Marvelous Monday: Laura James Studio

Happy Marvelous Monday! We are super excited to feature this amazing business today! Laura James of Laura James Studio is an incredibly talented brand designer that helps entrepreneurs (especially photographers just like YOU!) get their businesses properly branded! You already know that the Golden Girls are BIG advocates of how important branding is to running a successful business and we are totally in love with the things Laura James creates! We have benefited from her awesome expertise and we have a feeling that a lot of our readers will really love what she does!

Read on to learn more! <3

Please tell us a little bit about yourself and your business! What's your specialty?

I am a brand designer that specializes in creative entrepreneurs (like photographers!). I started my first business designing wedding invitations in 2004, and not long after realized graphic design was definitely where my heart belongs. I currently work full time from my home office in sunny Los Angeles, where I also am a full time mom to one little boy (with another bundle on the way soon!) and a wife to the love of my life. :)

Tell us about your journey! How did you get to where you are?

As I touched on before, I started my design career in 2004 as a wedding invitation designer. Few people realize I still do that now! From there, I dabbled in a number of design areas – print, layout, branding, web, color theory, and more – all of which I still do to this day. During all of that, I found that branding design was by far my favorite aspect of graphics.

-------------

<<< Hurry on over to the Laura James Studio blog to snag yourself a FREE download of her new brand discover guide! Go HERE to learn more!

What are your favorite things about working in your field?

I don't even know where to begin! Since I really do work that makes my heart sing, it's hard to say what my favorite parts of this experience is for me... I really do love bringing the inner visions of others to life, and the reactions that I get from those designs. I love asking those thought provoking questions that help entrepreneurs define where they want to be (you'd be surprised how few people think of really important details!), and I really love going through the answers people give me.

While I blog a lot of my completed projects on my website, I also love that many of the details and nuances of branding that go on between me and my clients are sometimes not shared. For example, I love packaging design – and I think a lot of photographers do too. I spend time with a lot of photographers sharing resources and suggestions of how they can integrate their branding into their packaging seamlessly – such as ribbons, twine, stickers, stamps, and so on. I make sure I never just hand over a brand and say "see yah later!" – I share the ideas and thoughts behind each branding element that I suggest, and a few that I maybe didn't include in the branding materials!

What are some of your plans/goals for the future?

I have SO many grand plans for my business! Outside of branding, I am integrating photography (I've been doing that for almost 15 years now...) and product styling into my services list by the end of this year (though I already have a few fantastic clients!), and hopefully by early 2015 I'll be launching a shop with some really fun products – but that's all hush-hush today hehe!

What areas do you service?

I work anywhere! Since my business is so flexible, I don't need to meet face to face with my clients (though I do love Skype, FaceTime, and Google Hangouts to meet up and get to know people). I am based out of Los Angeles, but we move quite frequently (I've lived in more than 6 states in the last 10 years) and travel quite a bit too.

Please be sure to check out Laura James Studio! The best way to contact her is via email, at info@lauraj.co – but she can also be reached by phone at (321) 328-0765. Be sure to follow her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Google + too!

Xoxo!

Golden Girls

If you would like to be featured on a future Marvelous Monday post or if you know a local vendor of photographer we should feature, please send an email to hello@goldengirlsworkshops.com!

Talk Shop Thursday: Branding 101, Finding your ideal client!

Last week, we gave you a rundown of Branding 101 and how important branding is to running a successful photography business.

(If you didn't get a chance to check it out, go back and do a little reading! It's super important!)

Remember your brand is who you are and it is what sets you apart from other businesses. Good branding allows people to get to know you! We gave you a list of tips last week to help you get started in creating your brand, but we have one more tip for you! This isn't so much about who you are... but it's about who you want to work with!

Ask yourself: Who is your ideal client? Sit down. Brainstorm. Write it all down. What does your ideal client look like? Where does she live? Where does she work? Does she have kids? What interests her? What are her hobbies? Yeah, you might feel kind of crazy writing about this make believe person, but the more you dream about her, envision her, the closer you are to knowing your target market.

Once you have a good idea of who you want to work with, you can create a marketing strategy that will draw that client to your business! The more you know about this ideal client, the more you know about your brand. Is your ideal client young, fun, and stylish? Maybe those three words also describe your brand!

The best part about having branding that accurately represents you and your business, is that it helps weed out the clients that don't exactly mesh well with you and your vision. (Face it, not every photographer is a good fit for every client.)

Occasionally, we hear of photographers receiving inquiries only to be reprimanded for having outrageous prices. Well, unless you've way overpriced your work, we don't think your pricing is the problem. Instead of worrying that your prices are too high, maybe ask yourself if you are just attracting the wrong clientele.

Ever wonder how some photographers can charge $15,000 for a wedding package and stay completely booked year-round? They've found their target market and they have the brand to match.

Think about your ideal client, market yourself accordingly and don't worry if certain inquiries don't pan out. Once your branding makes sense and it connects to the people you want it to connect to, those potential clients will start contacting you.

Xoxo!

Golden Girls

If you have an idea for a business related topic you would like to see discussed on Talk Shop Thursday, please send an email to hello@goldengirlsworkshops.com!

Talk Shop Thursday: Branding 101

Happy Talk Shop Thursday, ladies and gentlemen! We have a fun business topic to discuss today! Branding!

Branding is such an important part of running a successful photography business but, truth is, it's something that a lot of photographers forget to focus on and fine-tune! We get so caught up in the logistics of running a business (the editing, the late nights, the taxes, etc.) that we forget to spotlight the most important piece of what sets our businesses apart: Ourselves!

So, what is branding and how does it relate to you and your business? Well, first off, let me tell you this... your brand is not your logo. It is so much more!

A Brand is the stories, the relationships, the memories and feelings, that help a consumer choose one service over another. Are you lost? OK, time out.

Here's a question for you: Do you prefer Coke or Pepsi? Why?

If you chose Coke because you have a thing for polar bears and because your grandma always had ice cold Coke in her fridge and it's what you remember drinking every 4th of July, then, voila! You've been lured in!

That's branding for you. Coke has created a brand that is so strong, so familiar, that you will choose Coke products anytime you have to make a decision between it or another soft drink.

The same can be applied to lots of other products and businesses! Starbucks, Target, Nike! Strong brands = loyal customers. And the same principle can work for your photography business!

A common complaint among photographers, especially those relatively new to the business side of things, is that they have trouble booking clients because the competition is so fierce.

There are so many good photographers in my area. No one wants to book me when they can hire so and so. I give up.

A lot of us have felt that way at some point in our photography journey... and you know how we fix it? We sell ourselves. We sell our story. We sell our personality.

Sure, those other photographers may have awesome talent and the pictures to prove it, but you know what they don't have? They don't have YOU.

We've heard it said that when clients are shopping around for a photographer, they aren't making a decision based solely on the photographs. They're shopping for the photographer.

The key to setting your business apart from the other businesses in your area is creating a personal BRAND! If your brand accurately reflects who you are and what makes you special, then your clients will be drawn to your business... even in an over-saturated market!

So, how do you create a personal brand? We have a few steps for you!

1. List three words that describe who you are and use these to form your brand.

• Remember to focus on you NOT your business.
• Use words that describe who you are today... not who you want to be.

For example, if your words are Edgy, Fun, and Loud, then that is how you should portray yourself to your clients. (Also, you sound awesome. We should be friends.)

2. Inject your personality into ALL of your social media posts.

When I first started posting sneak peeks on Facebook, I fell into the habit of using the same generic phrases over and over. (Isn't this baby the sweetest baby ever? Isn't this  mom the best mom ever? I had a great time taking these pictures! I loved taking these pictures! In the words of my two-year-old daughter,  BOOOOORING.) It wasn't until I started thinking about refining my brand that I realized, that's not how I speak. I'm a Valley Girl at heart. Every other word is dude or rad or girrrrrl... and that's me. That's my personality.

Remember your three words from Step 1? Your social media posts should be reflective of those same qualities. That's who you are. That's your brand.

3. Showcase who you ARE not what you do.

Of course, you're going to want to talk about your talent and your photos, but that's not what your brand is. Your brand is you! Who are you? Are you a mom? Are you a vegetarian hippie home-schooler? Do you make your own laundry soap and grow your own food? Tell your story! Let people get to know you!

4. Personalize everything.

Your blog, your web site, your Facebook... everything! When people find you online, they should know exactly who they are checking out. Let your presence be known, people! Don't make your clients work to find out who you are. Make it obvious.

5. Be yourself.

It's really easy to create a persona from behind a computer... but please, make sure that the brand you're creating is an accurate reflection of who you are. You don't want to sell yourself online as this outgoing party animal photographer and then clam up when you meet your clients in person. Make sure you're honest and that your clients are hiring the person they fell in love with!

Creating a personal brand doesn't have to be hard. It's really all about just being yourself and letting people get to know you. Don't be afraid to be yourself!

Xoxo!

Golden Girls

If you have an idea for a business related topic you would like to see discussed on Talk Shop Thursday, please send an email to hello@goldengirlsworkshops.com!

Talk Shop Thursday! Protect yourself.

Happy Talk Shop Thursday! Let's get down to business.

Today's topic might seem a little boring, but I promise you, it is so important, especially if you are in business! (Honestly, even if you are a hobbyist who takes pictures of people other than yourself, than this is a topic you can't ignore!)

Well, what is it? Insurance.

A lot of times when people decide to start a photography business, they just jump right in without covering all of their bases. It can seem super easy to get started. (Gear? Check. Talent? Check. Clients? Check. Time to start making money!) Insurance is something that can totally fall through the cracks. It's boring, it costs money and it's not something you can pick up at Best Buy or on Adorama. It wasn't until I started talking to fellow photographers about starting up a business, that I learned just how important it is to be properly insured.

So, what do you need?

Well, the first thing you might want to think about is Equipment insurance. You've invested a lot of money into your gear and you want to have a backup plan in case something goes wrong and your warranty is long gone. A lot of insurance agencies offer equipment insurance to cover you in case of fire, theft or breakage. This is a good idea for anyone, not just those in business!

But, if you are in business, you definitely need General or Business Liability insurance. If you are at a shoot and one of your clients gets injured or accidentally destroys some property, you, my friend, can be held responsible for damages. This insurance can protect you against claims for bodily injury or medical bills. Also, if you plan to do weddings or event photography, chances are the venue will require and request proof that you are insured.

You'll have to check with your specific agency and your plan, but Professional Liability insurance can also protect you in cases of negligence or errors and omissions. (For example, you just shot a wedding and suddenly your memory card is broken. Or your bride plans to sue when she realizes you didn't get a picture of the kiss. It happens.) While most photographers include clauses about these sorts of things in their contracts, it's a good idea to cover all your bases.

There are other types of insurance you might want to consider depending on your business needs (Automobile, Fire, Property Coverage) but the above mentioned types are definitely must-haves for the average professional photographer.

Still not convinced you need insurance? I've got a scenario for you. Grab your popcorn.

You just started your photography business. Up until now, you've shot mostly close friends and family... for free. But as word spreads, strangers are starting to reach out to you! They want to give you money! It's an exciting time! Hooray for you! You book a session with your old elementary school best friend's neighbor's distant cousin's ex-girlfriend. You couldn't be more thrilled. You've decided to meet up a gorgeous local park in a few days. When the day arrives, you're nervous but you know you got this. The shoot is off to a great start. You're clicking away, giving direction, the light is perfect... when suddenly, your client trips over a rock and lands face first in the dirt. You help her up, only to realize that her front teeth have been knocked out. Panicked, she shrieks, "This is all your fault! What am I going to do?! I don't have dental insurance!"

(Yikes. I broke into a sweat just typing that out.)

So, what do you do?

If you're insured, well, this sucks, but don't worry. You're covered. This is the reason you have insurance.

If you're not insured, well, let's hope you have some extra cash hanging around. If not, maybe you could sell your gear?

Now that you're thoroughly terrified, we suggest shopping around. You can start by calling whoever your home or auto insurance is with and getting a quote. PPA offers comprehensive plans and so does Hill & Usher. (The Golden Girls insurer of choice!)

Of course, insurance is one of those things you hope you never have to use, but in case something ever does go wrong, you'll definitely be thankful you have it. Better safe than sorry, right?

Xoxo!

Golden Girls

If you have a business question or topic you would like to see discussed, please send a message to hello@goldengirlsworkshops.com!