TUESDAYS TIPS- BRANDING

Whether you are a small business or a huge corporation, brand recognition is one of the important aspects of developing an awareness to your business.

 It  can be as simple as a SWOOSH!   Who doesn't know what company that stands for?  However, since most of us don't have a guy named Michael Jordan to help us with our branding and marketing, it's all up to us.

When you start building your brand you must first identify your style. What gives you inspiration, what makes you happy, what will set you a part from all the other photographers out there. The best way to do this, or at least for me, is to start with an inspiration board. I tried doing it on Pinterest,

 

but got so overwhelmed with all the ideas. What did I do? I took my own advice. When a client ask me, "What should my family wear for our session?"  I aways tell them. Look around your home. Where do you plan on hanging your new images? What colors do you see in that room? What are the things that call your attention when you enter that room. Pull your wardrobe inspiration from those things. So, I did the same. I walked around my house and snapped pics of a few of my favorite things. WaLa, Inspiration Board!!!!! Be YOUnique! Ready,Set, Go!!!! While you are busy building your inspiration boards, I will get busy on re- branding my business. Remember, last week I told you I started backwards and it was time to stop, re-think, and start over. I will take my inspiration board, work on a new logo, new website & blog, marketing materials, and packaging. Come back next Tuesday to see what I have accomplished! Feel free to leave comments below and a link to share your inspiration board. I would love to see everyone's ideas!!!!

THE IMPORTANT THINGS: An Afternoon with My Snow Princess

DON'T FORGET THE IMPORTANT THINGS!!!!!

 

Being a photographer is a lot of work....who knew!

While we are busy capturing memories for others, who is capturing memories for us?

That is why, sometimes it is important to step away from the "business" and remember

WHAT'S IMPORTANT!!!!

Know one ever said you have to bring the "FANCY" camera along every time you go on a family adventure. Those things can get heavy and in the way, depending on what lens you have on it. You have lots of options: take the battery pack off, snap on your 50mm and your good. Bring along a point and shoot, or if all else fails, grab your phone.

Enjoy every moment with your little ones. Time moves way to fast. Don't worry about capturing the JUST RIGHT photo.

 

However, on that special occasion when my girl will do a little impromptu session with me, I LOVE IT!!!!  It started snowing here in Kansas over a week ago. I have been begging every day for her to put on her pink snow dress and let me take some pics. Finally, Wednesday afternoon she came to me with it on and said, "Mom, I'm ready to do my pictures now."  Imagine my joy!!!!! I quickly put on my snow boots, grabbed my camera with only the 50mm on it, and my girl.

The snow was up to my knees, so with my girl on my back and my camera strapped around my neck we made our way through the neighbors backyard to a little wooded area.

While these pictures are not "perfect" , they are perfect to me!

I did them when she was ready, and I just let her be FREE.

This is my Sweet Snow Princess, Kadence Abigail,

Being Free...Free to be who God made her to be!!!!!

My CrAzy, SiLly,LoViNg, Little BuggaLou!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday Tips with Tonya Winters Photography

 

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tips with Tonya

 

 

 

I'm back....again!!!! However, this time I'm back to start over. I have always loved taking photos since I was very young. Like most moms, my love for photography intensified with the birth of my daughter.

 

 

I had my DSLR, my friends telling me how AWESOME my photos were (I love my friends), I started a Facebook page and I was in business.  NOT!!!!!!  It has taken me almost three years to admit to myself that YES, I'm not half bad at this photo taking thing and that YES, I do want to become a Professional Photographer.  I want to be good...damn good!!!!

 

 

I have decided to follow my dreams and I want to take you along for the journey.  Every Tuesday I will post the tips I have learned, and am still learning, to make my dream of becoming a Professional Photographer come true.

 

 

Are you ready? This is going to be fun!!!! 

 

 

 

 

Let's get started from these 7 tips for starting your own Photography Business. (*Lauren Lehmuth Photography)

 

 

 

 

 

1. GET LEGIT:  Get your state licence, sales tax permit and insurance. 

 

 

2.  KNOW YOUR CAMERA: Get to know the in and out of your camera. A lot of photographers offer workshops to teach the basic of getting to know your camera. I took a workshop from the talented Wedding Photographer Alyssa Turner of AlyssaPix in Hawaii. Nailing pictures in the camera will reduce your post processing time, allow you to approach any session situation with confidence, and will keep you from impulsively buying equipment. Maximize the equipment you have before upgrading.

 

 

3. KNOW YOUR MARKET:  Identify competition, target clients and be aware of the market around you. Blindly copying and posting policies, prices, and marketing techniques is a waste of time.

 

 

4.  USE SOCIAL MEDIA:  Networking through social media is critical to the growth of your business and obtaining new clients.  Join groups for geographic networking, online forums, and other hobbies.

I started my own local photog group when moving to Kansas.

 

5.  INSTITUTE EFFICIENT POLICIES: This is important and I learned this the hard way.  When you start out you will most likely be shooting for friends and family, so you feel you don't need policies. Believe me you do. This is your business. If you do not view it as one know one else will either.

 

 

6.  GIVE IT TIME: Every thing you do in your business requires time. When new pricing or marketing is implemented you must give it a few months to work. People often wait for sales, seasons, or special occasions to call a photographer.  Just because you're slow one month does not mean you will be the next.

 

7.  DON'T GIVE UP: I have been telling myself this everyday lately. That is why I'm here to do it right!  Being a business owner is one of the most rewarding and hardest things you will ever do. Keep marketing. Keep at the hustle. Marketing your business NEVER ends!!!!!

Military Valentine Minis

2013 is here!!!!  Tonya Winters Photography along with other local photographers are teaming up to give you a "Little Love" to start your New Year off right!

We have come together to put a Special Valentine Photo Session together for your loved one who is deployed.

Once you have registered at, twintersphotography@yahoo.com, Tonya will contact you via e-mail with 24 hours with your time slot. If a confirmation is not received back within 24hrs your time slot will be reassigned to someone else and you will be placed on a waiting list.

Upon registration please include the names and ages of everyone who will be taking part in the session.

PUPPY LOVE- Kenneth W. Bernard Community Park, Lansing, KS

This is Randi and her adorable pups!  Butter, the Black Lab, and Caramel, the Golden Retriever.  Randi is an officer in the U.S. Army. She and I met while she was stationed in Hawaii and we played on the same soccer team.  Go KRUSHERS!!!!  While in Hawaii, Randi knew that she would be TDY a lot (that just means traveling, for you civilian folk), so Butter stayed on the Mainland with Randi's father.  In August, Randi reported to Fort Leavenworth to attend a school for Army Majors, tons of fun!!!  She picked up Butter in North Carolina and they headed to Kansas. After getting settled in KS she decided to add to her family and along came Caramel!!!!!  Any photographer that works with animals knows the shot is going to be challenging, working with two, well we just laughed our way through it!  Thank You, Randi, Butter, and Caramel, for letting me photograph you!

 


 

Jones Family- St. Mary's College, Leavenworth, KS

 

 

This is the Jones Family!  Brittany contacted me about an OPERATION PRIDE Session before her husband Kaleb deployed to GTMO, Cuba. We walked all over the beautiful campus of St. Mary's college here in Leavenworth, KS. We captured some cute images of her sweet little boys, some Awesome pics of her and Kaleb together and who could forget Chi-Chi the Monkey!

Brittany, I hope you and the boys are doing well while Kaleb is away. Kaleb, hope you are staying safe and are home soon!

(if you have a soldier who is deploying or is deployed contact me about your FREE Operation Pride Session)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 This took a few M&M's, but we got the salute!

I do believe this is one of my favorite captured memories EVER!!!!!

 

Love Brittany's tattoo! Way to support your Hero, Brit!

Chewbacca...The Chocolate Lab

 

 

This is Chewbacca, aka Chewy, our 4 months old Chocolate Lab.

I love taking pictures of him. He has the sweetest face!

He is also 100% puppy!!!!!!