In this episode, Marie Tilkens, a luxury family and motherhood photographer based in Washington, D.C., shares her insights on creating a personalized and nurturing client experience from initial contact to post-session follow-up.

Marie shares a wealth of information that will help the listener understand how to have an incredible client experience from start to finish. Some of the points discussed include:

1. Client Onboarding: Marie always starts with a Zoom call to save time and establish a personal connection; this builds trust and ensures clients are relaxed during the session.

2. Personalized Communication: Although Marie does not rely heavily on automation, she does use templates to communicate immediately with each client who inquires.

3. Nurturing Tools: Marie goes over her family photography guide process, her personalized welcome gift process, and all the tiny, thoughtful touches she does to serve her clients before their actual session.

4. Post-Session: Marie has a philosophy where she underpromises and over-delivers. She does shoot in a hybrid manner (both digital and film), so she tries to set expectations right off the bat for how long the product will take. Her clients are always surprised when they receive a preview collage of their session, and they also are pleasantly surprised when she has a Zoom call with them to go through their slideshow!

The Three Main Takeaways That Marie Wants Every Photographer To Remember Is This:

1. Nurture the relationship with your client.

2. Personalize the photography experience.

3. Under-promise and over-deliver.

Connect with Marie Tilkens

Website

Instagram

Connect with Grace Paul

⁠Website⁠

⁠Instagram⁠

⁠Grace Paul Co: Education⁠

Want a free gift from Grace Paul?

Learn the three things I do at every session to create authentic, connected photos you can feel.

Access this free resource ⁠HERE⁠

Thanks for listening to the Rooted at Home podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please:

🎙️subscribe & follow this podcast on your favorite podcast platform

✨Post a screenshot & some of your favorite takeaways on your IG stories, and tag me⁠ @gracepaulphoto ⁠so I can repost it!

Remember, your story matters.

This week's podcast interview is part two of my conversation with Hannah Mann. Tune in to this episode for an inspiring conversation packed with valuable insights and practical advice for photographers and creatives alike.

🎧To listen to part one click here

Highlights of our conversation:

1. Tangible Advice for Growing Your Photography Business:

✨Embrace Your Unique Talent: Hannah emphasizes the importance of moving past the emulation of others and focusing on your unique gifts and talents. She advises photographers to stop emulating others at a certain point and embrace who they are, as this will attract the right clients and opportunities.

✨Authenticity Over Comparison: Lean into your art and preferences as confidence grows from being true to yourself.

✨Empowering Students: Hannah wants her students to grow into their own art, step away from emulating her work, and embrace their own giftedness.

2. Best Tips for Finding Magical Light in Sessions:

✨ Don't just default to backlight: Often, backlighting is a go-to technique for its beautiful effects.

✨Appreciate Front Light: Front lighting can be equally stunning, especially when it is soft and filtered. Hannah encourages photographers not to overlook this option. She also drops an entire lesson on how to acheive this stunning look (so please listen in)!

3. Understanding Light on a Deeper Level:

✨Hannah delves into the nuances of different lighting techniques and how to make the most of various lighting conditions to enhance your photography.

4. Inspirational Resources:

✨Podcast Recommendation: "Nothing is Wasted" – A Christian podcast offering inspirational stories and insights. Check it out at [Nothing is Wasted Podcast](https://www.nothingiswasted.com/podcast).

5. Featured Photography Work:

✨Check out Hannah's stunning maternity session at the Boise River in Eagle, Idaho. [View the session here]

Connect with Hannah Mann

Website

Instagram

Hannah Mann: Education

Connect with Grace Paul

⁠Website⁠

⁠Instagram⁠

⁠Grace Paul Co: Education⁠

Want a free gift from Grace Paul?

Learn the three things I do at every session to create authentic, connected photos you can feel.

Access this free resource ⁠HERE⁠

Thanks for listening to the Rooted at Home podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please:

🎙️subscribe & follow this podcast on your favorite podcast platform

✨Post a screenshot & some of your favorite takeaways on your IG stories, and tag me⁠ @gracepaulphoto ⁠so I can repost it!

Remember, your story matters.

I am excited to welcome Hannah Mann, a Newborn and Family Photographer and educator (who is based in Boise, Idaho), to the podcast this week! 

Some highlights of our conversation:

✨Transition to Full-Time Provider: Hannah shares insights on her typical work week and her journey from being a homeschool mom to a full-time photographer and educator.

✨Balancing Structure & Routines: The significance of maintaining a balance between structure and routines in personal and professional life.

✨Reality vs. Perception: Hannah emphasizes that "Our feelings don’t necessarily reflect what we are accomplishing," highlighting the importance of recognizing actual achievements over perceived productivity.

✨Market Considerations: Understanding the importance of considering your location and market dynamics when building a business.

✨Diverse Career Paths: The idea that you don’t have to commit to one career path forever, and it’s okay to evolve and explore different opportunities.

✨Embracing Seasonality: The value of leaning into seasonal changes and being adaptable to shifts in both personal and professional life.

✨Personal Growth: A reminder that we are not meant to stay the same forever, and personal growth is a continuous journey.

✨Confidence in Service: Confidence comes from knowing you are serving your clients and students well. Regardless of where you are in your business journey, you can serve others effectively and confidently.

Connect with Hannah Mann

Website

Instagram

Hannah Mann: Education

Connect with Grace Paul

⁠Website⁠

⁠Instagram⁠

⁠Grace Paul Co: Education⁠

Want a free gift from Grace Paul?

Learn the three things I do at every session to create authentic, connected photos you can feel.

Access this free resource ⁠HERE⁠

Thanks for listening to the Rooted at Home podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please:

🎙️subscribe & follow this podcast on your favorite podcast platform

✨Post a screenshot & some of your favorite takeaways on your IG stories, and tag me⁠ @gracepaulphoto ⁠so I can repost it!

🩷Remember, your story matters.

Hello friend! This week on the podcast, I am reflecting on what being ROOTED means to me, my business, and my life with my family. Being Rooted means our roots should be planted firmly, and you'll see this theme intertwined in all of the episodes as I encourage my listeners to dig deeper.

In This Episode, I Share:

☀️Summer Schedule Insights:** This is an inside look at what’s happening in my summer schedule as a mom of 5 (soon to be mom of 6).

☀️Budget-Friendly Summer Fun:** Here are some summer activities I plan on doing with my boys and why you don’t need a big budget to have the best summer ever.

☀️Finding Household Rhythms:** The importance of slowing down and discovering your unique household rhythms.

☀️Encouraging Scripture:** Sharing a Bible verse that has been uplifting and encouraging to me (Psalm 127:1-2).

🔗Links Mentioned

-The BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever

**I cut the recipe in half and knock the sugar down to 2/3 cup! I've also subbed maple syrup and coconut sugar instead of refined sugar, and they turn out amazing!**

Summer Items We're Loving

- Reusable Water Balloons

- Best Cheap Water Guns

- No Fuss Ice Cream Machine

- Movie Projector

🔖**Bible Verse Highlight:**

- *Psalm 127:1-2:* "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain, you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves."

Connect with Grace Paul

⁠Website⁠

⁠Instagram⁠

⁠Grace Paul Co: Education⁠

🎁Want a free gift from Grace Paul?

Learn the three things I do at every session to create authentic, connected photos you can feel. Access this free resource ⁠HERE⁠

Thanks for listening to the Rooted at Home podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please:

🎙️subscribe & follow this podcast on your favorite podcast platform

✨Post a screenshot & some of your favorite takeaways on your IG stories, and tag me⁠ @gracepaulphoto ⁠so I can repost it!

👋🏼See you next week!

I am continuing my conversation with Kristie Lloyd on the podcast this week about the importance of heirloom portraits.

Remember, there are clients who live in your area and want true luxury-quality work! Here are some points we cover:

Does it take work? Yes.

But can you serve clients who want heirloom portraits? Yes.

Can you turn a 10 minute session into a 4 figure session? Yes.

That's what Kristie and I deep dive into this week!

🎙️To listen to part one, click here

Connect with Kristie Lloyd

Website - https://kristielloydphotography.com/

Instagram - @kristielloydphotography

Her Free Masterclass: here

Kristie Lloyd Education: here

Connect with Grace Paul

Website

Instagram

Grace Paul Co-Education

Want a free gift from Grace Paul?

Learn the 3 things I do at every session to create authentic, connected photos you can feel.

Access this free resource HERE

Thanks for listening to the Rooted at Home podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please:

🎙️subscribe & follow this podcast on your favorite podcast platform

✨Post a screenshot & some of your favorite takeaways on your IG stories, and tag me @gracepaulphoto so I can repost it!

Join me as I talk with Kristie Lloyd about how to elevate your business with heirloom portraits. And learn more about a brand new course she is launching soon!

Check out the Fine Art Family Collab here!! Doors open 2/19/24!

https://gracepaul.co/fine-art-family-collab-24

Join me, Grace Paul, as I talk with Kayla Victor about what it means to create a business brand that's true to you. Learn about where to find inspiration that lasts and how to beat the comparison game and love what you have instead.

Learn more about Kayla here.

https://www.kaylamariphotography.com/

Interested in the Fine Art Family Collab 2024?

Check it out here!!

https://gracepaul.co/fine-art-family-collab-24

Come say hey on IG! It's my favorite place to be.

https://www.instagram.com/gracepaulphoto/

Join Marie and I as we discuss her business origins and how to build the business of your dreams by using smart investment strategies. Plus find our her must-have business reads and what's coming next with the Fine Art Family Photography Collab!

Come join Morgan and I as we explore what it looks like to find freedom in your creative small business. As work from home moms with big families, we have had to learn how to chase what matters and leave behind what doesn't. Our desire is to help you do that, too.

Get to know the why behind Grace Paul Photography and take away some tangible advice on balancing business & motherhood.