Would you like to have more control over the outcome of your next photoshoot, ensure a more successful result, and experience a more seamless client/photographer relationship?

Then you need…drumroll, please…a photoshoot shot list.

So what is it, and why do I talk about it so often? A photoshoot shot list is basically a clean, crisp outline of what a photoshoot will look like through the photographer’s eyes. It includes important items like the setups and props to be used and the types of photos to be taken. But more than that, a shot list provides an opportunity for the photographer to clearly communicate their vision and for the client to decide if it matches what they’re hoping for.

I have worked with a lot of beauty brands over the last couple of years with different budgets and different brand styles.

And after working with so many brands, I’ve gathered a few tips that consistently lead to better beauty product photos.

I feel these tips are so important because when you’re taking the opportunity to do a photoshoot, you want to make sure you get the most from it and that your products are shown in a beautiful way. And here’s the best part: the tips I’m going to give you below are actually things that are in your control and not dependent on a professional photographer.

Did you get some vertical images in your last product photoshoot?

As I’ve developed my client photoshoot questionnaire over the years, I’ve found that so many business owners consistently forget about vertical images. So if you didn’t get some vertical shots in your last batch of product photos, I want to tell you why you should definitely think about putting them on the list for next time.

Last year, I heard about a new company offering a different kind of email platform.

This platform has allowed me to easily distribute free tools, notify my list of upcoming events, and stay connected with the people who really want to hear from me during this strange COVID-19 time when so many businesses are turning to the online world in order to survive and thrive.

Today, I’m talking about Flodesk, why I dig it so much, and how it quickly became one of my favorite business tools.

Not every photographer you might want to work with will be located near you.

If you’ve found someone who is capturing the style and feel you’re going for but lives in another state, that’s totally okay. You can ship your products!

As a specialized product photographer, I serve clients from New Jersey to Hawaii. But I know long-distance shipping expenses can add up, so I like to support my clients in reducing those costs as much as possible. Here are the tips I give them, and I hope they help you, too.

Sometimes it’s a struggle to get a small business off the ground in today’s super competitive world.

So as a photographer and business owner, I’m going to talk about the awkward elephant in the room: the things that make your business look unprofessional.

Everyone has distinct likes and dislikes, and our brains all work in different ways. But as business owners, we’re all looking for the tools and systems that will allow us to run our businesses in the best way possible.

I just hit my 6th year in business, and I have spent so much time over those years trying to figure out what tools and systems were right for me. I wanted to get organized, have tools that work for the way I individually think and like to see information, and have a system that would allow me to scale my business. It’s only been in the past little while that I’ve finally gotten down to a method that really works for me, my team, my clients, and my partner in my other business, Creative Boss Method. Since business owners are often curious about tools others are using and whether or not they might be a good fit for them, here I’m going over my four favorite business tools and how I use them in my now successful system.

Many businesses are pivoting right now due to COVID-19. With so much uncertainty in the economy here in the US and around the world, businesses are having to shift into what’s going to work in the current circumstances with what they can control. And I’m right there with all of the small business owners figuring out how to work at home on lockdown with my kids while the schools are closed. I’ve had to make some quick adjustments, and I wanted to share the things I’m specifically focused on in the hope that they might help you, too.

Instagram is my favorite way to connect with other business owners, creators, and moms.

It’s also the hottest social media platform out there at the moment.

So if you want to up your Instagram game, I’ve got 3 underused ways you can take your photos and turn them into something great for your account.

Yikes, friends! The competition is fierce!

Gone are the days of being able to set up a so-so website for online presence and run around handing out business cards.

When you hand out a business card now, you can bet a week’s income that the recipient is going to turn around and look you up online for credibility about what you say. And the state of your website will either attract them or deflect them from hiring you, buying your product, etc. This is where the investment in good photography can make a huge impact on whether your visual game is on point and whether you’ve given your brand the visual credibility it deserves.