Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Danielle Griffin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Danielle, thrilled to have you on the platform as I think our readers can really benefit from your insights and experiences. In particular, we’d love to hear about how you think about burnout, avoiding or overcoming burnout, etc.
Avoiding burnout is a major challenge for anyone who is a solo-preneur. While the biggest perk of my job is the ability to set my own schedule, it’s also very easy to take on too many sessions when the demand for services is high – ie, the fall rush for holiday card photos where in Houston you have less than 6 weeks to take “sweater weather” appropriate photos, edit and return them in enough time for cards to be selected, printed, mailed, and delivered for the perfectly timed dose of Christmas cheer. It’s especially easy to teeter on the edge of burnout when a favorite client requests a shoot even though you’re already over booked. The last thing you want is to miss out on a chance to catch up with them (or risk any sort of disappointment on their end). But the years have taught me that burnout will make me stressed and unhappy, which leads to half-full photographer. When I’m not excited about a shoot because I still have a mile long list of things that have to be done for existing clients (emails, edits, contracts, invoices, prints, social media posts), I know it’s time to pull back. That’s when I call an emergency meeting with my boss and their bosses’ boss (who all just happen to be me) and recap boundaries, office hours, and priorities. Then it’s time to make myself stick to them, even if it means having to say “no” and disappointing some of my favorites. Burnt out work is never work that is up to my standards, and I’ll never be ok with delivering anything but my best.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Above all else, I’m a wife and mama to two sweet, brilliant, and hilarious little girls. As my chosen vocation, I am a portrait photographer specializing in motherhood moments with a focus on customer service. The purpose of Colette James Photography is to beautifully capture timeless portraits that celebrate all stages of motherhood while working along side my clients to ensure that the planning portion is as easy and seamless as possible. My hope is that once the shoot is over and the photos are delivered, you look back on the Colette James process as having been stress free, efficient, and enjoyable.
Motherhood photography includes:
Engagement portraits celebrating a family’s beginning
Birth announcements when baby is on the way, and you want to shout if from the rooftops
Maternity photos to remember the excitement and anticipation of baby’s impending arrival
Newborn sessions (both solo studio and at-home, family lifestyle) once little one has made their debut
Seasonal or annual family sessions with a perfect mix of traditional portraits and candid moments
Milestone mini sittings celebrating all of the fun stages and changes of your little ones at any age
High School seniors portraits as they get ready for their next big adventure
Extended family shoots including grandparents, siblings, and cousins
In addition to photography services, the newest offering of Colette James Photography is the availability to have heirloom films created during photo sessions as a keepsake movie addition. CJP films are a high definition, fully edited compilation of clips shot during your photo session which are set to the perfect song. These modern home videos are sure to cue the tears any time you view it.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back at the journey thus far of CJP (and cringing at all the mistakes that have been made along the way), I do believe that there are certain qualities and skills that I encompass that have helped aid in it’s success. While there are so many instances where my type A planning can send my anxiety into overdrive, it is very helpful when it comes to preparing for sessions. Fixating on any possible problem that could arise during the shoot, helps me to solve it before it even comes up. I always have a plan B (and C and D).
I like to joke that even though I have a psychology degree, I can take much better photos than I can offer helpful life advice. But the truth is, I find myself using techniques I’ve learned from my psych studies in every single session. Don’t worry, I’m not diagnosing anyone, but being able to read people and situations helps so much in bringing out true personalities in photos. If my subject isn’t relaxed and comfortable, it will absolutely reflect in the images. Taking the time to get to know a kiddo, respond in ways that are comfortable to them, and giving them the space and time to have fun goes so much farther than repeatedly yelling, “Say ‘cheese!’” and just praying for the best. Plus, it really pays off when mom is giddy over a certain expression caught in a photo that sums up their child just perfectly.
My biggest piece of advice for any photographer wanting to turn their art into a business would be to practice. Not only practice learning your camera, editing, and shooting, but photograph things that you want your business to focus on. If you have zero desire to photograph weddings or events, don’t spend your time and energy there. Figure out what you want to specialize in and put all of your efforts into it. To anyone within that specialized group, offer shoots for free for a very long time until you’ve perfected your workflow. Even though the shoot is unpaid, it’s important to treat it just as you would a professional session. Prepare a written agreement and work out the best way to have it executed (digitally, signed in person, or through a business management platform). Be thorough in your communication. Be honest about your experience level, and make sure they understand that the goal with the session is to provide you with an opportunity to perfect your craft. Set realistic expectations, but always strive to over deliver on the final product. Ensure your client through your actions that you take their time seriously, and verbally thank them for allowing you the opportunity to improve. Make them want to come back to you and be willing to pay for your services because you made the experience a positive one. In a saturated market of DIYers who can learn the science and mechanics of photography from YouTube, the experience that you create is what will set you apart. What clients will remember most of all is how you made them feel before, during, and after the photos are taken. That memory will determine whether or not they refer you to others and if they decide to come back to you year after year.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
From the time that I started the business, every mentor told me to find my ideal client and market to that individual person. In the beginning, my ideal client was someone who was willing to pay me, and the requirement list ended there. It wasn’t until I actually worked with true ideal clients that I finally recognized what characteristics they all held. That recognition forced me to understand that I don’t need ALL the clients; I only need the right ones, the ideal ones. So who is that? She’s a mom or a woman dreaming about being a mom who can’t wait to tell you about her new favorite life hack. She raves to her friends about great services, leaves thoughtful, detailed business reviews and is excited to share anything that could possibly help the “mom life” be even the smallest bit easier. She appreciates the simplicity and beauty of neutral tones, the variety that can be accomplished by differing textures, and the incomparable advantage of flattering light. Her love language is acts of service, so during the session she thanks me when I fix a hair out of place prior to taking the shot, tell her I can fix a bright red forehead zit that just popped up, or help her convince her toddler that wearing clothes for the the photos is indeed necessary (and has bribes on hand to help win our case). When I see her at the grocery store, we’re both rocking the messy bun with zero makeup on, holding our 3rd cup of room-temp coffee, and neither of us know what day it is. But we still deliriously catch up on all the family craziness. She appreciates the friendly rapport that we share but also understands that my services are my job and respects professional etiquette. When I have to reschedule a session at the last minute because I have a sick kiddo, she gets it because we both know how much it sucks (plus she’s grateful that I’m keeping those germs to myself and away from her). She also knows that if she were in my situation, I’d be just as flexible and understanding. She doesn’t let the fact that her gallery included three times the amount of promised images go unnoticed because she understands how much extra work was involved when I couldn’t bear to leave out a single cute shot. When I offer suggestions on outfits, locations, or timeframes, her reply is “Whatever you think; I trust you.” Insert all the heart eyes here. If there were such a thing as a photographer gold star award, that phrase would be it. With all of this being said, it’s important to note that just about every one of my repeat clients falls into that “ideal” category. How lucky am I?
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.coletejamesphotography.com
- Instagram: Colettejamesphotography
- Facebook: Www.facebook.com/colettejamesphotography
Image Credits
Colette James Photography
