We recently connected with Jamie Rubeis and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jamie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to start by getting your thoughts on what you are seeing as some the biggest trends emerging in your industry

In the family photography industry, trends are huge and everywhere. I think some of the bigger trends you are seeing right now are with editing and styling. A lot of family photographers are investing into having a client closet that allows them to completely style their clients. Most of these looks have a very bohemian look with long dresses and earthy tones. So, you do end up seeing those earthy tones translate into editing styles as well.

I think having a client closet, being able to fully style a family with only those options, and editing with specific color tones does help to create a very cohesive brand for your business. There is definitely plus side to it. However, the downside is that it does take away from a clients own unique style. So there might be some limitations there with getting clients that maybe don’t want that look for their photos. I think it’s absolutely possible to find a balance with creating a brand for yourself while also giving clients a little freedom to show up to a portrait session styled in a way that is unique for their family.

Jamie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have been a family photographer for a little over 13 years. I specialize in family, maternity and lifestyle newborn photography. I was a stay at home mom with two very small kids when I bought my first camera which was a Nikon D40. At the time, blogs were really popular and I was running a blog called “From High Heels to Sneakers” where I shared my experiences going from a Corporate Job as a Guest Experience Training Manger at MGM Resorts to a stay at home mom. I started noticing that other people who ran blogs had really awesome pictures on their blog. Cell phones images in 2008/2009 were awful. So I invested in my first camera just so I could share better images, but my interest in learning about photography really took off from that point.

I joined a photography community called Clickin Moms (now known as The Click Community) and started soaking in every learning opportunity I could from watching tutorials to attending in person workshops. I have always been creative, so I learned a lot really fast. I started asking strangers to take photos to practice. It was actually my husband who introduced the idea of opening a business because I was constantly doing a lot of free sessions by that point. I ended up officially opening my business in 2011.

The first year, I didn’t make anything. I was actually in the red. I quickly learned that there is a lot more to running a successful business on the back end. Setting up CRM systems, marketing, branding, cost of doing business and pricing. It definitely took some trial and error to figure all that out. Especially as a first time business owner, but by my second year, I was starting to earn an income.

A few years into my career, I was given the opportunity to be an instructor with The Click Community. So, I ended up teaching a very profitable photography class for several years with the company. I think that really helped to catapult my photography career. I not only got a lot of exposure from that, but I was able to share my knowledge. Having a background as a Training Manager helped me to run as very successful course. So much so, that I ended up having to step down from it so that I could better balance my client work and family life. I actually have had the chance to grab other teaching opportunities since then, but it’s been really important for me to maintain a balance. I have three kids still at home and I am now homeschooling all three. That is my most important focus right now and for the most part, I have been able to find that balance. These moments when the kids are still small go by so fast. My job is literally freezing these moments in time for other families, and I don’t want to miss out on my own moments because of it.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

With the increase of popularity of social media, I think it’s very important to never overlook the importance of having a strong website!!! I see this overlooked by a lot of people in my industry and a good old google search is where the majority of my new clients come from. It absolutely helps that I have had my website for 13 years, but I have also spent so much time making sure it’s optimized for search engines. Even though my website does show up organically for many search terms, I also run a regular google ad during slow seasons that I just pause when my calendar is booked to ensure I am always on the front page.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Communication and Consistency. My clients are seeking a service that is precious. Memories of their family. I really want to make sure I provide opportunities to get to know them, and understand what is most important to them about their family portraits. I also want to ensure I am communicating effectively with them throughout every stage of the booking process so they always know what to expect and are not left wondering. I have received several compliments throughout my career on how easy it is to book with me and that clients really appreciate that aspect.

In addition to strong communication, consistency is equally important. I have clients that have been with me for over 10 years. There are no surprises in the type of session I am going to provide. Of course, I have made improvements through the years. With photography, you should get better the more you do it. However, I am not drastically changing anything about the services I offer or the type of photography I provide. My body of work is consistent from lighting, to color from session to session. That is a very important factor to consider in choosing a photographer you can trust.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jamierubeisphotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamierubeisphoto/