We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chelsie Maurer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Chelsie, appreciate you joining us today. What’s the best or worst investment you’ve made?

I’m a firm believer in education and mentorship (let’s not reinvent the wheel, right?), so I would say investing in education has been the best decision I’ve made as a business owner. Each year, I make a point to invest in furthering my photography and/or business education to continuously grow. The education or mentorships look different each year, depending on what I want to focus on, but I’ve invested in in-person newborn workshops, online maternity and newborn workshops, newborn posing education groups, family posing lessons, and a course on elevating my client experience. There are several successful photographers that have made a career out of their entrepreneurial dream in portraiture, and rather than trying to figure everything out myself over a much longer duration, I like to support others and learn from the best! I now even offer 1:1 newborn photography mentorships at my studio in Utica, Michigan, and I’m happy to share knowledge and help other photographers grow in the field of photography as well.

Chelsie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My entire goal at Chelsie Maurer Photography is to give clients a stress-free, enjoyable photography experience while providing archival, heirloom products and art for their home and keepsake. From start to finish, I guide clients through, starting with a consultation so I can understand what they’re looking for and what their style is like. The consultation is key so I can plan for them the perfectly customized photo session and show them several examples. Did I mention at the consultation we discuss what to wear? Everyone knows figuring out what to wear is THE hardest part when getting ready for your photo shoot, so we cover all the details together to take the guess work out. For my newborn families, I provide everything baby needs for several different stylized sets, so parents don’t have to buy or bring anything. Clients get to see the options and make their selections at the consult, too. When you’re a sleep deprived new parent, not having anything extra on your plate is key!

When it comes time for the photo session, my clients are relaxed and ready as I give them gentle prompts and guidance throughout the session. Parents of newborns get to relax and take it easy in my seating area to watch how I gently and safely pose their new baby into timeless and adorably sweet poses. I’ve had parents describe the experience as “magical.”

What is the point of having photos done if you they are just going to sit on your computer? After the photo shoot, I help guide clients through the process of favorite photos and how to best use them to complement their homes and what will best fit their needs. Whether the art is going to be displayed as a gallery wall, or perhaps as more of a keepsake piece in an heirloom album, clients rave about this experience.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

I have three main strategies for growing my clientele.

First, word of mouth referrals are one of the biggest compliments a small business owner can receive. Referrals speak volumes that a client would remember you and tell others how thrilled they were with your services. When you treat your clients like gold, they’ll share with their friends.

Secondly, I had to focus on my website’s SEO so I could get in front of more people, and that took time. With hiring a SEO expert, it took about six months before I saw major changes in my website traffic, and I’ve had to continue to add text, blog and so forth to keep it going.

Lastly, I collaborate and network with other small businesses serving the same ideal client within Metro Detroit. By doing this, it not only helps me reach more people, but it gets my name known in the area. Those other businesses can refer my business (and vice versa), we can plan events together, we can share each other’s marketing and so forth.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Can we applaud every small business for their resilience? Truly. Small business owners quit their 9-5 to pursue their dream and work longer days and nights to make it happen, and initially with less pay than their previous job, and while wearing all the hats. In all honesty, it took me years to get my business off the ground and profitable. I didn’t want to go deep in debt and invest in a studio space and all of the extra overhead until I was ready, so I set up a faux studio in my basement, rented out other photographers’ studios by the hour while hauling all of my props and equipment, and also went to clients’ homes. It was so much work and time, but it was the foundation of building my business, and I didn’t give up. Once I had the opportunity to lease a studio, it felt like the perfect studio fell into my lap. It was the right size and location, and it ended up helping my business grow even more. As a matter of fact, business took off from there and I haven’t looked back since. Being a small business owner takes patience and passion, but it’s definitely worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chelsiemaurerphotography.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/chelsiemaurerphotography
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/chelsiemaurerphotography
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@chelsiemaurerphoto

Image Credits
All photos by Chelsie Maurer Photography