Like most business owners, January is a time for reflection and goal setting for me. I like to look back at the past year, identify things that worked well, find room for improvement, and make plans for the year ahead.
2025 wins
Award winning!
I cannot believe it, but I won the Community Kangaroo Joey Award for “2025 Favorite Family Photographer” in the South of Boston category. Again, I am so grateful to every one of you who voted for me and my business. I’ve been at this for a long time and this recognition means so much to me.
My busiest year yet!
This was a great year for my business. After LOTS of work behind the scenes on my website in a slow 2024, I photographed a whopping 116 sessions, compared to 58 last year–literally doubling the business:
- 29 maternity sessions
- 40 family sessions
- 47 newborn sessions
I cannot tell you how grateful I am to each and every family who trusted me with their family portraits. It means the world to me to be invited into your life to create memories that you get to keep!
New offering – First Year Collection
Early last year, I started offering a First Year Collection, which includes 3 sessions over 18 months and a big discount. Clients can choose to combine maternity, newborn, sitter, 1 year, or family sessions over these 18 months and receive one session fee for free! Its a great way to document your little one over time, saving time by get those sessions booked on the calendar early, and save money in the process.
While I used to offer a maternity+newborn combo for a smaller discount, this package has been wildly popular. I absolutely love working with clients at multiple sessions over time to see their family grow, often from bump to toddler.
Getting those photos off your screen
This year I started offering lots of fun products, besides just prints and canvases. While its in no way required to purchase any products through me, I have been including information about this more in my emails and website in an attempt to help you get those photos off your devices and into your homes! Wall art, albums, calendars, and more are now available in my shop for a convenient and high quality way to see your artwork every day–and clients are loving them.
More client communication, easier booking and ordering processes
In addition to SEO work on my website, I really stepped up my game with client communication, including standardized emails before and after sessions to keep you informed of what to expect, how to prepare, etc. I never want a client to feel ghosted after they book, surprised about a payment, unsure of what to wear to their session, or like they don’t know what is coming next.
Additionally, I invested in a new customer management tool to simplify responding to inquiries, booking, and invoices. I also moved to a new gallery delivery tool that simplifies choosing your package, downloading your files, and ordering products. I hope these changes are helpful for each client in their photography session process, from inquiry to “thank you for hiring me!”
Asking for reviews
This year, I started asking for reviews more directly after images are delivered. I can’t tell you how much it means to me to receive your feedback and it helps other families choose me as their photographer as well. (If you have worked with me in the past but haven’t written me a review yet, you can do so here!)
Looking ahead
Studio updates
I have been in my current studio since the Summer of 2021. I’ve tried to create a space that is inviting and comfortable, and includes everything a new mom needs postpartum. From a photography side, I have a client closet full of dresses and baby outfits in a range of sizes. The bathroom is fully stocked with diapers, wipes, a changing table (mine from when I was a baby!) and I have toys for toddlers at the sitting area.
This year, I’d like to up the studio game even more, with snacks, water bottles, a coffee machine and a mini fridge. I’d also like to have some sample products available to show clients examples of what is in my online shop.
Styling expanded
One big benefit I offer is my client closet. For studio sessions, clients are encouraged to arrive in sweats and try on a few dresses to choose something to wear for their photos. For non-studio sessions, I’d like to start offering short fitting appointments for clients to come in to the studio, and try on dresses they might want to borrow ahead of their sessions. As always, I’d like to continue growing the client closet to offer more variety in styles and sizes for my maternity, newborn, and family clients.
I’m always looking for ways to improve my clients’ experience with me. If you have worked with me in the past and have any suggestions for things that I can do better, please let me know!
Attention to in-home sessions
OK you guys know I LOOOOVE my studio and I don’t think I will ever give it up. Having a neutral, styled, well lit space for newborn, maternity, and family sessions is a huge part of my business and something that differentiates me from other photographers. BUT I know that lots of clients want to do their newborn sessions in their homes.
I’ve actually done hundreds of these (for a few years starting during COVID, I did all newborn sessions in client’s homes) but I really don’t publicize them in the same way, because I prefer the studio. This year, I’m going to dedicate some more attention to sharing these sessions as well as finding ways to elevate the in-home experience to a similar level as my studio sessions.
Post to Instagram regularly (…at all)
Can you hear my eyes rolling through your screen? I have a really hard time keeping up with my Instagram page, mostly because I have been trying to stay off my phone as much as possible and I’m still on the fence about sharing photos of my own kids. BUT it is a necessary marketing tool and I need to make it work! So content calendars and plans, here we go 🙂 Hopefully you’ll be seeing more of me on the gram this year.
Send a monthly newsletter
As a former marketer, I know how important email is as a communication channel. As a busy human, I hate unnecessary emails. I am going to try to send monthly emails this year, BUT I promise I will try to make them short and to the point. Subscribe here!
Do more of what I love
I am so happy to have expanded the business last year, at a time when many small businesses were struggling. I do not take this opportunity for granted. I hope that next year is just as successful, and that I get to work with even more expecting mamas, hold more fresh babies, and make poop jokes with even more kiddos.
