By Leah O’Connell
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The podcast currently has 23 episodes available.
Have you ever known you needed to make a change for your business but felt scared about what it would cost you?
Have you ever resisted taking risks or making investments or choices that you knew deep down were good choices but felt scary?
That’s the backstory of this episode - why I knew it was time to change my business name and how I went about making the shift after 11 years of operating and creating content on the internet under a different name.
// Links discussed //
Group Coaching : leahoconnell.com/group
Free downloads: leahoconnell.com/learn
Fb group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/photofuel/
SEO expert Melissa Arlena is on the show today with her experience and best practices for moving your photography business to a new city, establishing brand presence online with SEO, and ways you can set yourself up for success.
We talk about things like:
This is a meaty episode - get your pens ready!
// Connect with Melissa: //
Website: https://pictureperfectrankings.com/
SEO facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pictureperfectrankings
On instagram: @pictureperfectrankings
// Connect with Leah //
Website: https://www.leahoconnell.com
Instagram: @leahoconnell.photo
The Firefly Letters: https://www.leahoconnell.com/newsletter
Something that always comes up in the audits I do, in any mentoring call I’ve done in the last 2 years, and in conversations all the time with photographers is COPY - specifically, for your family photography website. In this episode, I have four simple copy tips for your family photography website that will take under an hour to tweak. Even though they're simple, they make such a huge difference in your ability to attract and hold the attention of your dream clients and move through your customer journey and into that contact form.
We talk about things like:
// Links discussed //
You may have heard the concept that keeping a client is always easier than booking a new one - and there's a reason for that! Nurturing your existing family photography clients means making them feel seen and heard beyond the session itself. When you can find unexpected or particularly thoughtful ways to do that, you capitalize on the opportunity to not just build relationship, but to foster relationship that will continue to snowball.
The statistics from current research about nurturing lead generation and conversion are pretty staggering. This is a piece that can't be ignored, but nurturing your family photography clients is actually a really fun way to market and a beautiful way to run a business.
In this episode, I'm sharing 6 things I've done or currently do to nurture family clients and ways you can integrate these or similar ideas into your client nurturing strategy, too - whether you have 2 or 200 of them!
// Links mentioned //
Moo: (postcards for birthdays) https://www.moo.com
Sprout Studio: (client galleries) https://www.trysproutstudio.com/?via=leah
Flodesk: https://flodesk.com/c/O75MQU
The Firefly Letters: https://www.leahoconnell.com/newsletter
Free Audio Training on Posing tips for endless variety (and access to my photographer specific email list) - https://www.leahoconnell.com/posing
Right track audits : https://www.leahoconnell.com/righttrack
I asked my private facebook community what's got them stuck in business and what problems they're mulling through right now and the responses were so wide. Sometimes just talking through a problem and getting new perspective is the push we need to reimagine and tackle it so in this episode, I'm addressing 4 questions from the group with my take. Sometimes my opinions are counter-cultural to industry standard, but I'm giving it to you straight.
We're talking about issues like:
... and all kinds of other nuggets along the way.
If you want to be a part of the FB community and conversations like this along with tons of free video content and training, come join us!
// Links //
Ep 12: What I learned from 1 year of the Firefly Letters
Ep 5 : 6 shifts that helped me grow my family photography business
Ep: 7: Marketing, Privacy, and Social Media with Morgan Miles
My newsletter: The Firefly Letters
Newsletter for photographers - leahoconnell.com/posing or leahoconnell.com/walkthrough
Photo Fuel Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/photofuel/
Group Coaching and Retreat Interest List: https://www.leahoconnell.com/group
// Thank you to the photographers who contributed questions for this episode! //
Susannah Raye Photography
Kari of Mack, Micah, and Olly Photography
Debbie Camba Photography
Sadie Peterson Photography
Our guest today is Caitlin of Caitlin Alohilani Photography. Caitlin is a family, wedding, and branding photographer based in Los Angeles, California. She was born and raised on the island of Oahu in Hawai’i, and credits much of her photographic eye, approach, and values to her upbringing in the islands and the eternal “aloha spirit.”
In this episode touch on:
We also talk about the strengths of being an introvert and she gives some really incredible insight into what it’s like to grow a personal brand as an introverted personality
Caitlin recently got married and at the end, she shares some really helpful tips about what she learned from being on the other side of that experience and her insights are things that resonate with all of us!
// Connect with Caitlin //
https://www.caitlinalohilani.com
https://www.instagram.com/caitlinalohilaniphoto
https://www.instagram.com/caitlinalohilanifamilies
// Links discussed //
Do Less - Kate Northrup
Oura Ring
3 Tips for Endless Posing Variety in Family Sessions
Gallery Walkthrough video
Group Coaching waitlist
I asked in a group once what was everyone’s favorite thing about in-home sessions and someone responded with something like - I know this is shallow, but I only like them if they’re a well decorated home, have interesting architecture, or have great light - otherwise not so much.
The truth is that even when you’re showing your best and favorite work, you may get hired by people who you don’t vibe with. They might have homes that are not your "aesthetic" or are "boring" or "tough." So what happens then? How do you still given them the same vibes that your brand is known for, the same quality images, no matter what?
In this episode, I’m sharing 4 tips to take with you on your in-home sessions to create inspiration and feel inspired even in an uninspiring space.
We touch on:
/// Links mentioned in this episode ///
Images from the home renovation session : https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo/
Episode with Rachel Larsen Weaver
Mentoring with Leah: https://www.leahoconnell.com/mentoring
Group Coaching Info and Wait list: https://www.leahoconnell.com/group
In part two of the In Home Photography Series, I'm getting more technical and sharing exactly the gear (and tools!) I use for running my lifestyle family photography business.
Buckle up for a light, fun episode of recommendations and go behind-the-scenes of what it takes to run my business.
/// Links Mentioned ///
Gear:
Software:
Connect with Leah:
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahoconnell.photo
education: Https://www.leahoconnell.com/education
We're kicking off a series all about in-home family photography and this week, it's all about the one little trick I do that's made all the different with getting more comfortable in a variety of homes.
If you've been nervous about lighting in home settings or the inability to location scout - this one's for you!
Links mentioned:
Blog post : "tips for family photos with your dog" - https://leahoconnell.com/tips-for-family-photos-with-your-dog/
BTS of a full gallery walkthrough - https://leahoconnell.com/walkthrough
///
We're going weekly! (00:00:00)
Backstory about in-home family photography and finding your style (00:01:02)
Finding Inspiration in Different Environments (00:02:03)
Addressing Nervousness About Lighting (00:03:01)
Preparation leads to Confidence (00:04:00)
Problem-Solving in to take this further (00:05:13)
Since you can't do location scouting in a home, what can you do instead? (00:06:11)
The Two Gives and an Ask Method (00:07:06)
The Secret Trick (00:08:09)
Addressing Challenges and Troubleshooting During Shoots (00:11:01)
Building Rapport with Clients (00:13:59)
Mentoring and Coaching Programs (00:15:45)
Right about now, many of you in the family photography world are probably starting to think about planning and marketing for your fall mini sessions. But do you *have* do them??
I am a family photographer exclusively and I do not offer fall mini sessions. Actually I don’t offer mini sessions at all.
If you feel stuck hating fall mini sessions because you think you *have* to offer them or need the quick cash, consider this alternative perspective.
Mini sessions can be a great way to get started, get practice, and develop your skills. But at a certain point, you can decide if it's something that's really aligned with your business goals... or not.
That's what we're digging into today - My 3 main arguments against doing fall mini sessions and a few ideas for how to supplement your business income or calendar instead.
Links mentioned:
QT albums: get 20% off your first order with code FUEL20 or a free studio sample - just reach out and mention Photo Fuel and they’ll get you hooked up with your album sample
The Big Picture Workbook: https://www.leahoconnell.com/bigpicture
Mentoring with Leah : https://leahoconnell.com/mentoring
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