We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lori Stead. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lori below.

Lori, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I am currently a professional photographer and business owner, earning a full-time income from my creative work. However, my journey to this point was anything but straightforward.

Initially, my career started in a completely different field – education. I graduated college with a degree in this field and began teaching middle school English, a role I thoroughly enjoyed. Photography, however, had always been a hobby of mine, a passion ignited in my college days and further fueled by my fondness for capturing moments and people.

When I became a mother, I took a break from teaching to focus on my new role. During this time, I began engaging more with photography to alleviate boredom and started attending a local mom group, where I found myself regularly photographing children and families. Unexpectedly, I started receiving payment offers for my work, turning my hobby into a small source of extra income.

Years later, after having four children, I decided I wanted my photography work to be more than just a sideline; I wanted to create a full-fledged business. To achieve this, I began taking online business and marketing courses designed for photographers, learning the essentials of turning a passion into a profitable venture. One of the key lessons was the concept of in-person sales instead of merely offering digital images.

My first in-person sales session was a nerve-wracking experience, but to my surprise, the clients opted for my most expensive package. This success provided a much-needed confidence boost and encouraged me to invest more seriously in my business.

My husband and I had a small, unused business space which I converted into a studio, where I started dedicating my time, even when clients were sparse. In addition to serving clients, I concentrated on marketing, realizing that consistent presence and efforts eventually attract business.

About six to seven years ago, I decided to specialize in boudoir photography, my favorite genre, which involved working one-on-one with women. I put my entire marketing budget into this niche and continued learning through a specialized marketing course.

One significant lesson I’ve learned is the importance of identifying and attracting the right clients – those who truly appreciate and are willing to pay for the value I bring. Once I set my prices to reflect my value, my client satisfaction, repeat business, and income all increased. Now, my photography business generates a six-figure income, supporting my family and affording me the joy of doing what I love.

The journey to turning creativity into a profitable business has its challenges, especially managing the business and marketing aspects that don’t naturally feed the creative spirit. If I had known about these challenges earlier, I might have hesitated. But I’m glad I took the leap. Today, I not only enjoy managing the business but also assist my husband in setting up other businesses, using the wealth of experience we’ve both gained.

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.

My vast experience and keen eye for perfectionism have greatly aided me in my photography career, allowing me to notice every intricate detail. My personal history – overcoming eating disorders and various life crises – has made me empathetic and relatable, especially to other women. Life’s challenges have not only made me stronger but also enriched my understanding of the female experience, something I believe is vital in my niche of boudoir photography.

Boudoir photography requires a high level of trust and vulnerability from clients. To foster this, I make it a point to genuinely connect with each woman, asking questions, listening intently to their stories, and sharing my own. My transparency about my life’s ups and downs helps create a safe, comfortable space for them to share and relax.

Over the years, I’ve honed my skills to ensure that each client leaves with a result they’ll love. I understand the insecurities women might have and use my craft to highlight their unique beauty, often revealing strengths they didn’t even realize they possessed. The feedback I receive from clients, many of whom have experienced a boost in their confidence after a session with me, is immensely gratifying.

Moreover, clients who have had negative experiences with other photographers in the past find solace in my professional approach and end up being some of my most satisfied customers. They come to realize that their previous dissatisfaction wasn’t about them, but the lack of experience from the previous photographer.

My background in managing groups has shaped the sense of community I cultivate now. I run a private women’s group, a space where women, regardless of being my clients, can share their experiences and support each other. It’s become a sanctuary where women can be vulnerable yet empowered.

My empathetic nature, while sometimes challenging in a business context, also allows me to connect deeply with my clients. With time, I’ve built processes to protect my business without compromising the comfort of my clients.

Against common advice from business courses, I offer interest-free financing for my packages and full transparency about my pricing and services upfront. I believe in eliminating the pressure and stress often associated with sales. I understand what it feels like to want more but be unable to afford it, and so I strive to make my services accessible to all.

In essence, my approach involves taking the wisdom from the courses I’ve taken, adapting them to suit my principles, and discarding those aspects that do not align with my character. I believe that my business thrives mainly because of my genuine love and care for my clients, who feel uplifted by our interaction.

My sister once read a book about different personality types and identified me as the “Mother of the Earth”. Reflecting on that, I believe it encapsulates my approach to my work and life – nurturing, caring, and creating a safe and empowering environment for growth and transformation.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Being the sole proprietor of my business, I find myself juggling various roles, from marketing and administration to hair and makeup, and of course, the photography itself. I heavily lean on my personality and my ability to forge meaningful connections to not only assist clients during their sessions but also to maintain those relationships long after.

In essence, my business is an extension of me, much like another child that I constantly nurture, develop, and strive to enhance. This gives rise to a mental block when it comes to scaling my business. The conundrum lies in training someone to replicate my unique approach and persona, which feels inherently impossible.

My husband, who also runs his own business, and with whom I’m collaborating on another venture, adopts a distinctly different approach. He established his business with the explicit aim of scaling and replacing himself in various roles. To him, he is not his business. This dichotomy often leads to stimulating discussions about the potential scaling of my business, a concept I struggle to wrap my head around. The thought of entrusting these women into the care of someone else seems challenging, almost unnerving.

While the name of my business is not tied to me personally, making it ideal for scaling and expansion, it demands reliance on others, a concept I’ve always found uncomfortable. In almost every aspect of my life, I am the one others lean on. Reversing that role is something I find exceptionally difficult.

This ongoing struggle I face as a creative with a fully functioning business has led me to a piece of advice for other creatives seeking to turn their art into a business: plan for growth and scalability from the outset. Consider each element of your business, envision how someone else could step into each role, and develop a roadmap to make it happen. The sooner you can do this, the better positioned you will be to scale, grow, and potentially sell the business when you’re ready to embark on a new adventure.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In both my business and personal life, I am continuously pivoting to adapt to various circumstances. For instance, as my husband’s business expanded, necessitating more travel, I restructured my workdays to accompany him. I introduced Sunday as a potential day for boudoir sessions, with the bulk of my bookable slots falling within the first half of the week. This strategic adjustment has been incredibly successful, as I am now fully booked for several months ahead, with Sundays emerging as my clients’ preferred day.

Previously, my sessions would be divided into two parts: the boudoir session, which included hair, makeup, and photography from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and the ordering appointment that would follow two weeks later. This would typically involve a different client visiting during the second half of the day. This approach afforded me time to fully retouch a complete session and present clients with the final images. However, it was disheartening when these meticulously edited photos weren’t purchased since clients typically only selected their favorite shots. Furthermore, scheduling the second appointment proved challenging, as it revolved around decision-making, which clients would often defer.

To address these challenges, I transformed my workflow to a single-day process. Clients come in for the first half of the session, break for lunch while I sift through the images and perform light edits, and then return to choose their preferred photos for their collection. This streamlined approach means clients only need to set aside one day, rather than taking time off on two separate days. Additionally, it ensures that I am only retouching the images they wish to purchase.

While the process is undoubtedly intensive, with no breaks, it is also highly efficient. My clients seem to appreciate this structure, as they get to see their images while the excitement from the session is still fresh.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wetsilverboudoir.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wetsilverboudoir/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wetsilverboudoir
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-stead-93b2476b/