Success Looks Different for Everyone

Upon hearing the word 'Success,' what first comes to mind? Is it thinking about accomplishing that next goal or maybe thinking of success as a whole lifestyle? Having a particular figure in your bank account, a full calendar of jobs, exotic vacations, and a magazine-worthy home?

It can be easy to become lost in a single definition of success, that it can only look one way. You may beat yourself up if it doesn't seem like you fit that one definition. The truth is that success looks different for everyone, and no one's road to success is the same.

Sometimes, it's easy to forget that success is also a myriad of intangible things. For something so personal and influential to your mindset, you cannot allow others to tell you what success should be. You must realize and take to heart that nobody else can define success for you.

For one person, success is being a photographer full-time. For another, they love their full-time corporate job but equally lovhttps://julien-jeanne.fr/e photography, and they've figured out how to balance both. For some, it's thirty weddings a year. For others, it's one wedding a month because they want to spend more time with family. Success is not one size fits all, and that's a beautiful thing! There's room for everyone to be successful.

Think about what you want your life to look like and what success means to you. Is it a four-day workweek? Brunch every Sunday at your favorite restaurant after a wedding weekend? Is it traveling often? Knowing you're providing for your family through your business?

Success is not only big wins but little victories too. Don't discredit yourself because your success looks different than someone else's! When setting goals, make sure they align with your definition of success. Don't try to accomplish something just because everyone else is doing it if it doesn't serve your vision for your life. Know your why for your business and for every goal you set. Dig deep to discover what is truly important to you, and challenge yourself to view success through a new lens.

If you feel fulfillment, purpose, and happiness, you're succeeding! The road to success is not a straight shot but filled with twists and turns, ups and downs. The only map to follow is the one created by your definition of success on your terms. Enjoy the journey, and remember to stop and be grateful for what you've accomplished and what you know can be accomplished around the corner.

Curating Your Work

As photographers, we share our vision and artistry through our photos. A solid body of work resonates with your audience and effectively conveys your brand's keywords, message, and aesthetic.

Every image in a curated body of work should be strong enough to stand alone while also looking cohesive together. We know many photographers who struggle with curating their work, so let's dive in and discover the best ways to curate!

The how:

To build a well-curated portfolio, before sharing an image with the world, ask yourself if that image is consistent with your brand and if it strengthens it. Have a purpose for every photo you share! That level of intentionality will establish your brand, elevate your portfolio, and attract your ideal clients. Examine your photos and ask if it's the type of work that would draw those ideal clients. If it's not, ask yourself what it is about it that doesn't attract them.

After paring down through curation, it's crucial to arrange the selected photos in a way that flows cohesively. Take your viewers through a journey that is so visually appealing they can't take their eyes away. When pairing images together, consider the tones of the photos, the way the subjects fill the frame and add atmospheric/detail photos to break up the order of face after face.

The why:

We must curate our work to ensure the very best stands out instead of being lost in a sea of mediocre images. When you don't curate your work well, a potential client may find one of your phenomenal photos, which leads them to look at more of your work; but if the rest of your portfolio isn't as strong, they may question your consistency or lose interest quickly.

When you curate with your ideal client in mind, they'll land on your page and instantly connect with you and your work. Across the board, everything associated with your brand should be visually stunning. It shows we have a deep understanding of aesthetics and a skilled eye.

The results:

When your work is expertly curated and arranged, your ideal client will land on your page and immediately know that you're the photographer they want. They'll be excited to work with you, and they'll be able to envision their photos taken by you. They'll regard you as a master in your field and value your brand. From your website's "Home" page, they'll realize you get them and can meet their photography needs.

We hope this article helps you curate your work and make the best impression possible! If you found it helpful, save it to refer to later. We'd love to hear your feedback if it changed your approach to curation!

How to Elevate Your Client Experience

Today we're talking about elevating your client experience because they mean the absolute world to us photographers. When you enhance your client's experience, you're not only adding value to your work; you're making the whole process of having photos taken by you memorable.

Providing a unique and unforgettable encounter with your brand leaves your clients with more than just pretty pictures. When something is truly an incredible experience, we, of course, want to return for more and share about it! We've all heard the phrase "Go above and beyond" countless times, but how exactly do we do this? Here are some actionable tips and advice!

1. Reply quickly

We know just about every human being is busy, and your clients realize this too. When you respond in a prompt and timely manner, you're showing a deeper level of care and that they're a priority. Everybody appreciates it when they hear back quickly from a business, especially when they're excited to be doing business with you.

2. Answer their questions before they even ask

Addressing concerns or questions before they have a chance to pop up lets your clients know you're proactively thinking about them and establishes you as a professional.

Does their session location have tricky parking? Give them advice beforehand so they'll know what to expect when they show up! Did the weather forecast suddenly change? Explain their options and lay out a game plan.

3. Check in and let them know you're thinking about them

Most wedding clients book way in advance, so say "Hello" periodically to see how wedding planning is going. They'll appreciate hearing from you! Ask if there are any ways you can be of further service, and let them know you cannot wait to celebrate their day with them. If you're following them on social media, be sure to comment on any milestones or achievements they've posted as well!

4. Provide a keepsake on the day of their session

Remember Polaroids? They are such fun cameras and give you a printed photo instantly. Bring one along and take a few pictures with it that your clients can take home that very day. They'll be obsessed and will be telling all their friends about it!

5. Send sneak peeks

Your clients are beyond excited to see their photos, so send a little preview within the next 48 hrs. after their session while the energy is still high. They'll be impressed with the fast turnaround, and chances are they'll post it with a shout out to you on Instagram 😉

6. Give a little gift

If your clients were just the sweetest and most easy-going, show how much you appreciate them by sending a present. It could be prints from their session or wedding along with a handwritten note, a basket of treats, or even a candle from a local shop. Get creative!

Tip: If you have a sunrise session, send your clients a Starbucks card the day before with a note saying, "I know our session tomorrow is super early, so here's coffee on me! I can't wait to capture some gorgeous photos with you!"

It really is the little things, and by being intentional and thoughtful with every interaction between you and your clients, they'll see how much you care about them and the experience you provide. Clients want a phenomenal experience in addition to receiving beautiful photos — it's what will keep them coming back! Providing both will help you stand out in your market and build your brand.

Ready to put these tips to use? We can't wait to hear how you apply them!

Creating Goals

Today, we're talking about the importance of goals and how to set your own. Wouldn't you like to have some clarity or guidance for what steps you should take in your business? Goals light the path for what direction we need to be working. Having a vision helps you know if what you're currently doing serves that vision or if you should reevaluate.

When creating goals, remember they're specific and personal to each person. Take some time and think about what you want to achieve in your business or personal life and write it out. Don't think about other people's goals or what the industry says you have to accomplish. List all goals, then break them down into six-month goals, one year, three years, etc. We recommend keeping a physical list because it feels great to actually write a checkmark next to it or cross it off. Add the date you set the goal, then include the date when you accomplish it. It'll be fun to look back on!

Make some goals that you know you can eventually achieve, and have some that seem like reaching for the stars. A balanced mix is essential so you can see you're accomplishing things while pushing yourself not to play small.

Every goal is significant, no matter its scale. Sometimes it's accomplishing the little goals that put you in a position to achieve the bigger ones, so don't discount them! Going about and putting in the work or taking the risk to achieve particular goals can push you beyond your comfort zone, but it can bring about such rewards. Remind yourself it's an automatic no if you don't even try. It will help put things in perspective and give you the courage to take the plunge and do it!

Find joy in the waiting because accomplishing goals takes patience, especially as a business owner! Many things you may be working on take time to achieve, so the best way to play the waiting game is by finding something to be joyful about while being thankful where you are.

Celebrate every victory, no matter how small! It'll help you stay motivated, and you totally earned it. Accomplishing anything is a satisfying feeling and builds your belief in yourself. So, dance around the room, treat yourself to a cupcake, or whatever makes you happy, but please do celebrate every victory!

What are some of your current goals and things you want to accomplish this year? We'd love to hear from you and cheer you on!

Elevating Your Work

When we talk about elevating our work, our goal is to photograph something to appear more refined and high-end. Say you're photographing a 30K wedding. Elevating it would be capturing everything in a way that viewers would believe it's a 60K wedding. This approach applies to any photography, not only weddings. There are ways to elevate your work in every niche. How does one go about this? Read on because we're dishing out all the tips and advice today!

Curate what you show.

Go through your website and Instagram and examine everything. Do you want to get away from casually dressed sessions? Remove images that don't support a formal aesthetic. If you're in the process of rebuilding your portfolio, have a few photos you want to nail at each session/wedding in mind that doesn't include any of the elements you don't want to show. This way, you'll still have content from every job to share.

Pay attention to details.

You know the phrase, ‘The devil is in the details?’ It's true! You could have a gorgeous photograph, but a distracting object takes away from the photo. Yes, you could Photoshop it out, but it's better to get it right in camera and save time in the long run. Remove Apple watches or hair ties on the wrist and wallets or phones from pockets. When photographing tablescapes, move the salt and pepper shakers, butter dish, or anything else that isn't a decorative part of the table. Train yourself to develop a meticulous and editorial eye.

Up your posing/prompt game and step away from cheesy poses.

A beautiful setting and well-dressed subjects are lost if a pose looks awkward or facial expressions aren't relaxed. Body language speaks volumes, so understand the message portrayed in your frame. Strong posing isn't complicated but nuanced. Watch movies or music videos and observe how the people interact and think about what the director might've told them for that result.

Know your light.

Light is everything to photographers, and knowing how to utilize it well will instantly elevate your work. Thanks to modern technology, you can download an app to tell you where the sun's position will be at what day and time. How you light your work is entirely personal preference, but mastery shows in every style. Figuring out your favorite direction of light and amount of sun flare will establish your signature style.

Consistently deliver.

From photographs to editing and the experience, every detail associated with your brand should exemplify excellence and quality. Providing gorgeous photos and a memorable experience every single time will set you apart.

Applying all of the aspects we talked about today will help you take your business to the next level and strengthen your brand. We hope you take all of these tips and run with them!

Creativity is A Discipline

Sometimes artists think they have to wait around for creativity to strike, that creative genius is only possible when inspiration hits.

What if we changed our view of creativity and realized it's not as elusive as we once thought? Let's think of creativity as a muscle. The more you exercise it, the stronger it will be.

Think of it as playing an instrument. You have to set aside time to practice to become a good musician. There is a discipline to creativity and committing yourself to create. Don't wait to feel inspired before picking up your camera. Decide you're going to create something, and then those creative juices will start flowing. You have to show up for creativity to show up.

We've all experienced what it's like to go through a creative lull, but it's important to still put in the hours to grow in your work. For a time, challenge yourself to photograph something each day. Give yourself 15 minutes to mess around, and when the timer is over, if you don't want to continue, 100% ok. Practice styling and photographing flat lays, capture your family and the day-to-day, or a baking project or flowers. The discipline to creativity is deciding to create even when you feel unmotivated.

You never know what might happen, and you could make some of your favorite work! You may amaze yourself and wonder how you ever thought of it. Even when you're at your most inspired and motivated, the idea in your head is only an idea until you decide to act on it and commit to bringing it to life.

You can learn equally from your mediocre work as you can from the extraordinary. Let go of the idea that every single thing you make has to be phenomenal. Always be creating and learning. In the space you give yourself to create just for you, pay attention to what gets those creative juices flowing. Notice what you love and even what you don't. Ask yourself why you gravitate to specific artistic/aesthetic preferences and why you dislike others. Learn what works for you and what doesn't.

When we realize the simple act of showing up is half the battle, creativity meets us along the way. It should be a great comfort to know that creativity does not visit a select few and bestow upon them a multitude of original ideas. Creativity is available to everyone and is in infinite supply!

"You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have." - Maya Angelou

We hope this leaves you ready to go out and create! Did this change your view of creativity? We'd love to hear about it!