I can’t believe it’s already been a week since the Heidi Hope Photography Workshop! I am still on a high from the most amazing 3 days. I met a bunch of really wonderful women and learned so much. You can check out my behind the scenes Instagrams here. If you’re a photographer just starting out or even if you’ve been in business for a few years, this workshop will change the way you view your business. For 5 years now, I’ve owned a business, but if I really think about it, the business owned me. I had no idea what I was doing when I first started out. I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in English for pete’s sake. I had ZERO business sense. I pretty much made things up as I went along. Heidi’s workshop focuses on how you can turn your passion into a dream job. I think that’s what has been missing from Stacy Mae Photography in the last year or so. Passion. The business side takes up so much more time and energy that there’s barely anything left for creativity. Do you know that I rarely take my big camera out any more unless it’s for a client? Isn’t that sad?
When I got home from the workshop, I felt so inspired and excited to begin the process of turning SMP into a boutique business. Being boutique isn’t about being super expensive or exclusive, it’s just a model of doing business. According to Heidi, a boutique business focuses on the client experience and is run by an expert in the field. And that’s me! I’ve built this business from the ground up. I’ve got more than 5 years of experience photographing families, babies, and children. My clients have come to trust me with their memories and I feel confident that I can deliver beautiful images. Heidi also says that boutique businesses are built on the relationships they have with their customers. I couldn’t agree more. My clients are the best! So many of them have turned into friends and I’m lucky to be able to watch their kids grow and be a part of their lives. I keep in touch through Facebook and Instagram. I care about their family and they care about mine.
So, how is Stacy Mae Photography going to become a boutique business? Well, I’ve got some big dreams for this business. My goal for 2015 is to build my dream studio. My husband and I are scrimping and saving and hoping to get a loan to help build a two car garage with a loft space above which would be my dream studio. If you follow me on Pinterest, you know I have a board called Studio Envy. Well, there’s a reason for that. I want to create the most beautiful, warm, welcoming studio for my clients. I want them to be able to come to my studio and feel like it’s a second home. I want it to be light and bright and airy (in the summer!). I want it to be a shabby chic space with lots of white and splashes of my favorite shade of blue. I want there to be vintage inspired props and furniture. I’ll still shoot mainly on location, but the studio will be a space to go during the cold winter months. Let’s face it, here in NJ, the winter’s are getting longer!
In my dream studio, I’ll be able to photograph children and babies, cake smash sessions, and even teach classes. I’ll also be able to start offering in person sales so you can come view your images on a big screen and then view all the fabulous products I offer. It’s so hard to sell amazing frames, canvases, and albums when you can’t see them.
That’s my biggest goal for 2015. The smaller ones I want to pass on to my clients. I want to build on the relationships that have meant so much to me over the years and also create new ones. I want to set Stacy Mae Photography apart from the masses of new photographers out there because I’ve been at this a while. I want to capitalize on my strengths and recognize where my weaknesses fall so that I can ask for help in those areas. I’d love to hire an assistant who can help keep me organized and take on those tasks that I’m not so good at. Heidi dedicates a whole section of her workshop workbook to this. I am also going to work on creating a better experience for my clients. One of the things I hope to implement soon is a customer rewards program. Since I do have so many families who come back to me year after year, I want to make them feel special. I also want them to help me spread the word about Stacy Mae Photography so it’ll benefit both of us!
I could go on and on about how many ideas are swirling around in my head, but I need to take it one step at a time. The first one is defining Stacy Mae Photography as a boutique business so that I can begin to make smart decisions that are in line with my brand. Heidi’s workshop has allowed me to do this. I have the workbook sitting on my desk now and I keep reading and re-reading it. I also can’t wait to finish the book she gave us, “Worth Every Penny,” by Sarah Petty and Erin Verbeck. Who knew a book about business could be so juicy?!
We also did a lot of fun shooting at the workshop too! This little peanut was about 13 days old and I was lucky enough to catch a smile.
.jpg)
If you aren’t signed up for my newsletter, now is the time to hop on board. That’s there I’ll be rolling out a lot of the improvements to SMP. That’s also where you get dibs on special offers. One that’s coming up pretty soon too!!
[…] week I blogged about the Heidi Hope Photography Baby Boutique Workshop in Rhode Island and shared some behind the scenes shots with you. Today I wanted to share some of […]
[…] back to clients who have been coming to me for years to capture their families. So, after attending Heidi Hope’s Baby Boutique Workshop in March, I was inspired by her customer rewards program. I think it’s something my own […]