It filled me while also destroying me. I would be away from my family for weeks at a time, sometimes traveling twice a month. It began to affect my client work and soon I felt burnt out. I couldn’t find a balance. Desperate for change, I announced that I would no longer be teaching on the road. I would still offer online education and in person mentoring in my studio, but the travel had to stop. You see, in giving to others I was putting my family, my business and myself on the back burner.

In 2019 Shana told me she was ready to join the Finding Magic Education Site. We added her tutorials and devised a plan to reignite our group. The two of us have spent the last two years studying marketing, investing in business education. Because of this, we felt more confident to discuss it with others. Finally, we’re in a place within our business where we feel confident in helping others find that confidence for themselves. The most exciting thing for me, was being able to once again unite with Shana in a teaching adventure. I would still get to teach without traveling! This meant I wouldnt have to chose between my family, clients or teaching.

You see, before then we were still evolving as business owners. Now we are ready to serve others and help you achieve all of your goals. What set’s us apart, is that we are scouring the internet for FREE resources to help you in your business and artistic goals. We reach out to other artists and business entrepreneurs who inspire us to achieve new heights. We feel that there is room for all of us to rise. We want to wear business hats, and use these before our artistic and emotional hats. Because it is hard to be a business owner, and it is hard to be an artist. Finding the balance between emotion and sound business decisions will always be the struggle. We can do it togther.

We will feature you, your art and your business in the group and we connect you to our audience of over 2000 photographers. We are YOU. Together we can find the magic that sets us apart in the world of photography and business. We can find the inspiration, the encouragement, and the drive to move forward. I hope you continue to join us on this journey and that you contribute to our community.

-Maria

5 Reasons Why You Aren’t Booking Your Mini-Sessions

Mini-sessions. It seems every photographer is offering them. They can be a great way to attract new clients. However, many photographers struggle to book their mini-sessions and can’t seem to figure out why. So how are some photographers super successful at booking mini-sessions and others fail miserably? Here are 5 possible reasons you why you aren’t landing mini-session clients:

Your marketing sucks. Some photographers simply create a Facebook post about their mini-sessions, share it a few times, and the marketing ends there. While using Facebook to market is fine, it cannot be your only way to spread the word. First of all, there is a whole pre-launch phase that needs to take place before you ever even announce your mini-sessions. There are things you can do during this pre-launch phase to get your followers excited about your upcoming announcement. In addition to Facebook, utilize other methods of marketing. Definitely use your email list. An email list is your best avenue for marketing. Post on Instagram and Instagram stories, make a few Facebook live videos, and market in your Facebook group. Consider partnering with another business or donating a percentage of your profit to a local charity in order to gain interest. Reach out to friends and family and ask them to help you share the word.

You aren’t creating a sense of urgency. Your mini-sessions should be limited. In your marketing, be sure you emphasize that only a certain number of mini-sessions are available. You want people to have FOMO (fear of missing out).

Your mini-sessions are too cheap. Aren’t mini-sessions supposed to be cheap? Not necessarily. If you price yourself too low, then that gives people the idea that you must not be skilled in your craft. Think about it. If you see a product that is “on sale” for a price that is too good to be true, aren’t you skeptical?

You offer mini-sessions too frequently. Mini-sessions should be an exclusive event. If you are advertising mini-sessions constantly, you may come across as desperate, salesy, or unprofessional. Plus, if you are constantly offering mini-sessions, why would anyone ever need to book a full session?

There is nothing special about your mini-sessions. Give clients a reason to book your sessions besides just price. Seek out a unique theme for your sessions. Offer a special product with your mini-sessions. For example, if you are doing mini-sessions around the holidays perhaps you could offer a Christmas ornament.