This episode featuring the incredible Tim Walden is all about transforming the portrait process by building trust with your clients. Tim lays it all out for us, talking about treating every client like family (like his 50-odd cousins) and how that approach brings sincerity and genuine connection into the mix.

I have always found it valuable to develop a framework for how we view our clients, and Tim's insights really resonated with me.

How do you relate to your clients - as family, friends, or maybe something more professional?

Tim also discusses how his father's influence shapes his work today and how photography is not just about capturing images for him but about blending art with emotion and telling compelling stories.

We also talk about why client connections are important, the art of leading a session with confidence, and the importance of crafting a powerful narrative in every portrait. Tim’s focus on simplicity in clothing and backgrounds allows the complexity of human stories to stand out, and his idea of incorporating letters on the back of each portrait to create deeper connections in a family is a stroke of brilliance.

Join Tim and I as we explore how taking control and building trust can elevate your portrait business to another level. 

Let's Do It!

In this, episode, you will learn the importance of

• Building client relationships and learning why treating clients like family can help establish sincerity and trust
• Balancing art and business and discovering how to thread authenticity into sales and marketing
• Narrative-driven photography and how focusing on storytelling enhances the emotional connection in portraits
• Creating authentic portraits and understanding the impact of learning clients' stories and personalities before sessions
• Leadership and confidence and gaining insights into taking control during sessions
• Clarity and consistency in branding and recognizing the value of maintaining a clear personal style to attract the right clients

Timestamps:

[0:03:34] Tim treats his clients like family and believes that sincerity makes service genuine rather than manipulative.

[0:06:03] ATJ believes that each business owner should find an authentic way to view clients.

[0:07:21] Tim emphasizes nurturing sincere relationships to enhance client confidence and service quality.

[0:09:57] Tim's early passion for photography focused on storytelling before financial concerns.

[0:12:37] Hear how Tim markets his photography through storytelling, prioritizing emotional narratives over technical skills.

[0:15:27] ATJ values incorporating letters to add depth and meaning to the photography experience.

[0:16:50] Learn how Tim learns clients' stories beforehand and enhances the authenticity of the portraits which he captures.

[0:19:49] Tim prefers a controlled environment to capture genuine connections and emotions during photo sessions.

[0:22:26] Many photographers hesitate to take control during sessions, impacting their results.

[0:23:06] Having a parent present can hinder sessions.

[0:25:28] Clients want more than technical skills; they seek leadership and flattering poses during sessions.

[0:27:10] Tim explains how clothing choices significantly impact portraits.

[0:29:55] ATJ emphasizes how photographers must prioritize authentic moments over client demands.

[0:31:35] Consistency in style builds clarity and helps guide clients without too much variety.

[0:34:44] Trust yourself to make decisions; mistakes are acceptable, but clarity and consistency are essential!

[0:36:43] Tim adds that it's important to measure your art's worthiness by clarity, technical excellence, emotion, investment, and consistency.

[0:39:46] Loyal clients appreciate your work and refer others, helping you attract the right customers!

[0:42:34] ATJ argues that confidence is key when redirecting clients to make better choices for their art.

[0:43:16] Tim discusses how he uses clients' words to highlight emotional impacts when discussing photos in the sales room.

[0:46:40] Clients often underestimate size; I prefer showing results to help guide their decisions.

[0:48:47] Tim asserts that discussing art's placement requires addressing unvoiced client concerns during calls and meetings.

[0:51:50] Providing information upfront helps clients choose experiences; creativity thrives within defined boundaries.

[0:53:34] ATJ adds that attempting to replicate one's past work lacks impact because each subject has a unique story.

[0:55:07] Unveiling art loses its magic when replicating previous work; uniqueness is very important in photography.

[0:58:27] Educating clients and sharing truths helps both artists and clients succeed in photography.

[1:00:55] Tim explains how true service involves leading and guiding clients.

Click here to listen! [LINK TO THIS EPISODE]

PRETTY PLEASE: Rate, Review, & Follow Us on Apple Podcasts

“I love ATJ & The ReWork!.” <– If that sounds like you, please take a minute and rate and review the show! This helps us support more portrait photographers — just like you — move toward building the PROFITABLE, sustainable businesses that they really want. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let ME know what you loved most about the episode (and any topics you are dying to learn about). 

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You can also email me directly with your suggestions at: [email protected] - OR DM me directly on Instagram @atjphoto or @do.the.rework 

We’d love to hear your thoughts, suggestions and ideas! 

Links and Resources:

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Do The ReWork

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Allison Tyler Jones

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Tim Walden

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