We were lucky to catch up with Emily Prosise recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Emily, thanks for joining us today. We’ve love to hear an interesting investment story – what was one of the best or worst investments you’ve made? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)
The best investment I made in my business was 1:1 coaching! It was so much more useful than any online courses, workshops, or conferences I have attended in my 10 years of business! I wish I would’ve mentored under someone earlier in my career because of the HUGE gains I made afterward. Around five years of business I did a full mentorship program with a high-end photographer in the wedding industry which helped me bridge the gap between $1-2K weddings to $4-6K weddings. She helped me break into the luxury market through targeted lessons and creating luxury content. Then around 9 years of business, I mentored under a different photographer who helped me diversify my income, outsource, rock SEO/marketing, and build a sustainable business model. The large investment in 1:1 business coaching and mentoring is worth the cost every time because of the time you save, the content you learn, and the ability to move ahead without making all the mistakes!
Emily, 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 started my business in 2012 as a seventeen year old, focused solely on photographing my friends, family, and fellow seniors. I took a few photography classes in college, but my business really took off in 2013 when I booked my first few weddings and second shot for lots of different photographers. This helped gain experience and knowledge fairly quickly. I photographed weddings, engagements, and families throughout college to support myself and my dreams. In 2017, I fully committed to being a full time photographer specializing in film and fine-art weddings. My love for old photographic film, authentic JOY, and romantic posing has helped me build my passion into a full time business. My biggest accomplishments have been the ability to live my dream, support my family, travel for work, and be published in three magazines. My business model has been centered on humility, service, and JOY.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Authenticity, JOY, and service. I treat every couple as if they are royalty. Whether that be dress fluffing all day to keep the train looking its best, getting the couple refreshments and snacks during portrait times, running any errands they need on the day of, and surprising them with gift/goodies throughout the booking process. I learned this from my bestie Kelcie of Kelcie Jean Photography. Serving your clients every step of the way helps them feel loved, seen, and important. You want every couple to feel like they are William & Kate!
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
Connecting with friends, family, and the bridal party! I would say 95% of my business has been from bride & groom referrals. Serving the couple and doing an exceptional job on the day of is the biggest referral for future clients. They don’t feel the find to interview you beforehand because they have seen your hustle, drive, and quality of service. SERVE your clients well and they will serve your future business. I rarely book blind leads from Google or social media!
Contact Info:
- Website: emilykirsten.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/emilykirstenphoto
- Facebook: Facebook.com/emilykirstenphoto
Image Credits
Headshot: Katlyn Marie Photo Art Portrait with son: Anna Nelson Photography