RESTART: Episode 1 – Seattle, WA

Last week at this very time I was undergoing a business facelift at the Creative Live studios in Seattle, Washington. (And I am still trying to recover from all the amazingness that occured!) The course? “RESTART: A Photography Business Makeover” taught by the one and only Jasmine Star, who I admire and look up too. Nikki, Melissa, and I were one of 3 photographers chosen to have our businesses made examples of – talk about being put on the spot! We had no idea what Jasmine had in store for us so we had to roll with it as best as we could.

Monday we taped a few things for the Wednesday live show. The first thing she surprised us with was a wedding consultation! We weren’t prepared for it, we didn’t know the couple, and they weren’t even engaged…yet…so we had to do our best “on the spot” consultation. Jasmine dissected our consultations during the live show and although we were all embarrassed that everyone saw what just happened, I couldn’t think of a better way to learn!

Another trick Jasmine had up her sleeve was to see how we responded to the “initial e-mail.” She sent 2 seperate emails a month before the show acting as a bride looking for a photographer…sneaky! Nikki, Melissa, and I later figured out (after we sent our responses) that it was a fake bride and thought…it’s about to get REAL up in here!

We talked about branding and how to attract your ideal client with branding words. Also to shoot for your branding words in order to define your photographic style. The ones I chose were ‘Creative, Fun and Real’ but after marinating on those for a week, I may want to sub one out or add one more. We then moved into the live shoot where we shot for our branding words with the couple we had the consultation with. This was probably my favorite part of the day – and most nerveracking too. How am I going to sound? Am I interacting ok? Am I giving them enough direction? Am I going to get the shot?

Again, the best way to learn in my opinion is by doing…and practice 🙂

Here are a few behind the scenes photos from the trip…

Jasmine and I! Such a treat to be photographed by her! Thank her for the photos of me on my blog header…

On Tuesday night before the live show…I met a great group of fabulous photographers from around the US. They were also a part of the live audience for the show on Wednesday and I cannot WAIT to see them again in March!