We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tracy Kirkland. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tracy below.
Tracy , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.
I’m a boudoir photographer and photography business coach who specializes in helping other photographers book more clients but spend fewer hours working. In 2016, I really figured the business side out and grew my photography business to multiple six-figure annual revenue while only working 30 hours a month. With my customized approach, my photography clients have been able to hit 6-figures, and quit their 9 – 5’s in order to become full time photographers without the expense of paid ads.
I’ve photographed over 800 clients and taught dozens of photography business students. When I’m not in my St. Louis studio, you can me traveling the U.S. with my husband, Tome or we might be at home in Southern Illinois.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?
I’m a boudoir photographer and photography business coach who specializes in helping other photographers book more clients but spend fewer hours working. After starting my business in 2017, I was able to grow the company to multiple six-figure annual revenue while only working 30 hours a month. Using my customized approach, my clients have been able to 10x their prices and quit their 9 to 5’s in order to become full-time photographers without the expense of paid ads.
I’ve photographed over 750 clients and taught dozens of photography business students. When I’m not helping my clients create a business that supports their life (not the other way around) you can find me traveling the U.S. with my husband. I also run a photography studio in St. Louis, Missouri, while also calling Cobden, Illinois, home.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
Most photographers rely on social media to stay booked out. I’ve built a very well rounded, organic marketing strategy that doesn’t rely on just one avenue to book clients.
I have a high converting website that is the one place I send all potential leads to. When someone lands on my website they will either book their session immediately or subscribe to my email list.
My website gets between 1500-4500 views per month, which may not seem like a lot to someone who is in a bigger space, but for a local, super niched business this is exactly where I need to be.
Traffic comes from all sources – Google, direct links, social media, email, and referrals.
I have 100+ blogs that answer the questions my clients have asked me over the years as well.
My marketing strategy also includes social media, email marketing, networking events(like bridal fairs), and referrals.
All strategies ultimately lead to my website.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Customer service is my priority. You’ve heard “the customer is always right” and I do think it’s true–to a point. I’m not going to let someone take advantage of me, but within reason, I will ALWAYS make sure my client is happy at the end of their session.
For example, a client was recently in the studio and she purchased a $2000 album. Before I ordered, she approved the design and then I had it shipped directly to her so that she would have it in time to gift it to her significant other. When she received it, she found one small thing that she wanted to have fixed which didn’t show up in the proofs I had sent.
I immediately ordered her another album and had it overnighted to her just in time.
My expenses were a bit higher than I would have liked, but in the end she was happy and that was my priority. I can make up that additional cost later.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://tracylynncoaching.com
- Instagram: itstracylynn
- Other: boudoirbytracylynn.com – boudoir photography website
Image Credits
the photo of me: Nikia Williams Photography. All the rest are my work