Finally, a proper home for the education side of my business! I had been wanting to create this site for years but it took a pandemic to finally light a fire under my butt to get it done, ha!

This is where I’ll be sharing all my photography education and business coaching content from now on. Whether you’re a hobbyist photographer who wants to take better photos or a professional photographer who needs to streamline their marketing to gain more clients, you’ll find lots of resources over there.

I’d love for you to check it out – click here to view it.

The post New Home for Photography Education and Business Coaching appeared first on NJ Wedding Photographer | Idalia Photography.

If you’ve never done a styled shoot (or if you have, but you want the next one to be better) you’ll want to follow along on this project. I’m working with a killer vendor team that I’ll be revealing soon and I already know this shoot is going to exceed my expectations in every way.

I only do a couple of styled shoots every year, so when I do them, I have very specific goals to make sure I am identifying and maximizing the benefits to the fullest. This shoot is actually part of a special event I have planned for my associate photographers. It includes a photography and business workshop in the morning and early afternoon followed by a styled shoot in the late afternoon into the evening.

The goals of this styled shoot are:

• to expand our portfolio to be more diverse and inclusive
• to collaborate and network with other vendors
• to provide a learning and team-building experience for my team
• to create behind-the-scenes content for vendor websites and social media
• to get our work featured in an online publication for a quality backlink and improved SEO for the entire vendor team
• to do something FUN! I think we all need some fun right now!

I’m going to be sharing lots of behind-the scenes with you over @its.alex.peterson so follow me there for lots of inspiration and insight into what it takes to plan and execute a styled shoot.

The post The Making of a Styled Shoot appeared first on NJ Wedding Photographer | Idalia Photography.

Over the last 8 years of owning my business I’ve learned a thing or two about photography & business and, as a former teacher, I love to share my experience to help others. I’ve been offering private coaching sessions, workshops, and a mastermind too, but I never marketed them much. I always intended to make it more of a focus but just never found the time to set it all up. Let’s just say that new services, products, and courses take a while to plan and create! With COVID-19 almost completely wiping my calendar of weddings and shoots for several months, I finally had the time to sit down and really map out this new endeavor. I’ve been doing a ton of work behind-the-scenes and I’m excited to finally launch my new project (and website!) next month!⠀

Whether you‘re a hobbyist photographer wanting to take better pictures of your family and life, or a professional who wants to grow their business, I have so much good stuff coming your way! This new project of mine combines my 14 years of teaching experience with my experience as a business owner and professional photographer over the last 8 years and let’s just say it is a labor of love. I cannot wait to share more details with you!

In the meantime, I’ve decided to bring you on this journey of launching a new business. I’ll be posting about it on my personal Instagram @its.alex.peterson so be sure to follow me there if you’re interested in the steps I’m taking to launch this new business. This week, I shared about the personal branding session I did last week with my good friend, associate photographer, and brand photographer Jocelyn Cruz. If you’ve never heard of a branding session, this was a photo session where we were able to create a complete set of images that represent me, my business, and my brand. I’ve been in business since 2012 but had never done this. I always had an excuse – not having the time, not knowing what to wear, needing to lose a few pounds, etc. Well, quarantine afforded me the time to finally plan this out and it was so worth it! I got so many images to update my current website, use on my new website, (coming next month!) and share on social media. I can’t remember the last time I was in front of a camera for this long – probably since my wedding day eight years ago, ha!

I’ll admit, it’s a little weird for me to have so many photos of myself – after all, I’m usually *behind* the camera, not in front of it – but I know how important investing in professional photography is, especially for a personal brand. My husband is a professional photographer, so I could have told him to snap a few photos for me, but it wouldn’t have been the same as a full personal branding session with someone who specializes in brand photography. Instead, Jocelyn and I dove deep into the type of imagery I wanted to create and we spent three hours creating it! I’m so happy with the results that I picked a few favorite headshots from the shoot and added them to my Idalia Photography website. You can view them below! You’ll see more of the behind-the-scenes, lifestyle, and candid shots we got in the coming weeks on Insta and on the new website.

Photographers, if you’ve never had a personal branding session done, I highly recommend it! And if you’re in NJ, reach out to Jocelyn Cruz – she will take great care of you! And for makeup, reach out to my friends over at Make Me Up Eva.

Thanks for following along on my journey – see you on the ‘gram over at @its.alex.peterson !

The post New Headshots for a New Project! appeared first on NJ Wedding Photographer | Idalia Photography.

Make a list of the things you want to get done and start checking them off as you complete them. You’ll be so happy you did when it’s time to start shooting regularly again and you feel like you’ve accomplished a ton. To get you started, here are 40 ideas for off-season projects for photographers.

40 Ideas for Off-Season Projects for Photographers

1. Get ready for tax season. This is definitely not the most fun item on the list, but it’s at the top because the sooner you can finish this dreaded task, the quicker you can put it behind you. If you haven’t done so already, organize your receipts and finalize your bookkeeping so that you can be ready for your accountant.
2. Re-evaluate your workflow. Figure out what worked well and didn’t work well in your business the previous year and figure out which changes you’d like to make for this year. Find the bottlenecks in different aspects of your business such as editing, blogging, and marketing.
3. Update your client management software. Re-evaluate your current CRM and make sure it’s still the best choice for you. If you’ve outgrown it, research other options and use the off-season to set up your new system. If you aren’t already using Táve, I highly recommend it!
4. Test out new apps. Several years ago around this time, I set up MileIQ and I cannot tell you how easy it has made mileage tracking for us!
5. Learn something new. You know all those lifetime-access online workshops you signed up for on Black Friday? Now is the time to immerse yourself in them! There are also lots of in-person workshop and conference opportunities out there at this time of year. Figure out which skills you are looking to improve this year, pick a workshop or conference to attend, and take advantage of this time to learn and grow.
6. Send your cameras and lenses in for maintenance. This is a great time for your camera to get a check-up and for your lenses to be professionally cleaned. There’s no better feeling than starting the new season with squeaky-clean gear.
7. Replace memory cards. It’s a big expense, but we like to replace our memory cards once a year. Remember to label your new cards with the year so that you can keep new ones separate from old ones.
8. Replace old external hard drives. Along these same lines, it’s also a good idea to evaluate your back-up system and replace old drives before they fail.
9. Update your website. Is your website working for you? If so, great! Skip this one. If not, evaluate why it may not be working for your business anymore and make some improvements.
10. Update your portfolio. This is something that most photographers put off all year. With the off-season coinciding with prime booking season, it’s important to review your portfolio and update it with your recent work.
11. Create sample albums. Take some time to choose the weddings and sessions you’d like to showcase at client meetings this year and make brand new client albums that you’ll be proud to show potential clients.
12. Create albums for vendors. Think about the venues or vendors you’d like to continue working with and make them an album that features their work. If you’re a wedding photographer, focus on venues that agree to display your album on-site.
13. Take care of vendors. Make a list of the vendors you had the opportunity to work with last year and make an effort to send them images that will help them promote their business.
14. Jumpstart your blog. Create a blogging strategy and set your blog up for success this year. Spend some time creating content so that you have content lined up to publish even when you’re in the midst of busy season.
15. Start an email list. Don’t depend on social media to get your content to your tribe. Set up an email list and start making real connections with your clients.
16. Clean up your Pinterest boards. Pinterest is a platform that often gets forgotten about, especially during the busiest of seasons. Set some time aside to re-evaluate your Pinterest strategy and update your boards.
17. Submit last year’s work for publication. I’m not going to lie: this one is time-consuming. Between finding a blog or magazine that is a good fit for your work, curating a set of images, and preparing vendor credits and submission descriptions, submitting for publication is no easy feat. However, it is so exciting for your clients to see their work featured and so rewarding to see your images published that it’s worth all the time and effort.
18. Scout shooting locations. Going stir-crazy? If you’re a portrait photographer, use scouting locations as a reason to get out of the house one day. Make a list of local parks that you’ve never been to and find some new places to shoot at this year to add to your list of go-to spots. Once you’ve got your list, make it into a resource for your clients. Click here to see my list: NJ Engagement Photo Locations.
19. Refresh your workspace. We all know how much time we spend at our desks. Do a little cleaning, de-cluttering, and re-organizing, or find a way to spruce things up a bit.
20. Re-evaluate your pricing. Get ready for the new inquiries that will come in by making decisions about your new pricing. And while you’re at it, update your pricing guide, too!

20 more ideas

Did you like this post? Pin it below!

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Legal Resources

1. The Law Tog | 15% off with code Thanks19

Gear

• Holdfast Gear | 15% off with code HFBlackFriday
• Kelly Moore Bags | Up to 50% off
• MagMod | 15-25% off depending on how much you spend

Products & Supplies

• Magcloud | 25% off with code BLACKFRIDAY25
• PhotoFlashDrive | 25% off with code BLACKFRIDAY19
• Photographer Supply Co. | 25% off with Code BFPSCO25

Education

• Idalia Photography | My own coaching sessions are $50-$200 off
• Amy & Jordan | $200 off courses
• Katelyn James | $200 off courses
• The Youngrens | 50% off with Code BF2019

Apps, Software, and Websites

• Showit | 30% off
• Stomp Software | 40% off
• Tave | Up to 60% off their plans

From Side Hustle to Six Figures

The post Black Friday Deals for Photographers appeared first on NJ Wedding Photographer | Idalia Photography.

To celebrate the launch, today I also get to announce the 4th and final giveaway! If you haven’t been following the #idaliaphotolaunch on Instagram, you should head over because there are so many fun giveaways going on there and you still have time to enter. Here’s a list of the four giveaways:

1. For anyone: A $50 Amazon gift card
2. For photographers and creatives: A brand audit by Ribbon and Ink and a coaching session with me
3. For families: A 20 minute holiday mini-session with me at PCB Home in Cranbury, NJ
4. For couples: A 30 minute couple’s portrait session with my associate photographer Sarah in Monmouth County

Click here to enter – just find the right giveaway for you and stay tuned on Friday at 8pm to find out if you’re a winner.

And if you’re into graphic design and would like to learn more about my rebrand check out the brand board below and read this post over on Katie’s blog.

Thank you to everyone who has supported my business in any way! It’s thanks to you that I get to do what I love and I’m so very thankful.

The post My New Website is LIVE! appeared first on NJ Wedding Photographer | Idalia Photography.

This intimate networking event will focus on providing an opportunity for you to mingle and chat with new industry friends as well as an opportunity to learn how to further network with wedding pros. There will be a 30 minute presentation on “How to Build Your Referral Network in the Wedding Industry”.

The event is open to all wedding industry professionals, new and seasoned, including but not limited to:

• wedding planners
• venue coordinators
• photographers
• videographers
• florists
• hair and makeup artists
• bridal shop owners
• calligraphers
• graphic designers

Light refreshments will be served and each attendee will get a set of brand new headshots! We can’t wait to see you there!

The Details

Tuesday, April 17th, 2018

5pm – 7pm

The Union Market and Gallery

120 W Main St.

Tuckerton, NJ 08087

Space is limited so click here to register!

The post Networking for Wedding Pros appeared first on NJ Wedding Photographer | Idalia Photography.

If you’re interested in the next workshop, I invite you to join our wait list for the next workshop! This way, you’ll be among the first to know when registration opens for the next workshop. Since I limit enrollment to 15 attendees, you’ll definitely want to get on the wait list!  Fill out the form below to join the wait list!

And now, with no further ado, here is the highlight video from the January 2018 workshop:

Workshop Sponsors

Venue | Content + Co

Showit

PCB Home

Trove Branding

Meet Edgar

Caitlin Jane Calligraphy

MK Flav Video

Monique Lockwood

The post #BFCE Workshop | Highlight Video appeared first on NJ Wedding Photographer | Idalia Photography.

Don’t just bombard them with images from recent sessions.

Take families, for instance. No busy mom is going to come back to your blog week after week to see ANOTHER family’s photos. But if you provide content that will help her make HER next photo shoot amazing? Or content that will help her choose products for her home? Or maybe content that will inspire her and provide a quick escape from the busyness of life? Those are the types of posts that will keep her coming back to your blog and keep you front of mind so that when she goes to book her next session, she thinks of you. Because she knows you care about creating beautiful images and products for her.

If you’re a wedding photographer, the same idea applies here! Brides are looking for helpful content that will make wedding planning easier, content that will inspire them in their own wedding, and content that will help them make decisions regarding their big day. One of the best people who can help her with this is YOU, her photographer! After all, if she fell in love with your images, she wants to know what SHE can do to help YOU create those images for her. And when her bridesmaid gets engaged, who do you think she will refer when she sees how much you care about the entire wedding experience?

But how do you come up with content ideas that will be effective?! What’s an easy way to create content that keeps people coming back?

Identify your ideal client’s pain points.

Yup, that’s it. Figure out your client’s pain points and voilà, you have a bunch of content ideas. How does that work? Well, once you have identified their pain points, create content that solves their problems. Here are three examples:

1. Newborn photographers: First-time mom’s pain point is not knowing what to expect for a newborn session and feeling like she doesn’t know what she’s doing. After all, if it’s her first baby, she has no clue when to book, what the session will look like, or how to even prepare! Create content that addresses those concerns so that mom feels confident that the experience will be wonderful and will yield the images she wants of her baby.
2. Family photographers: Mom’s pain point is the fear of not knowing if her children will behave for a full session and if the session will be worth such a big investment. One hour might seem so long for her! Create content that addresses that fear and include a behind-the-scenes perspective on what you do during family sessions to make sure parents get the beautiful images they dream of. Also, include tips on what parents can do to prepare their children for the session.
3. Wedding photographers: Bride’s pain point is being afraid of not having enough time on her wedding day to get all the images she wants while still enjoying her time with her husband, friends, and family. Write content that helps her create a timeline that will allow her to enjoy the day while still ensuring there is enough time for all the must-have images of the day.

Remember that your clients don’t just have one point – they have many! Spend some time making a list of *all* their pain points and I guarantee you’ll have more content ideas than you can even handle right now.

From Side Hustle to Six Figures

The post Don’t know what to blog about next? Read this! appeared first on NJ Wedding Photographer | Idalia Photography.

Last April, I had the pleasure of hosting my first workshop on blogging and SEO and I can honestly say it was one of the highlights of my year! As a former teacher, I just loved sharing my experience and knowledge with other creatives and seeing their faces light up during their many “aha moments.” I know there is a ton of education out there and you can “google” anything nowadays. But nothing will ever replace face-to-face learning. And nothing will save you more time and headaches more than an in-person workshop focused on you and your business. Plus you’ll be surrounded by like-minded people who are in a creative industry and, like you, are ready to take their businesses to the next level.

The blogging for creative entrepreneurs workshop is perfect for you if you are a photographer, event planner, videographer, graphic designer, florist or any other type of creative and you are:

• having trouble identifying and attracting your ideal client
• unsure about how to create a blogging strategy that generates leads consistently
• never sure what to blog about next, or worse, unsure why you should blog at all
• feeling like you have a ton of ideas but don’t know which ones will make a difference in your bookings
• wanting your blog to appear in Google search results but don’t know how
• ready to dive into blogging but don’t know where to start
• craving a community of like-minded entrepreneurs to bounce ideas off of and cheer you on

If the thought of learning how to blog effectively overwhelms you, I’m here to help. I was there once, too. But in 2014, we went from 15 weddings the previous year to 33 weddings the following year. All thanks to implementing a marketing strategy that generates leads consistently. Since implementing our strategy, we’ve continued to book out our years consistently, even while increasing our prices every year. I’d like to help you do the same.The Blogging for Creative Entrepreneurs Workshop is an in-person event that will teach you how to build a solid foundation for your blog, create a blogging strategy that generates leads, attract your ideal client, make sure your blog content is found online, and make you feel organized, focused, and motivated to reach your blogging goals. The workshop is an intimate one day in-person event that will be held at cozy Content and Co. in Long Branch, NJ. Picture a day of learning and implementing new strategies as you sit comfortably in your yoga pants under a cozy blanket and warmed by a crackling fire. What better way to jumpstart your 2018 marketing strategies?

[Registration is now closed.]

The post Blogging for Creative Entrepreneurs | A Workshop appeared first on NJ Wedding Photographer | Idalia Photography.