Mini Sessions Made Easy

 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Transcript

Have you been interested in outsourcing or maybe you're creeping up to that moment? Either category, I believe us business owners should get to the place where outside help is needed and a benefit. I'm very passionate about team building so get ready for some major tips for hiring your first contractors!

Before jumping into it I want to give you a FREE resource to help level up your mini sessions game! You can make more with your mini sessions, so this resource will help you make your first $3,000 on a single set of minis. It's called $3K Mini Sessions Blueprint and here's one of the best parts - you can reuse it over and over again! Now let's dive in...

Let's define this. This is not someone who is who is an employee (part-time or full time). They are paid on a retainer basis. Maybe it's monthly and they are required to do a set number of hours, etc. This may look like an editor, a copy writer, an administrative assistant or a social media manager.

Let me shatter the idea that you can do everything. Sorry! But we all are limited to a 24 hour day and it shouldn't be spent 100% on your business or hobby. Many of us are moms or work other jobs. The business shouldn't be built on you and you alone. Want to know why? Burnout. It's ok to need help! The best business owners beat burnout by growing their team. Here are some tips for hiring your first contractors:

When you're thinking of hiring your first contractors think about ALL the things you do. Write them down from biggest to smallest, don't leave anything out. What takes up the most time? Now, circle the things only you can do. Before you start circling the entire list hear me out. Some people think they are the only ones who can respond to emails or post on social media... Listen, people are talented to match your brand voice. So don't trip yourself up in the thought process that you should be doing this or that. Delegation is a blessing. Here's my rule of thumb: if someone can do something 80% as good as you can, then you can outsource it!

If you're thinking in the next 6-12 months you'd like to hire, start recording your processes. My team LOVES using loom. This program is free, it has a chrome plugin that you can use, but basically allows you to record yourself. You can talk while screen recording to explain what you're doing and how. So, start recording what you want to train someone on and when the time comes to hire you can have them utilize these videos! Trust me, training just got a whole lot easier. You can put together a whole library of training videos to avoid having to sync up schedules with your new hire to walk them through something!

Don't overshoot your hire. A lot of contractors of packages you can choose from. My first hire's smallest package was 10 hrs/month for like $30/hr. What could you do with those extra 10 hours a month? Book an extra session and pay for the contractor and you already "bought" yourself more time! Start small and grow from there. This is testing ground for you and your contractor. Develop your processes, grow in your delegation and watch yourself flourish!

It takes time to let someone else run with what you value. For most of us, this business is our "baby". You don't let anyone hold your baby, but over time you should develop trust to hand it off. This doesn't mean you don't care about it, but you can allow someone else to care for your business. I encourage you to lean into discomfort. Things don't grow out of comfort. When I started passing things off I freaked out! I wouldn't even let my administrative assistant respond to emails. I had her organize and flag emails I needed to respond to. Over time I developed a trust in her and eventually handed off most emails that required a response!

Now, there is another side to trust that I want to mention, and my team calls it trust and verify. So in those first several weeks that you're working with somebody, you can trust them with a new task. But then, it's smart as the business owner to come alongside and verify that the task got done the way that you wanted. You're not micro-managing, but you're checking in to give yourself space to breathe easy.

Where do I look for contractors? I highly suggest word of mouth! Ask those you trust already if they have suggestions or utilize your FB groups. There's a website called Outsourcing with Love that one of my team members worked with before so she's a credible source. She has vetted contractors that you can work with!

What can I expect to pay a contractor? I would say the typical intro rate is about $30/hour. You may see a bit more or less, but that seems average. Now if you're hiring someone more specialized you should expect to pay more. They've spent more time in that area so they will help tremendously! You get what you pay for, right?!

What should I outsource first? As a photographers, I suggest your editing, because it's really, really easy to book that into your cost. And it's very inexpensive. Another thing that I would suggest outsourcing first would be your social media scheduling. Maybe you're not comfortable with them writing your captions, but they can get your posts out! Hope these tips for hiring your first contractors gives you courage to take the next step, you'll be happy you did!

+ My $3K Mini Sessions Blueprint

+ Loom

+ Outsourcing with Love

+ Trello

What is a Contractor? (2:28)

Write Everything Down (4:22)

Record Your Processes for Easier Training (11:52)

Start Small (14:18)

Learnt to Trust and Let Go (16:01)

Questions (20:06)

 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Transcript

Have you ever wondered if you're riding the line of pleasing people vs. serving people? I've wanted to talk about this for a while, and finally have the space to do it. Our desire is to serve people as best we can, but many of us start sliding into the arena of pleasing people. There is quite a difference between the two.

I also want to equip you as best as possible, so here's a free resource I'd love for you to grab! My student's call me the Queen of Minis and we're all in the thick of minis season right now. This is a blueprint that's completely free and will level up your minis game. If you've never made $3000 on your minis session then this is for you! It's called $3K Mini Sessions Blueprint!

Most of us start off thinking our role is to please our clients or simply make them happy. And really this topic is one to be looked at by any business owner. The truth is, pleasing people is deceptive. In the moment it seems valid and right. But at the end of the day the raving reviews will fade away and we're left to ourselves. We have to determine in the height of our careers and in the every day grind that what we're doing is not just dependent upon another's opinion.

It can be a tricky thing, wanting people to value your character and slipping over into letting that define you. I will say, it's not wrong to desire good reviews and response. But it should be because of your integrity! We should want people to think highly of us, not because of how we please them or what we offer them in exchange for their high opinion. But because of the quality of who we are.

When it comes to pleasing people vs. serving people you have to ask yourself, what's my motivation? Often times, pleasing others is rooted in selfish ambition. I want to please you so you can benefit me. Every business needs to establish standards and morals. I strive to keep the same standard regardless of what opinion I'm facing. When your motivation is to serve people well most times you end up pleasing them, but you're not seeking approval. You're goal isn't selfish, it's for others! When you know your standards you can "judge" yourself based on how you served them. So when you don't get back high praise your soul isn't crushed because the goal was to serve clients well. When you perform your standards and do all the things you set out to do it goes far beyond the transaction.

I do understand this is a business. Clearly a standard in my business is to serve clients, but that doesn't mean it's a charity. Don't get it twisted. You don't have to lower your prices or give things away. Photography is my family's sole income. That means we need to be profitable if we want to put food on the table. But this business is also my ministry. I want to serve people well and I can do it through the love of Jesus. I was a youth minister for 9 years and transitioned into doing photography full time. I saw how God opened the door for me and my family to reach people's hearts through photography.

This is not my typical podcast, but I believe this matters. When we get it right we'll see a lot less burn out as photographers! The mindset shift in pleasing people vs. serving people can help you set up a long lasting business. Stop back next week for a practical episode, and for more resources check out below!

+ My $3K Mini Sessions Blueprint

+ How I Set Goals in my Business

Defining Your Job (3:18)

What's the Motivation? (6:09)

Serving and Profit can go Hand in Hand (11:28)

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Transcript

I can't wait to dive into this episode. I've been hinting toward a posing workflow the past few weeks and I really want to unpack what a posing workflow is, how to use a posing workflow and how I do it in my own business!

Honestly, before talking about a workflow I have to announce my NEW Family Posing Course is officially LIVE! This has been in the works for the past 3 months and really I've been cultivating content and resources in my mind for the past year and a half. This course is finally a one stop course and is all encompassing! Not only do we look at posing families with young kids, families with older kids, or adult children, but we talk about posing teenagers. I even have a section that covers posing maternity sessions, lifestyle, newborn and senior sessions! Seriously is hits every aspect of what you would need for POSING. It's currently ON SALE and for the lowest price it will ever be at since it's brand new!

Now, on the theme of posing we're really closing out this "series" we've been doing the past few weeks. I wanted to walk through how to use a posing workflow. Let's take a look..

A posing workflow is basically having an order of things. Truly an organization set in place to help you process through your session. With a workflow in place, you achieve a few things. You'll remove awkward moments where you don't know what to do next, it helps you use your time efficiently, and it's repeatable! A posing workflow is important because it's meant to help you. It keeps your session moving and allows you to be relational with your client without losing time. I've had repeat customers that I do change things up for, but a lot of my clients actually enjoy seeing photos in similar poses from year to year. It showcases the growth of their family, especially kids! So don't worry about the idea of wash, rinse and repeat. A workflow has been my saving grace!

Now, I'm going to walk you through my personal posing workflow and feel free to take notes, write it down, make adjustments! Something to note is this goal: as little movement as possible! Moving people takes time. So, I always start a session posing the whole family together. The reason behind that is to get everyone comfortable (especially those littles). The family isn't singled out they are with each other and it promotes a comfortable environment. From there, I move to just mom and the kids. I have dad step behind me so if kids are looking at dad they are giving the camera their attention. Then I swap. Kids stay put and mom and dad switch places! Again, as little movement as possible. I do trade kids around so it's not just a copy and paste.

Next, I pull dad out and just squish the kids together. When mom and dad are not next to the kids, I try to corral and make sure everyone is staying where they need to be. It's even more important to be intentional with my words and to go quickly. So, all the kids are together and I usually do a few variations. Then, I do individuals of each kid. This is a must-have. Especially for me, when doing minis, I want to include as many must-have shots as possible. The goal is the client either buys the full gallery or adds on these extra must-haves! I'll do a close up and a full body shot of each kid. Typically, I'll start oldest to youngest unless the younger ones are ready. Let's face it you only have their attention for a short span of time!

Lastly, I try getting the whole family together once more. This isn't something I have to have, so I save it for the end. Sometimes everyone is more comfortable, I can use these for face swaps if need be, and it gives me a chance to do more "specialty" groupings. Maybe that's mom and dad kissing in the background while the kids are covering the eyes in the foreground. And I always end with asking if there are specific shots the family wants. Now, don't make the mistake of asking this without first reassuring them you got everything on your list. They need to know you as the photographer covered everything. But this puts the ball in their court and allows them to think of specifics. Remember, when you use a workflow you end up saving yourself time so you can ask if there are extra needed shots!

Need more about posing? Check out my new Family Posing Course! I show all the variations that I do with each grouping. So when I do just mom and the kids, what kind of shots do I get? How do I pose them? What specific variations Am I getting? What words am I saying to you? And what posing prompts am I using to get them where I need them? Those are all things I cover in the course. If you have questions about the course check out this page and feel free to DM me! I can't wait for this to answer all the questions you have about posing!

+New Family Posing Course

Workflow Defined (3:29)

Whole Family Together (10:27)

Mom and the Kids (11:19)

Dad and the Kids (12:16)

Just the Kids (13:13)

Whole Family Again (15:33)

Last Question (17:23)

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Transcript

Friends have you ever been in a session when Dad is just not into it?! I feel like it doesn't happen as often as we tend to think, but there are the occasional shoots where you've got to be extra strategic to create genuine photos. Before opening up this topic on tips for posing when Dad is just not into it, I wanted to let you know of a FREE live class this week on POSING! There are 3 times to join happening on Wednesday and Thursday. The class is called The Keys to Effortless Family Posing: Say Goodbye to Awkward and Stiff! If you want to get comfortable with posing your families, not just families with toddlers, but all different kinds of families then this class is for you. Register HERE to claim your spot and receive the replay! Only those that register will get the replay, so if you won't make the class you can still get the recording! So here are some great tips for posing when Dad is just not into it.

I've had a few sessions where everything was set up perfectly, the lighting is brilliant and the family looks gorgeous, but for some reason there was tension surrounding Dad. Maybe he was having an off day, maybe pictures make him uncomfortable or maybe he just flat out didn't want to do the session in the first place. One thing you can do to "combat" this is to be confident. I know I mentioned this point in my last podcast. Here's the thing, if Dad is already in this state of mind you don't want to give him any ammunition toward you as the photographer or his wife who dragged him there! Don't let the attitude effect you. You control your attitude and really the feel of the session.

No one really likes waiting around, especially a Dad who is uninterested. Something you can do is stay active and keep the session going. Don't waste time with the fluff of small talk. And here's the beauty of mini sessions -- they are only 10-15 minutes! I will tell the Dad if I sense he's giving me attitude or just is unhappy that I need your focus for 10 minutes then you can be done. One of my strategies is using my workflow. Essentially, I have a set of poses or groupings that I do in order, every single time, with every single family. By having that in place, it helps me to know what's coming next. And, therefore, I'm keeping the session moving.

Just like we reward our kids with good behavior we should encourage adults with good behavior. I know this sounds silly, but if Dad is being childish then you have the freedom to put him in the same category as the kids. That means when you're giving direction it's directed to the Mom. Most of the time Mom already feels embarrassed because she's aware of the tension so you encouraging her is a huge help! Don't give attention to the frustration. Rather, encourage mom because dad is just not into it. Encouraging the right behavior is letting Mom be seen. You're rewarding her for taking time to make this happen. Take advantage of the moment and pour into her, she probably needs it!

Focusing on the big picture is crucial in these moments. These tips for posing when dad is just not into it can make a difference. Give voice to why photos are valuable and remember these cases are few and far between. Most of the time Dad is happy to be there. He's excited to be capturing memories and freezing time for a moment. When you have a tough session don't let your emotions play into the situation. Be the confident photographer that you are, keep your session moving and encourage all the good behavior! You should feel confident in your posing because that is the art of what we do. And don't forget to register for the free classes happening this week. We will have a live Q&A so if you have questions I'm not touching on this is your chance to get answers!

+ New FREE class: The Keys to Effortless Family Posing: Say Goodbye to Awkward and Stiff

+ More Posing Podcasts

Confidence Extinguishes Hesitation (4:53)

Keep Things Moving (6:14)

Encourage Good Behavior (8:38)

 Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Transcript

Are you ready to dive deep into one of the biggest needs in the family photography industry?! Everyone desires help in this specific area. The one thing I do to give my clients the best experience possible is POSING. Every client will walk away feeling much more confident when us photographers lead them throughout the session. When our client's experience is positive that leads them to booking more sessions and telling their friends about us. Posing is necessary and important!

Before getting into all the technicalities, I'm doing a FREE class next week and wanted it on your radar! it's called The Keys to Effortless Family Posing: Say Goodbye to Awkward and Stiff. So, this is a class that has been highly requested. Seriously, it's been on my radar for over a year and a half. We want families to look natural and create genuine memories not stiff, awkward photos. This brand new (never been done before) class is March 23rd and 24th! You can sign up HERE. Make sure you take advantage of the live Q&A and get ready for posing to become second nature! If you do register there is a replay that will automatically get sent to you, but you must register! I'm looking forward to seeing you!

At the end of the day people won't remember how technically correct their photos are. The thing they hang onto the most are how they felt during their session. If clients feel awkward and stiff without guidance in their session it sticks with them. Even if your photos are incredible they view them through this lens of awkward. The goal with guiding clients through posing is creating a warm, genuine, real moments. Posing truly can make or break a session. We've all been there when we go to a session and the moment we're supposed to start taking photos we kind of freeze! As photographers we invest in our websites, our CRMs and all these places, but what about our guidance in posing?! It's something that gets put on the back burner and we end up winging it! So, here are three things you can apply at your next session. These are things I do to give my clients the best experience possible!

Clients will pick up on your tone. If you're unsure or unprepared they will feel it! In one sense your persona determines theirs. We want to be confident in the way that we speak and the way that we pose. We should move with intentionality and give as many examples as we can. Maybe that means you're actually showing them the pose and not just trying to tell them how to pose. Giving them a visual of where to put their hand or angle their body helps so much! Be confident and be prepared. Have the next pose or placement ready because that feels like you know what you're doing. You've heard the saying, "fake it 'til you make it". Practice at home, use a mirror or your family. Practice speaking clearly, boldly and in a way that brings understanding.

Just like a test, this is something you need to study beforehand. I get into the habit before each session of arriving early and having a posing game plan in place. I'm thinking of the family and because I've sent them my Client Questionnaire I know the ages of each child. So I can easily think through which poses I'm going to use. Maybe that means you're turning to Pinterest to look for inspiration for that specific age demographic to get ideas. I also have a Posing Workflow I use, so I have the same groupings that I shoot every time. Go into your session with a plan, knowing what poses you want to use so your client senses your confidence.

Here's a cheatsheet hack that I think is genius! Create a collage of poses and save it on your phone as the lock screen wallpaper. This way it's somewhat inconspicuous and you can glance at it to know what you're doing next! Another, even more inconspicuous cheatsheet, is having a list or printed out picture saved on your SD card. This way your "cheatsheet" is on your camera and the client has no idea you are glancing at it for inspiration. They'll think you're looking at the photo you just captured! Again, there is nothing wrong with using prompts or written out poses to help guide you through. Eventually, the goal is to get to a place where you can confidently lead the session knowing exactly what you want. Don't let yourself stay there forever - you do need to trust yourself!

Posing is one thing I do to give my clients the best experience and there's so much more we can and will dive into. This is just scraping the surface on posing, but I hope it helps you get a game plan together and start executing your session with confidence.

+ New FREE class: The Keys to Effortless Family Posing: Say Goodbye to Awkward and Stiff

+ Client Questionnaire

+Posing Workflow

Posing is such a hot topic in the photography industry and I'm thrilled to be sharing some tips for posing those littles! Typically when people think "family photography" they cringe because their minds go straight to the kids. And I get it, kids can be unpredictable and messy and overwhelming! I have 2 little ones of my own and they can be a handful at times. But honestly, they are my favorite to photograph! Especially toddlers! They're funny and so fun to be around. If you're wondering how I can have this mindset as a photographer get ready for some practical tips for posing kids.

Now, before starting your note taking you need to grab this FREE $3K Mini Sessions Blueprint! I designed this freebie to help minis become a rinse and repeat session for you. If you've never made $3000.00 on a single set of minis this is for you. Inside, I walk you through the step by step process and here's the great part - it's repeatable! Similar to the blueprint for houses you can use it over and over again. Friend, this is not a hoax, this is the process I use and it works!

This should be the first thing you think of! Think about it, for the kids you are total stranger danger. I like to include questions to the parent about their kids. What are some things they enjoy? What are their favorite activities, etc. Try getting to know them so they feel more comfortable around you. Interact with mom and dad or older siblings so they see - this person is ok!

A big aspect that photographers don't think about is getting them comfortable being around your camera. To us it's become an extension of ourselves, but to them it's a giant piece of equipment they may have never seen before! One thing I do, especially for those babies and toddlers, is snap a photo and then show them the back of my camera so they can see how it works. Most times they will be thrilled to see themselves! I mean every child, at some point, was mesmerized by the simplicity of a mirror so this really works.

When preparing for a session I always encourage the parents to relax and enjoy! This is not the time for mom and dad to have to discipline the child for not listening or whatever the case may be. I tell the parents that I will take care of the kids! I don't want the memory for anyone to be difficult or a struggle. Interact with the kids and let them be kids. Play games, make jokes, pull out all the tricks! You don't want them getting yelled at for not smiling, then photo sessions seem like a chore for both the parents and the kids.

I love posing prompts because it give everyone something to do. Especially those little ones! Their attention span is often not very long and sitting for pictures can be a strenuous task if you're expected to stay still the whole time. Maybe you have some written down on your phone or you look over some before the session. If you want ideas, I've got a list of 60 prompts in my shop. It's called the Family Posing Mini Course. I have my step by step workflow of different poses I use and they help capture those sweet, genuine moments. A few examples would be "run as fast as you can around mommy and daddy" or "hold hands and bump each other on the hips" or "look at your favorite sibling". It's giving them something to do that doesn't seem so sterile like, sit there, smile and say cheese.

So this is really plan b or c (Lol). Obviously you want to come prepared. Do your best to interact and make kids comfortable, have posing prompts to try, but it's perfectly fine to follow their lead. My own son is a total wanderer. A lot of toddlers are! They want to explore and see what's around them. That's ok! Let them play with the rocks or run a round a bit. Then, you can pull brother/sister next to them and smile to capture that really sweet moment. For me, some of my favorite photos of my now 3 year old are those candids. I want to remember those tiny toddler hands holding the pebbles he found. I'm fine with those photos of him running down a path or pointing to the sky because he saw an airplane! This is real life. The stiff poses where the kids look miserable aren't worth it. Trust me, parents want to remember how their kids were at these young stages of life. The crazy toddler stage is also the sweet stage where being a baby still lingers in them. Let kids be kids and follow their lead. You'll be glad you did!

Last, but not least - use bribes. I am not above a good bribe especially for photos! Always have the client bring the bribe. You won't know if they have allergies or what their fave goodies are. Just be sure to instruct them not to bring messy bribes. You want to avoid anything with a color coating (m&ms, skittles). I usually suggest fruit snacks or marshmallows. Marshmallows are perfect because they are so clean and honestly not very noticeable. But here's the key with bribery: don't pull them out until they are needed. I instruct the clients to keep them hidden and ONLY pull them out when I say. If kids see them at the very beginning and we wouldn't have needed them until closer to the end we wasted valuable time. For older kids, a lot of times their bribe is, after this we'll get ice cream or something.

Those were just some quick tips for posing kids. And I may have a MASSIVE posing course coming out at the end of this month, so keep your ears open and eyes peeled! If you want to be the first to know about it, you can join my email list. Go to my Website or my Instagram to find ways to join and if you're having trouble you can always shoot me a DM! Hope this was helpful!

+ My $3K Mini Sessions Blueprint

+ 60 Posing Prompts

+ My Website

+ My Instagram

Comfortable with You and Your Camera (2:54)

Keep it Light and Fun (5:03)

Follow Their Lead (7:21)

Bribery at its Finest (9:02)

Are you ready for today's podcast?! This topic is asked among my students often. We're talking about how leveraging socials to grow your biz can be done! I've got special guest Kendra Swalls and who is an EXPERT when it comes to social media. She's a business and marketing coach with Girl Means Business. As moms, business owners and all the things in between I know social media can fall to the back burner, but that doesn't mean there isn't value in social media.

Social media acts as proof to your business. We all use it to some extent. When you're searching for a new dentist, daycare or pediatrician you examine them online before ever stepping foot inside. Social media is the first impression. People aren't just looking at websites anymore, they're looking to social media to give a glimpse inside the day to day workings of a business.

Depending on who your audience is really determines which platform(s) should be your emphasis. When it comes to the amount of interaction - it's best to be consistent. Be reliable and something people can count on. Find a way to be consistent with your own schedule. Do what works for you so you aren't facing burnout a month from now. Utilize social media to be sustainable!

Track your return on investment. This isn't just monetary investment, but time! As photographers Instagram is such a go to because it truly is an online portfolio. Take the time to do a little research about your own business. When clients find you, where did they find you? You'll be surprised to see which platform is benefitting your business. It can help you make better choices on where you're investing your time. A great way to hear from your clients is by using a Client Questionnaire. This can give you a pulse on your audience. Here's the golden rule: Be where your current and future clients are.

Get very clear on your intention of what you expect to get out of social media. Too many times people go in blindly thinking if they post a promo they will automatically fill all their dates. Rather, go into social media to build awareness around my brand. Maybe funnel people back to an email list or just build connections with people. You can leverage socials to grow your biz, but through a different perspective. People don't go to social media to book a session right away. They go to be entertained, inspired or educated.

If you're a family photographer, you're not trying to appeal to the dad of the kids, you're appealing to the mom. She's the one who is going to be booking the session. She's the one who's doing the research. Next address questions and concerns your audience has. What are some frequently asked questions? Using a photo caption to educate your audience is leveraging your socials to grow your photography biz!  Lastly, remember to engage with your audience. This doesn't just mean commenting on your own posts and responses. You should be going to other feeds, group, etc. and engaging. Don't "post and ghost"! You do need to give a little engagement to get a little engagement.

Connect with more Kendra Swalls content here:

+ Free Email Marketing Kit: www.girlmeansbusiness.com/emailkit

+ Website

+ Podcast

+ Resources

+ Instagram

Why Social Media is Necessary (2:11)

You Don't Need to be Everywhere (8:21)

Biggest Tip for Utilizing Social Media (14:52)

Appeal to Your Audience (21:28)

I can't wait for you to hear this week's podcast! There are so many other experts in our industry that have a lot to offer and today we have a special guest, Emily with By Emily Jane. She is a Squarespace web designer and strategist who's talking all about how to get more eyes on your website with SEO. Search Engine Optimization. This is basically how you get found on Google. As photographers we really need this. It should be something we're doing right from the start and she's going to break it down and tell us how to get more eyes on your website!

SEO is like the "secret" language for Google. If you want to get clients from your website, you need to be able to speak that language and essentially play the game. And in this way Google is making sure that you're really a business. It's verifying that you're still in business and you're not a scam! When your site is properly optimized, Google rewards you. Your site levels up in the playing field and that gets you more eyes on your website. This is HUGE for photographers. You need something that will help you stand out from a crowd. A proper SEO does just that!

Keywords are what people are typing into Google. This is what your client is searching for. If you don't match those keywords or use them in your SEO then you're missing out on potential clients. There are some keywords that play a significant role in your business. Most people think if their business name is part of their logo that they don't need to include it... WRONG! Google needs you to tell us your business name. How else will people find you?! Including your personal name is helpful too! Just think, if a potential client is trying to find you without knowing your name they may end up finding someone else. As "smart" as google is you really need to make it clear. State your business, your full name (first and last) and say what you do! Are you a photographer? Google only knows what you put in writing!

So we know keywords help our SEO significantly. But where do they go? It's not enough just to have the right words, but they need to be in the right places. Three of the big areas that you want to make sure you're inserting your keywords are in your headings, page descriptions and image names. A good practice is to have your h1 Heading at the top of each page to get the point across for that specific page. Maybe it's the main idea or purpose of that page. Then place keywords to describe your pages. On your services page, it could have an h1 Heading that says "legacy portraits for your family".  Next would be in your image names. This helps your images pop up in Google image search - which gets more exposure! For example, instead of your photo being labeled "Robinson's family 198", name it something like "Dallas studio family portrait". Lastly, use these in page titles and descriptions. Really, it's the back end of your website.

In all our efforts to have a good SEO we still may be coming up short if we aren't active. Blogging is a perfect way to create more content about your service and topic of expertise. Blogging is basically a way to put more entries into the raffle. If you have keywords in the right places, you're still just using them in your page titles, images and description. So what adds the icing on top? Or how can you have extra places to use keywords? Blogging! It's amazing for SEO purposes, but also repurposing content to better serve your clients and create a better client experience for them. Again, this is how to get more eyes on your website!

+ By Emily Jane

+ Free SEO Checklist

Why SEO Matters (4:10)

Must-Have Keywords (8:31)

Headings, Page Descriptions, Image Names(12:12)

Blogging (21:24)

Happy Valentines day friends! Seriously, how fun that we're doing this podcast on the holiday of love. It seems fitting to peel back the curtain and let you hear what it's really like running a business with my husband! I actually didn't think I would be doing this. We definitely didn't plan it! Before photography became our sole income, it was a hobby. Like many of you I just loved shooting, but today you'll get to hear how we got to this place (you know, what it's really like running a business with my husband)!

Before we go there, I have a FREE blueprint called $3K Mini Sessions Blueprint. It's a blueprint of  how to make your first $3,000 from a single set of mini sessions! The reason I call it a blueprint is  just like a house blueprint is used over and over again you can use this that way too! I've done enough minis now to know what works and what doesn't work. Grab this freebie and make your first $3k with ease!

Daniel and I have always had separate jobs. Our last season we were both on staff at a church, but in different departments. I did photography on the side and loved what I was able to do. When we transitioned to photography full time we realized rather quickly that we were putting "all our eggs in this one basket"... yikes! If this failed we would feel it! The pressure for this to be successful mattered so much more because our entire income depended on it.

Now, it wasn't just us going out on a whim. We truly felt that God was leading us in this direction. So what do you do when you make all these plans for your future and it seems like God just comes in and interrupts? Well, for us we knew we had to be obedient! We went all in! While I am the face you all see. Daniel is the incredible man behind production. Basically all that you see and hear has his fingerprints on it. It's amazing how the very thing that scares you can be the biggest blessing in the long run!

When you work for yourself you have this beautiful freedom to create your own schedule. We're able to travel and take time off. Our family has become our priority! Obviously, if we want this business to be successful it still requires effort, time and work. But, together we get to make it what we want. The structure for our lives has come from us, which is incredible! Something funny we discovered was the freedom in work hours. I am an early riser and enjoy getting my work done right away in the morning. My best work is done usually from 8am to about noon. Well, Daniel likes to have slow mornings and let everything really wake up blissfully. Right when I'm getting ready to crash is when he is getting started with a wide awake focus!

Here's the thing, my husband and I are different as I'm sure many of you and your spouses are. I am very much the visionary and it's not uncommon for me to be thinking of new ideas to implement. I often process externally. Whereas Daniel, who is incredibly hard working and focused on excellence, didn't always get excited to brainstorm these new ideas. I had to learn to turn the business brain off. I needed to take the business hat off and put the wife hat on. There needs to be balance working together from home. When we can establish those "hats" it allows us to work effectively and efficiently. We can ask for deadlines and get things done, but also enjoy one another as husband and wife. This is what it's really like running a business with my husband. I wouldn't trade it for anything, but there are those challenges you have to navigate through.

  Honestly, one of these days I'll have him join me, but for now he's chipping away at making this all look and sound good for you!

+ My $3K Mini Sessions Blueprint

Eggs in one basket (7:19)

Freedom to travel (9:42)

Wearing different hats (11:56)

Schedules (13:24)

Guess what friends... Spring Minis are upon us! I am excited to kickstart this process and give you five tips for planning Spring Minis. Maybe you're in the midst of Valentine's Minis or haven't had the headspace to think that far in advance. But let me tell you, if you aren't prepping now you may miss the opportunity to hit a home run!

Before we get started I can't help but remind you, my largest course to date is OPEN right now! Profitable Minis 2.0 is only open twice a year and it's currently up for grabs. Oh and did I mention... it's 50% off! This course covers everything that you need to know to run profitable, fully booked mini sessions. The best part is it comes with a success guarantee. That means if you don't make your money back on your next major set of minis I'll refund 100%. Get the course, learn all the things and watch your mini sessions soar!

For those that have PMC 2.0 you know what a game changer it is and how it plays such a big role in preparing for those Spring Minis! So, today I'll be outlining 5 tips for planning Spring Minis. When is that season? Prime time is March, April, May.

Seriously, you need to get after it. If you have't already get out and capture those promo shots. You want something to be able to show people for advertisement. Whether you're using a studio, a setup or going out to a location you need a photo to promote to the public! If you shot these last year then (yay!) you're a step ahead and can use promo shots from last year. I see this question a lot: "What do I use as a promo if I'm shooting a seasonal background for the first time?" So if you need promos but bluebonnets don't bloom until April use a stock photo. Don't steal a photo and definitely don't pay for one. Just find a free stock photo and use that along with a session you've done to showcase your style/work. Only do this for outdoor sessions that are seasonal. If you're able to get promo shots on location with the actual setup... do it!

Don't wait to advertise when you're open for booking. You need to wet their appetite for what's ahead. This way you're building anticipation for when the "doors open" to book and you won't find yourself frustrated with a low interest rate. We do something special for our VIP list. This is a really great way to grow your email list from your social media. Advertise that your VIPs get priority access to booking minis! Meaning they can book their spot before it goes live to the public. How do you become a VIP? You join the mailing list! Post a question box on your Instagram stories and have people drop their email in. So easy and so rewarding! Priming is vital. Send out early emails letting people know what's coming and why they need to book. Address concerns or opposition. Kids change so much in 5 or 6 months. You can use these for birthday invites. Spring is a completely different season and you should mix up your family photos. These are all reasons clients are on the fence about getting Spring Minis when they just had Fall Minis.

This was part of the last one, but really you need reason behind why someone should join your email list. Words like VIP and priority access are trigger words for buyers. Everyone wants to be a step above and why shouldn't they when it comes to your business. The beauty in this is the longer you've grown your email list you eventually won't need to open to the public. VIPs will end up filling your time slots and they become your recurring ideal client!

Fill all your spots on that one date before opening a second. I know in your mind you want to give options to attract clients. But, this has a few advantages. For one, it's supply and demand. The more slots you have available the less in demand. The less slots you have available the more in demand! This allows you to control your schedule and not have holes. When we open to our VIPs we give access to all the dates. I only suggest doing this if you're confident you will fill both dates.

I know it can be easy to launch your minis and let the hype just kind of fall off. It takes the average person eight times seeing something before they take action. That means you've got to keep it in front of them through your email list, social media, all the marketing! I'm telling you, when you finally get tired of hearing about your mini sessions that's when people will hear it for the first time!

These 5 tips for planning Spring Minis skimmed the surface of some of the great content in the Profitable Minis 2.0 course! It's on sale right now for 50% off. You'll get access to over 15 hours of content including 67 lessons and modules covering my go to softwares like Flodesk, Dubsado and Shootproof. If you're serious about making a profit on your mini sessions you need this course!

+Profitable Mini Sessions 2.0

+Dubsado

+Flodesk

+Shootproof

Start Early (3:11)

Prime Your Audience (6:03)

Open to Your Email List First (8:17)

Open One Date at a Time (10:01)

Advertise Until Booked (11:56)