Pretty PETTY Things...

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting one of the great minds in photographic creativity and business... Sarah Petty! She filmed the first episode for MyMarketingClicks at Fridayphotoschool.
She was kind and adorable and I was a little star struck. A few months ago I found her website and her Joy of Marketing Series. I didn't just read her blog..I devoured it! I even went as far as downloading her Favorite Books List and renewing my Seth Godin's Purple Cow 3 times! So to stand there and to listen to her live and in person, I was speechless.
But I HAD to snap out of it because this woman could teach me a thing or 2 about business and I had to get over it and really learn.

The studio was decked out in pink, and tissue paper, and bright hued high gloss frames. It was pure eye candy. And one thing that Sarah really hit home is that presentation is EVERYTHING! Paying attention to the details and making thing look even prettier can go a long way.
So how would can I relate this to my life? Afterall..I am a WEEKEND WARRIOR...still building my portfolio...taking photos of friends and friends of friends. How can I take what I learned and apply it NOW?
Here was my solution.
Currently, I charge my clients a session fee, a travel fee (if applicable) and a fee for their images. Yes...I give away their image. I know many of you need a chance to catch your breath after that huge gasp of disbelief. I know this is the totally wrong way to do business and it will change at the first of the year but this is how I currently do things now.

I decided that instead of giving my clients plain old CD's..I would try Sarah Petty's advice..so here's a look at what I did.

First I used a paper punch to cut out the bird and branch design on different kinds of paper.


Then I used a permanent inkpad (think Sharpie Marker on an inkpad) to stamp the family name on the disc.


I glued the paper down onto the cover and it gave it just the right touch!


and Voila..no two designs are the same! Totally unique...just like the photographer who took the images!


My clients loved how the packaging looked and immediately raved about it to the person standing closest to them. These strangers who had never seen my photographs...were already impressed by the tiny details. Right then and there I realized that it wasn't about selling a photograph, it was creating an experience with my clients BEFORE, DURING and AFTER a session. Those tiny details can go a LONG way.
But wanna hear the crazy part? Doing these little extra touches made ME feel good about my service! So although the days of giving digital files away are over...the days of giving my work that extra touch and that extra detail have just begun!

And its all thanks to the inspiration of Sarah Petty. If you haven't seen her episode on MyMarketingClicks...go and get the REPLAY version of it now! And the bonus is the second MyMarketingClicks episode that will air Friday November 19th and will take place at Sarah Petty's studio! So mark you calendars now!

I posted a preview of MyMarketingClicks Four Ingredients to Your Marketing Mix below.
And because blogs are so much more fun when you can win stuff..we are gonna have another giveaway! This week's prize will be a LIVE ticket to the next MyMarketing Clicks show on November 19th at Noon CST. In this episode Sarah Petty will tell you the SIX CLICKS TO MAKING A FIRST IMPRESSION.

All you have to do is leave a comment on this blog and tell me what you do for your clients AFTER the sale that keeps them your happy and loyal customer!
Then go on Facebook and LIKE MyMarketing Clicks and LIKE Fridayphotoschool.

Post this blog on your facebook status and you will be entered an EXTRA time!
The contest ends on Weds. Nov.17 at 10pm CST.
Good Luck!





CONGRATULATIONS Faye, Prescilla and Michaela Ann!!!! You won the ticket. Please contact me at lyra_repplinger@yahoo.com

Somebody Pinch Me...

The last time I got teary eyed while opening my mailbox, it was due to the fact I was anticipating an astronomical credit card bill brought on by my shoe addiction. I have since been in recovery and it's going well. But last week, I got teary eyed once again when I saw this waiting for me....

It's from Buckeye Color Lab and it is the first thing I have received that is addressed to Lyra May Photography. Somebody pinch me..this is really happening.
Earlier this month I created an account for Buckeye Color and within an hour, I got a phone call from them welcoming me and letting me know that a packet was being sent in the mail. This was my welcome packet.

It included my account number, paper samples and a handwritten note from a gal named Kelly. I was excited but overwhelmed. I immediately decided to call the number on the note and I was happily surprised when Kelly answered the phone...not an automated system...not a secretary...but KELLY herself..the gal whose handwritten note sat on my desk. I immediately felt a connection to Kelly. I wanted to say.."Hey Kels..it's your BFF Lyra May Photography...you just wrote me a note remember?" I refrained from my 7th grade girly antics and tried to keep it as professional as possible.
Kelly walked me through the entire process of how to upload my pictures, how to order, what her favorite items were...it was so wonderful. We live in a world of drive thrus, youtube and one line tweets. Everything is fast paced. And in this moment where I was partially celebrating the birth of Lyra May Photography and acknowledging the fear of taking the next step of my business...Buckeye Color gave me the greatest gift..their time!

My next step was easy...I ordered free 8x10's to test the color and calibration of my monitor. Two days later the test prints arrived in the mail and the packaging for these free prints were just exquisite. I mean, they were in a black folio with silver ribbon. It was like a present for Lyra May Photography.


I am now in the process of placing my first professional quality prints from Buckeye Color. I'm looking through my portfolio (iphoto albums) and finding the perfect images for my studio (basement playroom).
Somebody pinch me..this is really happening..I have an envelope to prove it!

Bobbi Lane and a chance to WIN on the blog!

When I first met Bobbi Lane, she was in the middle of rehearsal for Fridayphotoschool. It was Thursday evening and she was talking to the members of the production team about the content of her show that was going to air in T minus 18 hours. Bobbi practiced talking among the three cameras, she continued to refine the elements of her program and she seemed nervous. This made me INSTANTLY fall in love with her. Here was this woman, a pro in her field, accomplished in her own right, she has presented numerous lighting seminars ...yet she was nervous about this show. I quickly realized that her nerves and trepidation wasn't because she didn't know what to say...she just wanted to say it perfectly. 18 hours before we aired live, Bobbi Lane had one thought in her head...her live audience. She wanted this show to be great...for them.

Needless to say, when Fridayphotoschool aired live...Bobbi Lane hit it out of the ballpark. She is a natural teacher.

As soon as the director said CUT, Bobbi was excited and proud that the show had gone so well. Everyone in the room was feeling an adrenaline rush but I still had some questions.
I'm so new at photography that even thinking about putting a pocket wizard on my camera makes my stomach flip. But listening to Bobbi for 90 minutes made me realize two important things...
1. I can't label myself a natural light photographer because I DON'T KNOW how to work with studio lighting.
2. It's imperative that I learn lighting techniques so that I can have more control of my sessions. I just can't rely on available sunlight all of the time.

Bobbi is so amazingly kind, that she took some time to answer my questions and give me an overview about things that I may have missed during the live show.



On her way out of the studio, Bobbi told me that she was going to send me an essential lighting publication that she contributed to. She told me that it would be a great resource for me to refer back to whenever I got too intimidated by lighting techniques. Instead of sending me one, she sent me MULTIPLE copies and I am giving them away right here on my blog! My first blog giveaway!!

Here's how you enter...Become a follower of my blog and leave a comment below telling me what your favorite lighting technique is. The winners will be picked by random.org
I'll start with mine...My favorite lighting technique is the ONLY one I know right now...bounced on camera flash, set on TTL. Clearly, I need more training!
So...comment away! The contest ends Monday night! The winner will be revealed on the blog and on the Fridayphotoschool facebook page!

AND THE WINNERS are....
#10 Sarah, #1 A place for photographers and #5 Fred!!!
These numbers were generated by random.org.
Congratulations!!

TGIFridayphotoschool

I took this image as I sat in my minivan, arriving 15 minutes early to a 10 am meeting. I don't know what prompted me to mark this moment. But as I stared at the Fridayphotoschool signage, I felt nervous, excited and hopeful that whatever existed behind the other side of the door, was something or someone that could help convince me I had a place in the Photographers world.
I had seen Fridayphotoschool seminars online. I had e mailed Will Crockett and asked for a meeting. I had pinched myself a hundred times when he answered that e mail and invited me to the Fridayphotoschool studio.
How many of us as brand new photographers have reached out to the "pros" in the field?
How many of the pros responded?
How many of these encounters would go beyond a first meeting?

I must be the luckiest girl in the whole world. Because upon walking in and meeting the team... I immediately felt at home. Sure its a bit of a BOYS CLUB...there's cheap shots and burping and sandwiches for EVERY meal. But beneath it all, there's a group of people who love what they do and want to share it with those who want to learn...including me!
As I scanned the collection of Fridayphotoschool and Shootsmarter DVD's at the studio, I realized that there was so much that I still needed to learn. I need Fridayphotoschool to give me some technical guidance. One thing that Will Crockett was quick to point out during our meeting is that I do have some skills to bring to the table...I like people... I love facebook...and I am creative.
And whatta ya know...they wanted me. So I am officially part of the Fridayphotoschool team and I couldn't be happier. I have a multifaceted job that includes monitoring facebook and "chick-afying" the joint! What a beautiful marriage this is going to be!

The Facebook Supermarket for Life

My addiction to facebook is not due to the fact that I like to hear all the latest news and gossip of my friends...and their friends...and whoever else's files are not protected due to privacy. I firmly believe that I can get down home good resources from my facebook friends and their facebook friends. Nowadays status updates consists of houses for sale, or handiwork that needs to be done. It can be a real time classifieds ad.

So when I saw an old college friend post amazing photographs a few months back..I was insane jealous but also relieved that there was a chance I could talk to a real life person about the ins and outs of photography. I messaged Anna and asked her a few questions about photography lessons. She said her husband would be happy to meet with me. And that is when I first heard the name Nels Akerlund.

I googled him...was totally impressed by his work and was even more relieved to hear that he went to photography school. It's not that I feel that photography school is necessary for a career...but it is refreshing to know that Nels was once a student and had teachers who taught him...therefore, I could pray that he would be able to remember techniques on how to manage an overconfident, underskilled student such as myself.

I was right. Nels is incredible. We meet twice a month for about an hour. He is not only a patient and funny guy...his critiques are spot on and heartfelt..like a good friend who tells you that you have something stuck in your teeth...but assures you that you STILL look good. In our meetings, I have learned something very important about myself. I mean, I knew that I am sensitive to criticism..sheesh who truly isn't. But when I would e mail Nels my images from my assignments, as i pressed the ENTER key on my Macbook, I felt downright fragile. Lucky for me Nels has a way to tell me the good and the bad and the ugly and still makes me feel like I am on the right path. He commands me to take my time and prepare for the shot. He reminds me to look at the image I just captured before I get all snap happy. He assures me to be proud of my first edition Canon Rebel DSLR, because a camera does not make a photographer.
The following pictures are two that I am extremely proud of. Because a few months ago, I had no idea how to produce an image like this... and now I do. And that gets me even closer to being a photographer with a capital P.

All by my... SELF ...Taught

A few months ago, I made the command decision to take my Canon Rebel DSLR off program mode and permanently place it in manual mode. The reason behind it was simple...if I was going to take people's hard earned money to take photographs, I wanted it to be legit. I wanted to create images that was beyond what their "uncle with the really cool camera" can do.
When i surfed the web in search of a mentor and inspiration I immediately connected to the stories I read from other photographers...
-"I always had a pasion for taking pictures"
-"I never took a single photography class"
-"I was self taught"
I thought to myself...THAT'S ME! THAT'S ME! And so I followed their blogs, studied their images and stalked their next speaking engagements. All along..I kept saying...I have the passion just like them so I am sure I can take pictures just like them...
Meanwhile, with my camera, still on Manual mode, I was definitely NOT getting the images that I envisioned.
I keep getting these e mails from Art Institutes, vying for my attention..luring me with the idea that if I stop my life, go back to school..I must just get the hang of this photography thing. It's tempting..but how do I explain to my 3 children that their college fund is depleted because Mommy likes to take pictures.
There has to be a better way...so for now YOUTube will be my best friend as I learn about posing, lighting and digital workflow.
One thing is for sure SELF TAUGHT is a lonely lonely place. It's just me, my camera, my manual and a couple Idiot's Guide Books.
In the meantime...the proof is in the pudding. I am drawn to photography not because of shutter speeds and aperatures, but because looking through the view finder gives me a way to discover beautiful moments in my life.
Here are just a few.

My niece already falling in love with her baby brother to be...

A newlywed couple lighting up the night...


My kids embracing life..and most importantly..each other!