Hello to my LOYAL CLIENTS, friends and family...
Let’s face it, 2020 was a little different. But, it did give us the opportunity to think about our priorities and reflect on the past year. It raised some questions for me on a personal level and a business level too:
- What went well?
- What didn’t?
- What do I want to do differently with my photography this year?
- What did I accomplish in 365 days?
Thinking about these questions helped me plan out my year and make productive changes in my business and my personal life.
So are you ready to hear more???
Cue the balloons, throw all the confetti, Because guys, this is SO EXCITING
So why the Changes...
If you’ve been following me on Facebook for the last few years, you know that I’ve been photographing so many styles of photography from weddings, newborns, maternity, families and couples and so on and so since 2009. Hundreds (maybe thousands, i should count the total no. of shoots i have done since 2009) of people have let me capture their amazing memories, and I couldn’t be more honoured to have met so many amazing people in my photography career and worked with every one of them! Even the negative ones (and yes there have only been a handful but i just wanted to say THANKS to them too as they made me also face some of these changes in my business)
So...many of you have seen my business grow...from my flat in Milnerton Ridge, to my garage in Parklands and then to 2 amazing studio premises (Big Bay and Milnerton) and then go right back to where i realised i would be the happiest back home in my boutique studio. This time converting it to suit my needs and the style of photography i so love and enjoy!
SO ON A PERSONAL NOTE...oh yes i have your attention...haha Most of you know me i don't SHARE MY PERSONAL LIFE on social media often at all...but i felt this time i had to share just a piece of my life to you all in more depth.
Last year was a tough one ...with LOCKDOWN and finances as well as being a self employed MOM to a special needs child also proved quite hard.
As some of you might know i have a daughter, Drew who is visually impaired since birth and she is one amazing girl...or should i say almost Woman. Just turned 14 years old. One of the biggest challenges we were faced with last year is that she was moving to Grade 8 (high school) and after multiple interviews with schools in the area we soon realised that unfortunately sometimes those children that need that little bit more are not given the same opportunities as others even though they could cope and do cope. I have never treated her like she has a DISABILITY i try not to use that word as i believe that anyone no matter what can accomplish anything they set the heart and mind too. Unfortunately all the negativity that she was faced with not being accepted into schools made her see her disability as something that limited her and she became more aware that she was in fact different. Sometimes i wondered if treating her that she could do anything was also shielding her from the "real world" and the expectations they have.
BUT...
I do believe that EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON and if you know me well you know you have heard me say that alot.
So she will now be doing ONLINE HOME SCHOOLING from next year and will be based at home with me where my studio is located. So this is one of the BIG FACTORS of me changing the way i run my business so that i can be there for her as well as my CLIENTS and give both sides the best of me! Haha holding thumbs of course...i know it will be a challenge but one thing i have seen from last year is also how many GOOD PEOPLE are out there...from amazing clients that i know appreciate what i do and offer them to amazing family and friends too.
So what changes are going to be happening?
So this year is all about YOU my client making YOU HAPPIER and streamlining my packages and business so i can do that as well as capturing the shoots that i love the most.
So I am saying goodbye to the following :
- No more SPECIALS
- No more BLACK FRIDAY DEALS
- No more weddings
- No more corporate head and shoulders
- No more big studio sessions
I have learnt that having a successful photography business is not just about creating the perfect gallery and the money. Instead, it is about creating an experience where everyone is comfortable, happy and leaves feeling excited about their images and the experience they just had with me.
So i have realised that my focus going forward is now going to be on MY CLIENTS, the ones that support me every year and the ones you truly appreciate what i do and the memories i create for them! I feel i have neglected them more so than ever, chasing the numbers, focusing on quantity and forgetting about QUALITY. That being said i had to face some hard truths in my business...and look at the negative side too and be honest with myself.
I realised that QUANTITY was making me become a tired mom, tired wife and tired business owner, making me become SAD and making me "crazy" haha.
So you will see the following changes happening in my business over the next few months i will be focusing on MY CLIENTS MORE with QUALITY EXPERIENCE ONLY, so i can give you my full attention from start, to finish!
Over the next few weeks you will be saying HELLO to the following:
- VIP LOYALTY REWARD PROGRAMME for my VIP CLIENTS - only a selected number of clients will get access to this and in this programme you will get amazing service from me being discounted shoots, access to amazing competitions and products etc. Trust me you don't want to miss this so keep your eyes peeled on your EMAIL and WHATSAPP or my BLOG to see all the communication on this.
- The REFER a FRIEND Programme - even better offerings to my existing clients as well as the NEW CLIENTS they refer to me!
- Birthday offerings
- Mini Session offerings tailored to meet everyone's needs so you can have access to a variety of SESSIONS for your little ones, YOURSELF, your partner and your family etc. There will be set DATES AND TIMES so you don't want to miss out on these when i roll them out so make sure you follow my FACEBOOK and BLOG to see these launched dates. I will only be offering a HANDFUL of slots at a time in ensuring that i give you QUALITY AND BETTER TURNAROUND TIME for the images!
- Holiday Mini Session offerings from Valentines, Easter, Mothers, Fathers and Christmas all rolled out long before the actual event so you can use the images to give those you love an amazing gift for this special holiday. There will be set DATES AND TIMES so you don't want to miss out on these when i roll them out so make sure you follow my FACEBOOK and BLOG to see these launched dates. I will only be offering a HANDFUL of slots at a time in ensuring that i give you QUALITY AND BETTER TURNAROUND TIME for the images!
- COMPETITIONS with amazing suppliers where you TRULY DO WIN an amazing prize/s.
- Blogs and Video's on my photography and my facebook workshop page if you don't already know i offer workshops and one on one training sessions
- My Swaddle and Beanie range i have launched for babies and photographers - amazing quality and amazing to work with.
- Suppliers i cherish and can highly recommend...will be sharing all of them on my facebook or blog this year a story about each of them and links to their goodies
- and a whole lot more...trust me you don't want to miss out.
Yes, you my clients...thank you
Also if you have not yet met Leandra, she is part of my team and also a big part of why i am able to make more changes and hand over more responsibility to her.
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