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

Hi Lindsey, thanks for joining us today. Often outsiders look at a successful business and think it became a success overnight. Even media and especially movies love to gloss over nitty, gritty details that went into that middle phase of your business – after you started but before you got to where you are today. In our experience, overnight success is usually the result of years of hard work laying the foundation for success, but unfortunately, it’s exactly this part of the story that most of the media ignores. Can you talk to us about your scaling up story – what are some of the nitty, gritty details folks should know about?

I experienced the most success scaling up when I began investing in myself and my business.

As a photographer, I knew that I needed images within my portfolio that portrayed the photos luxury, high fashion industry I wanted to be in.

I attended a two-day, 16-shoot content series where I was able to create that kind of art. Those days also pushed me out of my comfort zone and allowed me time and space for creativity.

Once I started to post those images to my social media accounts and add them to my website, I saw more inquiries come in. I don’t think a magic switch flipped, but I simply had more confidence in my work and my abilities.

The next thing I identified that would be a smart investment was branding.

I was using a logo a friend designed for me and had identified some brand colors and fonts, but I decided to hire a professional to strategically create a brand that would reflect how I wanted to be portrayed and where my business was headed.

Deciding to attend that content series and hiring those designers obviously cost money and were a bit of a risk. There was no guaranteed return on investment.

But, for me, the confidence that came from both of those things — along with major website updates and cold emails to potential clients — I started to consistently book photoshoots and obtain more clients.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Auburn University in 2016 before beginning my career working as a communications associate at an independent school in Texas.

In 2019, I moved to Nashville and continued to work in communications and marketing. I conceptualized and edited digital and print publications, built the internal and external brand of my employer, and used the power of storytelling to attract and engage existing and potential audiences.

I currently own a photography business that provides luxury commercial and portrait images to elevate my clients’ brand and celebrate their season of life by providing an experience that is easygoing, empowering and fun.

I totally understand the blah, awkward feeling that often coincides with someone standing in front of you and pointing a camera in your direction.

For my clients, my goal is that they enjoy themselves during a photoshoot in addition to obsessing over the final images.

It’s my job and privilege to ensure they feel at ease and have fun during our shoot together. Because of that, I joke that I double as both their photographer and hype woman for the day so that they can enjoy the moment they’re in, and I can capture their truest self.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Networking within local groups has not only brought new friendships to me but also several clients.

Think about what you do and where you go each week. When you can identify a networking opportunity, gym, coworking space or community group — start there.

I have offered free sessions in exchange for exposure, which has prompted word-of-mouth referrals. Also, just being present in these spaces reminds people of what you do and how you could help them should, in my instance, they find themselves in need of a photographer.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

Social media is a big way to keep in touch with clients and maintain a sense of excitement. I regularly share images from a session and tag the client so that they can repost.

And when I send a gallery or sneak peeks and get the text with one hundred exclamation points and emojis, I’ll screenshot that and share it on my Instagram story. This felt a little braggy at first, but I started to realize that the client still gets excited to see their words being shared and my friends and followers remain excited for me.

With brand loyalty, I want to make sure that besides using my stellar new brand fonts and colors, I am also sticking to consistent brand language.

I want to remind people of the importance of photos and I want them to be at ease and have fun during a shoot. When you present yourself as an expert in your field, people will have more confidence in coming to you for your services because they know that you know their pain points and want the best experience for them.

Show people that you care — no matter what industry you are in.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lindseymcalister.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindseymcalisterphoto/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindseymcalister/