We were lucky to catch up with Matt & Jessica Cramer recently and have shared our conversation below.

Matt & Jessica, appreciate you joining us today. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

Going from Idea to Execution: How We Launched Matt Cramer Photography

Our journey from idea to execution was a mix of excitement, uncertainty, and a lot of late nights, but it’s a story of two passionate people that wanted to create their own business. A few years after our son was born in 2009, Matt and I both felt a shift. He was in media sales, and I was an executive in the fashion industry, but we craved more flexibility, more time with our son, and the chance to create a life that truly belonged to us.

One evening, after Matt had left a job he wasn’t passionate about, we sat down and asked each other the big question: “What are we going to do? Should we start a photography business? Can we really make this happen?” Matt had always had a passion for photography, and I had a background in business and marketing—it just felt like the right move. I told Matt, “I think this is our next step. You are going to be a photographer”. I guess I kind of told him! I just knew it was time for his creative talents to be truly recognized!

That night, we grabbed Matt’s laptop and began researching website platforms for photographers. It felt so exciting, like a new adventure unfolding. We spent the next two days going back and forth between different platforms and templates before finally settling on one that felt right. It was specifically designed for photographers, so it aligned perfectly with our vision.

From there, we dove into the details and laid the groundwork while still working full-time—pulling together Matt’s best images, writing copy for the site, and even designing our logo. It was nothing fancy, just “Matt Cramer Photography” in a font we liked, but it felt like a major milestone. We had business cards printed (yes, it was still a thing back then!) and designed a 5×7 flyer showcasing our work and contact information, which we planned to distribute locally. Setting up our professional emails, organizing our marketing materials, and refining the little things felt like progress. We started photographing friends’ babies on weekends and evenings, taking every free moment we had to build our portfolio. Late nights became the norm, but we were determined.

Then came the day we went live with our website. That felt like a huge milestone—our dream was no longer just an idea. We even had our family test out the contact form—just to make sure everything was working! And within a few months, we started getting referrals from friends, and even a few website inquiries trickled in. I will never forget the first one. A mom in Burbank reached out about a newborn session for her 10-day-old baby. When I saw the inquiry in our inbox, I was in disbelief—I ran over to Matt screaming, “We got an inquiry!!” We both ran around the studio, filled with joy. It was the moment we realized that all the hard work we had put in was starting to pay off.

That first year was all about refining. We worked every weekend, perfected our session flow, and constantly tweaked our website to make sure it reflected our evolving brand. I also dove deep into SEO, knowing it would be the driving force behind our bookings. We also invested in continuous education—taking courses on everything from newborn posing to marketing strategies. As our client base grew, so did our confidence. It was amazing to see that what started as a late-night idea had transformed into a thriving business.

Today, Matt Cramer Photography has photographed over 1,600 babies, and we’re grateful every day for the journey. But we’ll never forget those first few months, filled with late-night hustle, joy, and the excitement of turning our idea into real

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.

About Matt Cramer Photography: Our Story and What Sets Us Apart

For those who are just learning about us, we’re Matt and Jessica Cramer, the husband-and-wife team behind Matt Cramer Photography, which we founded in 2010. Our specialty is newborn photography, and we also offer milestone sessions for babies as they grow—like our sitter sessions for 6-8 month olds and cake smash sessions for one-year birthdays. What sets us apart isn’t just our years of experience, but the heart and soul we pour into every session. Based in Los Angeles, we serve families throughout the area, and we’ve been fortunate to build a loyal client base over the years.

How We Got Started
Our journey into newborn photography began with our own family. When our son was born, Matt—who had always had a passion for photography and worked as a videographer for years— picked up his camera and captured those first, tender days. That’s when it hit us: the magic of newborn photography wasn’t just about taking pictures, it was about preserving an irreplaceable moment in time. With Matt’s eye for photography and Jessica’s business and marketing experience, we decided to build a business that could offer other families the same timeless memories, while giving us the gift of more time with our son.

What We Offer
At Matt Cramer Photography, we focus on creating images that are soft, natural, and timeless. Our primary services include:

Newborn Photography: Capturing those delicate early days when your baby is still brand new.
Sitter Sessions: Celebrating the fun milestone when babies can sit up on their own—around 6-8 months.
Cake Smash Sessions: Marking your baby’s first birthday in a playful way with a cake smash session, because what’s better than a little mess and a lot of fun?

What Sets Us Apart
What really makes us stand out is the experience we offer to new parents. We know how stressful it can be to take your baby out of the house, especially in those early days when you’re still adjusting to life as new parents. That’s why we’ve created a stress-free, calming environment at our home studio, where parents can feel at ease the moment they walk through the door. Our studio is warm, clean, and designed with your comfort in mind. We often hear from clients that they feel like they’re in a spa during their session!

But it’s more than just the atmosphere—we pride ourselves on being the “baby whisperers.” Jessica has been called that many times by parents who can’t believe how calm and content their babies are throughout the session. From soothing techniques to gentle posing, she handles every detail so that parents can relax- while Matt captures them beautifully. One mom even told us she took her first nap since giving birth while we photographed her newborn!

Our clients also love that we take care of everything—from the props and outfits to guiding them through the session step by step. We make sure every family feels supported, so all they have to do is show up and enjoy the experience. And in the end, they leave with stunning images that truly capture the essence of their baby’s earliest days.

The Problems We Solve
We take the guesswork out of newborn photography for new parents. Our goal is to create a seamless experience where parents don’t have to worry about anything. From the moment you book with us, we guide you through the process, making sure everything is in place for a smooth, enjoyable session. We’ve had parents tell us they were anxious about leaving the house for the first time, but that once they arrived, they felt completely at ease. Our ability to create that calming atmosphere is something we’re really proud of.

What We’re Most Proud Of
What we’re most proud of is the trust we’ve built with our clients. We’ve photographed over 1,600 babies, and many families return for milestone sessions or to capture their second or third baby. It’s incredibly rewarding to see families come back to us, knowing they trust us to capture these precious moments. One family even drove from Newport Beach to our studio, saying it was worth every minute of the drive.

Another thing we’re proud of is the attention to detail we bring to every session. From the way we swaddle and pose the babies to selecting the perfect props, we ensure every image is timeless and beautifully composed. It’s this attention to detail that keeps families coming back and recommending us to others.

What We Want Potential Clients to Know
For new parents considering a session with us, we want you to know that we’ve dedicated over a decade to creating the best possible experience for you and your baby. From start to finish, we’ll take care of everything so that you can relax and trust that your precious moments are in good hands. We know how quickly your baby will grow, and we’re honored when families choose us to capture these fleeting, irreplaceable moments. We can’t wait to create timeless memories with you.

How did you build your audience on social media?

How We Built Our Social Media Audience & Advice for New Creators

Building our audience on social media wasn’t something that happened overnight, but it has been such an exciting journey. When we started, our main strategy was simple: share our best work. We wanted our photos to speak for themselves, but over time, we realized that connecting with our audience on a deeper level was key. That’s when we decided to take people behind the scenes—to really show what a newborn session with us looks like.

We started capturing behind-the-scenes videos of Matt and I working together during sessions—showing not only the beautiful final images but the moments in between. People love seeing how we soothe the babies, the way we gently pose them, and how we create that magical moment. It’s all about giving them a peek into our world and showing the care and patience that goes into each session.

One of the most powerful things we’ve done is create content that evokes emotion. We have an Instagram Reel that went viral, reaching 10.7 million views. The text in the Reel shares what we’ve learned after 12 years of photographing newborns—the art of becoming a “baby whisperer,” connecting with each baby, reading their cues, and learning what makes them feel comfortable before we even snap the first picture. That connection we build with each baby is what allows us to capture those breathtaking, timeless images that move people’s souls, and sharing that message resonated deeply with our audience.

For anyone just starting out on social media, my advice would be to be authentic and find your unique story. It’s not just about the work you do—it’s about who you are, what makes you different, and how you can connect with your audience. Don’t be afraid to show the behind-the-scenes moments, the challenges, and the real you. And don’t underestimate the power of storytelling—whether through photos, videos, or your captions. People will connect with you when they see the passion and heart behind your business.

Does your business have multiple or supplementary revenue streams (like a ATM machine at a barbershop, etc)?

Does Matt Cramer Photography Have Multiple Revenue Streams? Absolutely!

While our core business is newborn and baby photography, I’ve also developed a significant side of the business that focuses on teaching SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to other photographers, called SEOwithJess. This is something that started as a passion project, but it’s grown quite a bit in the past year.

SEO is one of the main reasons our photography business has been so successful. We operate in the highly competitive Los Angeles market, and we’ve been able to consistently rank our website on page 1 of Google. This visibility has been a game-changer for us, and I wanted to share that knowledge with other photographers who might be struggling with ranking, getting clients, and getting their websites seen.

I’ve become incredibly passionate about teaching SEO to other photographers because it doesn’t have to be as hard or mysterious as people think. There’s this misconception that you need to hire an expensive SEO expert to get results, but I’ve found that with the right guidance, photographers can learn how to do it themselves—and it can transform their business. Watching other photographers succeed after applying what I teach is so rewarding, and it’s something I’m proud to be a part of.

Through this, we’ve created a whole new revenue stream for our business. I offer:

1:1 SEO Mentoring sessions, where I work directly with photographers to help them understand and implement SEO strategies tailored to their business.

SEO Website Audits, which give photographers a detailed look at their website’s performance and specific, actionable steps to improve it.

Digital Courses that break down SEO in an easy-to-follow way, so photographers can learn at their own pace and apply those lessons to their business.

What’s been amazing is seeing how empowering this has been for other photographers. SEO doesn’t have to be this overwhelming, complicated thing. It’s about understanding how to make your website visible to the people who are already searching for the services you offer—and once you conquer that, everything else becomes so much easier.

I love seeing the shift in mindset for photographers who thought they were “bad at marketing” or “didn’t get SEO,” and then suddenly, they’re ranking on Google, booking more clients and growing their business. That’s the most fulfilling part for me, and it’s been an incredible journey to turn this passion into another successful arm of our business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mattcramerphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattcramerphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattCramerPhotography/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-cramer-333b6340/
• Twitter: https://x.com/MattCramerPhoto
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV1gxMdrj8xsVvCuPg9CXHg
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/matt-cramer-photography-los-angeles
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/seowithjess.ai/

Image Credits

Matt Cramer Photography
Amori Photography