PhotoSpark

We absolutely LOVE when we can highlight photographers in our San Diego community! We're always looking for our peers who have something special to share about themselves & their businesses, so we were SO thrilled when we landed an interview with the amazing Catie Stephens of Vuefinder Photography! Catie is a birth photographer here in San Diego & has photographed 66 births in 5 1/2 years! We had tons of questions for Catie about her job because it's SO different from a regular family or wedding photographer. Some of our favorite talking points are listed below... tune in to the episode to hear even more fascinating birth photography stories from Catie! Our Favorite Questions & Answers from Catie:

1. What makes birth photography different from a regular session? For starters, you don’t know when the session will take place. You have a window of time, about 3-4 weeks. I officially go on call at 38 weeks, but have my phone on from 37. Imagine if you were a wedding photographer, and had to be on call… You know where the wedding takes place, but you don’t know when, or how long you’ll be there. And sometimes, they even change the venue on you
2. What types of things do you have to do to prepare & plan for a birth?First things first, I always have to have gas in the car!! Also, you have to plan the spacing of clients a bit. When I first started out, just over 5 years ago, I wanted clients who were due 2 weeks apart. As I soon discovered, due dates are guess dates. So now I prefer to take clients with close guess dates, as they’re less likely to go at the same time. With 2 weeks apart, one could go a week late, and one a week early – you get the picture? Also, any camera maintenance needs to be planned out. Lastly, family dynamics are super important to the planning process. Your family needs to be onboard with this lifestyle, being on call. It’s not easy on the family members, as you may miss birthdays, anniversaries, holidays. Family vacations need to be planned 6-9 months in advance. As for family events or parties, the most frequent sentence that comes out of my mouth is “I’ll be there, unless I’m at a birth”. Any birth worker will know that sentence, and have used it frequently. With small children, reliable childcare, available 24 hours a day, is a MUST, and making sure to take that cost in to account in your pricing.
3. What goes through your head during a birth photography session?First things first, I have to have my gear ready to walk out the door at any moment. Closer to the due date, I make sure I stay closer to home, especially for 2nd time moms, who often go really fast, and after a long first labor may be in denial about how fast things are actually moving. On my way TO the birth, I honestly just hope to get there in time. Depending on the time of day and the location of the birth, traffic is something I’m always aware of. I don’t really think too much about what kind of shots I want to get, as everything is so unpredictable anyway. I never guarantee certain shots, but once I'm AT the birth, I look for light and the way I can use it to my advantage. I love silhouettes, and always try to get at least one.

Catie has SO much more to share with you guys; you just have to listen to her episode to find out more! Do you have any questions for Catie about birth photography? Feel free to reach out to her at her contact info below, or leave a post for her on our Facebook page! Relavent Links:

• Vuefinder Photography
• https://www.facebook.com/vuefinderphotography
• Instagram @sandiegobirthphotographer
• Instagram @sandiegofreshbaby
• Email: [email protected]

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Dr. Ian Ahearn of Point Loma Chiropractic is in studio today to chat with us about many mistakes we make as photographers when it comes to taking care of our bodies! We all are guilty of carrying too much equipment, bad posture, and sitting in weird, contorted positions at our desks while editing! We decided it would be a great idea to have a chiropractor on our show to discuss some chiropractic advice for photographers! Check out some of our favorite problems & solutions below & tune into the episode for even more tips from Dr. Ian Ahearn! Key Takeaways: 

1. Problem 1: Computer Usage- 
   1. We know that as photographers, unfortunately not all of our time is spent behind the camera. In fact, most of us probably spend significantly more time in front of the computer. We answer emails, retouch photos, make blog posts, etc. which all add up to hours upon hours sitting in a chair. We lean towards the screen, hunch over, have weird arm positions for the mouse, etc. What's some good chiropractic advice to help this issue so we don't develop problems like carpal tunnel or other computer-related injuries?  
   2. Dr. Ahearn suggests that the best way to prevent computer related injuries is to switch up your position as much as possible. You should be standing up to take a short break every 20 minutes. Also, don't assume the same position every time you use the computer. You can sit sometimes, stand sometimes, maybe sit on an exercise ball every now and then. You want to move as much as possible. Blood flow heals tissue, so if you're sitting still or standing still constantly, you're going to start getting aches & pains. You also want to make sure to be relaxed as you work. Remind yourself to stay upright, relax your shoulders, and keeping good lumbar support is super beneficial.
2. Problem 2: Carrying Heavy Equipment-
   1. Sometimes the amount of equipment we carry is absolutely nuts! And we carry it for SUCH a long time, especially during wedding days. There's no way that we can carry so much heavy gear (and usually on one side!) without suffering the consequences. How can we fix this issue?
   2. Dr. Ahearn isn't a big fan of cross-body bags, which is funny because as photographers we freaking love those things. But he suggests that keeping the load as even as possible is a huge step in preventing injury. If you still insist on rocking that cross-body bag, make sure you're switching sides with it often to mix up the load on your body. Roller bags (like Think Tank cases!) are a great alternative to wearing your gear. If you can switch it up from shoot to shoot (carrying sometimes, rolling sometimes, etc), this can help tremendously also! Ashley also admitted that she wears her camera around her neck at all times. Kate wore her camera like that for 7 years and constantly suffered from neck pain. It wasn't until her strap broke & she was forced to hold her camera sans-strap, that Kate realized how much better her neck felt after the shoot! Ever since, she's had her camera off her strap (Julie does too!). Consider trying this if you find your neck is constantly in pain!
3. Problem 3: Twisting our Bodies in Weird Positions-
   1. Photographers will do anything to get the best shot, and that often includes twisting & contorting our bodies into weird positions (and sometimes holding it for a long time!). There's really nothing we can do to prevent having to make these weird stances, so what can we do to help the damage we've done after a shoot?
   2. Dr. Ahearn highly recommends the use of a foam roller! Julie is apparently already a huge fan & uses one on a regular basis. Foam rolling increases blood flow & allows for better movement & increased range of motion. It will help put targeted pressure on any areas of pain, which allows them to heal quicker. It also helps to remove lactic acid, which aids in the recovery of muscles. So while we might not be able to prevent twisting ourselves in weird ways to get awesome angles, we can at least help heal some of that on our own before our injuries get too bad. Dr. Ahearn also suggests regular chiropractic advice and care. The frequency of your chiropractic visits will range from person to person. He sees NFL players that should be seen multiple times a week, and he also sees people without huge issues that can get away with visiting him once a month. For the best idea of what you need, you should get evaluated by a chiropractor & develop a personalized plan & schedule!

We hope you enjoyed our chiropractic advice episode with Dr. Ian Ahearn as much as we did! We learned so much about how awful we all are to our bodies & some ways to help prevent and/or fix the damage we do on a regular basis! Relavent Links:

• Point Loma Chiropractic
• Think Tank Roller Cases
• Foam Rollers on Amazon

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There's no denying that online reviews are SUPER important these days. Most people check online reviews before doing just about anything, so it makes sense that people REALLY check online reviews before booking something as important as a wedding vendor! One of the BEST places to check wedding vendor reviews online is The Knot! In fact, both Ashley and Kate used The Knot when planning their weddings many years ago, and it's still as popular as ever today! In fact, 80% of couples utilize The Knot when planning their wedding! For this reason, we are stoked to have Hillary Boyd from The Knot on PhotoSpark this week to chat with us about the importance of online reviews, how to make the best of a listing on The Knot, and more! Key Takeaways:

1. Research Your Potential Client: Not only is The Knot a great spot for vendor reviews, but many brides & grooms make their wedding website on The Knot! This is great news for you as a photographer, because you can do some slick recon to figure out who they are and what they're passionate about before you even meet them! This will help you decide if they're your ideal client, and will also help you with your consultation with them. Do they like craft beer? Make your consultation meeting at a brewery!
2. Asking Clients for Reviews: This is all about timing! You can't ask for a review in the normal 2 week post-event window because they likely haven't even seen the final product yet. Hillary suggests delivering the images (with a very personal email or thank you card) and include a link in that initial contact to give them a chance to leave you a review! You can also text them the link... a lot of couples use the mobile option for The Knot, so this might be an easier route for them to take! Remember, clients who use review websites like The Knot, are way more likely to leave you a review because they're comfortable with using review sites & want to return the favor to other brides & grooms!
3. Ask Clients for Feedback First: When you deliver your images, ask your clients if they're happy and if they have any feedback for you. That way, if they're unhappy for any reason, you have a chance to remedy the situation before they leave a negative review. Communication is SO important & a lot of times negative reviews are left only because they are frustrated & haven't felt like their issues have been taken care of. By asking clients for feedback, you're ensuring everyone is happy before they leave you an online review!
4. Magic Number 11: Hillary mentions that 11 is the magic number of reviews! When you have 11+ reviews, potential clients tend to view your business as more legit than someone who has less than that. If your review page is brand new, consider contacting old clients & asking them to leave a review on the new site. And there's an easy way to do this! Let's say someone left you a Yelp review but now you're looking for reviews on The Knot. Consider copying their review and pasting it in an email to them. Tell them "Hey! I LOVED your review of me on Yelp. I'm trying to establish solid reviews on The Knot... I've copied your review here to make this as easy as possible... any chance you'd be able to create an account on The Knot and paste your review for me there?" This makes it easy & foolproof & will help you get to your 11 reviews!
5. Submit, submit, submit: Hillary suggests submitting your work as much as possible! Most couples LOVE to be featured & this is a great way to show off your talent & work to new, potential clients, as well as connect with vendors from that wedding (it will tag all of them). We suggest submitting via Two Bright Lights (have you heard that episode?! It's SO informative & shows how easy the process is!). We actually have a giveaway going on for two free months of Two Bright Lights for our newsletter subscribers. Click here & find the newsletter signup form toward the bottom of the page to be eligible to win!

Relavent Links:

• The Knot
• Two Bright Lights
• PhotoSpark Newsletter Signup

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Photo Cred: Bethany Belle Photography We can all agree that the photography industry has changed IMMENSELY over the last 10-15 years with the popularity of digital SLRS taking over from film cameras. Along with this shift, it became a lot easier for photographers to offer digital files to their clients instead of prints. However, just because it's easier doesn't necessarily mean it's the right path to take! For this episode, we invited in person sales guru Hillary Lachman (of Stills By Hill Photography & Sweet Snap Photography) to teach us a little bit about why she chooses to stick with in person sales and how she manages everything! Key Takeaways:

1. Digital Files Can Be a Disservice: Hillary feels that family photos are SO important to have, and that by offering digital files only, clients will likely not end up printing their photos. When they don't know what products are available, they are even less likely to print their photos, and therefore they won't have their memories as well preserved as they would be with prints. Studies have been done that show that kids grow up with better self esteem and better sense of self when they see their parents print up family photos or photos of them and/or their siblings and put them on the wall. Even as photographers, most of us at PhotoSpark are also super guilty of not printing our photos... so it's easy to see that this is a huge possibility for our clients as well!
2. We Lose Control Over Digital Files: When you give print releases for your digital files, you have zero control over where the client prints their photos. We've seen some horrible filters on Facebook, right? Well imagine if the client applies those awful filters to our professional images and then PRINTS them and hangs them up on their wall?! Even worse... what happens when they post the altered images on social media with credit to your business? You could easily lose potential clients.
3. Transitioning from Digital to Prints: This is something that those of us who still offer digital files only all likely struggle with. For me personally, I've been digital only for 8 years, so my clients are used to getting their digital images... I've often felt it isn't fair to them to completely switch my business model after they've been such loyal clients. Hillary suggests a good way to start the transition is maybe offering digital files for mini sessions only, but keeping regular shoots all in person sales. This allows past clients to still receive what they're used to receiving, but also allows for a much more customized, couture experience for full price sessions.
4. Work With What You Have: You don't have to have a studio in order to do in person sales! Hillary started out by visiting client's homes. She'd bring a projector with her, some sample albums, frames, etc, and she'd show the clients their photos in the comfort of their own homes. While it's significantly easier to have clients come to your own studio (because you don't have to lug a bunch of stuff around!), don't shy away from in person sales just because you don't have studio space!
5. Narrow Down Your Selection: Don't show people 80 photos from their shoot and make them choose!! With digital, you can kind of get away with offering more photos, because your clients don't have to make any decisions. With in person sales, you'll overwhelm your clients if you show too many images. Narrowing them down before you even show them to your clients is so important! Don't be afraid to only show the very best of the best!

Hillary has a TON more tips for you guys in this episode, so be sure to download & tune in to hear some more!! Do you guys do in person sales? Or do you prefer digital? Let's chat! Leave us a note on Facebook and join in on the conversation! Relavent Links:

• Stills by Hill
• Stills by Hill on Facebook
• Sweet Snap Photography
• Sweet Snap Photography on Facebook

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Photo cred: La Vida Creations EEK! We are so excited to share ANOTHER awesome episode with you guys featuring the ever-talented Bethel Nathan!! If you tuned in last week, you already know that Bethel is the owner of a few awesome businesses based here in San Diego. She's a wedding officiant at Ceremonies by Bethel, as well as a business coach at Elevate by Bethel. Last week she chatted about modern weddings and how the wedding industry has changed (in a great way!) over the past few years. If you missed that episode, tune in here: http://photosparkshow.com/modern-weddings/ This week, she's chatting a bit more about the business side of things! She believes business owners need to work harder AND smarter to optimize their business's potential, and she shares some great tips with us on how we can do that too! She gives us 6 keys to grow your business... here are some of our favorites (you'll have to listen to the episode to hear the rest!) Key Takeaways:

1. Ideal Client: Ok.. we know we have talked about this A LOT. But it's SOOOO important!! If you aren't working with the right people, you won't be happy, and you probably won't be as successful! If you're working with people who trust you & love your work, you're going to enjoy & sustain your business better. These are also the people who are going to appreciate your services SO much more than others. You want to leave your event or shoot feeling appreciated, because it was exactly what they were looking for. This definitely builds self esteem for your business and will make you much happier in the end! Also... appreciative clients lead to more reviews & word of mouth recommendations, which leads to more business in the future from similar-minded people! Make sure your website & marketing materials clearly state who you are and what your business is about, because that's the best way to weed out people you aren't a great match for. Text and imagery is SO important & will do wonders to help grow your business!
2. Setting Smart Goals: Start by looking at your big goals, and work your way down to your smaller, easier goals. You have to know where you want to end up in order to grow your business accordingly. These are your personal, key goals... everything else leads to that. Setting quarterly goals tends to be a bit more effective than yearly goals... they're easier to attain & they'll help you stay on track. Bethel uses the SMART acronym to help define her goals:
   1. Specific: Who, What, When, Where, Why
   2. Measurable: You have to know when you reach your goal
   3. Attainable: Within reach & do-able within your industry
   4. Relavent: Make sure it's the right thing to focus on
   5. Time-Specific: There needs to be an urgency to the goal
3. Systems & Processes: As photographers, we have a ton of systems in place to help make our lives easier. From Shoot Q to email templates, there are many ways we can work more efficiently in our businesses. Bethel stresses the importance of looking at your process also. Take a step back & see where organization & efficiency can be boosted... if you can't handle the business that you have, you're going to struggle & let people down. So take a look at what areas can change to help you be more efficient. Consider hiring a virtual assistant if your workload is too heavy. Relinquishing control can be REALLY tough, but in the end if you're too overworked & inefficient, your business is going to suffer and you won't be able to grow your business.

Photo Cred: E3 Photography Thanks for tuning in to this episode... we are amazed at the plethora of knowledge Bethel shared with us (for free!!!). She's fantastic at what she does & we were honored to have her on the show two weeks in a row!! Be sure to check out the links below & visit her on social media! ALSO!!! Super rad!! Bethel has shared some free goodies with our listeners!! She shares a free PDF from last week's episode on key things you should be doing to work with the modern couple as well as a PDF from THIS episode on ways to grow your business! Check out both freebies here: http://www.elevatebybethel.com/podcasts Relavent Links:

• Elevate by Bethel
• Ceremonies by Bethel
• Asked to Officiate
• Bethel on Twitter
• Bethel on Instagram
• Bethel's Freebies for our Listeners

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Can you believe it's August already?! We definitely can't!! In this 90 degree heat, it's so hard to start thinking ahead to the fall and winter seasons, but it's super important! As photographers, we have to constantly be planning 3+ months in advance in order to give clients enough time to book shoots, get photos back, and select products (hello, Christmas cards!). Ashley's Three Minute Tips episode this week discusses how she plans ahead for the holiday season, starting now! Key Takeaways:

1. Plan Available Dates: Calculate out your workflow & figure out realistically how many shoots you can take per week & then list all of your available dates for the rest of the year. This will ensure you don't accidentally take TOO much onto your plate (a common mistake for photographers during the busy holiday season!).
2. Perfect Email Templates: Make sure all of your information is correct & up to date in your email templates. Templates save SO MUCH TIME and stress during the holiday rush, so it's important that they're on point & accurate for the current year!
3. Contact Past Clients: Ashley always gives her returning clients a bit of an incentive to book their shoot by September 1. She makes sure they are the first to receive her available dates list, and contacts them as soon as she knows her availability. This is a great way to keep clients loyal, remind them of your presence, and avoid any situations where you book up too quickly & loyal clients feel blindsided!

Do you have any tips for prepping for the holiday season? If so, feel free to share on our Facebook page or shoot us an email! Good luck with the coming months & best wishes with your 2016 holiday bookings! Relavent Links:

• Ashley DuChene Photography

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Howdy there! So this week, Kate shares her three tips to help kids smile! As photographers, we've all been in situations where we are trying our best to get those awesome natural smiles, but for whatever reason it just isn't working. This quick three minute tips episode will give you a few ideas to put in your back pocket when working with shy or unhappy kids! These tips also work with fake smilers... we don't want those forced, painful grins!! Check out Kate's favorite ways to help kids smile! Key Takeaways:

1. Start with Parent Photos: Even if the parents don't want to be in photos, if the kids are shy, I always make them start with a family shot. This works especially well for little ones because it helps them feel more relaxed and helps them warm up to me while sitting in mom or dad's lap, instead of alone where they feel pressure! If the parents are hesitant (I always hear "but I don't have makeup on!") ensure them that these photos don't "count" as part of their package... it's just to help their kiddos warm up. 9 times out of 10 those parents will still want to see the family photo. ;)
2. Talk to Them: Constantly chat with the kids as you take their photos. Ask their name, age, favorite animal, things like that. They're automatically going to feel more relaxed. Once they're comfortable with you, you can joke around with them a bit to try to get that natural giggle... say things like "Wait a minute. I forgot your name. Is it mommy?? No... is it daddy??? No... is it purple hippopotamus??!" This one usually generates some laughter or at least a small natural smile! There's nothing more intimidating than staring into the camera of a silent photographer, so don't be afraid to chat it up!
3. Don't Be Afraid to Get Silly: Funny noises, funny words, silly faces... these will usually work! Fart noises are always a win with little boys (and usually little girls too). Kids also love when you put random stuff on your head too; especially if it's kinda gross (like seaweed). Step out of your shell & don't be afraid to be totally ridiculous and goofy... anything for the shot, right??!

Hope you enjoyed Kate's quick tips to help kids smile! Do you have any to share?? Feel free to share your favorite tips on our Facebook page!   Download from iTunes Here

PhotoSpark Show is candid conversations about photography and business. We are three women business owners and entrepreneurs who talk about networking, workflow, client relationships and more. We’re not afraid to share our own ups and downs and we’ll help you tackle yours!  In future episodes, We’ll have guest speakers, answer listener questions, all while giving you tips & tricks to help get you through the upcoming years! PhotoSpark is hosted by Kate Mills, Julie Ferneau, and Ashley DuChene. Listen to Episode one here: Download from iTunes Here

• Send us your Questions via email: [email protected]
• Visit our Website: http://www.photosparkshow.com
• Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photosparkshow
• Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photosparkshow/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/photosparkshow
• Subscribe: iTunes to download and subscribe to our podcast!

  Have ideas, comments or just want to say hi? Contact us! 

Join Ashley DuChene, Kate Mills and Julie Ferneau as they discuss wrapping up the photographer busy season around the holidays and how to manage their time better. Julie dives into how she held up during her first set of traveling mini sessions to Iowa, the great midwest. They also go over the pros & cons of mini sessions. They aren't for everyone but are they for you? Grab your coffee and join us for candid conversation about photography and business!

• Send us your Questions via email: [email protected]
• Visit our Website: http://www.photosparkshow.com
• Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photosparkshow
• Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photosparkshow/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/photosparkshow
• Subscribe: iTunes to download and subscribe to our podcast!

PhotoSpark is candid conversations about photography and business. We are three women business owners and entrepreneurs who talk about networking, workflow, client relationships and more. We’re not afraid to share our own ups and downs and we’ll help you tackle yours!  In future episodes, We’ll have guest speakers, answer listener questions, all while giving you tips & tricks to help get you through the upcoming years! PhotoSpark is hosted by Kate Mills, Julie Ferneau, and Ashley DuChene. Have ideas, comments or just want to say hi? Contact us! 

Staying organized is the topic of episode 3! Join us as we discuss planning ahead. Kate tells us about her old school paper/pen methods. Ashley and Julie give her the scoop on their client management systems, workflow, & outsourcing.

• Send us your Questions via email: [email protected]
• Visit our Website: http://www.photosparkshow.com
• Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photosparkshow
• Find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photosparkshow/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/photosparkshow
• Subscribe: iTunes to download and subscribe to our podcast!

Have ideas, comments or just want to say hi? Contact us!  PhotoSpark is candid conversations about photography and business. We are three women business owners and entrepreneurs who talk about networking, workflow, client relationships and more. We’re not afraid to share our own ups and downs and we’ll help you tackle yours!  In future episodes, We’ll have guest speakers, answer listener questions, all while giving you tips & tricks to help get you through the upcoming years! PhotoSpark is hosted by Kate Mills, Julie Ferneau, and Ashley DuChene.