Stay ConnectedWelcome to The Bokeh Podcast, where we help photographers build sustainable businesses!
Host Nathan Holritz and his guests will help you build your brand, focus your marketing efforts, refine your workflows, and dial in your photographic technique – all with efficiency in mind.
In the end, we not only want you to succeed as a photography business owner, but to still have a life through it all.
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Copyright: © Copyright Photographer's Edit
Have you considered how important consistency is in your client experience?
In episode 207 of Bokeh Podcast, our hosts and special guest, Ashley Gerrity share five important principles that will help in creating routines for a better experience for your clients. Listen in as Ashley shares how her job at Starbucks prepared her to place importance on client experience, and how she adapted that concept into her photography business!
The audio from Workflow Wednesday episodes is from our weekly Facebook Live videos. Tune in live on Wednesdays at 2:00PM EST, at facebook.com/photogsedit
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Wedding and Portrait Photographer. You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on the Apple podcast app, follow on Spotify, add to your playlist on Stitcher, or listen on Overcast.
Connect:
January's Workflow Wednesday Theme: Client Experience
5 Important Principals for a Better Client Experience
1. Put you, first. The airplane oxygen mask method.
2. Create a productive workspace.
3. Put it on the calendar.
4. Set clear expectations from day one by protecting your boundaries & welcoming your clients into “their” time.
5. Focus on the client pieces.
Links:
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Are you offering valuable insight to your couples that explains the value and significance of a great wedding day timeline?
In episode 206 of the Bokeh Podcast, Lindsay Rozelle walks us through her process of building timelines that work specifically for her clients' big day. Listen in as she shares the questions you need to ask each couple so you can help build a custom timeline, plus the best ways to communicate the importance of your role in planning for the wedding day.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Wedding and Portrait Photographer. You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on the Apple podcast app, follow on Spotify, add to your playlist on Stitcher, or listen on Overcast.
Time Technique: Utilizing Dubsado to handle her workflows.
Book Recommendation: Living with Intent by Mileca Chopra - bit.ly/bp-livingintent
The Gear Bag: 35mm 1.4
Communicating the Significance of a Timeline:
1. Include your role in the timeline and planning in all marketing materials, events, and website.
2. Take advantage of the initial consult to determine what overall timeline they’re looking at and what types of photos they’ll need so they can let you plan the day. (Ex: Will they have a first look and receiving line?)
Initial Questions to Help Build the Timeline:
1. Will your ceremony and reception be in the same venue?
2. Will you have a first look?
3. Will you have a receiving line?
4. Do you want sunset photos?
5. Do you want a sparkler exit?
6. What are your priorities for the day?
Lindsay's Ideal Timeline:
First Look
Wedding Party Photos
Family Photos
Links:
Your I Do Crew - bit.ly/bp-idocrew
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Are you leveraging your bride's network of friends for the growth of your wedding business? Where there is a bride, there's typically a bridesmaid.
In episode 205 of the Bokeh Podcast, Quianna Marie shares how building trust and growing relationships with the bridesmaids at your weddings can help convert them into your clients. Listen in as she shares a few key ideas to help build that trust, while also creating a better client experience overall.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Wedding and Portrait Photographer. You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on the Apple podcast app, follow on Spotify, add to your playlist on Stitcher, or listen on Overcast.
Time Technique:
Stack your days with related tasks.
Give yourself buffer time to breathe and reflect between tasks.
Add an extra day to your work travel for vacation time so you can relax.
Book Recommendations: Magnolia Table by Johanna Gains
Brand Position: Focusing on the love between couples, but also helping people achieve the dreams the long for.
The Lesson: You can’t please everyone.
The Gear Bag: 50mm
Converting Bridesmaids to Brides:
1. Utilize social media before the wedding day by requesting wedding hashtags, commenting on photos under that hashtag (and the bridesmaids in it), and tagging the bride.
2. Blanket acts of service throughout the day by sharing mints, fetching waters, refilling champagne glasses, and helping anyone who needs it.
3. Offer "Prom Photos” for bridesmaid and their dates.
Tips for Engaging Wedding Guests: Offer access to the wedding gallery through a text opt-in. This will lead to more exposure and potentially more print sales.
Mentioned in this Episode:
Amy & Jordan Demos
Links:
instagram.com/quiannamariephotography
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Did you just come out of a successful busy season that left you struggling to keep up with every task you needed to complete? Don't let that feeling of overwhelm lead to burnout!
In episode 204 of the Bokeh Podcast, Laylee Emadi shares her own story of burnout and overwhelm, and how she managed to pull through. Listen in as she provides two poignant ideas that will enable you to avoid burnout in your business, so that you can keep growing and doing the work you love.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Wedding and Portrait Photographer. You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on the Apple podcast app, follow on Spotify, add to your playlist on Stitcher, or listen on Overcast.
Time Technique: Plan your time off yearly, monthly, and weekly to ensure you’re committed to taking time off.
Book Recommendation: Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown - bit.ly/bp-braving-wilderness
Brand Position: I work to empower, encourage, and build confidence in every client that I work with.
The Lesson: If you’re not including yourself and your needs in the plans of your business, it will overrun your life.
The Gear Bag: Sigma Art 35mm
How to Prevent Burnout:
1. Re-evaluate your why.
2. Learn to identify reg flags so you can put action into play.
Links
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Have you ever considered how much work goes into the business of other wedding vendors, and how you can work with them to create a better experience for your client?
In episode 203 of the Bokeh Podcast, Jacqueline Malocu, makeup artist and owner of Beautiful Dream Team, discusses what she wants photographers to know about makeup artists. Listen in as she shares about the importance of collaboration, and how working with other vendors like they're your teammates can build a better client experience.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Wedding and Portrait Photographer. You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on the Apple podcast app, follow on Spotify, add to your playlist on Stitcher, or listen on Overcast.
Time Technique: Make a plan for the next day
Book Recommendations:
Bible
Born to Win by Zig Ziggler: bit.ly/bp-borntowin
Leave Your Mark by Jay Williams: bit.ly/bp-leaveyourmark
Beautiful Dream Team’s Client Experience:
Create a vision w/ client and the other vendors on site.
The Lesson: Not everyone that you hire will do everything just as you do.
How to Collaborate Better with Vendors:
1. Introduce yourself & meet the other vendors.
2. Be empathetic about the timeline and what happened that was out of another vendors control.
Links:
PsyCosmotology: bit.ly/bp-psycosmetology
Reawaken the Giant Within: bit.ly/bp-reawaken
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Are you ready to take your side hustle to a full-time job, but aren't sure what steps you need to take to get started?
In episode 202 of the Bokeh Podcast, Nick Church shares the most important steps to prepare for a successful transition to full-time photography. Listen in as he shares the importance of planning, and how those plans can impact your business long-term.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Wedding and Portrait Photographer. You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on the Apple podcast app, follow on Spotify, add to your playlist on Stitcher, or listen on Overcast.
Technique for Time: Prioritize your task based on what will move your business forward.
Book Recommendations:
Productivity Ninja: bit.ly/bp-productivityninja
The Lesson: When you turn photography into a business, the photography aspect of it falls down low on your list of things to do.
The Best Investment for Nick’s Business: Facebook Ads
3 Steps to Going Full-Time:
1. Make sure you'll enjoy photography full-time and that running a business is what you want!
2. Develop an exit strategy!
3. Develop a financial plan that includes your projected income.
Links:
instagram.com/nickchurchphotography
Getting Things Done by David Allen: bit.ly/bp-gettingthingsdone
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Does the idea of moving to in-person sales intimidate you, when the industry has moved online? You're not alone!
In episode 201 of the Bokeh Podcast, Keala Jarvis shares how she moved to IPS, and the impact it has had on her business as an international portrait photographer. Listen in as she describes the three main fears most photographers have about transitioning to an IPS business model, and how you can overcome those fears!
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Wedding and Portrait Photographer. You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on the Apple podcast app, follow on Spotify, add to your playlist on Stitcher, or listen on Overcast.
Time Technique: Scheduling out all emails and social media.
Brand Position: International portrait photographer that creates unique artistic expressions of the individual or family’s soul.
The Gear Bag: Canon 5d Mark III & Sigma Art 50mm & Reflector
Fear Photographers Face with IPS:
1. Rejection
2. It takes a lot of extra time.
3. Expensive to start out.
Links:
Workflow Wednesday: Social Media: bit.ly/bp-161
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert: bit.ly/bp-bigmagic
Knightingale by Kristen Hannah: bit.ly/bp-knightingale
Kindle Paperwhite: bit.ly/bp-kindle
The *Poop* Sandwich: bit.ly/bp-poopsandwich
The Suttle Art of Not Giving an F: bit.ly/bp-notgivinganf
Jess Onesto: bit.ly/bp-186
Bobbi Brinkman: bit.ly/bp-146
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Are you going out of your way to create a safe, yet enjoyable space for your boudoir clients to be vulnerable in front of the camera?
In episode 200 of the Bokeh Podcast, Ore Adesina of Intimate Lens Studio goes into detail about how she helps her clients feel comfortable with sharing an intimate side of themselves with her camera. Listen in as she explains the different ways in which you can approach boudoir sessions for individuals and couples that will allow them to feel confident, beautiful, and comfortable in such an intimate environment.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Wedding and Portrait Photographer. You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on the Apple podcast app, follow on Spotify, add to your playlist on Stitcher, or listen on Overcast.
Time Technique: Make the best use of your available time and get organized with a programs and systems.
The Process:
1. Send out a questionnaire that helps understand what they are looking for, what they will wear, and what they love about their body.
2. Skype session to review their questions
3. Start with modest outfits and poses to get the couple comfortable.
4. Select outfits from the lingerie closet that match the style of the client.
5. For individuals, talk through the session. For couples, let them just enjoy each other, but guide them so that they’re comfortable.
Links:
instagram.com/intimatelensstudio
Photomechanic:bit.ly/bp-pm
Quickbooks: bit.ly/bp-quickbooks
Ira Glass: bit.ly/bp-iraglass
The Paradox of Choice: bit.ly/bp-poc
Camp Do More: domorephotographers.com
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Are you approaching your weddings and sessions with the mentality that you're capable of creating beautiful imagery, no matter the situation?
In episode 199 of the Bokeh Podcast, Colleen Bies shares how she takes on the mindset of an agency art director to ensure the images she is capturing reflect her brand. Listen in as she describes the role of an art director, how that relates to your photography business, and the four elements that will set you up for a successful session!
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Wedding and Portrait Photographer. You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on the Apple podcast app, follow on Spotify, add to your playlist on Stitcher, or listen on Overcast.
Book Recommendations:
The Gear Bag:
Art Director: Sets the overall style and vision for the project they’re in charge of.
4 Elements to be an Effective Art Director:
1. Prepare your client: Talk to your client about their artistic style and expectations for the day, including timelines.
2. Mindfulness: Paying attention to who and what is around you.
3. Resourcefulness: Use your knowledge to change things when they aren’t what you want for a shot in a room.
4. Take an Action
Links:
Episode 138: bit.ly/bp-138
The Second Shooter Workshop: bit.ly/bp-2ndshooter
Rising Tide Society: honeybook.com/risingtide
A Reflection on Laos: bit.ly/bp-laos
https://www.lowepro.com/us-en/fastpack-bp-250-aw-ii-lp36869-pww/
SKB Cases I Series 3I 2007: bit.ly/bp-sks3
Lateral Thinking - Creativity Step by Step: bit.ly/bp-lateralthinking
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Does being an international elopement photographer sound like a dream, but you have no idea what it takes or where to get started?
Let us introduce you to elopement expert, Rochelle Cheever as she shares about creating a powerful elopement experience for her clients and how a knowledge of international destinations can set you apart. Listen in as she provides the elements to creating an lasting experience that will be more than your clients ever dreamed.
The Bokeh Podcast is brought to you by Photographer’s Edit: Custom Editing for the Wedding and Portrait Photographer. You can also subscribe to the Bokeh podcast on the Apple podcast app, follow on Spotify, add to your playlist on Stitcher, or listen on Overcast.
About Rochelle: Rochelle Cheever is a destination wedding photographer from Italy, currently living in San Diego, California and traveling the globe to capture couples in love. For more than a decade she’s traveled the world perfecting the art of adventure and capturing exotic elopements and intimate weddings on camera. She blends the sensitivity of a portrait painter with the beauty of fine art photography, transcending the commercial and transforming your memories into a masterpiece.
Time Technique: Take advantage of work vacations: vacations that align with your work travel.
Book Recommendation: The Artists Way by Julia Cameron: bit.ly/bp-artistsway
Brand Position: Destination Wedding Photographer for Wanderlust Couples
The Gear Bag: Kontax 645 with 80mm and 58mm + Light Meter
Key Elements of A Powerful Elopement Experience:
1. Determine if their a good fit for your brand through conversation.
2. Listen to their story to determine the best venue for their elopement.
3. Connect them with the vendors in the area that you prefer to work with: planners, makeup artists, etc.
4. Become familiar with areas so you can make recommendations on the style that the couple is choosing.
Rochelle’s Book:
Italy, A Romantic Journey - rochellecheever.com/book
Coming January 2019: The Elopement Experience - rochellecheever.com/the-elopement-experience-ebook
Links
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