Lessons
Day 1
1Class Introduction
03:45 2The 9 Areas of Mastery
30:28 3Focusing and Applying the 9 Areas of Mastery
43:47 4Meet the Mentors: Lori Patrick
21:32 5Meet the Mentors: Nikki Closser
13:16 6Meet the Mentors: Heike Delmore
17:28 7Meet the Mentors: Joanna Ziemlewski
06:52Meet the Mentors: Emily London Miller
10:26 9Meet the Mentors: Tammy Zurak Allen
09:51 10Meet the Mentors: Bethany Tubman Johs
06:51 11Meet the Mentors: Shauna Lofy
07:21 12Meet the Mentors: Tatiana Lumiere
06:55 13Pricing Evolution
12:49 14Pricing Challenge and Valuing Yourself
41:24 15Pricing Case Study: Nikki Closser
16:35 16You are in Business, Act Like It
37:57 17Taking Ownership
17:37Day 2
18A Thank You For Sue
06:58 19The Reveal Wall
43:36 20Sales and the Reveal Wall
34:44 21Selling Yourself
43:44 22Selling Yourself: Networking
10:54 23Selling Yourself: Referrals
09:49 24Mentor Testimonials
36:59 25Words of Advice from the Mentors on Starting Your Business
12:50 26Sales and Selling Yourself
30:35 27What Products to Sell
13:42 28The Cost of Printing at Home
05:58 29Digital Sales
16:26 30Contracts and Payments
15:33 31Confidence and Ownership
07:48 32Shameless Self Promotion
37:10 33Being a Male Glamour Photographer
04:42 34What's in it For Me?
06:26 35Where do You Start?
18:30Lesson Info
Meet the Mentors: Shauna Lofy
Shauna, what I love about Shauna is that she is a graphic designer and a very good one. Shauna has types (mumbles) new website and I love her eternally because she has done such a beautiful job. Shauna is a wonderful example as a mentor and a photographer for me because Shauna has a lot of the original issues that I had and I see a lot of myself in her. What I love about Shauna is that she has no problem charging for graphic design, which she spent how many years doing? Fifteen. Yup, fifteen years charging for graphic design but when she had to swap over to charge for photography it became a whole different story. Now, I feel like there's a huge lesson around Shauna. And, Shauna's huge lesson is: Why do I value graphic design and not value photography? And, how long did it take you to start valuing graphic design? Because that's gonna give me a little bit of a pricing evolution. I want you all out there to start thinking right now. This is not about blocks and hurdles. Because I ta...
lk a lot about smashing blocks and hurdles, but I feel like what you're not understanding is you're on a journey of the evolution of your pricing and income. If we look at it as we're becoming, instead of we're stopped and blocked, the difference is I am becoming, I am learning to up my average, I am learning to create more, I am learning to sell more, I am learning to make my work bigger, better, I am learning to see different situations, I am learning to charge more, I am learning to be more. The evolution of my pricing has been slow but perfect. I know where I am now; I need you to understand that these people started at zero efficacy for Tammy and went up from there. I came from zero and went up. I undersold myself for years and years and years. So, I really want to harness the evolution of your pricing after lunch and I want you to harness it as evolution. Not, I'm stopped, I'm blocked, I'm stuck. It's evolving; it is happening. So, Shauna, how long did it take? With graphic design? Yes. Probably about five years, five years. It was I worked for other people and I lost that job because I was all ego and I learned a huge lesson through graphic design that helped me with my business now to be humble and appreciate everything. Okay, can I just speak to "humble" because the difference between humble and ego that you have just experienced is you had to be in a state of ego to grow. So, when we're at our most frightened, the ego saves us. The ego sees faster, more competition, contrast, compare, you're better than them, you're better than them, and so unfortunately, we get a little bit lost in the ego because the ego is whipping the horse. Now, the ego is that thing that keeps you alive. The ego is the think that identifies you as something. And, you need the ego in order to get validation. Because then you get validation back and at first, that validation is you're better than them, you're better than them, and that's the validation you need to go to the next level. Unfortunately, what happens is you get stuck in the ego and then everyone starts telling you suck and that you're shit and you're full of yourself. And, then, all of a sudden, you don't like yourself and you start tormenting the self, and yet it was the ego that survived you. It was the ego that thrived you. It was the ego that put you in the state of competition and winning. It was the ego that said you're better than this. It was the ego that said you are better than them, step up. So, when I hear ego now, I no longer hate it; I no longer resist it. I hear my ego speak and I say, "What is it, ego, "that you need from me right now?" Am I not believing in myself because my ego is flaring around this person here and I need to address that myself, my true self, my non-ego needs to step up and claim something and my ego is telling me... to do it. So, I love that you experienced that. I feel like that is a great gift that you experienced and please, out there, if you are stuck in your ego right now, listen to it. The ego is egging you on. Sorry, I got really feisty and passionate about this. (laughter) I just interrupted you. You saved me for a moment; I was beginning to lose it. (laughter) What were you asking me? Okay, it took you five years to evolve your pricing graphic design. Where are you priced now as a photographer and what are you finding the most difficult? I started out as free then I went to 200, then 400, and now I'm at, my bottom package is 900, middle package 1500, then 2100. And, I just followed your packaging and your pricing, and that's it, as far as what I offer, products. And, where do you feel the most comfortable in your studio and where are you struggling the most now? Most comfortable, obviously, graphic design. And marketing, I can't sell myself. I still have a problem with that. It's crippling and the very first time I went to a women's meeting thing was, I'm blanking, but, I spent 10, 15 minutes just trying to get myself the courage to go up and talk to just one person, and I stood back looking at all these people and I heard your voice inside of me, "Just do it. You can do it. You can do it." And, I just took a deep breath and I said, "Okay." I'm handing out my business cards to everybody, introducing myself, "I'm a portrait photographer." I still struggle with that, but I go back to that moment and remind myself, "I can do it." (speaker drowned out by crosstalk) Okay, so tomorrow, when we do selling yourself, selling your products, the first thing I do is I no longer walk up to anybody and introduce myself. Those days are gone. Now, I walk up to people and I ask a question. I usually start with a compliment. "I love your dress. It's beautiful. My name is Sue." I'm Hika, nice to meet you. What do you do, Hika? I'm a portrait photographer. And, what brought you here this evening? The food. (laughter) We have something in common, because I like food too. The truth is, I didn't ask you to go and sell anything, I asked you to go and meet people and the confidence to do that, in selling yourself, is gonna be huge. I love that about you. I love that you had the same hurdle as me. I love that it's all personal. I love that you are a beautiful designer. And, I'm gonna love watching you breakthrough it, because I can't wait. This is Shauna's studio space. Beautiful.
Class Materials
Bonus Materials
Ratings and Reviews
Sandra Sal
How glad I am that I have purchased this course! Sue is just wonderful woman, photographer, business person and life coach. This course is so informative, inspiring, educating and just AMAZING!! Simply a must have! Don't even think "should I get it" just buy it and you will be blown away! I loved every second of it and will keep re watching it many times more! Thank you to Sue, wonderful mentours and Creative Live!!
Laura Captain Photography
As a person that is new to portrait photography and to starting a portrait business, this class has been extremely valuable to me and well worth my time. It is also very helpful to hear from the mentors. I have a lot of respect for Sue, her work and her wisdom. She is genuine, has a passion for her work and has a wealth of information to share. I believe this class will actually allow a person to achieve their goals and build a business. I now feel more knowledgeable and more confident about pursuing a photography business. Thanks so much Sue and thanks to CreativeLive for providing wonderful online education.
Janice S.
i just finished watching this workshop. though i'd seen sue's name on the list of creative live workshops, this is the first one i've done. to me, she is effectively partnering life coaching with photography education. which is awesome. between being an ER nurse for almost 20 years, as well as arriving at my late 40s not unscathed, i can relate to much of what sue has said and would like to think that i'm in a better position to tackle the business of business ownership than i would have been 20 or 30 years ago. the other thing i noticed was hints of rhonda byrne. this may or may not actually be the case, but it seems like it. the power of positive thinking essentially. i loved the whole thing. though i'm not really close to implementing the business practices taught here, i wanted to watch the whole thing before moving on to her glamour photography workshop. i wanted to understand what i would be moving toward as i go through my technical education. i believe i will be adding 28 days to my class list too. thank you sue!