The Value of Education in my Small Business: Spotlight on Rebrand
When I was a kid, school was somewhere I went every day, but I wouldn’t say I was a passionate or star student. I was what my teachers called “conscientious” (albeit I also always read the comment that I “chatted too much with my neighbor” - ha!) I did well enough in school, and I certainly LOVED my college experience, but school was never 100% my jam. I remember being all too excited to start working, and I’ve loved and put a lot of stock into my work life ever since.
Imagine my surprise when, as a fairly new business owner and Connecticut branding photographer in my late 30s, I rediscovered education and found how much I really loved it.
Today, I am putting a spotlight on a recent course I completed, Maddie Peschong’s Rebrand.
I’d followed Maddie for some time on Instagram. Her branding work drew me in (can we say goals?!) but when she hopped on stories, I found something of a kindred spirit. Maddie had a similar background as me (in marketing/PR/communications) and found branding photography to be the right fit in the photography world. I related so much to her and her story. When she launched Rebrand in 2022, I hopped on board.
Rebrand is a 16-week group coaching experience for photographers who want to offer brand photography so that they can scale their income, work better hours, and run a business that feels like them. I was already a year into my brand photography journey when I began, but I knew I had so much to learn from Maddie. Now, about a year after I first joined the course, I’ve had some time to reflect on everything I learned from the course, and the ways my branding business has grown.
Here are my top takeaways:
Pricing
I think most photographers - and small business owners - would agree that pricing can be tricky, and can feel incredibly emotional. So much of our self-worth is tied up in money and we have all sorts of thoughts about what constitutes charging “too much” or “too little”. But Maddie is passionate about sharing her formula and also about the fact that every branding photographer should have a four-figure offer. One thing is for certain on the side of being a student – it is MUCH easier to set a price and get cozy with it when you have a coach leading you through the process AND cheering you on.
Work Life Balance
Let me start with a candid admission: work-life balance is one of those expressions that can be a bit triggering for me. I think balance is a joke and I usually subscribe to the philosophy that life is more cyclical than balanced. You know, that some cycles of life are more about family and personal pursuits, and others are more heavy on the work side. But balance? Fffffs. Come on, now.
BUT - branding photography has brought unexpected, and VERY welcomed, balance into my business. My working weekends have shrunk down from every weekend, to certain months of the year only. My branding sessions are booked exclusively on Wednesdays and Fridays during the traditional business day, while my kids are in school. And let me tell you, this is a whole new world. It’s SO MUCH easier on my family, on myself, and on my business. Work life balance was not why I jumped into branding photography feet first, but it’s a damn good side effect.
An Elevated Client Experience
The branding session experience with me begins at first inquiry. Once a client agrees to a date and package, it really begins. I first send my clients a questionnaire, which helps me get to know more about them, their business, and their goals. Then I schedule a prep Zoom meeting request, where we will talk and get to know each other. I also share a prep guide with all clients, that gives them tips on hair and makeup artists, possible props, wardrobe suggestions and more. By the session itself, me and my client are well on our way to knowing one another, and a comfort level has long been established. This process - the client experience - is hugely important to me, because I believe that care and attention make for an easy rapport on photo shoot day, and better photos as a result. It’s everything, and this process was only about half way there before Rebrand. Many elements of my approach came from the course, and the guidance Maddie shared. It’s my number one takeaway from Rebrand and I feel so strongly about how much my client experience has been elevated since completing the course.
Podcast!
If you’re interested in photography education and Rebrand in particular, you’re in luck. The next run of Rebrand is now open, as are my DMs and inbox for questions.
I’m also SO excited to share that I was a guest on Maddie’s Take It Personally podcast talking even more about how me and my business grew through Rebrand. Please take a listen here and, if you do, let me know what you think!