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I’M TOTALLY CRAVING SOMETHING SWEET!
It may have to do with the fact that I’m sooooo pregnant right now but let’s be honest, I can have a sweet tooth any time of year. Can you relate?
Which got me thinking about Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and how my bestie and I would actually drive to Mohegan Sun [the casino resort in CT] to stand in line for one of those amazingly gooey, warm treats, painted in liquid sugar.
[I once heard it takes two weeks for a Krispy Kreme Donut to work its way through your system but that’s just hearsay.]
My husband and I recently relocated from Boston to Charleston. Well apparently, Krispy Kreme started in the Carolinas and you can definitely tell. In some parts, these adult versions of Disney World are located on every corner! You would think they are what Starbucks is to New Yorkers. But when we were living in Boston? Forget about it! No Krispy Kremes. Until that is, Mohegan’s put one in. Sure it’s a two-hour drive but who’s counting?! [I’m kidding. We were in the area but really did pop into Mohegans just for the doughnuts.]
The point is, both of us were very excited to get to try a hot Krispy Kreme! Can you imagine what would have happened if we both ordered a doughnut and went about our morning, only to find out that one of us actually got a toasted bagel instead? Or worse…a cold doughnut? I assure you, it wouldn’t be pretty.
WHY?
Because we wanted a hot doughnut! When we saw that glorious red light come on, we were promised a melt in your mouth, gooey, confectionary delight of a dessert. Now, why on earth would you give one of us a hot doughnut and the other a cold one?
Were they worried that because we were friends, we might get the exact same thing?! Were they afraid that we would have found them out, that they are not unique; they only do hot doughnuts!!!
What if they just wanted us to realise they can be creative? They wanted us to know they can do other things, like a Doughnut Sundae?! [That’s a real thing by the way. It’s a doughnut with ice cream in the middle, covered in chocolate sauce.] I mean, that’s better than just a doughnut, right? It’s a doughnut but a creative one! One that goes over the top and gives you something special, something extra!
The problem is, that’s not what we wanted. It’s not what we thought we were getting. It’s not what that hot light advertised.
SOUND FAMILIAR?
How many times do you hear yourself selling a hot doughnut but trying to give a doughnut sundae instead? And if you haven’t figured it out by now, the doughnut I’m talking about is your customer experience, particularly posing.
The problem with running a business like a business, is that there HAS to be some form of consistency. A client has to be able to look at your website, be able to see what they are getting and then be confident that they, too, will get exactly what they ordered.
Being able to take an amazing photograph is great. But being able to do it over and over again [as boring as it sounds to you] is what sets you apart, builds trust and excitement in your brand and clearly communicates to your client what he/she will get.
Don’t you think there are doughnut makers who are sick and tired of making doughnuts day in and day out? That’s probably why they offer a doughnut sundae! It’s on the menu but they get it…the majority want a hot doughnut. They understand that to do one thing and do it really well, is the best way to be successful in business. Don’t get me wrong, you can do other things [Krispy Kreme does K-cups and now sells in the grocery stores too] but you need to start with a solid foundation. Otherwise, you confuse people and confused people don’t buy.
Still not convinced? Take a look at the list of brand names below. Do they have one solid foundation they are known for? Have they still been able to build onto it?
Arby’s
Chick-fil-a
Nike
Manolo Blahnik
Diane Von Furstenburg
Apple
Obviously, when working with people, every shoot will be a little different. But don’t stress about the fact that you have some go-to poses, especially if you’re offering a marathon session. You’ll need to be as efficient as possible. You can even create mini sessions around the same 3-5 poses. Then it’s expected as to what they’ll get, you’ll have a game plan and she may buy another mini session because she wants one of the poses she didn’t get in a previous mini session.
I may not recommend putting repeating poses side by side [like in the picture featured above] on your website, but it’s nice to know that when a client looks at my work and asks specifically for “this” pose, I know I can give that to them. Remember, it’s new to them.
I guarantee you that my friend and I both had a hot doughnut and didn’t have a complaint in the world that they were made the same way. It’s what we wanted. It’s what we bonded over and they each tasted as equally delicious.
THE BIG QUESTION FOR YOU…
Is your brand is consistent enough? Are your clients really sure of what they are getting when they hire you? Are you attracting the kind of clients you want to work with? Do they see enough consistency in your portfolio to feel confident booking or even contacting you?
If you said “no” or “I’m not sure” to any of those questions, you’re not alone. It wasn’t until I mastered posing and editing my portfolio to reflect my client experience [not my personal projects], that I saw a significant improvement in my business. I started booking more consistently and booked clients that I actually wanted to work with. I attracted clients who valued what I do, who wanted to pay me for it and who trusted me completely to give them that same experience.
And because I’ve done it [and because no two portfolios are alike] I’ve created a one-on-one program that will let me help you get results, no matter what genre of photography you focus on. Here’s a brief rundown of how I’m able to do this:
WEEK ONE – You’ll be given some homework so that I can learn more about your business. I’ll be reviewing your work, looking into your online portfolio, as well as evaluating your posing experience and what you’re really communicating to potential clients vs what you think you are.
WEEK TWO | THREE – We will schedule a one-on-one Skype call to discuss how you can better your posing, your portfolio and overall client experience. We will decide who you want as a client and design a plan for you to attract that person based on the portfolio you’re sharing.
WEEK FOUR – Following our call, you’ll have an assignment based on your individual posing or portfolio needs. You’ll also receive detailed notes from me about our call so that you can continue to implement any additional changes necessary beyond our time together.
WEEK FIVE – I’ll answer questions that come up during your assignment and review the changes you’ve made. You won’t be left behind after this course. Feedback and follow-up is so important to make sure you’re on the right track.
THE FINE PRINT:
I can’t be sure of when this offer will be available again. No really…keep reading. See, I love, love, love being able to meet and help other photographers. However, my primary focus is on running and growing my own business while working with my private clients.
In complete honesty, the reason I’m able to offer this now is because I’m taking some down time for the birth of our son! And I’m super excited to use this opportunity to finally be able to focus on you! Well, I’ll be focusing on him too, but because I have help, I’m thrilled to be able to do both! I look forward to getting to know you personally, supporting you through email, social media and one on one calls, as well as helping you really focus in on your business before the busy season takes over again.
SO WHAT’S IT COST?
There is a ONE-TIME PAYMENT OF $499. Yup, that’s just $499 for all 5 weeks!
WHEN DOES IT START?
So if this sounds like it’s a good fit, I would love to hear from you! And because I want you to get the most value out of this experience, space is definitely limited. So to join us… JUST CLICK HERE. Once your payment has been confirmed, you’ll be sent the course schedule, so you can plan around each week’s assignments. Don’t worry, aside from the one-on-one call, the course is meant to be flexible so that you can do each week’s assignments when you have time.
“I flipping love you, Shannon!!! You have such a knack for getting to the root of the issue or excuse. And you have a unique ability to see straight to the heart of someone and ask the right questions, which allows them the ability to actualize their goals. You are unique in that you don’t just answer the questions for people, you help them arrive at the answers which is much more powerful!” – BRITTANY
MONEY MATTERS
– Ever have a bride tell you they are not sure of their budget?
– Have a hard time getting an honest answer about money, even if it’s just a starting place?
– Have you heard more often than not, “I don’t really have a budget?”
…then watch the video below!!
“I don’t have a budget” will never be an issue again with this one simple tip for getting your brides to open up about money.
Don’t forget…for a limited time, you can save 80% and kick off the new year with 120 Marketing Ideas for just $30!! Use code market2017 at checkout. Click to BUY NOW.
Communicating correctly and quickly with your clients will give them a better experience, help them feel confident and allow you to work efficiently. Here’s a quick trick for doing just that!!
CLICK HERE FOR BOUDOIR POSES
“Great! But you know I don’t typically do commercial work right?”
That’s exactly what I thought when I got the call from the laser industry leader, Cynosure [owner of Pelleve], wanting to book me for a national beauty campaign. Sure, I have chosen to do selective commercial work but I don’t run or operate a full-sized commercial studio. I focus on runway, boudoir, portraits and products for designers [which are often photographed on set somewhere outside of the studio]. Because of that, I downgraded my space a few years ago.
Well, the lead graphics guy was AMAZING.
He understood how I worked and turns out he hired me because he could tell that my work was exactly what they were looking for. And thankfully, when he send over samples of what they wanted to accomplish, I thought “…this is right up my alley.” He actually does his job very well and knew that I was the right person for the job.
However, my studio at the time was more an office than a studio. It had two rooms, a small changing area and kitchenette [which was used mostly for storage]. I explained to him that I had a small space and he didn’t seem concerned…until he arrived that is. I don’t think he realised just how small it was! The shoot space was fine but they also had a 6 person team show up, not including hair/makeup or model, wardrobe and treatment bed. I had two options. I could freak out or I could embrace it.
Instead of freaking out about space, I opted to embrace it.
I realised that I can give them the one thing a large commercial studio can’t…a feeling of home. A cosy, intimate space to work from where they were all welcomed in such personal ways. Prior to the shoot, I contacted the receptionist at Cynosure and found out who exactly was going to be at the shoot and got a list of names. I ordered bagels and coffee from Panera Bread and set up a breakfast table in the back room. On the table were 6 individual thank you cards. Each card was hand written to each person attending. It simply said something to the effect of “Thank you for choosing Shannon Michelle Studios. If there’s anything at all you need throughout the day, please don’t hesitate to ask any one of our team members. We are looking forward to working with you!!” And then it had the one thing I knew everyone would need and want immediately. The WIFI name and password. It was simply about anticipating what they needed as well as making them feel welcomed. In addition [and once I had the list of names], I knew it would be crowded. As a backup plan, I arranged for me to be able to use the space across the hall from my office as sort of a second meeting room. Thank God I did! It was perfect for them to hang out, prep for the next shot, work on graphics etc. Then the only people in my space where the ones who needed to be there.
The final concern I had was that I don’t shoot live. I know that for commercial shoots, that tends to be super helpful but I don’t want to shoot boudoir live so I never invested in the programs or software. I thought about purchasing what’s needed to shoot live but quickly realised, this is not where I want to learn the software. Instead, between each set, I downloaded the CF card to my laptop where their entire team could select and edit the ones they wanted. This worked out fantastic!!! One of the things I don’t like about commercial work is the idea of an art director over my shoulder while shooting. So because they were set up in a separate room and they were editing and making cuts and decisions for the design right then and there! And because they were happy with what I was producing, they were not needing to micro-manage the shoot and they had most of the editing done by the time they left!
I really wanted to share this with you because so often times, we think we don’t have the right equipment or the right studio or we are not right for the job for some reason or another. And we stop short. I knew that I was right for this job. In the past, I would have come up with some excuse as to why I couldn’t do it or cut into my profits by purchasing things just for the shoot or renting a large space for the day and not charging the client for that because I felt inadequate. Don’t take on something that isn’t right for you but next time something comes your way, don’t say “no” because you’re afraid or because you don’t think you’re enough. Ask yourself how can you make this work. What makes you special? What can you offer that’s unique to your circumstance. It may be as simple as a few thank you cards!
“CHIN FORWARD”
It’s something you hear all the time in today’s portrait and boudoir groups. But models have been doing this loooong before it was ever popular among other genres, aside from fashion. There’s a reason it’s sticking around…it works!
I was at one of those weddings. You know, the one where the groom is a photographer friend of yours and the wedding photographer is a photographer friend of yours etc. So as she’s using me to test her light, she randomly says “do the thing.” I knew what she was talking about, so within a matter of seconds, I had my chin forward and face relaxed.
You’ve seen your clients do it but have you every tried this on yourself? Have your friend, hubby or child do a quick before and after. It’s crazy to see the difference between the two, side by side.
Photos by Jaclyn L Photography.
“What is this?!!”
I exclaimed as I was recently touring The Charleston Mattress Company.
I was stoked! I had just come across the answer most photographer’s who work in the city or have a small shooting space were looking for; a murphy bed. Yes, you heard correctly…a murphy bed.
If you’re anything like me, you hear the word murphy bed and you think gross, rat infested, overpriced NYC apt with a bed that comes out of the wall and may or may not be dangerous to your health. Well, this was nothing like that!
Check out the pictures below. Liz, the owner of The Charleston Mattress Company was kind enough to let me come back and photograph this for all to see. The display they have in store may be a bit small for your boudoir needs but I have been assured this is a custom made piece and can be ordered in a larger size. Of course, it would just be a bit taller than the one shown here.
What I love about this is that it is super easy to open and close and it looks stylish and modern!
I would definitely use this as shelf space to display my products on and then remove them for a shoot. Hang a wall portrait above it and you’ve got a lot of retail space in such a small unit.
This bed was custom made by Strock Enterprises and the mattress was built by The Charleston Mattress Company. They are a local, small business and have been building custom mattresses in the Charleston area since 1914! They take pride in providing quality and white glove services for all of their clients. They can ship nationwide so please consider reaching out [www.charlestonmattress.com] to them if you think this is right for you. I can’t imagine why it wouldn’t be!!
TIRED OF YOUR TOOTHY GRIN?
The truth is, not everyone has the budget for a perfect smile. Many of my clients tell me they don’t like the way their teeth look on camera when they smile big. This leaves them smiling with their mouths closed or not at all. And while you know I love a serious look, it would be nice for her to have a few photos where she’s actually smiling. And the more variety you can give her the better!
QUICKEST FIX: Smile with your teeth closed.
You ofter hear smile with your lips together or mouth closed but I bet you rarely hear smile with your teeth closed! Let your client know, it feels silly while you’re doing it, but it works. It won’t replace her busted grill but it will improve the look of it on camera.
WHY?
When you have gaps, crooked or crowded teeth of any sort, your teeth have grown together in a way that “works” for your mouth. When you smile big, your teeth generally separate and you can see between the teeth, showing off all that glorious imperfection.
WHAT MAKES IT WORSE?
The light that hits her face is not lighting the inside of her mouth. That makes those darker areas appear in her mouth and once again, contrasts against the crooked white parts of her teeth.
THE ANSWER
Smiling with your teeth closed gets even light to all her teeth, blocks “dark spots” from inside her mouth and because her teeth have grown together in that particular way [as imperfect as it is], they look “together” when closed. Once again….this will feel ridiculously “cheesy” and she’ll feel like she’s grinning like a fool. But give it a try, you don’t have anything to lose. Just reassure her, she’s doing it correctly and then move on to another facial expression. Mix it up so she’s not overly focusing on her teeth! 🙂
“THINK ABOUT KEEPING YOUR TEETH TOGETHER…AND THEN SMILE”
How do you make a mini session work? You’ve got to charge less and in exchange, give less service. Neither of which do anything to help your brand.
It’s one of the reasons I have avoided them at all costs.
I know minis are super popular with boudoir photographers but for me…it just seems like a lot of work for a little amount of money, attracting a budget client. But because I like a challenge, I thought…
“How can I make this work?”
Portraits [for me] are the easiest and quickest service to produce. Less shoot time, quick and easy to pose, less retouching and they make a great large wall portrait [lower costs]. If I was going to do a mini session, a portrait would make more sense. Which got me thinking…
Would a portrait work for a mini session? Why not!!
A mini session after all, is a great way for clients to try out your services before scheduling a full shoot. A portrait is a great way for them to experience the makeover, how you work, how you pose, retouch etc. Wouldn’t it make more sense to offer a portrait as a mini session and be able to sell a bigger boudoir shoot later?
Even better, use them to turn your exhisting client base into repeat clients!
Everyone knows that keeping a client is cheaper than getting new clients. But if we’re completely honest here, most women only do a boudoir shoot once or twice in their lifetime. Sure there are a few that may come back regularly, but that’s not the norm. However, if they loved working with you and you give them a reason to come back, why wouldn’t they?!
Themed portraits are the answer.
Come up with a theme [think the cover of Vogue magazine] to offer your clients!! It creates something special, creates urgency [limited to “X” number of appointments available], offers something that makes you stand out, helps to fill your calendar and gives you the chance to connect with clients…old and new.
To get started, here’s a top 10 list of ideas for creative, themed portraits:
1] Monocromatic [Makeup, wardrobe, background, lighting etc.]
2] 50 Shades of Grey [Black | Whites with black lipstick or bring in a prop lik a whip or blindfold.]
3] Smokey Eye [Feature your clients eyes with a dark, dramatic look]
4] Blown Away [Everyone loves a windblown look!]
5] Gatsby [Jewelry, fringe, black bobbed wig…]
6] Golden Glow [Glowing, shimmery skin, gold sequin dress, with makeup featuring gold tones.]
7] Peek-a-Boo [Gather all the masks you can and let your client choose one for her portrait]
8] Implied Nude [This is for the brave clients who want to try a quic boudoir look]
9] Cotton Candy [All things pink. Pink backdrop, pink lipstick, scandy on the lips maybe…]
10] Lashes n Lips [Bold, red lips and full, fun lashes]
Is there anything better than the holidays?!
Mugs of hot chocolate, twinkle lights, lots of yummy food with family and friends. And while this time of year can be a bit overwhelming, it’s an amazing opportunity to sell more without shooting more.
Every holiday season, I take the opportunity to put together a weekend promotion for clients I have worked with that year. You guessed it…the weekend after Thanksgiving: Black Friday, Shop Small Saturday and Cyber Monday. Loading up on gifts and stocking stuffers is a great excuse to order more from their already existing boudoir shoot!
I like to offer 50% off of canvas or leather prints but you can decide on what items and what price points work best for you and your clients. The majority of my clients already have albums and some have wall portraits but you can always have another wall portrait! And most of my clients won’t want another album. The other benefit of prints is that turnaround times are much more holiday friendly.
Sell more than just one print at a time.
If you choose to do wall prints or canvas prints, don’t forget to show a sample wall. Show groupings of three or more at a time. It’s a great way to visually share how your artwork looks best hanging all together. And what better time for your clients to take advantage and order at least three or more prints!
Don’t forget add-ons!
Things like photo playing cards [from Miller’s Color Lab] are great stocking stuffers. Small standout prints or acrylic cubes for your nightside table are fun as well!
The key to success with this is to make sure you are ordering something that has a quick turnaround time so that you can get them their gifts before the holidays. Make sure your lab drop ships so that you don’t have to deal with arranging studio pickup times during an already busy time of year. And make it easy for you to process all these orders. Order all canvas prints or add on items at the same time, drop ship and be done with it.
Sit back and enjoy a holiday cocktail because you are done, you’re clients are happy and you’ve made a chunk of extra money!! And don’t forget, this is a great time to remind your clients that you offer gift vouchers for the holidays!
LAST CHANCE TO SAVE.
Tomorrow is the last day of our fall promotion and your last chance to save 30% off anything in the Pose Pretty store! Click [HERE] to start shopping.
As a boudoir photographer, you hear a lot of a body image concerns. In fact during consultations, we often ask what concerns our clients have with their body. What do they want to show off and what do they want to hide etc. We hear the typical tummy, thighs, booty response; but just recently, I had a client say her least favorite body part was her arms.
I get that.
It might not be the first thing you think of hiding in boudoir since there’s a whole lot more to hide! LOL. But how many of your clients hate the look of their arms in pictures? After all, how many of you avoid sleeveless shirts for that reason alone?
No worries. This is quick fix.
Posing is a big part of what goes into creating a great photograph and I’ve learned a lot about posing by working with professional models.
You know as that whatever is closest to the camera appears the biggest? A simple fix for your client’s arms, is to pose them with their arms farther away from the camera than the other parts of her body.
[It’s easier than it sounds.]
So, if she is standing with her arms by her side, think about having a very slight bend in her elbows and push her arms back, keeping them just behind her hips. If she’s laying down with her arm across her body, just have her bend her elbow a bit so it falls behind her hip.
Don’t think hands on the hips; think arms behind the hips.
By keeping her arms just slightly behind her hips, her body is now creating dimension that wasn’t originally there. It gives the appearance of depth and you’re no longer on a single plane. Take a look at the models below. Sure they’re skinny, but every single one of them still has their arms behind their hips!
Left: Venexiana | Right: Monique Lhullier
Left: Monique Lhullier | Right: Naeem Khan
Want more help posing?
Click [HERE]
All photos © Shannon Michelle.