Find Your Focus

During this unprecedented, uncertain time where many industries have been closed, the thought of reopening your photography business can be very exciting. But rather than rushing in, it’s important to think about certain things before getting back to normal. This includes ensuring you are complying with all the necessary laws and having the required legal provisions in your contract. Along with this, Logan shares the five ways she is keeping herself and her clients safe. Remember, if you don’t feel comfortable getting back to business, you can find other ways to make money through photography, and whatever you decide, Cole’s Classroom is here for you!  

Today, I’m going to be talking to Kate Guertin, a mentor at Cole’s Classroom and the owner of Sweetest Things Photography. She decided to quit her corporate job and jump full-time into professional photography. She knew very little about it, but she was determined to learn and, through her hard work and dedication, her business ended up making more than $100,000 in its first year! Kate’s story is truly inspiring, and in this episode, she shares with us how she put her fear aside and threw herself into photography, starting by joining Cole’s Classroom on the $1 Trial. We discuss the importance of commitment in ensuring Kate’s success, her one-client-a-day rule starting out, and why she doesn’t necessarily recommend following her intense, high-volume sales model.

Most of us get into photography for the love of the art and not for the love of selling. Many photographers feel uncomfortable when it comes to selling their services. In this episode, we talk with Jenni Maroney, a successful newborn photographer who reveals how in-person selling (IPS) can help you earn more and develop stronger relationships with your clients without being sleazy. After sharing her story, Jenni talks about how IPS isn’t about squeezing dollars out of a client but about adding to the value that you provide as a photographer. We discuss how service offerings can be expanded beyond taking and editing hundreds of photos and then sending them to your clients — no one ever wants homework!

There are as many photographers as there are coffee shops. But what makes one better than the next? Why do we prefer going back to the same ones over and over again? It’s all about creating an experience that your clients cannot stop talking about. This involves doing small extra things to show that you care and are interested in what matters to them—and it doesn’t have to be high effort or expensive.

Wedding and engagement photographs often follow a formulaic series of poses that can make them feel forced rather than capturing couples’ true happiness. Wilson Lau, a wedding photographer, looks to turn this convention on its head with his signature ‘happiness photography.’ We kick off the episode by learning more about Wilson’s start in the industry and what the process of finding his style looked like.

With the crowded photography landscape, it can be difficult to stand out. But there are some tried and tested branding techniques and strategies you can use to ensure that you get noticed. Our guest today, Amanda Shuman, owner of Carrylove Designs, helps creatives book more clients and make more money doing what they love. We kick off the episode by diving into Amanda’s background in brand strategy and her transition from a corporate role to a freelance one.

Sometimes, we need to learn how to push past the judgments of other people, live the life that we want to live and forge our own path to success. In today’s episode, I’m talking to someone who did just that. My guest is Hope Taylor, who is the owner of Hope Taylor Photography. She is not only a photographer but also has a YouTube channel with tons of amazing resources for photographers. During this interview, she shares with us how she managed to start her business in high school, yes, I said in high school!

Today’s topic is a tough one because it touches all of us in some way—fear. While both new and seasoned photographers sometimes battle with fears and insecurities, it is mostly the upcoming ones who face the biggest internal obstacles, especially when they start comparing their work with those who have been doing it for 20 years. 

In this episode of Find Your Focus, Logan chats to Bobbi Peterson, a member of the well-know Twig & Olive trio, about using social media for marketing purposes. Tuning in to the show, listeners will hear the back story of how their business came into existence over margaritas and how their diverse skills miraculously fell into place to complement one another so that they can each do the tasks that they’re passionate about. Bobbi talks about the importance of getting your website right since it is often a client’s first engagement with your brand and how your social media sites are the side doors that can be used to get the word out there and lure in your ideal clients.

Did you know that using Pinterest can help your business rank on the first page of a Google search? Pinterest is a powerful, unique, and often overlooked tool for digital marketing, and we are joined today by Anna Bennett, Pinterest expert and founder of White Glove Social Media, to learn more about it. Anna has a history in retail fashion and marketing, and when she sold her day spa several years ago, she was left to choose between kicking her feet back and retiring or finding her life’s next purpose.