ALI!!!  Her name makes me smile and want to shout because this crazy girl has a laugh and sense of humor that is contagious and makes your day–every time!

I know that many of you miss “Thursdays with Ali” on the SOAR! blog.  Her writing had us in tears and laughter every week.  Can you believe she didn’t see herself as a writer before SOAR!?  I remember asking her over lunch if she thought her writing would continue to go forward…I tossed out the idea of her maybe writing a novel about a woman and her comical, authentic journey in developing her photography passion.  I know I am one of many who would get in line to read that book!  I guess time will tell with Ali; she is FULL of surprises!

In fact, when Ali submitted her video to apply for SOAR!, I was like “Brian, is that the same Ali that was in the DC CONFIDENCE Workshop?…She was so QUIET all weekend!  Nahh, that can’t be the same gal.”

This was Ali’s video application;

Her video application touched all our hearts.  I told our panel of judges that this video was strong evidence of how hard Ali would work, and how “above and beyond the call” she would probably go.  In the end, the SOAR! Scholarship Program would richly benefit her because you get out of this program as much as you put in to it.  Ali was clearly going to put everything into it.

Below are a few thoughts Ali wanted to share with you…

Since writing my final post on Me Ra Koh’s SOAR! blog, I’ve often been asked, “What are you going to do now that SOAR! is over?”  In my head I respond with an enthusiastic, “I’m going to Disneyland!,” (just before Me Ra dumps one of those big orange coolers of Gatorade over my head and ruins a perfectly good hair day). In reality, the answer is less glamorous: We’ll see.

Normally, that kind of answer would sound weak, indecisive, and lazy to me. After all, as part of winning the SOAR! Scholarship, I’ve spent the past year developing relationships and learning from some of the most talented business coaches, photographers, vendors and colleagues in the field. I burned the candle at both ends all year long; putting every ounce of my vulnerability, insecurity and creative juice into each exercise, blog post and image I made. And I’d do it all over again.

I don’t feel the pressure to have it all figured out, which is why snuggling up with some warm and fuzzy ambiguity might just be the best gift I received this year.

SOAR! was never about getting a clear and predictable path laid out for a career in photography. For me, SOAR! was all about becoming confident with risk. I risked applying for SOAR and rediscovered a long lost artist. I risked my thoughts on the blog every week and rediscovered my love of writing. I risked starting a photography business. My biggest take away: Risk opens doors.

I have my goals, big and small, for sure. And I’ll share all that on my blog this year as I continue to grow my business. I will continue to write. I will continue to put beautiful images into the world. I will continue to risk. As I see myself now, I hope my path will continue to change, all the while inviting me into the ambiguously beautiful blur of the future.

Thanks to all of you who followed my journey. I am humbled by your supportive comments all year long and deeply grateful for your support.

~Ali

Those two sentences; For me, SOAR! was all about becoming confident with risk. I risked applying for SOAR and rediscovered a long, lost artist. 

Wow.  Powerful.

Whenever we go after building a dream, we must subscribe to the weekly, even daily, activity of taking risks.  Risk taking can be terrifying and often hold many of us back because there isn’t any guarantee of what waits on the other side.  Ali is a wonderful example of someone who risked over and over again to be pleasantly surprised by what she rediscovered.  And not only did Ali’s rediscovery of her long lost artist-writer-photographer–all the above–bless her, but it blessed all of us who followed her journey.  This rippling effect of risk taking is what moves me the most.  You think that you are setting out on a selfish journey to find yourself, your creative self, and the truth is that you end up not only giving to yourself but all those who follow along.

Ali, your SOAR! year will always be a testament to the beauty that is waiting to be discovered when we choose to risk.  You will continue to be a champion for so many women who followed you all year.  Thank you for putting everything you had into the SOAR! year.  I think we all feel like we soared a little higher in day-to-day dream building because of the journey shared every week.

On behalf of all the SOAR! Partners and this wonderful community, we proudly launch Ali Anderson to SOAR with her photography (AND writing) dreams!  I can’t wait to see how the future continues to unfold for you!  Check out her new website, and be sure to keep following her blog posts!

Ali, we love you.  I cherish you, your sense of humor and your wonderful husband and kids.

We celebrate you today!

Your Cheerleaders Forever!

Me Ra, Brian, Wendy and this awesome community!

*I invite all of you to leave a comment of encouragement, love, celebration, wisdom…or all the above, in celebration of Ali today!

Charisse…where do I start with Charisse?  So many memories come to mind.  The first time I saw Charisse’s beautiful smile was when she applied for the SOAR! Scholarship in 2009.  She did not win that year, but she didn’t give up.  Months later, she attended our San Fransisco CONFIDENCE Workshop.  I still remember her raising her hand and asking how it was possible to pursue your own dreams without taking from your family’s needs.  What a beautiful, authentic, heartfelt question.  Charisse is a kindred homeschooling mom.  With how much time homeschool and regular family life takes, it’s easy to wonder how more time can be carved out for other pursuits…especially your own dream building pursuits. But when the second year of SOAR! started, Charisse applied again.

This was her submission video.

Fast forward to September 2011.  I’m in Sacramento for our CONFIDENCE Workshop, and I invite Charisse to second shoot my Minis the day before.  She has been working hard every week at the SOAR! Scholarship Program for nine months.  She has faced some of her deepest fears in the business coaching calls.  And she has dared to look beyond her assumed limitations.  Charisse has done the “heavy lifting” work of building a dream all year long.  I’m eager to sit face to face with her and ask where she finds herself.

What she said brought me to tears.  She told me, with firm conviction in her eyes, that she now believes she can build her dreams…she really believes it.  Her dreams are hers for the taking.  She knows she has what it takes and this doesn’t take from her family, it gives to her family.  When mama follows her dreams, everyone learns how to dream along with her.  Spending the year following her dreams, working hard at it every week, has not only transformed her but the whole family.  wow…

What Charisse said is the heart of SOAR!.  Whether our SOAR! Recipients have a photography business in ten years is not the issue.  My vision was that SOAR! would empower women to know they were capable and worthy of all they desire.  When a woman knows she is worthy of her dreams and takes action, not only is she lifted up but also the world around her.  Charisse is a living testimony of this.

Here are a few words from Charisse…

Whew, what a year. It is hard to believe that it is already over. It has been a full one at that! A year ago, Linda Baylis & Genie Ohashi were walking up to my doorstep with a pink box and a video camera. What a surprise it was. I have met so amazing people during this year. I have made and fulfilled many goals. I have learned a lot about myself that I had not realized before. And yes, during this process, I have also fallen short of my mark on occasion. However, this year was not about perfection, but about growth. Growth as a person, growth as a business woman, growth in my artistic pursuits and growth in my role of a mom who can also pursue her dreams without fear. Okay…maybe not without fear, but definitely having a better vehicle with which to circumvent those fears and not let them get in my way.

Along the way, my creative eye has grown along with new desires of accomplishments yet to be made and challenges still to be taken on. However, during the process of this last year, I have participated in some art shows, hung my images in a public venue and got paid for my work along the way. While this fantastic year with the SOAR! Scholarship has come to a close, many new doors are opening as we speak. The biggest door that has opened is the door to my personal dreams. I want to thank SOAR for not only enhancing my photographic toolbox, but for helping this homeschool mama see that it’s okay to color outside the lines again.

If there is anything that I would encourage you to do after having this year with SOAR, it would be to set your own expectations and strive to meet only that. Others will often have an opinion of who you are, where you should be in your business, or what you are capable of. In reality, only you really know. Live and dream authentically. Stay true to yourself and give generously. It will come back to you in more ways than you know. I hope we meet again either in the SOAR forum, Soarority on Facebook or on my blog. It has been a pleasure taking this journey with you all.

Dream it … Own it.

Charisse

With incredible pride and joy, on behalf of all the SOAR! Partners and community, I launch Charisse Rhodes to SOAR! with her dreams!

Check out Charrise’s new website and blog!  Leave her some love!

Charisse, it is a honor to call you friend and be a witness to your inspiring journey.  We celebrate you today!

Your Cheerleaders Forever!

Me Ra, Brian, Wendy and this awesome community!

*I invite all of you to leave a comment of encouragement, love, celebration, wisdom…or all the above, in celebration of Charisse today!

This week is a special week for our community.  Together, we get to celebrate and launch our SOAR! Recipients to SOAR!  The SOAR! Scholarship is a program that Brian and I founded over two years ago.  With the generous help of SOAR! Partners like SONY, Adobe, The Wisdom Connection, Fastline Media, Smug Mug, Shoot Dot Edit, Pixel 2 Canvas, Jille and more, we spend a year equipping three ladies with all they need to soar with their photography dreams.  This week we want to celebrate ALL their hard work from last year and their new websites (thank you Fastline Media!)!

For those of you who followed the weekly blogs of these ladies, Rachel, Charisse and Ali, you share my pride in them.  You know how hard they worked.  And wow, I’m THRILLED at where they find themselves now.

Let’s start today with Rachel Abelson!  Going backward in time, this was her submission video for the SOAR! Scholarship.

I will never forget Rachel sitting in our AZ CONFIDENCE Workshop.  She introduced herself as the “Face of Auto”.  Between the three recipients, Rachel was the most green with photography.  But in her introduction she went on to say that even though she may rate herself as a level one (beginner) in photography, she was a level FIVE in confidence and determination.  Rachel showed this all year long!

As a military wife, she had unique challenges to her SOAR! year.  In the middle of the year, her family was uprooted from the East Coast and transferred to the West Coast.  And not only did she do a huge move, but she has two precious babies that keep her hands full.  In the midst of all this, she still did her SOAR! exercises and got her blog post up every Tuesday.  She also found beautiful ways to meet a personal goal of giving to the military community.  And I know that we have all watched her photography skills transform–I mean amazing!  Check out Rachel’s new website (and definitely leave her a comment on her new blog–you know how good those feel! ).

Below are some final words that Rachel wanted to share with all of you…

As I sat down to write this post, I had another wave of shock come over me. A year ago at this time I was wondering who had won the SOAR! Scholarship and why nothing had been posted about it. I brushed it off and thought, “I’m excited to see who won, but I should figure out what I’m going to do now.” Lo and behold, just a few days later I get the knock at the door. You know, the one where I’m in running clothes, haven’t showered and definitely do not look my best! The one where Wendy (SOAR! Coordinator) told me the news and then I screamed so loud that I scared my 5 month old (check it out here). Yeah, that’s the day. It will forever be in the top 10 days of my life.

The past year has been such a whirlwind of excitement, stress, laughter, but most of all accomplishment. I honestly never once thought I’d grow up to own my own business-big or small. Now that I do, it is an awesome feeling.  I’ve had two really, really awesome things happen to me this year. When I moved last summer I was able to start introducing myself as a photographer. But even more than that…..Pete and I went to a guest dude ranch in Dec for 4 days (coolest vacation ever!). When we got home he told his mom that he had told people “my wife’s a photographer” and that he was really proud to be able to say that. Him not knowing that I was within earshot, me hearing him say that was such an amazing feeling.

This last year has taught me so many lessons;

-Figuring out a style is not easy.

-Finding a brand is even harder.

-There is always room to learn.

-People will support you even if they don’t know you.

Most of all…even if you never imagined them, great things can and will happen.

I am in tears right now (good tears) thinking about all that I have been gifted the past year. Amazing mentors, a business of my own, being able to capture special moments for people, and the gift of all the SOAR! women-who I admire in more ways than I can list.

You women have given me so much knowledge, feedback, inspiration and support. I can not thank you enough. Now I have one thing to ask of you-never stop believing in yourself, no matter what.

Thank you for a fabulous SOAR! year! I send each of you a big hug!!!

World, here is Rachel Abelson Photography-watch out!!!!!!!

Now, Go for it!!!

Rachel

On behalf of all the SOAR! Partners and this wonderful community, we proudly launch Rachel Abelson to SOAR with her photography dreams!  I have full confidence that there nothing this woman can’t accomplish!

Rachel, we love you, I love you, and super proud of you.  We celebrate you today!

Your Cheerleaders Forever!

Me Ra, Brian, Wendy and this awesome community!

*I invite all of you to leave a comment of encouragement, love, celebration, wisdom…or all the above, in celebration of Rachel today!

Watching The Nate Berkus Show last week and seeing how photography brought healing to a family with Special Needs, reminded me of how important it is to keep empowering women to build their photography dreams so that this kind of transformation only multiplies. We have reached for this with our SOAR! Scholarship Program the last two years. Our three SOAR! Recipients from this year, Rachel, Charisse and Ali, took their final step and wrote their last SOAR! blog posts last week. Completely inspiring. I even resisted reading them all week, not wanting the year to end. I’m going to miss their blogs and visual journey of how this year is transforming their lives. As I know, many of you will too.

Click on their names to read their final SOAR! blog posts and see the visual transformation that happened in their photography over this last year. And if you have time, leave them a final comment as they set out to SOAR.

Rachel
Charisse
Ali

Stay tuned for their official SOAR! launch when their websites are ready!  And if you need some Thanksgiving themed photo inspiration, they are doing Wordless Posts this week.

THE NEXT STEP for SOAR!

Many of you have asked about SOAR! for next year. Is there going to be another SOAR! Scholarship year? When will it start?

After much thought including lots of morning walks of being quiet and listening deeply, assessing the scholarship program of SOAR! on a whole, lots of prayers and seeking advice, Brian and I have decided that SOAR’s next step is going to be rest. We are going to take a year off of the SOAR Scholarship. This last year was a strong, solid year. And even though we have a great program in place, I never want to do something just because that’s what we do. I want to always be listening and asking if this is what we are meant to do, right now, at this time.

I have a deep sense of this scholarship needing a year off to regroup, to rethink, to strengthen, reshape, rebuild, but also to listen and rest.

The SOAR! website and SOAR! blog will stay up so you can continue to read through the archives of the last two years. There are so many potent Business Coaching exercises, Photography Exercises and examples from our six SOAR! Recipients over the last year to help you feel not so alone in your dream building. We will also leave the SOAR! Forum up, so you can continue to converse with each other and draw from all the resources shared in our Ask & Learn nights. And the fabulous SOARORITY Facebook page is always there for you too!

Some might say it’s unwise to take a year off because you can lose momentum. But I trust this journey. I’ve been on this creative journey for some years now, and whenever I follow my instinct I find myself exactly where I need to be. If SOAR! is meant to have more rest than just a year, we will all know. For now, I’m going to trust this next step in front of me because even though it isn’t clear a mile down the road–this next step is clear.

And I know this will be true for all of you who wanted to apply this year. I think that timing is key to all things. Even though this door is not opening for the coming year, even though the answer is “not yet”, I know–beyond a shadow of doubt–that new, unexpected doors are going to open for you. I know it with all that I am.

Even though the SOAR! program is resting for this next year, I will still be going forward in all our projects that seek to empower women. There are a lot of fun, inspiring, empowering events in the pipeline for 2012. Whether I see you on my blog, Facebook or The Nate Berkus Show, I hope that all I say and do continues to empower you in building your impossible dreams and experience the magic of soaring.

Thank you (honestly the words “thank you”, don’t do it justice) to our amazing SOAR! Partners the last two years:

SONY–for generously giving six women all the camera gear to start a photography business
Smug Mug and Fastline Media–creating beautiful websites for our six recipients and seriously being the fastest web help out there!
Adobe–providing all the software
ShootDotEdit–providing training and resources for post processing of images
Pixel2Canvas–training the gals in selling products and providing them with amazing samples
Jill-e Designs–Giving six women BEAUTIFUL camera bags that showed off their personality
Wendy Zippwald, our SOAR! Coordinator, who helped me all year, pro bono, with every logistic you can think of between partners, recipients and the SOAR! blog. Wendy, you are our hero!
and last, but CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, the Wisdom Connection–generously provided two years of pro bono, monthly business coaching, to six women–our lives are transformed by your wisdom.

There wouldn’t be a SOAR! Scholarship without the generosity of all our partners. We are soooo thankful for each one.

And lastly, I want to thank all the SOAR! women who have followed along, done the exercises, continued to build your dreams even though you had no accountability or business coaching call to keep you going. You ladies inspire me beyond words. Even though you didn’t win the scholarship, you kept pushing forward. Every time I hear one of your stories, I am so deeply moved and proud to know you. What some of you have discovered is amazing. If you have a SOAR! story I’d LOVE to hear it.

Here are two powerful videos from women who went on to SOAR! even though they didn’t win the scholarship. I know they represent many more out there!

Beryl Young’s Video

Lynda Kennedy’s Video

May today be a wonderful start to your Thanksgiving week.  I am so thankful for all of YOU!

xo,
m

Thankful for Influence

There is still time to get your swab/bone marrow kit turned in for our friend and fellow photographer, Amit Gupta.  The deadline is November 30th.  Please pass this video to all you know and have influence with.  They are in special need of South Asian donors for Amit!

Happy Monday with the SOAR! Business Coaching!  This is Karen Buckley with your LAST SOAR! Business Coaching Exercise for 2011!  (and it’s a vital one so keep reading!)

Wow, how did it get to be November already? Don’t we still have the last quarter of the year to get everything done? I Wish. It is time to wrap this year and prepare for a fast approaching 2012.

When I was re-growing my businesses (The Wisdom Connection AND Communicore Consulting - am I crazy or what??)  after mostly staying home with my babies for a couple of years, I spent the first year floundering, feeling ineffective and getting down on myself. At the end of that year I asked for help from a business coach (yes, we do get our own coaching! J) She sat me down to summarize my year and lo and behold I’d accomplished more than I’d guessed!

No matter what level of business you have, it’s time to do the same for your year. If you don’t take stock at the end of the year you miss out! It’s really important to celebrate and objectively assess what you did do or you’ll repeat mistakes, restrict creative ideas and turn down the shine of your confidence.

To succeed in 2012 you need a plan of action and a commitment to follow through that includes lots of connection and support like SOAR! That’s how you’ll stay on the road and make it through the rough spots. Sometimes it’s tough if you are isolated or don’t feel supported. You might grow discouraged, deciding the goal you’ve set is too much or letting daily demands fritter your energy away. (Can anyone relate!

Get in the driver’s seat by summarizing what happened in 2011 and starting to think about 2012 by answering these questions in your journal or with a Wisdom Partner (a colleague you trust to help you grow).

What have you learned, overcome and celebrated this year?

1. What were your goals for the year? What did you accomplish? What remains to be done?
2. What do you consider THE milestone or turning point of your year? Celebrate!
3. As you look back at each risk you took:
   • What helped you feel stronger and more capable?
   • What took you off track or diminished your capacity?
   • What support really worked for you?
4. What change in approach to your photography work or business did you decide to make this year? What was the result? (i.e., built one part of the business more than another, re-priced your offerings)

Looking ahead into 2012:

1. What is your biggest boldest dream for 2012?
2. Who or how do you need to be to achieve this? (e.g. outrageously creative, steady and persistent, a woman of integrity, etc.
3. What support system do you need to put in place? Who is included and what support do you want to ask of them?

You’ll also want to close out your books by summarizing your income and expenses. Were you profitable? Did you lose money? Where? Once you know what is so, you’ll start the New Year with a realistic picture of where to put your time, attention, and resources. Don’t forget to develop a wise system for keeping yourself on track. (4 rules for focusing your self-accountability on my blog today.)

This year – give yourself what you need! Who knows! You might even make it onto the racetrack and come in with flying colors across the finish line.

Best,

Karen Buckley

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The EARLY BIRD ends in FIVE Days on November 12th! 

Click the Below City for the EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT and DETAILS!

Seattle, WA, January 7th and 8th!

Tampa/Clearwater, FL, February 4th and 5th

Orange County, CA, March 24th and 25th

Still TWO spots left for Dallas this weekend!  See you Saturday morning, bright and EARLY!

This month the SOAR! Recipients are assigned Engagement Shoots!  So get ready!  Tomorrow through Thursday, you can visit the SOAR! blog to see their photo results from doing an Engagement Shoot or even staging one for practice!  The purpose of the shoot is to capture a couple and show their engagement with each other.

Charisse is one of our lovely SOAR! Recipients this year, and her family happened to be models at our Sacramento CONFIDENCE Workshop.  I decided to demonstrate with Charisse and her husband some favorite photo tips to capturing a couple whether they are newly engaged or have been married for fifteen years.

I started by asking Charisse what she loves about Keith, and then asking Keith what he loves about Charisse.  At one point, Charisse said that she loves the way he makes her laugh.  As a photographer, I know it’s easier for people to start with “loud” photos and then move to a more quiet photo.  Laughing photos are more loud in energy and action.  So I photo coached Charisse on what I wanted her to do–I wanted that great big FAKE LAUGH with lots of leaning into Keith, and I also wanted to use her hands to communicate affection.  I think Keith was so amused by it all that he smiled naturally on his own.    He was such a great sport!  In capturing a couple’s love for one another, we are focusing on all the nuances, subtle gestures with hands, leaning into one another, eyes closed, etc to create a three dimensional image.  These are a few of my favorites!

I LOVE how Charisse’s hand on his chin, a subtle action that happens so fast, and yet communicates so much adoration and tenderness.  (If it happens to fast, I ask her to do it again.  I’m all about “Do Overs”.

I had Charisse rest her hand on her chest.  I think hands communicate TREMENDOUS emotion.  In fact, try doing a photo shoot of a couple in love.  They don’t have to be engaged, it’s more the photo exercise of drawing out their subtle gestures that shows us a story of affection in the photos we capture.

And when they are done doing the loud, animated, laughing shots, and they have tried a hundred different ideas that you’ve given them on what to do with their hands, they get to exhale.  That’s when the quiet shot is most powerful and rich.

Charisse, you and Keith were the most fun, beautiful models!  Thank you for letting me play with all different kinds of ideas!  And thank you for getting silly with me!  Your husband is such a GREAT sport!  I can’t wait to see YOUR engagement photos this week on the SOAR! blog!

And Ali, boy, did she luck out!  She second shot my DC Minis with with me on Friday!  Our last mini was a couple celebrating their third wedding anniversary, and they are SO IN LOVE!  Can’t wait to see her results of a couple engaged!

Happy Monday everyone!  After an incredible DC CONFIDENCE weekend, we are off with the kids to the Smithsonian!

xo,

m

Hello on the first Monday of the month.  This is Karen Buckley, one of the SOAR! Business Coaches, and it’s time for the next business coaching exercise – this time its all about building your client base!

Do you offer a great product and give excellent customer service but you are stumped on locating clients who can afford your services?

Once you are in conversation with them, do you know how to “close the deal” – take them over the line into a signed agreement?

And then, do you keep them coming back for more – approaching you again and again, referring you to friends, neighbors, business colleagues?

This is a tough stumbling block for many small business owners that I coach in The Wisdom Connection. While I list a couple of great tips here that work – the bottom line is that you have to do this and more, each and every workday to build your client base and a reputation that gets you into momentum.

I know you know the basics: get your name out – both in your community through ads, school auctions or shows and by building your on-line presence through blogging, guest blogging and social media. Empowering businesswomen to grow their businesses, I repeat the following motto over and over: Go Slow to Go Fast. It feels slow to take all these steps! But, over time, the momentum will start to grow.

Here are a few ideas for finding, securing, and maintaining clients. I’ll continue with more ideas and a section on Maintaining clients in a future SOAR! blog as well as in my personal blog. Let’s take your businesses to a whole new level this fall!

Finding Clients:

1. Generate interest in your product or service. My basic rule of thumb? It takes 3 years of consistent work to get from start-up to real momentum. (Remember the business stages in the 2010 February business coaching blog?) Once the basics are in place (financial systems, equipment, website, etc) then you enter the phase where it’s 10 in for every 1 out (10 times for effort than reward). This is when most small business owners quit. Keep going! Concentrate your efforts on both Push and Pull. Push out information while you simultaneously pull new and returning clients towards you with invitations, opportunities, and a sense of fun/competency/adventure, etc.
2. Qualify prospects. Focus your efforts on those who are ready for you. The process is called a pipeline – like a funnel that starts broad and narrows down to focus on those who are ready for you. Make a spreadsheet or a hand written list. Use a rating continuum: Ready, Almost Ready, Someday, and Not Likely. Focus 80% of your attention on the Ready and Almost Ready. Cultivate the other two over time and watch for when they shift into the next category. Keep up your list and be creative to keep filling that pipeline!
3. Maintain contact. Too often small business owners take the first “no” as a final “no”. Touch base, inquire how they are, wish them happy holidays, send an interesting article or other tidbits to build relationship and readiness. Do all of this without “selling” but when they do indicate interest – move to the next step without delay.

Securing Qualified Clients:

1. Assess what they really need and want.  Ask caring yet insightful questions. I lost a large early consulting client because my colleague asked them questions about what they needed and wanted in the interview and I told them all about me and why I was qualified to help them. By the end of the one-hour interview they knew all about me and he knew all about them. They felt like he was already working with them so it was an easy slide into contracting.
2. Show them how you can deliver what they need and want. Emphasize the benefits (not the features) of your work. Benefits are what they will receive, gain and experience. Features are the what – the technical, professional qualities you bring. Send them a sample, invite them to ask you for more. Refer them to a satisfied client. Collect testimonials at the end of each sale and have them on your website and on the tip of your tongue. When you speak the words someone else used to describe your value it speaks louder than anything.
3. Ask for the sale and close the deal. I can’t tell you how many small businesswomen don’t ask for the sale. Ask! “Shall we set a date?” “Do you want the full family or mostly the kids to start?” “Are you ready to complete our agreement today? I’d love to help you start finding those matching shirts for the whole family.” If they say no or not yet, find out why and identify a next step. “Great, that makes sense to wait until you talk with your husband. Shall we talk again next week?”

This process can be a stumbling block for every small business owner. Plus, it’s hard not to take it personally – given that we are our business and the success of our business can feel like it reflects our personal worth. It sets up a tough inner dialogue that might sound like: “No clients call – I’m no good. Clients call – I am good.” Let it go and bring your focus and dedication back to the business.

If you lose confidence and stop or submerge yourself in the “safer” artistic process of photography? It is hard for new clients to find you! One of my mentors, Jack Canfield of the Chicken Soup books, taught me through a story about his rise to success as an author. He and his partner collected every idea possible to get the book known. They posted each idea – covering the walls of his office with post-its. Each day they challenged themselves to take at least three actions for six months. Sometimes they did 6 radio shows in one day! It worked. Their first Chicken Soup book ended up #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List!!

Identify many actions to take, make a list, and steady but sure take at least one step each workday. Just keep at it! Remember my motto: Go Slow to Go Fast and you’ll get into real momentum.

I’d love to know what works for you! How do you keep on keeping on? Do you have a favorite way that works to build your client base? Teach us all! Come on over to the SOAR! Forum

With great joy, Karen

You never know when I may do a shout out for a second shooter on my FB page! Be sure to Like It, so you have a chance at coming, no matter what city you live in!  Below is what happened to Natalia Dotto when she responded to a last minute shout out! (be sure to check out her BEAUTIFUL website!) And Early Bird Special starts tomorrow with the announcement of our Winter CONFIDENCE Cities! xo, m

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A Behind-the-Scenes look from Natalia Dotto, Seattle Photographer (all photos by Natalia)

Last Friday afternoon was supposed to be routine: picking up a 5 year old from Kindergarten, collecting my 14-year old from JV soccer practice and going to my 17 year old’s Varsity soccer game. But sometimes plans change and chances have to be grabbed.

Me Ra Koh had put out a spontaneous call for a second shooter on her FB page, someone to go on a funky photo journey with her. I jumped at the chance and an hour and a half later, I was in Tacoma outside an antique store with THE Me Ra Koh!

She greeted me with a big hug and that smile that just draws you in. We chatted a bit and she immediately put me at ease. Did I mention I was really nervous?! Then she started to tell me about her vision for this family session; A vintage sofa placed in the middle of the street. A parking garage peppered with graffiti.

And the family was bringing some serious props … a deer head, a stuffed fish, also skateboards, hockey sticks, helmets, a homemade sword, shield and quiver, a surfboard. My mind was racing at the possibilities.

Me Ra handed me one of her SONY cameras, popped on a 70-200 lens, gave me a quick run through of the Sony … seemed simple enough. The family arrived with matching blue blazers, and we were off.

Over the next 90 minutes I watched.  I shot.  And I absorbed it all.  There was a ton of laughing and some shooting and some learning and quite a bit more laughter, but here are my four biggest “aha’s” that I took away  from that afternoon:

1. You don’t have to get every shot. This was big for me since after every session I walk away with the same thought — why didn’t I get this or why didn’t I do that, or say this or ask that?  When we talked before the session Me Ra said think about a session this way: if you only had 3 rolls of film, 36 exposures, 108 images which ones would you get. Be thoughtful about when you push that shutter-release. Pause … breathe … think.

2. Don’t be afraid of the opportunity.  Me Ra found a vintage/antique store in Tacoma that was willing to let her use their orange sofa in the session. Better yet the shop owners were willing to let her put it in the middle of the street. Even better … two burly guys spent a few minutes with us moving it in and out of the street when the cars came by.

My takeaway: See something you like … ask. What’s the worst that can happen?

3. Collaboration can be key. This was a seriously fun, good-looking family. How often do you get clients wanting a stuffed fish in their family portraits? This family was anything but stuffy.  And while Me Ra had a definite idea of how she wanted this session to go, when the boys had an idea she went with it. If she wasn’t feeling it she told them and started over.  Here’s Me Ra showing one of the boys how she wants him to pose with his mum. This one just wasn’t working (think mum’s head squashed between her lovely high-spirited boys).

No problem, Me Ra moved them in front of a vintage doorway.

I saw a melding of ideas between photographer and the clients. Granted not every client is going to be like this. But asking for feedback, for what the client wants to do, can go a long way.  The boys were totally engaged in the photographic process and likely more comfortable in front of the camera because of it all.

4. Perhaps my biggest takeaway was this: Start from where you are. Me Ra’s words of advice she picked up in the loo. I’m serious. If you ever meet her ask her about this one. But anyway … I worked for years as a television news producer; I still pick up a freelance job now and then. Over the last few months I have been wondering why I’ve not embraced that side of me more when it comes to my photography. The couple of hours I spent with Me Ra reinforced that this is how I need to approach my craft, starting from where I am and what I know.

Oh and make sure you laugh … a lot!

As I got in my car for the drive back to Seattle, Me Ra jumped into her grandpa’s old jeep truck, honked, and waved as she drove away. My mind was swirling. It actually still is. Were there images I wished I had taken, questions I wish I had asked? Of course. But the couple of hours on Friday afternoon were a thrill for me. I’m grateful for the opportunity to meet and shoot with the photographer who helped get me started on my own photography journey.

Thank you Me Ra!

Oh and a huge thank you to my husband who jumped in and took care of the kid-wrangling for me.

-Natalia Dotto

P.S. Part of this journey for me was making a video for Me Ra’s SOAR scholarship. (Yes, I actually got in front of the lens). I had taken a few tentative steps towards starting a photography business when I heard about SOAR. Through the SOAR scholarship three women receive mentoring and coaching from Me Ra and several other sponsors and partners in all aspects of starting their own photography business. But it’s so much bigger than that.  Anyone and everyone who wants to can participate. While I didn’t win the scholarship I made some amazing BPF’s (Best Photography Friends) who I likely would never have met if it weren’t for SOAR. The SOAR community is spread across the country. And these women support and encourage each other as they build their businesses.  And for those who want to enter in 2012 the contest is going to gear up again! Get those videos ready, I’ll be watching!   For more info on the SOAR! Scholarship, CLICK HERE!

I’ve been fighting the worst fever since Sunday night–after the most WONDERFUL weekend with the Seattle CONFIDENCE ladies (inspiring photos from the weekend to come!).  My head is finally feeling like the fog is rolling away, and just in time because I’m so excited to write today’s post!

This month’s SOAR! Photography exercise was a BIG one!  The gals had the choice of either second shooting/shadowing a pro wedding photographer or setting up their ideal setting for a mock shoot with a bride and groom.  If you are thinking of shooting weddings, I strongly encourage you to shadow a wedding photographer.  As Charisse put so well in her blog post yesterday, it’s one thing to be a guest or participant but a whole different dynamic to be the photographer all day long.  From shadowing a pro, you learn so much–even if you don’t take a single photo and just carry bags.  That’s what I did when I first started, I carried bags from one shooting spot to another, but believe me, my brain was BUZZING after!

I invite you to go check out the SOAR! blog today!  Ali created a video of her experience.  Charisse shared a ton of powerful tips that she learned, and a handful of gorgeous photos like this one!

And Rachel, who started SOAR! with ZERO photography/camera experience, set up her ideal shoot in the dessert and captured the most FABULOUS moments!!

I am super proud of all three of these girls!

But that’s not all!  I want to give Linda Baylis, one of the SOAR! Recipients from last year, the BIGGEST HIGH FIVE!  She relocated to New Zealand this year, and she emailed a few days ago to say she booked her first wedding in New Zealand!  Woo-hoo!!  We are so happy for you Linda!!  We can’t wait to see what you capture!  In Linda’s email she wrote the most inspiring words, I hope they infuse you with hope for your dreams too!

“It was just over a year ago that you challenged us to blog about our

dreams… While the clock may have struck midnight December 31st 2010 many

months ago the dream is still becoming more and more real…

Here I am back in New Zealand, living in the lifestyle location we’d dreamed

of, and in case I forgot to say before I’VE BOOKED MY FIRST WEDDING!!!”

With intense programs like the SOAR! Scholarship, you get out of it what you put into it.  I can’t be more proud of how MUCH these ladies have put into their SOAR! experience and work.  Head over to the SOAR! blog, and be inspired today!

A very special thanks to two wedding photographers, Peter Bang in Washington DC and Susan Sparks in Sacramento, CA for allowing two of our SOAR! Recipients to shadow you.  You are both so amazing and generous!  If you haven’t checked out Peter and Susan’s websites, make sure you do!

xoxo,

m

p.s. I’ve got a couple Mini Session spots left in Sacramento–coming at you this month!  And you may get more than 30 photos b/c I’ll have Charisse second shooting with me!  Woo-hoo!  Book your time slot HERE!

The second Monday of the month is here!  This means a new SOAR! Photography Exercise!  The assignment was to do a Senior Portrait Session with Textures in mind.  I asked the ladies to go out into their local area and find places that have diverse textures for a possible photo shoot.  We did this exercise last year, and the results were AWESOME!  To see the whole exercise so you can do it too, CLICK HERE! 

Linda Baylis, one of our three SOAR! Recipients from last year, knocked this exercise out of the park in sharing her journey and discoveries!  In fact, our Linda is now settled in New Zealand!!!  She recently launched her photography business and is gearing up to SOAR! in the beautiful area called Hawke’s Bay!!!  I know she will do so well!  Linda’s got so much spunk, power, confidence and passion!  I am…no, actually WE ALL ARE, so PROUD OF HER!!!  CLICK HERE to see Linda’s new website!  Below is the post that she wrote last year for Seniors and Textures.  May this exercise inspire you to see textures in a whole new light!

xoxo,

m

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I’m not sure that any of our three SOAR! Recipients have considered Senior Portraits as their main photography focus, but I’m wondering if tackling a senior shoot with textures in mind…may just open up a new love or disdain.

Let me just say is it was LOVE at first CLICK! This week’s photo exercise left me brimming with confidence, inspiration, and excitement. For the first time ever I walked away from the shoot knowing I had some great stuff and the added bonus… we had so much fun!

The day before the session I set out to scout some locations. I already knew where to find some great brick walls and red doors in Old Sacramento Town but I wanted to investigate a mid-town area my photographer friend Bree Hester had taken me to once. I never thought the urban grunge look would fit with my emerging style so it’s not a  location I’d considered before. Oh what I was missing out on!!!

Here’s what I found… two whole blocks of amazing textures, colors, open shade and a world of shooting possibilities. Seriously – I was practically bouncing off the walls I was so excited!

Looks can be deceiving… luckily my senior’s Mom who joined us on the shoot trusted me on that!

And here are the results…

What did I learn?

1. Looks can be deceiving – the grungiest wall can make a beautiful backdrop!
2. Seniors ROCK. Christian was the nicest young man – so relaxed, so photogenic and so open to direction! And patience… this guy was a trooper!
3. Mom’s are a great asset to have on a shoot – the picture above with him sitting on top of the rust covered wall was taken in full sun. I had Mum hold up the screen from my 5 in 1 reflector kit to block the sun.
4. It doesn’t matter how many times I fold up my reflector kit with ease and grace in the privacy of my own home – I will never master it during a public photo session.
5. I am no longer concerned with the technical details. I shoot in raw for the added insurance but feel I’ve finally crossed that line that allows me now to concentrate on the other aspects of good photography.
6. Despite having my most unusual problem to date… not knowing how to cull down the images – I still see so many things I wish I had tried, could have done differently….
7. Last but not least, there is nothing more rewarding than the excitement of a client who LOVES your images as well as the experience of the actual session. Seriously.

After reading Me Ra’s blog post yesterday I realized there are many more ideas and techniques I’d like to explore.  For example, while I shot in manual during this session, I never changed my aperture from f.2.8. I’d never thought of a wheat field as ‘texture’ and I’m eager to find out if any of our museums have fabulous pillars. As well as exploring how textures can enhance senior images I had another goal for this session. I really wanted to shoot for an album and come up with a fantastic studio sample album featuring my very own images. This is something I said I aspired to way back in my SOAR application. I’m so excited with how the album came out and had so much fun with the textures and colors. Quite a change from my classic wedding album designs! You can check it out here.

I really hope you have as much as fun and get as much inspiration from this exercise as I did. I look forward to seeing your results. Keep it coming Me Ra!

Take care,
Linda

(We love you Linda!!! xoxo, m)