How I Set Up my Photography Business for Success
This post shares the single most important step I have taken to improve my photography business. Learn what it is and the woman behind the plan!
Las Vegas Newborn and Family Lifestyle Photographer
Fellow photographers, this blog is for you! "Never stop learning; for when we stop learning, we stop growing." I first read a short essay on this quote by Loyal 'Jack' Lewman about 10 years ago when I was at a teacher inservice. Normally, I would skip over these articles and go about sipping coffee, but for some reason, this quote really stuck with me.
Fast forward almost a decade later, I had taken a leave from teaching and started up a small photography business. As any fellow photographer will know, it is an evolving and steep learning curve when it comes to photography. Those first few years were filled with hours of video instruction, lots and lots of free shoots, teaching myself Lightroom and Photoshop, and an unhealthy addiction to buying newborn wraps and tiebacks. I was improving, but I still felt that I had no real personal photography style and definitely no business plan.
Welcome to the stage, Sabrina Gebhardt. Her lovely images first filled up my Instagram when she teamed up with fellow Fort Worth photographer, Jodie Miears from Reverie Photo Co. for a newborn lifestyle workshop. During that workshop, holy moly, my eyes were opened!! Here was this woman that made me feel so comfortable, forming a group of like minded photographers, and really truly wanting to help us and our business!! The session went great, and us photographers got a great hands on practice following Sabrina's lead. The best part though, was after. Myself and the other photographers from the workshop were in a private Facebook group and formed a small sense of community. We were able to ask questions and get to know each other a little. That was the first time I felt that I had another photographer or two to talk with. That in itself is worth it!!
Fast forward a few months, and Sabrina was offering a new course, The Organized Photographer. This course would cover everything and more that I desperately needed to know. How to set up a business, how to manage social media, what exactly SEO is and how to improve it. ALL. THE THINGS!! This course was a lifesaver and I highly recommend this to every photographer that is feeling a little lost with their business. However, this was more that just modules. My favorite part was getting to know the other women in this group. We were all in it together!!
You see, Sabrina has a knack for forming a community. During our course, she hosted Q&A's, Zoom happy hours, round tables, and more. After the past year, I now have photographer friends all across the country!! I cannot tell you how much I have gained since I first started learning from Sabrina. I now have a firm ground to stand on when it comes to running my business. I am growing as an artist, I have the confidence to try new things with clients, I have FRIENDS in the business, and I am continuing to grow personally into a better business owner, and wife/mom!
What to Expect at your Newborn Session
Five things you can expect at your newborn sessions and why you’ll never regret the pictures.
Not sure a newborn session is right for you? Here is what you need to know about newborn sessions and why you should schedule one for your family.
Nearly nine years ago, I was a second grade teacher living in San Antonio, TX. I was completely new to all things baby. So the morning of my daughter's newborn pictures was hectic to say the least. (sound familiar?) Besides trying to work around feedings and naps, I had so many worries. Would my baby sleep? Would she scream and cry the whole time? Would she pee or poop on the photographer or her blankets? Also, what do I wear? Will still look like I’m pregnant? Will my boobs leak? All. The. Worries. Well, in the end, baby slept, and stopped to eat, she did pee on a blanket, and my boobs did not leak. Success.
Now, after five years of shooting newborns, I’ve learned a thing or two or 2,907 things. As a photographer, my sessions are designed to be as easy as possible, and dare I say even fun!! Here are the five things you can expect at your newborn session.
I will come to you!! Yes, I shoot most of my newborn sessions at the client’s home. Your home is your happy place. It is comfortable, it is relaxed, it is familiar, and it is where you are making these most beautiful memories with your new babe. The rocking chair where you rock baby for countless hours and nights, that should be documented. The living room, where you first brought baby home, sat down, and said, “Now what do we do?” That should be documented. The baby laying in your pristinely decorated crib, that should be documented. And family pups sniffing new baby’s toes on parent’s bed, that should also be documented. These are the reasons I love to photograph baby at home. It’s all about connections and real life.
2. You will want to look back years later at your home, baby’s nursery, all the details. Your home does not have to be a magazine worthy home. TRUST ME! I will find the best room, the best nook, and the best window with beautiful light. Luckily, we live in Las Vegas, where sunshine is in abundance and most homes are filled with natural light.
3. If you have older kiddos, they will try to take the spotlight, and that is just fine! Yes, we are documenting baby, but part of that is this chapter of your family. That includes big brothers or sisters, and I guarantee that they will get a little special attention too!
4. Baby runs the show. This is their first photoshoot after all. We stop for eating, diaper changing, fussiness, anything that we need to. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever had a session that we didn’t need to stop so baby could eat. That’s their job so I will always pause a session for a hungry baby.
5. You will be PREPARED, because I will prepare you. Before your session, you will receive a prep guide that will go way in depth with what to expect and other aspects on how to make the session run smoother. Just know, your baby will probably get hungry, will pee and poop during the session, and may even throw up on me…trust me, they ALL do!
Overall, newborn session days can be the most stressful and tiring days. I am here to ease your nerves and give you a few less things to worry about. Your job is to snuggle your sweet baby and simply let me document this time in your life. Short and sweet.
Do you know of an expecting mom that may want to read this? Feel to forward this post!!