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

Michelle, appreciate you joining us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

“Love Michelle Photography.”

My business name was a practical solution, as well as a philosophical one. I was very limited as far as domain and business names, as “Michelle Thompson” is a pretty popular name.

“Love Michelle” solved the practical domain and business name problem, while also conveying some of the intrinsic value of photography – it’s like a love letter, from one family member to another. If a picture is worth a thousand words, an entire session’s worth of photos are a treasure trove of words and meaning.

Michelle, 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?

I’m a family, maternity and newborn lifestyle photographer, which means I take family portraits that look more like documentary photos than posed photos.

Clients choose me because they want warm and connected family photos that don’t look staged or forced – they want to look and feel like themselves. And they want to see real emotions and meaning coming through their photos! And, of course, the photos must be gorgeous. That’s where I come in.

What am I most proud of? How many happy clients I’ve made, clients that tear up when they watch their slideshows for the first time, who tell all their friends about me. When I’ve made clients very happy – that’s what I”m most proud of. Because, really, it’s all about serving them.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I actually hate the social media game. You become a slave to that platform. I used to try to play it because that’s what you’re “supposed” to do, but I quit when I realized how miserable it was making me. I’d rather fail in business than be miserably chained to some algorithm’s incessant demands!

My advice to other business owners is what I wish I knew starting out: don’t feel pressured to market in any particular way. Different people have different strengths – market according to your strengths.

For example, I hate social media, but I really enjoy writing and educating clients. So, I’ve made SEO my marketing focus, by blogging topics of value to clients. There are other photographers who actually really enjoy the social media game, love making reels and thinking of new ways to beat the algorithm – to them I say, keep it up! Play to your strengths.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

I love surprising and delighting clients. Doing so is another of my marketing strengths.

For instance, if a client orders an album from me, it’s never just shipped to them. Instead, I add a little treat and hand deliver the album to their doorstep. It’s the least I can do to say thank you!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lovemichellephotography.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lovemichellephoto
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovemichellephotography
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/love-michelle-photography-san-diego

Image Credits
Thank you to the Zulewski, O’Brien, Ogden, and Leas families for allowing me to use their beautiful photographs.