Sustainable Freedom with Boudoir Photography Podcast

051. How Tara Brown Hit Her First Six-Figure Year As A Portrait Photographer

Goal setting and using spreadsheets to visually see your progress can really help your business grow so much quicker. Tara Brown of Tara Brown Photography is proof of this. Last year was her first six-figure year as a portrait photographer.
But not just six figures in total, she hit $100,000 in total revenue by September. And for the entire year of 2022, she easily hit $150,000!
Saying I'm a proud photography business coach is an understatement.
Portrait Photographer from Seatle, Washington
Tara is a bit different than photographers I’ve had on Sustainable Freedom with Boudoir Photography in the past. She’s a portrait photographer specializing MOSTLY in seniors and headshot photography, with occasional events and other types of portraits as well.
What I wanted to do was bring her on here to celebrate her 2022 achievements. And they are definitely worth celebrating!
In this episode, we talk through the strategies and decisions she made in her business to make these achievements happen, as well as some cool things she’s been a part of in the past year. 
Here's a hint–Lululemon!
If you get just one thing from this episode, I want you to understand that her results are not only due to the strategy I gave her. These results are due to a combination of her work ethic, strategy, and her trust in the process.
If you’re dreaming of this kind of result in your own boudoir photography business, I want to invite you to check out what I have to offer on my website.
When you’re ready to dive in, DM me on Instagram, and let’s change your life and portrait photography business for the better.
For complete show notes with time stamps, make sure you head over to my websites at the links below. 
Relevant Links:Show notesMy InstagramCoachingTara's websiteTara's Instagram

050. Five Things To Do To Create A Safe Space For Your Boudoir Clients

Boudoir can give boudoir clients so much self-love and confidence–but it can also completely damage their self-esteem and even their mental health.
In this episode, I'm talking about the 5 things you can do to make sure your client's experiences are only positive!
Boudoir clients usually feel so great after a session.
Boudoir is such an important niche of photography. It gives women confidence, empowers them, and helps them learn to love themselves.
But, at the same time, a boudoir photography session can do a lot of damage to a woman’s self-esteem and mental health. 
But not always.
My good friend Andrea of Andrea Murphy Photography sent me this message a few days ago about a big win she had–that was due to another photographer's mistake–and it really hurt her client's confidence.
 “I sold my $8000 package this morning! This client had gone to this cheaper photographer, and although the pictures weren’t terrible, the gal had no idea what she was doing and made her feel fat and ugly the whole time. She said she cried all day the following day. But she wanted a redo and came to me and spent $8000.”
In this episode, I explain several of my own experiences with boudoir clients through the years– from body dysmorphia to eating disorders, and client's who just had a bad experience at other boudoir studios.
The five things you can do to create a safe space for your boudoir clients
Be very careful with your words
Learn to pose well
Learn your light
Shoot only what you want to show
Learn to retouch
Here's what I want you to know:
If you only get just one thing from this entire episode, I want you to remember how truly detrimental boudoir photography can really be to boudoir clients' mental health if you aren’t careful with the entire experience. 
Remember, women pretend to be strong, but our confidence is fragile. While a boudoir session can build it up, it can easily knock it down as well. 
Boudoir photography is a very intimate thing. Women are putting their trust, confidence, and, to be honest, their mental health in your hands.
Be careful with it.
Relevant Links:Show notesSession Prep Guide For Boudoir PhotographersMy Instagram

049. 3 Reasons Your Photography Market is NOT Oversaturated

Sometimes, there are so many photographers in your local area and not enough clients. 
In this episode, I will prove that your photography market isn't oversaturated–you're just marketing all wrong.
Most industries think they are oversaturated, too.
My studio's building has at least two dental offices, multiple accountants, and several therapists. 
And this is a good thing!
That means there's a need for what you offer in the world. Your job, now, is to go be the best at what you're offering. 
In this episode, I explain three reasons your photography market is not oversaturated. I talk about what to do if your town is too small to support your business. Then, I finish up with exactly why I built my business in St. Louis (and then left it there) instead of moving it to the area I live in now.
Every photographer has a different ideal client, a different style, and a totally different business model. 
There are far more people in your area needing a photographer than how many photographers there actually are–I promise.
You have to remember that you really don't need that many clients. If your area–not just your town–has 20,000 people. You only need 75 clients per year. You can easily book that with the right marketing strategy. 
What if your town doesn't have a population to support your business–then what do you do? 
Market in surrounding cities, towns, and counties.
Build your business in a nearby larger city and travel for your sessions once or twice a month.
The photography market isn't really saturated.
If you get just one thing out of this episode, understand that it's not that the market is oversaturated.
It's that you need to focus your marketing on your ideal client.
Put on your blinders to every other photographer in your area, and stop worrying about what they're doing, who they're photographing, or how busy they look. 
Focus on you, what you want from your business, and who you want to serve specifically.
Then, create a marketing strategy to attract that one specific person and start booking her.
Relevant Links:
Episode 44Episode 4TLC Canva Brand Board TemplateMy Instagram

048. 3 Strategies To Know When To Take Your Boudoir Business Full-Time

A private coaching client recently asked my thoughts on when to quit her day job to go full-time in her boudoir business. In this episode, I'm breaking down three ways to prepare to quit your day job.
Another podcast sparked this conversation.
This client told me she'd listened to a recent podcast from a well-known coach who'd said to give up your 9-5, you need to pick a date and then make it happen.
I told her that I disagreed with this statement–my thoughts are entirely different, to be honest.
Picking a date without a strategy to support this date and decision can be dangerous for your financial situation, business, and life. 
It's a good way to set yourself up for failure, in my opinion.
Three different strategies to take your boudoir business full time
Please understand, when working a full-time job, booking a full-time boudoir photography schedule, or making a massive amount of money each month will be next to impossible.
You have different working hours than a full-time photographer. How could you possibly photograph that many sessions or bring in that much money?
Set realistic goals that you can actually achieve. Once you give up your day job, you will have all the time in the world to work on your business. 
Your schedule will book out quickly, and you will make way more money because you have more time to focus on it, you know?
1. Decide a specific monthly revenue goal you must hit for a certain number of months. 
2. Have a specific number of sessions on your schedule for a set amount of months.
3. Have a specific amount of money in the bank.
In this episode, I also tell you the exact steps I took in my boudoir business to go full-time ASAP.
For formulas, please check out the show notes. :) 
Relevant Links:Show Notes
Downloadable PDFMy Instagram

047. Krysten Williams of Bed Head Boudoir | Six-Figure Boudoir Photographer

Krysten of Bedhead Boudoir is a TLC coaching client, a six-figure boudoir photographer, and is consistently booked out nine months in advance.
Throughout this interview, we talk about how it feels to be a successful boudoir photographer after struggling in the industry for so long.
Six-Figure Boudoir Photographer
She's a super-talented photographer from Barrie, Ontario. And she's been a superstar since we started working together in 2021.
Here are just a few accomplishments and milestones she's had in the last two years.
In 2022, she hit 100K–meaning she is officially a six-figure boudoir photographer!
She's consistently booked out nine months in advance–without Facebook ads, Facebook groups, or model calls.
She sold out her bridal fair sessions with just two emails.
Her Black Friday sale sold out with just one email!
In 2023, she had a $20K month–her highest cash month.
Episode Highlights:
5:51–We talk about niching down to just boudoir photography. This is one of the strategies that helped her grow very quickly. Boudoir clients want the expert because they put their self-confidence in your hands.
7:59–Krysten has big dreams for Bedhead Boudoir. This is the first time she's shared them publicly.
9:18–In 2021, she leased her very own studio space. She shares how this changed her business for the better and exactly why she took this terrifying leap.
16:28–Krysten talks about what it takes to run a six-figure boudoir photography studio. Here's a hint: understanding, empathy, and efficiency.
17:30–Comparison syndrome is real in the photography industry. Learn how Krysten navigates this in her own way.
20:33–Krysten hired me as her photography business coach in 2021–here's why she finally bit the bullet and invested in her business education.
22:07–We talk about why she takes investing in business sooo seriously!
23:31–Krysten's biggest hurdle was overcoming money mindset issues and setting boundaries in her personal and business lives.
26:36–We discuss the turning point in her business–when she finally felt successful.
27:12–Her first $10K month was two months into coaching!
27:46–Of course, we talk about when she finally resigned from her job and officially became a full-time boudoir photographer.
28:07–Work/life balance is a struggle for photographers. Sometimes we can't turn work mode off. Krysten has become the master, and she talks about it here.
31:06–In January 2023, she booked 15 sessions from one bridal fair, so of course, we discussed how she made it happen.
34:01–We finish by discussing exactly why she loves business coaching and is in her second year with me.
Relevant Links:Bedhead Boudoir WebsiteKrysten's InstagramMy InstagramTLC Coaching

046. 5 Tips To A Scroll-Stopping Boudoir Photo

Boudoir photographers want to take a beautiful boudoir photo that stops the scroll of potential clients.  I think we’re all trying to outdo our last most-impressive photo–every time we pick up our camera. 
We’ve all seen the photos that other photographers have posted. You know, the ones that make you stop scrolling and just study the image in awe.
And as photographers, we’re all striving to create those photos. We want to be the photographer who makes other photographers and potential clients just stop in their tracks because of how beautiful an image is.
 
Over the years–and after investing a lot of money in education with some of the best photographers in the world–I feel like I’ve been able to create a few of these scroll-stopping boudoir images.
The thing is, there’s a lot that goes into creating an incredible image. This episode covers five tips to create a scroll-stopping boudoir photo.. 
Lighting is the most important element of your boudoir image. Without great light, your boudoir photo will be average at best–when it could be spectacular.
Posing your client from head to toe is very important to create a phenomenal boudoir photo. Remember, your paying clients aren’t experienced models. They are normal women and then need posing instruction so that they feel like models..
Instead of asking clients to spend hundreds of dollars on outfits, let them spend that money with you! If they buy the $25 bodysuit from Amazon instead of the $200 option from Victoria’s Secret, they can spend that extra $175 with you.
Make sure she feels beautiful, confident, and you give off that bestie vibe throughout the entire photoshoot.
Subtle retouching, at minimum, is a must for scroll-stopping photos. Don’t skip this part.
In this episode, I break down these five tips to help you create your next scroll-stopping image with more intention.
Relevant Links: Show notesDownloadable PDFMy Amazon StoreInstagram

045. 3 Reasons Your Boudoir Photography Website Isn’t Booking Clients

Over the years, I’ve done several website audits for my clients. While I really enjoy it, I’ve noticed that most photographers make the same mistakes on their boudoir photography website. 
Unlike what happened for Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams, just because you build it–well, that doesn’t mean they’re gonna come.  There’s a lot more strategy to it than just building the website. 
This episode covers the three reasons your boudoir photography website isn’t booking clients the way you thought it would–and a few simple changes you can make that will help with conversions. 
The three main reasons your website isn't booking photography clients. 
The path to take action isn’t crystal clear. You have to have clear steps for them to actually take action. 
Your website isn’t skim-friendly.  Think about it–would you spend hours on a website reading a novel all about the life of this business owner you considered hiring very briefly? No–you wouldn't. Your leads won't either.
Enough traffic isn’t being driven to your website to result in the number of bookings you need. This is probably the MAIN problem I see-and the one that's easiest to fix, with the right strategy. 
How do you know how many website visitors you need to have to your website each month? 
Well, there’s a formula, of course.
Number of clients / 1% = Number of website visitors you need
If you only get one thing out of this episode, I want you to remember that you have to be super visible with your website. 
You can’t just put it out there and wait for people to start clicking your link and booking. It won’t happen that way.  
Building your website is just one step.  After that, your job is to drive traffic consistently to your website.
Relevant Links:
Show notes
Instagram
PDF

044. 3 Steps To Fall In Love With Your Sales Session In Your Photography Business

IPS or In-Person Sales sessions are my favorite part of the entire boudoir photography experience.  With these three steps, let’s make it YOUR favorite part of the experience. 
A lot of boudoir photographers avoid IPS because they don’t know how it works, they’re just scared of feeling sales-y, or they’re just totally overwhelmed. 
By avoiding the In-Person Sales session, they are leaving so much money on the table. 
In this episode, I’m giving you the three steps to help you fall in love with IPS in your boudoir photography business.
Relevant Links:Show Notes"Five Targets To Spot-Check In Your Boudoir Business This Year" PDF

Announcement!

Listen for a BIG announcement about Sustainable Freedom with Boudoir Photography! 

043. Five steps you need to take to increase your boudoir photography pricing

In today’s episode, I focus on the five steps you need to take to increase your boudoir photography pricing: 
Full-time formula
Creating your boudoir photography price list
Confidence in pricing
Setting boundaries
Website wording
But the thing is, it’s more than just coming up with a price and saying, hey, let’s try this.
You have to have a strategy, and today, well, we’re gonna break it down. 
Today, I'm talking about the two main ways to price, the reason pricing is relevant to boudoir photographers, the impact pricing has on your business, and the specifics of pricing.
Relevant Links:Show NotesMy InstagramFreebie: Five Targets To Spot-Check In Your Boudoir Business This Year