Niche Your Photography Business With Boudoir Photography

If you look up the definition for “boudoir”, you’ll find it means a lady’s private sitting area or bedroom.

When you combine boudoir with the word photography, it takes on a slightly different meaning. Boudoir photography is glamour, sexy or even pin-up style photography that a woman can share with her loved one, spouse or significant other in a very intimate way. It’s not meant to be vulgar or improper. It’s meant to be a reflection of style, love and intimacy.

We have used boudoir photography for years to build a profit zone within our business. It’s a natural extension of working with families, weddings, and eventually maternity and babies. A newly engaged bride loves the idea of providing boudoir photography to her new husband on their wedding night. Or anniversary. Or bring that same creativity and lighting to a maternity portrait – what can be more powerful and intimate than showing off your baby bump days or weeks before the big event?

Yet how do you keep boudoir tasteful, and market it as an intimate portrait experience to those that may be a bit skeptical?

To start, you have to understand how to keep the tastefulness in the art. I once again am very impressed with Edward Verosky’s training, 25 Amazing Boudoir Photography Techniques. His instruction is dead-on. His posing guide helps you get the posing down instantly to help you maintain your professionalism. And I LOVE his names for the poses? It makes it easy when you’re talking with an assistant – “let’s try Samantha Who? Pose”. He shows you full color portraits from each pose, and uses diagrams to help you set up your equipment and pose. [You can read my review of his Flash Photography ebook here. And if you have his Flash Photography ebook, you know what a resource it is]

With today’s modern age, why not use video to help you sell? Video the experience of one customer, and have a professional videographer help you create a dynamic 2 or 3 minute presentation. You can show how you work with a customer. You can show how you direct your clients. They can see the professionalism in your posing style and in your final portraits. Then burn it to a DVD or a flash drive and have it available to watch both at your studio, or send it off to a potential customer.

Want to advertise for it? How about working with a high-end lingerie boutique? You can work out many different types of promotions to help build both of your clients’ lists. Have a few weddings booked for the second half of 2010 and into next year? Entice your clients with a postcard or letter. Sell it as an intimate portrait experience to share on their wedding night.

Then stretch beyond just handing them a CD or the print itself. Find elegant frames, and create packages. A cherished album meant “for their eyes only”. Or a portrait surrounded by a frame of pearls. Come up with your ideas and search online – you can find virtually anything with a few clicks of your mouse. Or head in and chat with boutiques – they usually have amazing references for companies that help them with their props and storefront displays.

Want To Improve Your Flash Photography Skills?

“How do I use flash on outdoor portraits and still have my portraits look natural?”

“How do I light up the dance floor in a dark reception hall?”

“How do I use off camera flash?”

I receive questions like these almost daily. Flash is definitively one area that can make or break a photographer. Knowing how to use flash can improve your photography, and if your clients see the difference, they will be willing to pay for the difference.

There are two ways to learn about lighting.

1. You can buy several types of flash units, and keep trying. Experiment with the lighting in different situations, and see what you get. Keep experimenting until you get the results you are looking for, and can achieve the same results time and again.

2. Learn from a professional. A professional can give you a ton of advice in a short period of time, offering you tips and tricks along the way.

Are you ready to shortcut your learning curve, and improve your flash photography skills today?

I found a great resource this week that I think you’re going to love. Edward Verosky just released a new ebook called Flash Photography: How To Get Amazing light In Any Situation.  I’ve had a chance to go through it, and the advice is right on target. He keeps it simple, and shows you exactly what to do in many situations using photographs, diagrams, and step by step advice.

What makes this a great resource is how he presents the material. He shares ideas by actually showing you photographs he’s taken within his own studio. He gives you a diagram to show you exactly how he set up the image (where he set the subject, how the flash units were set up around the subject, where the camera angle was, etc) and shares his camera and flash settings. By seeing both the diagram and the final image, along with the description of how the final result was achieved, its easy to set up your own subject in a similar manner.

Whether you keep this as an ebook on your computer, put it on your iPad for bringing with you, or print it off for a handy field guide, this is one resource you’re going to love having. If flash has ever raised a question in your mind, grab this up. For only $9.95 a copy, you can’t go wrong.

Buy Flash Photography: How To Get Amazing light In Any Situation Now>>

7 Ways Make The Most Of Attending A Tradeshow

This week is all about weddings and portraits, thanks to Andrew attending the WPPI (Weddings and Portrait Photographers International) tradeshow in Las Vegas this week. With around 11,000 photographers in attendance, row after row of tradeshow exhibits, and photographers scrambling to get a seat in some of the best training sessions around, it’s turning out to be quite the event.

If you are attending WPPI, or plan on attending any other tradeshow or seminar this year, what can you do to make sure you take back to your studio the most important nuggets? What can you do to make sure you get your money’s worth out of your training? Take a look at these suggestions.

1. Attend everything you can. If you’ve paid the attendance fees, and especially if you’ve traveled and have airfare/hotel/car expenses, it’s important to take in as much as you can. Sit down with the schedule and plan out every day.

2. Work through the expo as early as possible. Visit every booth, or at least the booths that have interest and relevance to your business. Collect literature, business cards and any deals or show specials that they are offering. Then sort through the content back in your hotel room. If you have no interest, throw it away at the hotel – no need bringing it home. If you have an interest in purchasing as a show special, make a special pile and spend a day or so thinking about it. Reserve the last day for revisiting booths you want to take advantage of offers. Also tuck a flat rate shipping box into your luggage already pre-stamped. Fill it with your literature, and drop it off at the front desk. They’ll be happy to put it into the mail, and you won’t have to tote it through the airport.
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How To Double Your Sales Without Marketing To New Prospects

Today I’m really excited to announce my newest ebook on one of my most favorite topics – How To Double Your Sales Without Marketing To New Prospects.

As we were building up our business, we hated the idea of selling. It always brought to mind the used car salesman image, and that’s the last thing we wanted to portray.

• We wanted our photography to sell itself.
• We wanted people to call or email us excited, ready to sign on the dotted line with very little effort.
• We wanted there to be so many “knocks” on our door, we would never have to sell again.

This guide is all about sharing with you the one “secret weapon” we found that literally turned our business into a Six Figure business model in just a few months.

How To Double Your Sales Without Marketing To New Prospects shares an idea that we used to successfully reach out to markets we never would have had access to without this “secret weapon”.

Over the past six years, VirtualPhotographyStudio.com has shared with you hundreds or posts on building up a photography business. We’ve shared our ideas in dozens of newsletters, and created many different products and services you’ve used to help build your business, and generate a profit.

Each of my products takes your learning to a whole other level. If you haven’t tried one of my e-training products before, this is your chance to see firsthand how beneficial even one great idea can be.

How To Double Your Sales Without Marketing To New Prospects includes:

• 23 pages of specific advice, tips, resources and step-by-step plans!
• A template ready for you to use!
• Photographs of every idea!
• Examples and case studies!
• Clear text and stories to make sure you walk away with a clear concept, ready to implement in your business!

We know this one idea helped build our business from under $50,000 per year to over $250,000 per year, in less than two years of time. We believe it will do the same for you. And at a price of $14.95 (USD), it’s one of the most economical and valuable pieces of information your business will ever have access to.

30 Day Money Back Guarantee

If one idea could double, triple, even quadruple your business over the next year, you’d be crazy not to invest in it, right? Yet you may have tried things before, and just aren’t sure what to do. Grab your copy of How To Double Your Sales Without Marketing To New Prospects today. I’m so confident you’ll love the ideas presented in simple step-by-step form that if you don’t agree, just let me know within 30 days of purchase and I’ll refund your money – no questions asked.

Get It Now

Make sure you take advantage by investing in How To Double Your Sales Without Marketing To New Prospects today. Get started today…

Joining Photography Associations: Is It For You Or Your Clients Benefit?

As a start up photography studio, there are dozens of places you can invest your money. First you start with the obvious: camera equipment. And then you move to the basic marketing materials: business cards and a website.

Where do Photography groups and associations fall into a marketing strategy? Do you join a group for your own benefit, or do you join it for your clients?

From my perspective, it’s a little of both.

With dozens of photography associations to choose from, it’s easy to find one that covers your niche market – with your interests and your goals in mind. Check out my growing list of photography associations. Read more

3 Conferences That Will Help You Improve Your Photography This Year

Looking for a quick way to improve your photography and help you build your business? I’ve found 3 conferences coming up in the next few months that can offer you a ton of resources in one easy to get to place.

PhotoPlus Expo

The PhotoPlus Expo takes place in New York October 22-24, and will bring you updates on everything photography. You’ll learn as much about the technology side of photography as you will about improving your images.

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How To Take Better Pictures Using Squidoo

Have you ever heard of Squidoo? Have you ever tried Squidoo?

I’ve been using Squidoo for years. It has a lot to offer anyone that is willing to take the time to use it for their business.

Squidoo is a site where you share your knowledge, expertise, and basic love of a particular thing. Choose your passion. Then head over to Squidoo and create a lens. With Squidoo’s design tools, you can easily add text, photographs, videos, and links to a variety of online resources. You can even choose from a variety of money making tools, allowing you to share in the revenue if your lens becomes popular and begins making money.

For me, the best way to use Squidoo is to showcase your expertise. I created a lens today entitled How To Take Better Pictures.

Then in 5 easy steps, plus a YouTube video, a reader can see simple ways of improving their photography. And of course I link back some of the information to my newest website.

How can you use Squidoo?

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Do You Give Your Clients Digital Images or Prints?

What’s your number one question when it comes to building your photography business?

Every week I get email asking various questions about the business. I do try and answer everything that comes through, though I will admit it might take me several days at times to go through everything.

Last week I received a great note from John. And since he ended by saying, “I’d love to see a blog post covering the topic”, here it is.

Hi Lori,

I read your blog all the time and truly enjoy it!  I’m just starting out in the photography business.  I followed your advice:  Networked with my co-workers here on FaceBook, showed my work, became enthusiastic and passionate about it without pandering to people.  Well, today it happened;  I was asked the question:   “So, if I were to hire you to take some pictures of me and my girlfriend….etc..”  Bad news:  I didn’t really have an answer.  Today’s younger crowd, with all the time they spend online, don’t really want prints.  They want digital images.  So, what’s the answer?  How does one set a price for what your time is worth without chasing off a potential client?  I’m sure this is in your Six Figure Course,…but I’d love to see a blog post covering the topic.  Thanks for any help you may be able to provide!!  ~John

First of all, you are correct about covering it extensively in my Six Figure Photographer. I dedicate several modules to discovering what your client wants, and giving them what they ask for. It really can help you build up your business in the shortest amount of time possible.

That said, let’s talk for a moment about expectations.

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HDR Photo Gallery – A Great Place to Look and Learn

Are you inspired by HDR photography?

If you’ve been following me for awhile, you know that’s my newest passion. (read more about HDR photography)

If you’ve ever tried your hand at HDR, its time to see your work.

A new site, HDRcreme allows you to share your work, look through the photo gallery, and vote on your favorites. I’ve added their feed to my favorites – I just love the look. Let me know if you post anything – I’d love to see what you’re doing.

Learn Photoshop Now training guide

Questions always come through in themes. I get a ton of email from you every week, and keep track of the questions to make sure I cover everything in a timely manner. (If you would like to send in your question, please send it to info at virtualphotographystudio.com)

One of the more common questions is:

“How can I learn Photoshop, and improve my photography using Photoshop tools?”

So I’m always on the lookout for great tools and resources. Occasionally we’ll be putting up tutorials like this one.

I also found this tool that I think could help you become even better at Photoshop. It’s called Learn Photoshop Now. You’ll find a guide to help you through actions, and videos to show you exactly what to do.

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