Premium Members, click here to access this interview in the premium area.

Kara Marie Trombetta of www.karamariestudios.com is a talented photographer of women and successful boudoir photography business owner with clients waiting months to be photographed and have the opportunity to purchase something truly unique for themselves.

In this interview, Kara shares precisely how to build a successful boudoir photography business – from attracting her ideal clients, creating beautiful work, how to price and sell it in a way that has her clients coming back repeatedly while Kara Marie remains profitable. Basically, she shares how to attract ideal clients who LOVE to buy what she creates.

I'm not sure whether to introduce her as an artist or photographer. She's both.. but looking at her work, artist feels like a better fit. Her work features stunning images of women – of all shapes and sizes. All captured in gorgeous black and white.

Take a look at her work, and you'll come up with descriptive words including – boudoir, empowerment, natural, poised, confident, sexy, vulnerable, contrast, captivating, elegant, beautiful and more.

I can imagine, as a woman landing on her home page, it's likely you'll see yourself in one or more of the images, and there will be something you'll connect with.

Based in Austin, Texas, she says on her website; she's a destination photographer celebrating the modern woman with a first-class photoshoot experience. She was named the 2017 Boudoir Photographer of the Year by the Association of International Boudoir Photographers.

She photographs full time and has done for eight years, she's a wife, a mother of 2 kids and she's photographed over 4,500 women!

Here's some more of what we cover in the interview:

  • Kara Marie's reason for building her photography business
  • Tips on changing your business name and rebranding
  • A background of Kara Marie's business and revenue
  • Why Kara Marie feels her work is garbage
  • How Kara Marie is attracting the incredible bookings she does
  • Customer service and word of mouth is the most important part of growing a business
  • Kara Marie's referral program and how it works
  • What is exceptional service and amazing experience in a photography business?
  • Different ways of going the extra mile for clients during photoshoots
  • Why Kara Marie prefers website and email-based communications with clients
  • Kara Marie's target demographic
  • The need to set up and keep up-to-date FAQs on your website to address client questions
  • Kara Marie's booking process
  • How to avoid business burnout
  • What CRM Software Kara Marie uses
  • Kara Marie's thoughts on increasing pricing
  • The downside of raising your photography prices
  • Kara Marie's pricing and packages in detail
  • Running a business that is not purely to generate lots of money
  • Kara Marie's average number of shoots per week
  • When clients upgrade their packages
  • Kara Marie's booking workflow
  • Retainer fees
  • Why Kara Marie has so many repeat clients
  • How Kara Marie makes sure photo sessions remain unique for every repeat client
  • The worst thing for a creative brain is monotony – and how to avoid it
  • Which social media channel Kara Marie can't live without
  • Kara Marie's photo reveal process
  • Why you should pay attention to clients and listen to what they are not saying in a sales appointment
  • What Kara Marie teaches in her workshops
  • How Kara Marie would grow her business quickly if she relocated
  • Using Groupon to network your business
  • The importance of showing as many people as possible, what you can offer
  • Building a business from scratch using authenticity and customer service
  • The importance of networking to generate bookings

Kara Marie Photography Podcast

What’s on Offer for Premium Members

If you’re a premium member, you should have received an email with links to your version of this interview – the full length and more revealing version where you hear the absolute best tips and advice from every guest.

If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, get access to an amazing back catalogue of interviews and ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet.

Plus special member-only interviews.

I'm a big believer in under promising and over delivering. I never promise grand things that I can't execute. I try to manage expectations as best as I can and still over deliver on those. – Kara Marie Trombetta

You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. There are also FB live video tutorials, role-play interviews and special live interviews happening in the group. You will not find more friendly, more motivated, caring and sharing photographers online.

Joining a Mastermind Group (encouraged by Andrew) has been incredibly valuable and fun, I look forward to connecting with my group members every week. Jina Zheng, Premium Member and Melbourne Children photographer.

Seriously, that's not all.

In addition to everything above, you'll get access to and instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable and build friendships with other pro photographers with similar motives to you – to build a more successful photography business.

Kara Marie Photography Podcast

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything away from what Kara Marie shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below, let me know what your takeaways were, what you plan to implement in your business as a result of what you heard in today's episode.

Customer service and word of mouth is the most important part in growing and expanding any business. – Kara Marie Trombetta

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Kara Marie or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.

PhotoBizX Daily Vlog Challenge starts today –  it's not too late for you!

Why would you want to utilise video in your photography business? The number one reason – to make a personal connection with our prospective client, faster than ever before. You con do this with video on your website, email replies with video plus advertising and retargeting with video. 

There is no faster way to make a connection than you talking to your clients via video. 

If you generally book most of the clients you meet with face to face, imagine building that bond earlier in your process and before other local photographers. It'll mean more bookings for you. Fantastic right? As long as you can be yourself and make the same kind of connection you do in person. And you can! 

Want to learn how to get comfortable being yourself on camera? This Challenge will get you there. 

The improvement and transformation in members videos has been extraordinary as we add something new to focus on throughout each module – from lighting, framing, eye contact, intro and outros – all with daily prompts.

Everyone involved is getting daily feedback, and it's easy to see the fun we're all having as we progress.

The next Challenge starts today!

Click the link and add your details to get involved: https://photobizx.com/challenge

The way it works

  1. Watch the daily video (with topic/Challenge included) uploaded into a separate post each day – excluding weekends.
  2. Record your video reply and upload into the comments for that unit.
  3. Once your video is uploaded, leave comments or constructive feedback (if requested) on at least 2 and if you feel like it, 3 or more videos from other participants. Please look for videos with one or no comments to reply to first.

That's it, as simple as that. ???

6 Month Membership Special

I recently announced a flash sale on the 6 month PhotoBizX Premium Membership.

In light of the current circumstances, I'm be extending this offer. It's my attempt to make the education and motivation provided by the interview guests and other members inside the Facebook Group as affordable as possible.

If you are an existing member who has already made a monthly payment this month, let me know after signing up for the 6-month membership, and I'll refund your $20 payment.

Once you sign up for the 6 month membership, make sure you cancel your existing monthly payments via your automatic payments dashboard inside your PayPal account.

For more info and to sign up, click this link —>> https://photobizx.com/sms

New members are also welcome to sign up with this special offer.

Kara Marie Photography Podcast

iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs

Each week I check for any new iTunes reviews and it's always a buzz to receive these… for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they really are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome!

Secondly, iTunes is the biggest search engine when it comes to podcasts and it's your reviews and ratings that help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and ultimately a better show.

When you have too many decisions to make, people get confused and they don't end up buying. – Sean LeBlanc

If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes and you can leave some honest feedback and a rating which will help both me and the show and I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name.

Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast and email me your keywords or keyword phrase and where you'd like me to link to.

Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has made a difference to you and your photography business.

Here's the latest review…

★★★★★ Hands down the best!

In iTunes by Cardif photographer, Rahim Mastafa from the United Kingdom on April 24th 2020.

If you are looking for advice on running a successful photography business, there isn't a better podcast out there. This isn't boring talk about accounts or how to take photos, this is how to market yourself and get clients.

I've been listening to the Photobizx podcast for years and find them fun, entertaining, inspiring and informative. Keep listening and spread the word!

Nice one Andrew

 

Discounts for Photographers via Shotkit

Mark from Shotkit has curated a list of photography specials and he says… Let’s admit it – no matter which way we look at the current situation, there are very few good things about being on COVID-19 lockdown.

Yes, we can try our best to stay productive as photographers, but there’s only so many things you take photos of when you’re stuck between four walls!

On a more serious note, many photography-brand retailers are struggling, and have been forced to heavily discount their products in an attempt to increase demand… or just stay afloat.

For us the consumers, this is a good thing. We may not need a hiking camera backpack when the most climbing we do is up our stairs every day, but it’s nice to seize the opportunity to ‘stock up’ on gear when prices are low!

Above all, STAY SAFE!! ???

Details are here: https://shotkit.com/lockdown-discounts/

Kara Marie Photography Podcast

Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

Kara Marie Studios

Kara Marie on Instagram

Kara Marie on Facebook

Boudoir Photographer Education by Kara Marie

Kara Marie on Pinterest

A Boudoir Photographer’s Manual to BOOK HER FRIENDS by Kara Marie Trombetta

The Boudoir Series by Kara Marie

Photographer Spotlight! Ep 4: Client Experience and Shooting FOR Women: Kara Marie Boudoir – Interview by Michael Sasser

17 hats

Shoot & Sell

Episode 244: Michael Sasser – BTS and Testimonial Video Can Massively Benefit Your Photography Business

Episode 087: Sue Bryce – How to Make Real Money From Your Photography Business Right Now

Coronavirus Resource page

Get the Blogging Course for photographers

Discounts for Photographers via Shotkit

Kara Marie Photography Podcast

Thank you!

Thanks again for listening and thanks to Kara Marie for coming on and sharing her thoughts and ideas on building a super successful glamour/boudoir photography business by knowing your target clients intimately, under-promising and over-delivering at every opportunity and building a brand that women want to be a part of.

I listen to my customers. I listen to my clients. I have a really good sense of people's energies and like what they are not saying. And I never want to be in a position where I'm pressuring somebody into purchasing something. – Kara Marie Trombetta

If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about this episode, please be sure to leave them below in the comment section of this post, and if you liked the episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post!

That’s it for me this week, hope everything is going well for you in life and business!

Thanks and speak soon
Andrew