Reality Check on My Business — Surviving Not Thriving

I'm just surviving with my photography business...not thriving (I can't save any money so we can eventually move out of my parents' house). I'm struggling to motivate myself to work in my studio space, feeling embarrassed by asking clients to come to my home with all the animals roaming around, tractors in the garden, my brother's mechanics garage & beat up cars hanging around, unfinished construction projects everywhere, hodgepodge furniture, a grass entrance (poor women who arrive wearing heels), some broken glass around the door frame (rubble from my brother's childhood airgun battles) and even just having a bathtub in the bathroom. The space is really designed to be a living area or bedroom and I've been struggling to get it to feel like an artist's studio. It's hard to run a creative business in a space that doesn't have my own style & inspirational energy (just humor me here). Plus, I just feel like I don't have enough division in the space — an area for makeup, viewing, shooting etc... they all just jumble together. I know I'm super lucky to have what I have — much more luxurious than many photographers I know working from their homes. It's all relative but knowing that doesn't help me much. 

I realized I'm avoiding marketing because I'm afraid of getting more clients because then I would have to host them in my studio and deliver a high-end customer experience — which is hard to do, very tiring and only made more difficult by this location. I'm burned-out from 2yrs of workaholic behaviour and I'm afraid of falling back into the pattern. I've really fallen behind this summer — offering less than golden service (not serving my signature cookies, not playing music, not burning candles, taking forever to reply to emails and deliver orders, taking simple pretty portraits instead of pushing the envelop and creating original artwork for women). I just don't feel like the experience I'm offering at the moment is matching up to the high prices that I need to charge. This discord is really off-putting and I'm left feeling like I don't want to work at all. Plus, as lovely as it can be working from home, it's also a great challenge for me to feel the focus and productivity - always getting distracted by animals, husbands, gardens, kitchens etc... Would having a commercial space  — a designated professional work space — help all these issues? 

I've also been watching my portfolio get more and more chaotic by the minute. My photography style is changing and I need to reorganize my website, branding materials and client experience to make sure I continue to offer a consistent product that has a clearly defined ideal client. I have two different styles that I love and I've had to pick which direction I want to head in. I've gotten a little confused along the way and this needs to be sorted out.... but I'm at the starting line looking at a very long marathon. Exciting but ughhh. 

Is it worth renting a commercial space to turn into my studio? It's a risk. I could 'waste' that rent money when my bank account is already having tummy grumbles. But is it one of these risks that will pay off? Will the new space offer that more professional environment that will encourage more clients and higher spending? What should I do? 

How to Make Your Photography Brand Consistent & Recognizable

Today, we're talking about brand consistency. Once you have a brand, it's your job to make sure that the world knows who you are. Our brains LOVE repetition. They say you have to see an advertisement 3 times before it makes an impact on your mind. That's why you're starting to see shampoo companies paying for 3 back-to-back pages in magazines. It's the same ad, three times. In your face. It wouldn't work if each of those pages was a different design, with different colors or a different layout. The consistency is strengthening the brand's presence in your mind.

This is where it gets fun! As far as I'm concerned, the whole world is a magazine! Place your ad everywhere you possibly can. Not just the obvious places. Get creative. Branding opportunities are everywhere!! Plus, with a clear brand and a desire for consistency, most of those tough decisions (like which slippers to buy lol) will be made for you...easy breezy!

Check out this video I made sharing some of the ways I have fun branding my own business. Enjoy!!

Why Use False Eyelashes? — Q&A with Makeup Artist Hanna Mazur

False eyelashes! They go on 99.9% of the women I photograph because they add that extra ouuu-la-la! I'm always surprised how many women have never worn them before coming to my studio. As a professional dress-up-player, false eyelashes are part of my everyday existence (even though I hardly ever wear them myself - ha! probably because when I do wear them I refuse to take them of for days!). My clients are always asking about eyelashes so I recruited my favorite makeup artist, Hanna Mazur, to write a wee Q&A blog post for you! How awesome is she! Enjoy learning my friends.... 

Q: What do false eyelashes feel like?

A: The longer and more dramatic the lash, the heavier the lash will feel. Figuratively it feels like two giant butterflies sitting on lashes, :) They definitely take some time to get used to, but once skillfully applied, clients forget they have false lashes on 5 minutes after the application.

Q: How long do false eyelashes stay on?

A: I recommend removing them by the end of the day, they are not lash extension and can thus are not meant to be worn for more than a day.

Q: How do you take off false eyelashes?

A: I recommend applying a little bit of olive oil or an eye makeup remover on a q-top on the strip of the lash, waiting a minute or 2  and then gently start removing them starting from the outer corner of the eye.

Q: What type of eyelashes you use and the type of glue? 

A: I use a lot of Ardell or Red Cherries Lashes. The style varies depending on the eye shape and the look desired. Generally, the taller the person is, the more dramatic lash they can pull off.

Q: Should I use strips vs individual false eye lashes? 

A: Individual lashes are a great alternative to strip lashes. Although they do require a more precise application, they look more natural and forgiving. Most clients who have never had false eyelashes applied are more open to trying individual lashes first. Depending on the style of makeup choose the appropriate glue color, e.g clear for natural, black for more dramatic. My favorite lash glue is by Duo Lash Adhesive by Ardell.

Q: Are false eyelashes really necessary for the photo shoot?

A: Do not feel pressured: although they do produce a phenomenal dramatic effect, false lashes are not a must. If you are not sure of not comfortable having a lash on, there are other techniques which can produce similar effect (although less dramatic), and a knowledgeable make up artist will recommend. Lash glue does content latex, and it is definitely something to consider for people who are allergic to it. 

Hope this helps!

xoxooxoxoxoxo

Hanna 

Thank you Hanna! & Thank you Rachel Tuttle for modeling your beautiful eyes for the photo series above!

Video Tour of the Photography Studio

New furniture & DIY tasks! My photography studio is getting a little makeover. Last night I grabbed my iPhone and recorded a wee improv studio tour for you! Any interior design advice is super welcome — we need it lol :D