featured photogra-momma :: Keri Meyers!

I am so excited to announce today’s featured photogra-momma is Keri Meyers!!!! I first heard about Keri when another photographer told me about her  baby slings. When I visited her website I was completely enchanted with her dreamy newborn portraits! Her photographs of sweet babies are adorable and fresh and I am so happy she is here to share with all of us today!

Hi Keri! Tell us a bit about yourself . . . how did your studio start and where is it at today? Hi! Thank you for having me on Moms with Cameras!  Let’s see…a little bit about myself. I am photographer based just outside of Seattle, Washington. I specialize in custom newborn portraiture, but I also photograph families and children up to 2 years.

I have been in business since October of 2008. When I started I was a stay at home mom and only worked on weekends. I pretty much photographed everything that came my way to get a good feel for what suited me best and to see where my passion was. I soon found that I loved photographing newborns! So, after some careful planning I developed my focus and business plan revolving around newborns and their families.

I was an on-location photographer until December of 2009. I had to lug around my props and set-ups to client homes (those were fun days!). We decided to go for it and build a little studio on our property, which was complete in December of 2009. Having a studio just outside my front door is a dream come true! It has really helped my business soar and keep my husband from going nuts as I now have a place to store all of my props!My business has turned into a full-time job and I couldn’t be happier.

You specialize in newborns and the portraits you create with them are so pretty! What are your top three tricks for successful newborn session? Thank you! I just adore working with newborns and creating images my newborn families will love.

There are so many factors that help ensure a successful newborn session. I would say my first “trick” is patience and to remain calm. Newborns do best in a calm environment. If they feel you getting stressed or the parents getting stressed they will pick up on that. It is important to take your time with newborn sessions and not to rush from set-up to set-up. Second, make sure baby has a full belly and is super sleepy during your session. I like to keep my studio very warm (around 85 degrees) to keep baby nice and cozy. Last, have a plan and a back up plan.  Sometimes set-ups you thought were going to be great don’t always work out, so it is important to have a few back-ups just in case.

Can you tell us a bit about your photography process? What equipment do you use? What is the flow of a session like? I shoot with a Nikon D700. My most used lenses are my 50mm f/1.4 and 60mm f/2.8. I shoot with my 50mm 90% of the time and pop on my 60mm to get those close-ups of baby’s lips, fingers, toes, etc. I do all of my editing on a Mac with Photoshop CS5.

My typical session lasts about three hours. I like to start with beanbag shots first and then transition into props. If the family or siblings want to participate I try to do those first.

What product do you offer that your clients just can’t live without? What makes it so irresistible to them? You know, up until the last month most families have just been print and canvas buyers. I’m not a huge salesperson (something I probably need to work on), but I have decided to start pushing my albums and showcasing them more in my studio. As a result, I have seen album sales jump in the last month. I am excited to see this because I think albums are a great keepsake for families. I personally love gallery wraps, so I encourage those as well! I mean, who can resist a 20×30 canvas gallery wrap?! They are so beautiful! I have also started giving my newborn clients special onesies with fun sayings on the front like, “I rock the camera” and “Pictures speak a thousand words…mine screams ADORABLE”, and my logo on the back. They have been a big hit!

How have you grown your business? What are your top marketing secrets? My focus has been networking, both online and locally. We all know the power of Facebook. Facebook was a key component in my marketing strategies and probably the most beneficial. Having a Facebook page and keeping it active and up beat is key. Social networking is vital in today’s world. You want people to want to come back to your page again and again. Keeping your Facebook page filled with images and informative and fun information regarding you and your business will encourage that social interaction.

Aside from Facebook it is important to network in your local community. Because let’s face it, you are trying to bring in clients in your local community, not across the nation or country. I took a look at local businesses in my area that also targeted expecting mothers and families. I got in touch with such businesses to see if we could somehow strike up a relationship and promote one another. I sent e-mails to ask if they would be interested in displaying my work and business marketing materials. In exchange, I offered to display either their business cards in my studio or link to their website from mine. Helping each other out goes a long way and helps keep money in both of your pockets. I also participated in a couple of local family fairs and donated to local auctions for additional exposure. Once the ball was rolling, word of mouth kicked in. It does take time to get your name out there, but the hard work does pay off.

One of the biggest things that make for a great newborn session is props. Where do you recommend our readers look for unique pieces for their sessions? There are so many great vendors available to photographers. I have my favorites that speak to my individual style, including Joco Couture, Sew Whimsey, Baby Halo Boutique, Corina Nielsen Designs, Starlit Nest and Photo Prop Floors and Backdrops, just to name a few. Etsy is a great place to scout for hats, headbands and all things hand-made. Some of my favorite places to shop for props and baskets include antique stores and local favorites like Target and Fred Meyer. I have a bit of a blanket and fabric addiction. Seriously, my studio is overflowing! I find a lot of my blankets at IKEA and my fabrics at local and online fabric stores. I always get about two yards when buying fabric to use on a bean bag.

Tell us about your life as a mother! What do you and your family do to stay connected? What do you do to juggle the responsibilities of motherhood and business ownership? Gosh, life as a mother and WAHM is crazy! Let me first just say that I have HELP. I work full time and there is no way I could do all that I do and be a SAHM. My husband now stays home full time with our two boys allowing me to chase this dream of mine. He is amazing and really helps keep me grounded. It is so easy to get wrapped up in your business. It is a constant juggling act for me and something that I am always working on.

I do my best to set work and family hours. Working out of my home, it can be hard to separate the two. Our family tries to schedule a fun family day at least once a week. We’ll go to the park, the zoo, etc. – just something fun to get us all out of the house and away from work. My husband and I also have made it a priority to find a babysitter so we can have date nights more frequently. It is so easy to get consumed by your business and work. It is yours and you want it to be successful. But, if it starts to get in the way of your family and marriage then it becomes a problem. For me, scheduling is a must. I schedule vacations and days off so that I don’t overwork myself and neglect my family. I think with careful planning and balance we can avoid these stresses, but it does take a conscious effort.

You offer educational opportunities and products to professional photographers. Can you tell our readers a bit about where they can learn more from you and what great photography products you carry? Of course! In my previous career I taught grade school, so education and teaching has always been a core part of who I am. I love teaching and working with others. It is so rewarding to watch others grow and learn. After much encouragement I decided to start a mentoring program surrounding newborn photography. With a background in education this was the perfect pair for me!

I offer 1:1, 1:2 and small group classes (limited to 4 photographers) in my studio located in Duvall, Washington as well as larger group classes (limited to 6 photographers per class) on location around the United States and Canada. All classes focus on all things related to newborn photography. My goal is that each and every photographer leaves me with their questions answered. To ensure that this happens, I like to keep my classes small. During class photographers can ask me all of their questions regarding posing, workflow and maintaining a successful newborn business. We will cover camera settings, metering, white balance and how to get the perfect exposure and best image SOOC. I demonstrate posing, transitioning, soothing techniques and how to work with parents. We dive into post processing and how to get those creamy skin tones. All two-day mentorship provides time for hands-on posing – photographers get to jump in and apply what they learned on day one. Attendees are able to take all the images captured during the workshop to build their online portfolio and for marketing purposes. More information on my Newborn Mentoring Program can be found on my website at www.kerimeyersphotography.com/newborn-mentoring-opportunities/.

I also offer my digital workflow in the form of actions, compatible with both Photoshop and Elements. My actions include the Color Pop Set (includes Color Pop, Take the Red Out and A Little Retro actions), the Classic Black and White action and my newest action, Sweet Sugar. I use my Color Pop action on EVERY single image I process. The Take the Red Out action is a lifesaver when it comes to newborn skin! All of my actions are available for purchase in my online shop at http://kerimeyersphotography.bigcartel.com/. Here, you can also purchase my hanging newborn slings.

Thank you so much to Keri for taking the time to share with us today! Here is some of her beautiful work! To view more of Keri’s lovely images, go to www.kerimeyersphotography.com! Have a great day mommas!