Lemonade Issue 4 - April 2012
and
lenses
Image Š Jessi Field
I am beyond words as I finish up our fourth issue of Lemonade and Lenses and our first that will be available in print. I am almost so beyond words that I just might cry. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be publishing a magazine. I am a horrible writer and speller. In everyday life I can’t even talk right and here I am getting ready to send the fourth issue of L&L off to the printer. The printer! Wow, now I am crying. In a few days I will have in my hands the product of so much hard work and determination. As I sit here and read over all the knowledge that is shared and all the talent that radiates out I am reminded why I love this industry and why I love my job. The last few weeks have been a little stressful behind L&L lines. Amazing and helpful photographers, like the ones who contributed to this issue, are a reminder of what Lemonade and Lenses stands for: kindness. They are also a reminder of what Lemonade and Lenses stands for, kindness.
I am more then honored to present to you our fourth Lemonade and Lenses issue.
Enjoy, read and be inspired. - Lexi
contents 2 3 7 15 33 39 53 59 75 83 95 WELCOME NOTE
lexi vornberg
CONTENTS & CONTRIBUTORS
what's inside
REVIVING CREATIVITY AND PASSION FOR YOUR CRAFT
natalie hathaway
INDIAN
hunter leone
BENEFITS OF A PRE-SESSION CONSULTATION
lindsay horn
A PINTEREST SHOOT
angela richardson
CUSTOMER SERVICE
courtney delaura
MARYKATE + JIMMIE
stephanie panagopoulos
10 TIPS FOR MARKETING YOUR BUSINESS meghan aileen
BOUDOIR BEAUTY
nicole cook
HELPING RWANDA
jenny sager
Cover Image © Angela Richardson Model : Sarah Davis Hair/MUA : Alexandria Ford Stylist : Angela Richardson Back Image © Donna Bukalders
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Image © Courtney DeLaura
contributors LEXI VORNBERG
STEPHANIE PANAGOPOULOS
creative director & co-founder
featured photographer
KIMBERLY TESKE FETROW
NATALIE HATHAWAY
editor
guest writer
ANGELA RICHARDSON
LINDSAY HORN
featured photographer
guest writer
HUNTER LEONE
JESSI FIELD
featured photographer
featured photographer
COURTNEY DELAURA
JENNY SAGER
guest writer
guest writer
SARAH CORNISH
NICOLE COOK
featured photographer
featured photographer
DONNA BUKALDERS
ANNE SCHERRER
featured photographer
featured photographer
SIMPLY ROSIE
MEGHAN AILEEN
featured photographer
guest writer
contact WEBSITE lemonadeandlenses.com
E-MAIL lexi@lemonadeandlenses.com
FACEBOOK facebook.com/lemonadeandlenses
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Image Š Sarah Cornish
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Reviving Creativity and Passion for Your Craft In recent months I found that my work was not inspiring to me, and I started questioning what was setting me apart from the rest of the pack? With the influx of photographers coming into the industry, how am I going to differentiate? I was so busy with sessions, using the same “go to” poses, and having a “just get the shot” mentality, that my work looked like a lot of my competitor’s work. My passion and drive were focused on getting the job done and getting the bills paid. My photography got lack luster and my In truth, when I was lying in bed at night, I creativity became stagnant. wanted more than that from my photography career. I AM an Artist; I AM creative, people LIKE LOVE the images I make that are outside of the box and creative. New clients quickly forget the example image they showed me and asked me to recreate, and choose images that are inspired by their child’s unique personality instead of a Google search. Let a little thing inspire you then make it happen. For this session, I was inspired by one little crocheted pirate hat! I picked it up at a local boutique and the wheels started turning. I thought, “How cute would it be to photograph a little boy in a bubble bath with this pirate hat? No wait! In a bubble bath in a claw foot tub! Now if only a client with a little boy and a claw foot tub would book an appointment… WHY WAIT?!” So I extended a call out to my FB fans. “Looking for a fab bathroom with a claw foot tub. Anyone know anyone?” APRIL 2012 | 7
Images and text Š Natalie Hathaway
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Within a day, I had a call from a friend/
After the session, I realized I was stalking my
client with a sister-in-law who’d just remodeled her own Facebook posts and web galleries. I found myself bathroom with a gorgeous claw foot tub. I excitedly going back time and again to see if the images lost told my friend of my vision and she procured her cute their luster. Every time, I fell back in love with them. little nephew, the perfect subject for my idea! Before If I was in love with the images, how could my clients the idea faded away into my journal, we packed up not be? All the thoughts and visions I poured out and headed over on my off day for a session.
on paper or dreamt about were right in front of me because, as Seth Godin suggested, I “poked the box.”
The beauty of this session was that I had full Take initiative, make a move and see what happens.
creative control and there were no expectations. Mom If you don’t, nothing bad will happen, but neither wasn’t even there! We played until the little guy was as will something great. Don’t you want to be the one to wrinkled as a raisin and I got to exhaust every camera create something great? angle, lens, perspective and prop I brought to create new work I was excited about.
The best way I have found to stay fresh and innovative is to try new things on my own time. Don’t wait around for the perfect client and model to use for an idea you wrote down a few months ago and then have to try and convince them why your brilliant idea will work for them. Seek your subject out and do some creative exploration without the pressure of needing to “get the shot” for a paying client. Gift them a few prints and post some awesome new work on your website to encourage clients to book you for sessions that you love creating. This will help you stay true to your style and is an important practice to keep your work from getting stagnant. When the pressure is off you can freely create and be passionate about your work. ~ studionphotography.com
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Image Š Hunter Leone
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indian
My name's Hunter Leone and I own Three Nails Photography. I honestly kind of fell face forward into photography and didn't really ever have a chance to look back. I'm only 20 years old and have been doing photography for only 2 years. It all started when one of my good friends needed senior pictures for the yearbook, so she asked me if I could take her downtown and just snap a few in front of some brick walls, so I reluctantly agreed, grabbed my girlfriends hot pink point-and-shoot camera and headed downtown. We shot until the sun went down and when I got home
So, like I said, I never really had the opportunity to decide if this was something I really wanted to do. But I wouldn't trade this job for anything, it gives me the opportunity to allow people to go to places that they had only dreamt of going. This shoot is a great example of that, this is my little nephew Samuel. When I asked him what he wanted for his 3rd birthday, his response was to be an Indian. I left his house and began to plan the day that he would get that chance to be an Indian, I ordered a huge indian head dress, bought over 200 feathers, and made him wings. I brought him
I began to edit them using picnik.com. I was pretty to the location and set up his teepee and then took 5 impressed with my first shoot so I decided to put them steps back, giving him the opportunity to be what he on Facebook, from that moment on the emails, phone had dreamt of being, a real life Indian. calls, and Facebook messages haven't stopped. ~ threenailsphotography.com
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Images and text Š Hunter Leone
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Images and text Š Lindsay Horn
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benefits of a pre-session consultation When I first started my business, I quickly learned that one of my favorite parts of the job was building relationships with my clients and creating an experience that was personal and unique for each of them. I found that I enjoyed the service side of the business almost as much as shooting, and I’ve worked very hard to make truly personal service a cornerstone of my business model. One of the most important changes I made was including a pre-session consultation in the client’s home as part of each session, and it had a lasting impact. The consultation sets the tone for our entire experience together, and I’ve seen it pay off in so many different ways. BREAKING THE ICE I specialize in high school seniors, but one of the most difficult things about working with clients of any age is gaining their trust and getting them relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera. The ability to meet with a client face-to-face before the session has almost completely eliminated the awkward nervousness that used to rule the first 10-15 minutes of a session. By the time the session rolls around, we’ve already spent time together and they know what to expect from me (and vice versa). I believe that beginning to build this relationship before the session helps me achieve the very natural personality-infused images that I strive for. DESIGNING THE PERFECT SESSION When discussing the consultation with clients, I often refer to them as “design” sessions. That’s
exactly what they are – the opportunity for us to sit down together and design the perfect session for them. Before the consultation, I have each client fill out and submit a questionnaire so I can learn more about them and arrive at the consultation with some ideas ready. This helps keep the meetings running efficiently (usually around 45 minutes), and it gives me time to do some brainstorming. The first thing I like to do at the consultation is decide on a location. I feel the location really sets the tone for everything else, and it’s the one aspect that clients have already thought about, at least in general terms. My iPad has become an invaluable tool in this endeavor. I use an app called Portfolio for iPad (ipadportfolioapp.com/), and it is an amazing resource (see iPad 1 image). You can customize the branding and organize galleries, each with a rating and sorting system. I’ve loaded about 300 images from previous sessions to showcase every location/area I’ve ever used for a session, which also feature different seasons, various props, etc. Using the app, I’m able to tag the images with keywords for sorting purposes. I’ve tagged each image with the exact location, the season and month it was taken, any general descriptors of the type of location (urban, natural, country, etc.), any standout features of the location (lake, bridge, creek, etc.), and any props used, mine or the client’s (see iPad 2 image). If I have specific ideas about an exact location for a client, I can pull it up and show them. Or if I want to let them browse a genre to get a feel for what they might like, I can pull up every location fitting that genre instead. I can also show them what different locations look like at the particular time of year we will be shooting. As you can imagine, this is a wonderful visual tool to make sure that we are on the same page. Of course, I’m always on the lookout for new locations, so if we don’t select one from my list, I can at least get a feel for what they prefer and what 34 | APRIL 2012
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they may want to avoid. I also use Portfolio to show them different props that are available (chairs, suitcases, etc.), as well as examples of items of personal significance that past clients have incorporated into their sessions. Wardrobe is such an important part of session preparation, and one of the biggest benefits of doing a consultation at the client’s home is having direct access to their clothes. I’ve had some clients who have literally let me pick through their closet and style them myself, and others who have their outfits all ready for me to look over and approve or make suggestions. It’s a wonderful value-added service – wardrobe is
measure wall space or other wall portrait sizes. This allows me to pre-design certain items to present at the ordering session or in their online gallery. It can also affect how I shoot a session. If I know a client wants an album, for example, I will shoot a little differently. Again, it’s all about creating images and final products that fulfill each client’s unique wants and needs. I also direct them to an online product catalog and an ordering planner (both available at Beyond the Shot: http://store.beyondtheshot.net/) to reference as they start thinking about their purchase. As you can see, an in-person pre-session consultation can benefit so many aspects of your client
the thing that clients seem most uneasy and nervous about. I also have my trusty iPad ready if they want to see examples of well put-together wardrobe selections. I always take the opportunity to snap some iPhone images of their outfits so I can plan out the flow of the session itself and be thinking about which outfits would work best in each spot I have picked out.
interactions. Not only does it help you customize the session for each client and allow you to create the perfect images and products for their needs, but it is a service that adds so much intangible value to the experience that each client gets with you. In a referralbased business like photography, the added buzz can be worth its weight in gold. And don’t fret, if you are too far away to meet in person, Skype is a wonderful tool to utilize so you can still get that in-person feel!
PREPARING FOR ORDERING The last portion of the consultation is spent looking over all of my product samples and preparing the client for placing their order. It’s never too early to get your clients excited about their final products! I have a sample of absolutely everything that I offer because I’m a firm believer in the “you can’t sell it if you don’t show it” philosophy. I recently purchased a great rolling bag that I use to transport everything and I also have a large 30” portfolio for wall portraits and storyboards. I use this opportunity to talk about the different options and gauge their interest level in specific products. I find out important information like whether they purchased graduation announcements from the school or whether they want to “match” an older sibling’s wall portrait if I didn’t photograph them. I always keep a tape measure with me so I can APRIL 2012 | 37
BIO Lindsay Horn owns and operates Lindsay Horn Photography located in Dallas, Texas. She specializes in senior photography and loves creating fresh and unique images that show both the inner and outer beauty of her clients. She is also a co-founder of Wardrobe Wednesday, a wardrobe inspiration site for photographers and their clients. She has been married to her best friend for 8 years and has two beautiful daughters. ~ lindsayhorn.com lindsayhorn.com/blog facebook.com/lindsayhornphotography twitter.com/lhorn_photo facebook.com/WardrobeWednesday
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My model was a senior high client from last year. I had so much fun at her senior shoot and knew I wanted to work with her again so when I decided to do this shoot, she was my first call. Not only is she stunningly beautiful, she also has a magical closet! I created the outfits by taking items from her wardrobe and then adding in some touches I had picked up from Anthropologie. My makeup artist, Alexendria Ford, then pulled it all together with beautiful hair and, of My name is Angela, and I am a wife, mom, course, the perfect smoky eye. musician, and portrait photographer based in Dallas, We only had about two hours to shoot, so I Texas. Art and creativity are essential to my life and I love sharing that with others. Photography has could not have done it without the assistance of my been a way for me to combine my love of vintage and sweet sister and friends. With a race against the fading sun, they helped get the scenes set up so I could get as appreciation of modern into timeless art. many shots in as possible (because putting together a Some other things that I love are... - my amazing husband and adorably crazy little girls garden from scratch and hanging lamp shades from trees is not a quick task). - leading worship This shoot took a lot of time to put together. I made - my loud, large, wonderful family initial sketches first and then as I planned each scene - vintage chairs I created my list of ‘to do’s’ and from there created - anthropologie looks at target prices and shopped accordingly. It took a while to find all - a good pair of jeans the right pieces but in the end the work was creatively I adore pinterest, perhaps a little too much. I worth it for me. I always like to start the off the year have to use it as a reward for staying on task with work with a personal project to invigorate and get me ready or else I would spend hours upon hours pinning and for the coming months!
a pinterest shoot
searching and dreaming over the amazing-ness on there. To me, pinterest is a dream world, a world in which everything is perfect and pretty and organized and amazing and, well, our ideal. I wanted to do a shoot to capture the essence of what it is to me. To start, I chose white as my thematic element because in my pinterest world I would wear white every day (in my reality my three year old still thinks I am her napkin, so hence no white). From there, my goal was to highlight some of my favorite things from pinterest: beautiful hair, amazing eye makeup, crafts, and some whimsy. APRIL 2012 | 39
If I lived in a pinterest world I would...awake each morning with beautiful hair and the perfect smoky eye....plant glass pebbles in my garden and from it would grow beautiful things to adorn my house with...have a tree from on which vintage lampshades would grow and I could cut them down whenever I pleased. ~ amrphotographystudio.com amrphotographystudio.com/blog pinterest.com/amrpstudio/
Images and text Š Angela Richardson Hair and MUA : Alexandria Ford Model : Tyler Spearman Styling : Angela Richardson
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Images and text Š Courtney DeLaura
Customer service
IT'S JUST A BOTTLE OF WATER Give a little and you will receive a lot in return. I know I am really hung up on the examples in this article but sometimes examples are the quickest way to prove a point. I saw the grand opening signs for a week each time I would drive to work, a new little store down the street from my studio. One day I had a few minutes to spare and thought I’d just POP in super quick. The minute I walked in the clerk offered me a bottle of water. I hesitated; I was just stopping in super quick to check out this new business, did I have time
No matter the industry, profession or business, somewhere along the line we have customers. There has to be an individual or multiple individuals that pay you. Those ‘customers’ are what we are talking about in this exclusive Lemonade and Lenses article. Here are 5 tips that can be accomplished in around 5 minutes that will increase your level of customer for a bottle of water? I accepted the offer and ended service. up staying in the store for 25 minutes longer then I initially planned and I made a total impulse purchase. SHORTY YOU DA BEST! Customers like to feel as if they are your BEST It was just a bottle of water. However it truly made me customer, like their purchase and support is what you feel like browsing longer, chatting with the clerk more, live for. I know this because I like feeling that way and it lead me to purchase that item. What could be when I shop or purchase something. Example; There your bottle of water? How about giving a sample of are two boutique clothing stores in town that carry your BEST selling product. Are you an online retailer? stuff I just LOVE, I’ve shopped at each store lots of If so what does your packaging look like? Does your times. In fact one store is in the same retail complex as client feel as if they are opening a present from a close my office, so I see the employees on a daily basis. The friend when your items arrive in the mail? Find your store that is located next to my office is Boutique A. bottle of water and give it to every single customer or When I walk into Boutique A, the college girl behind potential customer. the counter gives me a smile, a quick hello and goes back to what she is doing. It’s not bad customer service but doesn’t make me feel all warm and fuzzy. Boutique B is awesome, the employees are super friendly, the store manager always says, “hello, it’s so good to see you!” She then brings up something personal about me that I can’t believe she remembers. That, my friend, is OUTSTANDING customer service and it didn’t cost Boutique B a single penny. Not all of us have retail space, or come into direct contact with our customers, but we all should strive to make our customers feel important and known.
SAY THANK YOU! It’s simple, it’s quick and it is very effective. Say thank you to your customers and say it in a unique way. I am not recommending you mass email your entire customer database a ‘we appreciate your business, thank you and here is 10% off!’ postcard. There is a time and place for appreciation sales and promotions. What I am getting at is a genuine THANK YOU to those customers that make your heart sing and your business grow. Sit down and choose your top 10 favorite clients from the past year, write them a note. 54 | APRIL 2012
Yes, hand write a little beauty and pop it into the mail. Host an ice-cream social at your favorite trendy new ice-cream shop in town. How about offering your clients a photo 101 class or a facebook profile party, there are so many ways to show your appreciation. SET EXPECTATIONS AND EXCEED THEM! Customer service isn’t all about giving gifts and smiling. Customer service is also about delivering on your promises. Creating profitable business policies will enable you to deliver excellent customer service. You must take it a step further by making your customer aware of your policies and you must adhere to them. Business policies aren’t only in place to protect your bottom line they are also in place to educate the customer. If your policy is to turn an order around in 7 days, well then you better turn it around in 7 days. You can take your customer service to the next level simply by exceeding your customer’s expectations. Please be sure the particular expectation you are exceeding isn’t hurting your bottom line. When writing your policies and procedures make sure you give your self a little room, or a buffer, if you will. Do not paint yourself into a corner by publishing a policy that will be stressful to implement. For example the 7-day turn around policy. Ask yourself, "Will it be a breeze to turn the order around in 7 days or will I be stressed from the second the order is placed?" Add a few days to the policy and strive to complete the job early! So sit down for 5 minutes and jot down 5 business policies that will help you stay on track and will give you a strong foundation to build excellent customer service on.
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STEP OUTSIDE AND PUT ON GOGGLES! Do you have a pair of customer goggles? You know what I mean; do you have the ability to view your business from the customer’s point of view? It’s simple and very effective. Look at your business with a fresh set of eyes, what would you like to see if you were a customer of your business. Are the goggles too tight and you can’t fit them over your head? Then ask a dear friend you trust or a business mentor to give you a list of 5 things you can improve upon in your customer service. ~ peachtree-studio.com peachtree-studio.com/blog facebook.com/peach getschooledphoto.com/blog In-person order appointments make your heart drop into your stomach? Does online proofing make your bank account weep? Exclusive coupon code for YOU, Lemonade and Lenses readers, $25 off our Get Sales : order appointment training, which can be found at getschooledphoto.com in the store. COUPON CODE: LEMONADELOVE
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Marykate + jimmie
My main focus with my photography, is to first and foremost make people feel special. I know exactly what it feels like to struggle with self confidence. I know that feeling beautiful is such an extraordinary feeling, and that's my job - to make people feel extraordinary. By utilizing my love for fashion photography, soft natural light, lots of colors/ textures, and also my dance training background - I am able to give a one of a kind session.
This particular shoot was completely inspired
by the love these two share. It's some of the most genuine and real love I have ever witnessed. They wanted something fun, unique & completely fantastic. Every detail about this shoot fell into place perfectly for this couple. ~ stephaniepanaphotography.com facebook.com/stephaniepanaphotography Images and text Š Stephanie Panagopoulos
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10 Tips for Marketing Your Business Photographer and designer Meghan Aileen is the owner of Meghan Aileen Photography and The Shoppe Designs, Inc. After successfully growing her photography business from the ground up in the competitive Los Angeles wedding market with her mix of vintage and modern style, and designing for some of the most well known companies in the world over the last decade, she moved to Nashville with her family. She is now focused mostly on The Shoppe: an online store consisting of design templates, elements
that way whether we are aware of it or not. Picture this: you are driving through the city. You pass a place that looks to be a jewelry store, that says "We Buy Gold". The exterior needs to be painted, the sign is ugly, and there is nothing displayed in the windows. You keep driving. You get to a nicer part of town and see a gorgeous shiny sign in chrome and a fancy serif font with pretty blue boxes and ribbons in the window displays. These two places may very well sell the exact same jewelry. But which one would you feel more
and tools for photographers. Meghan shoots some portraits, and some commercial work for musicians as well. She has a new baby girl, 2 neurotic dogs and a husband in the music business.
comfortable spending money at? Which one looks like it is worth more? Clients will spend more money on what they perceive is worth more, and the first impression is your branding, it is what tells them how to perceive your company.
As a photography business owner, the two most important things you can do for your business is shooting and marketing. Many of us are great artists but marketing ourselves can be difficult sometimes. I wish we could just take pretty pictures and people would come wanting to pay us lots of money for them, but unfortunately as we all know there is a bit more to it than that! Here are some tips to hopefully help you along that path of shameless self promotion that comes along with being a commercial artist and business owner. BRAND YOURSELF This really is the most important thing you can do for your business in terms of marketing. Some people think, well my work should speak for itself, it shouldn't matter what my logo looks like or my website. My
I AM NOT DISPOSABLE This same concept extends to your marketing materials. This is what you are handing people you meet, and displaying at a local business or event, and this is how they will remember you and know who you are. You may be a bubbly, colorful, and talented photographer, but if your business card is on flimsy paper and you wrote out your logo yourself in Photoshop with whatever font you had handy, how will they know that? Give them something they will not want to throw away. It has to not look disposable. I know things like this can be expensive and when you are starting out that extra money is really hard to fork over. But it is worth it and we need to see it as an investment in ourselves and our business, just like
photos are all people need to see. While of course your photos are important, I think small business owners tend to greatly underestimate how much weight the public puts on branding. We as a society are trained
our gear is. The real waste of money is on low quality marketing materials, because then you are just paying to show yourself in a bad light, right? Paying less but still paying!
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Images and text Š Meghan Aileen
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GET YOUR NETWORKING ON Now it is time to put those marketing materials to use! Networking events are everywhere. There are events for local business owners: the Chamber of Commerce, associations for coordinators, if you do weddings -their events are great. Bring those marketing materials and hand them to anyone that will take one! Then just talk to people! Don't be afraid to talk to anyone. Talk to them about the food, the location, their outfit, something to just start a conversation and then work in what you do. You never know who you will end up becoming buddies with and how they will help your business grow.
ONE CLIENT, TWO CLIENT, THREE Look at every client you get as an opportunity to get more. Every person you photograph has friends and family and co-workers. Heck they probably have several hundred Facebook friends! Not to mention that people are much more likely to hire a photographer that came referred by someone they know. It also starts the relationship off better, I find, because they already trust me. There are many ways to do this and it does depend on what type of photography you do. One great way is to do a referral program. Let your clients know that if they refer a friend, and that friend books, they both get a free mini album, or set of thank you cards, or holiday cards. This barely costs you anything and on top of that, they both now have a product that all of their family and friends will see! You know mom and grandma will show that mini accordion to everyone they know. Don't forget: make sure your logo and website are on everything!
BE PATIENT Keep in mind these networking things are not always (usually not) instant results. But they do work. I have had people call me over a year later and say that they have the perfect client for me. And you know what ? They still had my 5x5 trifold promo on the pretty pearl paper! If what you give them is nice A TANGLED WEB WE WEAVE enough to make them not want to throw it away...then It's where we all spend a good part of our they won't. day…the internet. Sometimes I feel like I'm a little too addicted and I try to remember life without the THE BUDDY SYSTEM world wide web, but I can't. We all know Facebook is I tend to be shy at starting conversations so huge, and an amazing way to connect. Post a few shots this one is always hard for me. If it is hard for you, from every session you do on Facebook and make what you can do is take a buddy with you! Go to sure to tag your clients. The reason for this is two fold: networking events together and talk about each other. Your clients like to feel like you are friends, it makes It is so much easier to talk up someone else than them want to refer you more, like they are helping out yourself. I used to go to networking events with my a friend. The other thing it does, is have all of their friend who is a talented floral designer. She would friends see that they were tagged in your photo. This introduce me and say "Have you met Meghan Aileen? works especially well with bridesmaid photos because She is an incredible photographer." Sure beats me the bride will then tag all of her friends that are in the having to tell them how amazing I am! bridesmaid shot and all their friends will see too! Its such an amazing viral tool!
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TIS THE SEASON Everyone loves the holidays, and what do people do during the holidays? Spend money! If you are not giving them something to spend money on, you are leaving it on the table. And "holidays" doesn't just mean Christmas. There is Valentines Day, Easter, Mothers Day-- People love to celebrate stuff and photo related gifts are so personal and creative, and people love to give them! So don't deprive your clients of giving the gift of your photos, but they need your help with ideas. They won't think of it on their own. Send them emails with sales in plenty of time to get stuff ordered or do a special session just for the holiday. Then send another email for those last minute people. And as always, they are sharing your photos with their loved ones. OUTSOURCE Ok I know what you are thinking. If I could afford to outsource I wouldn't need tips on marketing my business! I know it is not easy. But in my experience it is really important to spend your time doing things that help your business grow. There are tasks that help it grow, and tasks that help it stay afloat. The ones that help it stay afloat are the ones you need to outsource where ever you can. Then focus your time on the ones that help grow your business. Some examples of staying afloat are: editing, accounting, album design, fulfilling orders. Examples of tasks that help your business grow are: shooting, networking, and client interaction. I learned from trying to do everything myself for years, that all it does is drain you and keep your business stagnant. Get out from behind that computer and let other people do what they are good at! Use design templates for your cards and albums instead of trying to do them yourself. Spend $50 a month on bookkeeping/accounting if it saves you 10
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hours (I'm really slow at bookkeeping). Is well worth the cost and you will see that money back if you spend that time shooting or networking. THE LOCALS Last but not least, get involved in your town! Go into local children's stores, offer the owners a free session in exchange for displaying your work in their store. Make friends with your florist and ask to leave some cards on their counter and take some of theirs to give to your clients. Whatever your market is, think about where they go and make sure your awesome marketing materials are there for them to see and take! The more people see your gorgeous CONSISTENT branding wherever they go, the more they will remember you and who are they gonna call when they need a photographer.you! ~ meghanaileen.com theshoppedesigns.com
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talent and creativity - exactly as it should be when a group of women work together! I loved every moment, and when I see Danielle's beauty radiating through these images, I'm happy with how we captured the look of a sweet, confident woman in love.
boudoir Beauty bou路doir noun: a woman's dressing room, bedroom, or private sitting room. It took me a long time to consider photographing a boudoir session. I'm on the shy side and just didn't think I had it in me. But after a lot of
Nicole Cook is a natural light photographer in Northern California, wife to her one and only true love, and mommy to their fun little boy. After years of working in a cubicle she found her passion outdoors, behind a camera. She mainly photographs women and teen girls, creating images that bring out their inner glow and make them look and feel beautiful. She's a
encouragement from friends, I decided to step outside firm believer that every woman should celebrate her my comfort zone, throw out my preconceived ideas of beauty with a gorgeous picture of herself! what it should look like, and create a boudoir shoot ~ that would reflect my style and vision. nicolecookphotography.com facebook.com/nicolecookphotography My goal was to create images that focused on a woman's beauty, not just her body. I wanted to show a woman who was sexy without being too revealing, whose confidence and sensuality came from within - whether it was a certain look in her eyes or the flirty way she played with her hair. I had an idea of photographing her as she was getting ready for her love to come home and envisioned her in a beautiful, romantic setting with soft, dreamy backgrounds and flattering natural light. She'd be doing her hair and makeup, talking to him on the phone, trying on lingerie, dreaming about him, waiting for him. When Danielle expressed an interest in doing this type of boudoir shoot, I was thrilled to make my vision a reality. Along with some talented stylists, I spent a day at a vacant bed-and-breakfast, moving from room to room photographing Danielle in different outfits and poses. Because we all shared a common vision, the shoot was a wonderful collaboration of 84 | APRIL 2012
Images and text Š Nicole Cook Model : Danielle Birum Hair : Noelle Lynne MUA : Jill Briggs Wardrobe Stylist: Betsey Lynne Style Jewelry : Molly Hills & Betsey Lynne Style
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helping rwanda
everything, each other�. The influence of 521 Ministries has remained valuable and life altering for many Rwandans.
Sometimes when I close my eyes, ideas begin to take shape. Sometimes these ideas come to fruition. How could I help? I was not in a position, This was one of those ideas. myself, to physically go to Rwanda, but wanted to give. As a single mother of a toddler, time and money are Afghanistan, Colombia, Somalia, Sudan, precious. Then I got an idea. A circus-themed photo Ethopia, Syria, China and many other countries are shoot for all ages. The proceeds would be donated to represented on a daily basis in my life. To know this 521 Ministries to take to Rwanda. is to know me. I am a settlement counsellor, helping refugees and New Canadians settle into their new Each photography session I have, I like to try communities. Prior to this I worked at a local family something new to help me grow as a photographer. I homeless shelter for many years. I am also a part- love fashion photography and the creative windows it time photographer. When I started my photography opens for me. This is not the main focus of my business business I wanted to make sure I remained affordable but the outlet I tend to enjoy the most. Incorporating to the everyday family. This was important to me. local talent with my photography is also a goal with I recognize, as photographers we all have target my shoots. On this shoot I had two fashion design audiences for our business, this is mine. students from our local college, an Oh Sew Baby design, a hairstylist and some volunteer face painters. To be able to unite my passion for helping Their talents enhanced the circus theme and through others and photography was elating. I recently a team effort we were able to have some fun and raise became aware of 521 Ministries and their planned trip some money for their worthy cause. to Kigali Rwanda in the spring and of the help they needed in fundraising. I myself have volunteered in ~ third world countries on two occasions and know the inphocusphotography.ca life altering experiences they can offer. Many know of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. In just three months an estimated one million people were massacred based on their ethnicity by their fellow Rwandan citizens. To this day ethnic tensions are nothing new to this country, and they continue. 521 Ministries has been to Rwanda several times over the last 10 years, they have witnessed the struggle of the people. It has taken Rwanda years to rebuild and for many of the survivors to look forward with hope. According to Heather Paton (521 Ministries member), �We invest in those who likely will never be able to pay it back. We are trying to break the cycle. We have funded a sewing school for the local women of Kigali to become entrepreneurs, and thus in turn their children, can attend school in the required uniforms and eventually be employable themselves. Though some of these families have next to nothing, they have APRIL 2012 | 95
Images and text Š Jenny Sager
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Image Š Simply Rosie
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Image Š Anne Scherrer Model : Gabby Stylist : Anais de Viel Castel MUA : Hannah Marsh