Shop Relaunch Coming March 1st
Hey Lovely! The shop has been closed for some much needed stocking up and so I can finish up that special project I’ve been working on.
I’ve schedule the shop to reopen on March 1st, 2012! That is just 16 days away. It will be fully stocked will all kinds of goodies from crowns to headbands and brand new items too.
If you love the Lace Crown (featured to the left), then you’ll want to check out the shop when it opens because I have a brand new version that has pearls and paper flowers. It is ADORABLE.
So mark your calendar and get on my email list for a special store wide sale to kick off the reopening.
If you have any questions or need a custom order right away, please contact me.
DIYPhotographyProps.com Launching Soon!
So that special project I’ve been working on? Its almost ready! DIYPhotographyProps.com will be launching soon with a bunch of tutorials on how to make your very own photography props including step by step videos, written instructions, material lists, estimated costs and time commitments, and so much more. We’ll have a forum to discuss projects and photography, a vendor directory to meet a lot of great prop shops, and a photo gallery of all the project you’ve created. A great source of education and inspiration for all of you do-it-yourself types!
Right now we are giving out a sample tutorial to give you an idea of what is to come. So head on over to DIYPhotographProps.com can check it out.
Introducing…102 Marketing Ideas for Photographers
If you are a photographer then you probably know that Word of Mouth is the easiest way to book new clients. But what do you do when you are first starting out? What do you do if you want to grow your business faster? Take action, of course! But where do you start? I’ve been working hard on a great list of marketing ideas for photographers. And I am giving it to you, FREE. Simply click below to get it.
Enjoy!
Sincerely,
My Favorite Model
I am not doing many sessions right now because I am working on something special. But, when I do I love every minute.
Facebook Struggles + Ideas for Photographers
Note: Something new I am starting this year is putting my years of experience in online marketing and web design to work to help photographers. Before Amanda Stock Creative, I worked in both client and agency settings helping people create and market their websites for years. And now I have all of this knowledge locked up in my head. I will not let it go to waste! Expect more articles and tools to help your business throughout the coming year.
A little while ago, Facebook made changes to the way users see friends & pages in their feed. They now filter the main feed based on what you interact with and how often you visit the website. And I can’t help but notice the effect it has had on a lot of photographer pages, especially the ones who relied on Facebook as a their main (or only) marketing avenue.
Facebook still provides great exposure for photographers. But the lesson here is that it is not a wise decision to put ALL of your energy into one place that you have no real control over.
If you are serious about your business then it should be a fundamental part of your online marketing strategy to have a central place online that you have control over, i.e. your own website on your own hosting account. Then use tools like Facebook to drive traffic to your place. This is one of the reasons I sell both on my own website and Etsy, why I am on Facebook and Twitter, and why I have one central place for my business online.
By relying on these tools as the foundation of your business you are creating risk, since at any time they could delete you or decide to drastically change. Diversify. That way if something like this happens you aren’t hit as hard.
At a basic level the changes make sense. Facebook is trying to increase the conversation and interaction that happens on their website. So, I say: stop complaining and figure out how to make use of the new changes.
I’ve seen SO MANY photographers posting things like “Like this status if you can see it” or “Facebook has made changes, please like this status”, etc. In my opinion, this is a bit lazy. Sure, you get confirmation that people can actually see your posts and they “like” it so that you’ll probably show up in their feed again. But Instead, why not step out of the box and try posting updates that people naturally will like? Why not create a sensational page so that you do appear more often in people’s news feeds just because you are awesome?
Need some ideas for an awesome page?
- Post your watermarked images on Facebook and tag your clients or ask your clients tag themselves.
- Provide a “Social Sharing” CD with low resolution, watermarked images to your clients so they can upload, email, and share your work with their friends.
- Share interesting content (blogs, videos, etc) that your clients will like or related to photography (industry news, tips, tutorials).
- Instead of always broadcasting about yourself or trying to sell your next session, ask questions & interact.
- Use Facebook as your page (just go to your page and in the top right click the link that says “Use Facebook As…”) and start networking with others (photographers, designers, event planners, prop shops, etc).
- If you find it works for you, hold giveaways of your own and participate in others by donating services or products. Just make sure you follow the rules.
- Promote events you are a part of.
- Reply to fans.
- Post consistently, but not everyday. Aim for 2-4 times per week and quality posts.
- Treat your Facebook photo albums just like your website portfolio.
- Share the photographs you create of your own family and friends on your personal profile. This reminds people you know about your business and can lead to more work.
- Be funny. (One photographer specifically comes to mind, Jasmine Star).
- Start a creative project and share the results.
This just scratches the surface. What kinds of things are you doing on Facebook these days? Have the changes affected your page at all?
2012 Planning
I am planning a busy year for Amanda Stock Creative in 2012. My heart and my brain are bursting with ideas that I can’t wait to get out to you. In fact, I have a whole notebook full of ideas, thoughts, plans….I think my favorite part of all of this is the part where I get to dream. The moment in my life when I found out that there is no limit and you truly can do anything you want my imagination went crazy and I don’t think my feet have touched back down on the ground since. Sure, I’ve been told this all of my life, but realizing what it actually means… It brings feelings of serious clarity & motivation.
But out of all of the ideas, hopes and excitement I’ve narrowed things down to a list of actionable items that I can realistically fit in. Because that is the most important part – getting it done! This was something that was very hard for me to learn: You can dream all day but nothing will get done unless you get down to business. Dreaming is funny that way, it makes you feel like you’ve accomplished a lot but you’ve actually just been sitting on your ass. (I bet that is why I am so addicted to Pinterest. They are similar in that way.) So, now I know great ideas are a dime a dozen. What really counts is putting in the hard work. And sometimes it is hard – harder than I ever thought it could be. Getting through the hardest times is what counts. That is not to say that dreaming is worthless. On the contrary, it is key! But its all about balance. So here are a few of my plans and dreams for 2012.
Time management is a huge focus in the coming year- I should say getting better at managing my time. My goal is to get more done with less. Its been a difficult journey the last 3 1\2 years trying to figure out how to run a business, be a good wife, and raise my babes. Because Lord knows when there are deadlines and things get a little stressful kids know exactly – down to the minute – when its time to throw milk on the walls and run around naked with permanent markers. True story.
I am also going to sweep my customers off their feet with great customer service. There have been more than a few instances this year where I have been extremely disappointed with poor customer service – whether it was an online order, car wash, or a trip to the craft store. And a few times when I feel I have let customers down. It just makes me feel sour. I definitely do not want to make anyone feel unloved, unappreciated or worse, frustrated – especially my customers.
Third, I want to help other photographers. There are people out there with AH-mazing gifts. I mean they can do crazy things with photography, but their skills in other areas (to put it nicely) lack. I would like to put my background in marketing & web design to use.
Finally, I’ll be working hard to figure out how in the world I can keep the props in my shop in stock. Albeit, selling out is a good problem to have, it is a problem none the less.
What are you working on in your business this year? Leave a comment, I would love to hear about it.
Showcase: Lace Bonnet with Yellow Flowers
Good Morning! I am writing from my comfy couch in my pajamas, next to the warm fire while the dog snores and the kids play with a singing snowman. Its a glamorous life. But I want to introduce you to one of my newest creations – Lace Bonnets. I am so in love with these and can’t wait for some images of them on some babies!
The bonnet is made of delicate creamy lace weaved into a floral pattern with a wavy trim that lines the face. The back is gathered and adjusts to fit size newborn to probably 4 months or more. It ties in a cute bow with a satin ribbon.
Cute yellow flowers are attached on both sides with three long pieces of satin ribbon underneath each flower. The ribbons can be braided or not and laid across baby or they can be gently tied in a bow under the chin. Each of the three types of ribbon is different – one ruffled, one pattern, and one silky smooth.
I hope you love these as much as I do. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
As soon as I get caught up
As soon as I get caught up with shipping orders and finishing client sessions, the rest of these images are the first thing I am working on. <3<3
Thursday
Today was a very special day for our family. Stan graduated law school this year and today he was sworn into the California Bar. A few years ago, after having our first daughter we decided to start on this crazy law school journey. At the time he was working in pharmaceutical research after being a paramedic for a while. And I was working plus taking care of tiny Lily. It was hard to leave her everyday. We thought work really, really hard work now to make it through law school and it would pay off so I could stay home and start a business or we could stick where we we are at and just work hard for a long, long time with Lily in day care.
So we went for it and its been a long road. So many things have happened – we moved to Los Angeles, I lost my Dad, we had another baby. And so much more. Regardless, Stan worked amazingly hard – graduating with honors in top 10% of his class. He got a job a year before he even graduated and it has been such a blessing. I got to start my business.
And here we are, 3 + years later and finally done. THANK GOD! hehe.
Some Photos of My Day
I woke up early, around 5am, to a warm cup of coffee and some early morning work. Probably my favorite time of the day…
My littlest babe, Olive Elowen, was up first and happy about it.
Once Lily June was up we went downstairs for breakfast. I had probably the weirdest breakfast – Vegitarian Corn Dogs. Why on earth a vegitarian would want to eat fake hot dogs is beyond me. But I, for some reason, bought them and ate them. With ketchup??….
After breakfast, it was back to the office to finish some work shipping yesterdays orders. Lily made her Gymnastics teacher a present & Olive slept.
Then me and Olive took Lily to Gymnastics class. Since I finally have my iPhone back after the couch stole it for a few months, I was able to play on twitter & instagram.
After lunch, the girls took a nap while I got back to work – creating goodies & packing orders.
Around 3pm I got outside for some serious exercise, which involed 30 minutes of cardio, 80 squats, 50 lunges on each leg, and pushing this stroller up this hill, amoung other things. My legs will be pissed tomorrow. Sorry, no photo there it wasn’t pretty!
I super cleaned the bedrooms. I made dinner & hubby came home. We had some family time & everyone went to bed. Now I am here writing this post before I litteratly drop to my pillow - after some snuggle time with Stan, of course.
Good Night!
Sponsors & Friends
Thanks for stopping by. This place is much more than photography, so grab a coffee and settle in.
