Join me as I chat with Dennah Renee, good friend of mine and on-set assistant for my travel shoots this year. She’s been a business owner for 3 years and is in the process of transitioning into brand photography full time. Dennah joined my Brand Photography Academy in March of 2021. Before that, she had experimented with doing some headshots, but she didn’t know how to get the results she knew were possible. We’ll talk about some of Dennah’s challenges and shifts and how the Brand Photography Academy helped her business grow. We’ll go into some depth with pricing and how to respond when people ask for discounts and how to start thinking as a CEO rather than an artist. Connect with Dennah https://www.instagram.com/dennah/?hl=en (@dennah) or https://dennahreneephotography.com/ (dennahreneephotography.com) Come say hi on IG https://www.instagram.com/abbygracephoto/ (@abbygracephoto)! If you're ready to plan and shoot your next brand photography session with excellence, leaving your clients 100% sure that what they paid was more than worth it, head on over to https://abbygrace.co/podcast (https://abbygrace.co/podcast). We've got some amazing resources for you that will help you absolutely crush it at your very next shoot. A https://www.angiemjordan.com/podcast-launch-bestie (Podcast Launch Bestie) production Mentioned in this episode: If you're still filling your final galleries with photos of your clients smiling at their MacBook Pro, stop! Those are boring and generic! Join me for a limited time training, only available until September 14th, where I unveil the 5 Ps of non-boring brand photos that break the mold and stop the scroll. Reserve your spot at abbygrace.co/podcast! https://the-artisan-ceo.captivate.fm/nonboring (Photos That Stop the Scroll)

If I had to start over and build this business from scratch, where would I start? I didn’t have a very solid plan when I left my corporate job. I had a rough idea of how many weddings I needed to shoot in order to replace that income, and that was my plan. I had to make it work well enough that we didn’t have to move back in with parents. If I had to do it all over again, knowing what I know now about running a business, I would focus on these 4 main pillars: I would work on my skills as a photographer. In order for personality marketing to be effective, the product has to be on point. I would act proactively with recurring structure and standard operating procedures. Making a decision about what the new client workflow should look like one time saves you a lot of energy down the line. I would pay more attention to the numbers. How much money is coming in versus going out? How much time do you spend on each project? Once you know your numbers, you can make better decisions. I would focus on one marketing stream at a time, then maintain just the ones that have a reliable return. Keep your avenues diverse, but don’t spend all your time there. I don’t work on all 4 of these pillars every day, or even every week, but they do all need consistent attention. Come say hi on IG https://www.instagram.com/abbygracephoto/ (@abbygracephoto)! If you're ready to plan and shoot your next brand photography session with excellence, leaving your clients 100% sure that what they paid was more than worth it, head on over to https://abbygrace.co/podcast (https://abbygrace.co/podcast). We've got some amazing resources for you that will help you absolutely crush it at your very next shoot. A https://www.angiemjordan.com/podcast-launch-bestie (Podcast Launch Bestie) production Mentioned in this episode: If you're still filling your final galleries with photos of your clients smiling at their MacBook Pro, stop! Those are boring and generic! Join me for a limited time training, only available until September 14th, where I unveil the 5 Ps of non-boring brand photos that break the mold and stop the scroll. Reserve your spot at abbygrace.co/podcast! https://the-artisan-ceo.captivate.fm/nonboring (Photos That Stop the Scroll)

My first branding photography session happened kinda by accident. I prepared for it like I would have for a wedding, and the result was some very pretty (but quite generic) photos. None of them spoke to the new professional role my friend was going for. I learned I had to think like a strategist and marketer, not a relationship documentarian. Once I decided to make the leap into brand photography, there were a few things I had to do to establish myself in my audience’s mind: Talk about my offer, and keep talking about it Beef up my portfolio (beta clients are a great way to do this, or even do shoots for yourself!) Launch at full price Once you show your audience that you have a proven process and a blueprint for every client, it demonstrates expertise and positions you as an authority in the mind of your audience. Come say hi on IG https://www.instagram.com/abbygracephoto/ (@abbygracephoto)! If you're ready to plan and shoot your next brand photography session with excellence, leaving your clients 100% sure that what they paid was more than worth it, head on over to https://abbygrace.co/podcast (https://abbygrace.co/podcast). We've got some amazing resources for you that will help you absolutely crush it at your very next shoot. A https://www.angiemjordan.com/podcast-launch-bestie (Podcast Launch Bestie) production

With the huge increase of new businesses in the last couple of years, there’s a great need for memorable branding. If you don’t give people something to remember you by quickly, they will move on. The concept of branding as a whole can seem overwhelming, but the way I see it is like this: Your brand as a whole is the perception that the audience has of your business. The sweet spot is to find a way to match that perception with the business owner’s intent. No, that’s not just a logo, website, or color palette. Could you describe the feeling your brand evokes to a designer so that they could then turn it into something tangible? Understanding brand theory is incredibly important. It’ll give you the edge you need to catapult you to the top of your niche. There are 2 major sides to any brand: Inputs: Everything below ground. Your why, your values and strengths, your target audience, your marketing position, and your messaging. Outputs: The branches and flowers. Your visuals, website, logo, and colors. If you’re constantly reworking your brand outputs without considering the inputs, that inconsistency will be apparent to your audience. Start with these building blocks to a solid brand identity: Why does your business exist? Remember the purpose of your hard work. What is truly important to you? What gives your work meaning? What are you uncommonly gifted in? What’s your unfair advantage? Who are you trying to reach? Whose problem are you trying to solve? What problem or desire does your product or service resolve and how is it different from your competitors? What do you want your audience to know about your brand? In order to be a standout brand, you have to have something that stands out. These inputs take time to develop. You want to let them simmer. Come say hi on IG https://www.instagram.com/abbygracephoto/ (@abbygracephoto)! If you're ready to plan and shoot your next brand photography session with excellence, leaving your clients 100% sure that what they paid was more than worth it, head on over to https://abbygrace.co/podcast (https://abbygrace.co/podcast). We've got some amazing resources for you that will help you absolutely crush it at your very next shoot. A https://www.angiemjordan.com/podcast-launch-bestie (Podcast Launch Bestie) production

After ruining the only weekend I had available to spend with my family one Fall, I knew my business was due for some serious alterations. The pace I was keeping with my then-current career as a wedding photographer just wasn’t aligned with the type of lifestyle I wanted to lead, or with the kind of mom I wanted to be. When I decided to pivot into brand photography and drop weddings, I got the same look as when I told people I was leaving my corporate job. I loved wedding photography, but once I committed to making a complete shift, I found some major perks of brand photography. Brand shoots are easier to schedule year-round Shot lists allow me to be proactively creative I get to decide my availability Meetings and shoots take place during business hours, not evenings and weekends like past work Change can be frightening because it’s likely going to be hard, but it’s worth it if the payoff is a lifestyle that’s more aligned with your values. P.S. Here’s the photo I reference at the beginning of the episode! https://www.instagram.com/p/B5IRRPIHGZW/ (https://www.instagram.com/p/B5IRRPIHGZW/) Come say hi on IG https://www.instagram.com/abbygracephoto/ (@abbygracephoto)! If you're ready to plan and shoot your next brand photography session with excellence, leaving your clients 100% sure that what they paid was more than worth it, head on over to https://abbygrace.co/podcast (https://abbygrace.co/podcast). We've got some amazing resources for you that will help you absolutely crush it at your very next shoot. A https://www.angiemjordan.com/podcast-launch-bestie (Podcast Launch Bestie) production

I left my corporate job so I could work for myself. The problem was, I hadn’t set any boundaries for myself. I kept booking too many weekends in a row, working every evening, taking *just one more!* engagement session during busy seasons… and I wanted someone else to blame for how exhausted I was. If you’re like me, you fell in love with photography, and found out you’re not half bad at it. Somebody offered to pay you for a shoot, and it was really exciting! But, running the actual business side was intimidating and you were quickly overrun. In the moment, it’s a lot easier to complain about your current stress than to actually work to fix the problem. If you want to have any say in the trajectory of your business, it’s time to put your big girl pants on. I learned how to do this in 3 main ways: Pacing. How many clients can you afford to take and serve well? Outsourcing. What’s taking up an inordinate amount of time in your business? Where are the bottlenecks? Boundaries. Be able to end your work day with a period, not a comma. Check out Align Album Design (affiliate link): http://alignalbumdesign.com/r/316 (http://alignalbumdesign.com/r/316) Come say hi on IG https://www.instagram.com/abbygracephoto/ (@abbygracephoto)! If you're ready to plan and shoot your next brand photography session with excellence, leaving your clients 100% sure that what they paid was more than worth it, head on over to https://abbygrace.co/podcast (https://abbygrace.co/podcast). We've got some amazing resources for you that will help you absolutely crush it at your very next shoot. A https://www.angiemjordan.com/podcast-launch-bestie (Podcast Launch Bestie) production

I’ll never forget the email I got from a groom telling me that my prices were unreasonable. I had set my prices with the goal of going full time in my business and they were in line with the industry standard in my area and my level of experience… and that email made me feellike I had been told to sit down and charge less. From that moment, I resolved to never feel bad about my rates because I was running a business, not a hobby. Art is inherently subjective. There is no workers' union of artists to set a minimum rate. Your pricing doesn’t have to cater to everyone, as long as the market has proven that it can bear your rate. The idea that artists need to “starve” in order to live as an artist is faulty. While I don’t begrudge anyone doing some free portfolio work or testing out a new offer, you do still need to charge so that you can earn a living wage, and you need to manage your business efficiently so that you’re not hemorrhaging money. Raising your prices can be scary. Work backwards! How much do you need to make per year? How many hours does each package actually take you and how many of those are you willing and able to do in a particular time frame? Once you have solid numbers it’ll be a lot easier to counter the objections. Come say hi on IG https://www.instagram.com/abbygracephoto/ (@abbygracephoto)! If you're ready to plan and shoot your next brand photography session with excellence, leaving your clients 100% sure that what they paid was more than worth it, head on over to https://abbygrace.co/podcast (https://abbygrace.co/podcast). We've got some amazing resources for you that will help you absolutely crush it at your very next shoot. A https://www.angiemjordan.com/podcast-launch-bestie (Podcast Launch Bestie) production

A colleague asked if I considered myself more of an artist or more of a businesswoman. But…shouldn’t I focus on becoming an effective leader and manager *at the same time* that I’m honing my craft? I didn’t want to choose, and neither should you. If I wanted my photography business to succeed in the long term, I had to treat myself as a business owner. I began to run my business like an actual business, not an expensive hobby. In this podcast, we’re going to talk about: Systems and automation and how they won’t ruin the heart-centered touch How to run your business like a CEO How to keep your business from stealing from your life Seasons of hustle are the exceptions, not the rule You have the right to act and treat yourself like a CEO Ask yourself the same question and let me know your answer on IG https://www.instagram.com/abbygracephoto/ (@abbygracephoto)! If you're ready to plan and shoot your next brand photography session with excellence, leaving your clients 100% sure that what they paid was more than worth it, head on over to https://abbygrace.co/podcast (https://abbygrace.co/podcast). We've got some amazing resources for you that will help you absolutely crush it at your very next shoot. A https://www.angiemjordan.com/podcast-launch-bestie (Podcast Launch Bestie) production

You started your business because you love photography… but when it comes to the marketing, strategy, and admin side of things? It’s slowly killing the joy you once found in your craft. You worry that too much structure will throttle your ability to think creatively…but as it turns out, strategy isn’t suffocating- it’s freeing! And “profit” isn’t a dirty, four-letter word- it’s an essential ingredient in making sure your business runs well and serves the needs of everyone in your sphere of influence- your clients, your loved one, and you. Join brand photographer Abby Grace to learn how to cultivate both sides of creative entrepreneurship- being an artist AND a CEO. Stop by https://www.instagram.com/abbygracephoto/ (@abbygracephoto) on IG!