With over 120 MJ2Day alumni now taking over the globe, I thought it would be fun to do a series on my blog to check in on past attendees and see what they're up to now and how their businesses, lives and photography have been impacted by their experience at the workshop. I love keeping up with past attendees and seeing where their journeys have led them! So many of them are blowing me away with their amazingness!
Today, I'd like to introduce you to Jessica Maida -- an attendee of the Boulder, Colorado MJ2Day that took place a year and a half ago in July. Jessica is located in Richmond, Virginia and, together with her husband Greg, specializes in weddings.
Today, I'd like to introduce you to Jessica Maida -- an attendee of the Boulder, Colorado MJ2Day that took place a year and a half ago in July. Jessica is located in Richmond, Virginia and, together with her husband Greg, specializes in weddings.
When I first met Jessica, she was a bit quiet and shy, but I was quickly drawn to her gentle spirit and the smile that lights up her face. She is a total sweetheart, and I'm so proud to see what has become of her business in the short 17 months since the workshop!
We get photographers at all stages of their businesses at the MJ2Day and, while Jessica had been shooting professionally for two and a half years when she attended the workshop, her business had been mostly a slow-growing, part-time endeavor. She knew she wanted to focus on weddings, but still found herself shooting anything that came her way, struggling to hone in on her passion. Her goals at the time of the workshop were to both increase the quantity of clients she drew in, as well as tap into more of a high-end market.
I interviewed Jessica for this post and I love what she shared in answer to my first question:
Q: What is the biggest difference in your photography since attending the MJ2Day?
A: My photography has really developed since the workshop as I've explored my own style. Managing my clients expectations before and during a shoot, changing the way I interact with them to achieve natural poses, and focusing more on details and storytelling have all refined my style into what it is today. In addition, after seeing MJ demonstrate how she would shoot in difficult lighting situations, I've challenged myself and developed confidence to shoot in less than ideal situations, which we all know present themselves during weddings.
So great! Here are some examples of Jessica's work before the workshop:
We get photographers at all stages of their businesses at the MJ2Day and, while Jessica had been shooting professionally for two and a half years when she attended the workshop, her business had been mostly a slow-growing, part-time endeavor. She knew she wanted to focus on weddings, but still found herself shooting anything that came her way, struggling to hone in on her passion. Her goals at the time of the workshop were to both increase the quantity of clients she drew in, as well as tap into more of a high-end market.
I interviewed Jessica for this post and I love what she shared in answer to my first question:
Q: What is the biggest difference in your photography since attending the MJ2Day?
A: My photography has really developed since the workshop as I've explored my own style. Managing my clients expectations before and during a shoot, changing the way I interact with them to achieve natural poses, and focusing more on details and storytelling have all refined my style into what it is today. In addition, after seeing MJ demonstrate how she would shoot in difficult lighting situations, I've challenged myself and developed confidence to shoot in less than ideal situations, which we all know present themselves during weddings.
So great! Here are some examples of Jessica's work before the workshop:
And here are some examples of her work since attending:
Beautiful!
Q: What is the biggest difference in your business since attending the MJ2Day?
A: I learned SO much and have implemented much of the information from the workshop into all aspects of my business. One of the main things I learned from MJ is that I can't be everyone's photographer :). We had made wedding photography our thing by the time of the workshop but I took that information back and streamlined the content of the blog a bit. I realized I wanted to showcase and promote mainly what I wanted to continue shooting and that further helped to establish more of a concise brand. In conjunction with that, I learned how to say "no." I want to be able to offer my best to each client, and also have a great experience doing something I love, so it became important to me to only work with clients I felt meshed well with us and were on the same page with style, and I learned to listen to my gut on that.
In addition to this, the most prominent and nail-biting change has been the change of my business name. During my one-on-one consultation with MJ at the end of the two days, she really encouraged me to think about using my name for my business name. I had used the name "Lucia Belle Photography" for almost 3 years, and although it was the artsy, ultra feminine name I wanted in the beginning, the last thing I wanted to do was confuse a potential client, and I was starting to see that trend. I really took MJ's advice to heart, and I'm proud to say my business is now Jessica Maida Photography!
Q: What are some of your goals that you set after attending the workshop that you have since completed?
A: To name a few, I have:
-Developed a better structure for my album & package pricing
-Started submitting every wedding or collaborative shoot for online or print features
-Developed a more personal brand that offers more of a boutique product
In addition, I have really worked hard to educate my clients up front and improve my interaction with them. This was GREAT advice and I have since offered wardrobe coordination and worked to incorporate sentimental and personal details into my sessions to really tell each couple's unique story. During a shoot, I also no longer feel afraid to say, "O.k., this isn't working, let's try this..." and I feel more confident in directing my clients to get the balance of posed and candid shots that fits my aesthetic.
Q: Have you seen a change in your booking rate or the type of clients you book since the workshop?
A: Yes! I have tried to improve my client experience to reflect more of the high-end service MJ offers her clients. As a result, the majority of our bookings for 2013 are referrals from past clients and vendors. I was so excited when I recently got a call from a potential bride getting married in Brooklyn next summer who wants to book me based on a referral from her friend -- my past client! Such a great feeling! When I attended the workshop, I was desperately trying to figure out how to expand and book more travel weddings and I'm excited to report that I'll be shooting weddings in at least four states next year!
Q: Are there any other changes or exciting developments you'd like to share?
A: Yes! I have recently co-founded a bridal collective boutique in Richmond called Blush on Berry. It's the first wedding industry cooperative of its kind here, and it's been a wonderful experience collaborating with my co-owners and the dozens of vendors and advertisers who have partnered with us. Blush on Berry provides us all with a gorgeous space in which to meet with clients and also serves as a boutique shop and event space as well.
I'm also excited to share that we'll have our first print feature in The Knot magazine this coming spring and have been featured in print and online on the Richmond Times Dispatch, as well as several other well-respected wedding blogs and inspiration sites.
The MJ2Day was an encouraging and strongly motivating experience that helped develop a great enthusiasm in me for wedding photography. I love the relationships we've been able to establish in the industry and thoroughly enjoy my job each and every day! Thank you MJ!
SO great Jessica! So proud of you and blown away by your growth!! I can't wait to see where this next year takes you! Thank you for taking the time to share so openly with us.
If you're a photographer and would love to take your photography and business to the next level like Jessica has, join us at an upcoming MJ2Day!
Q: What is the biggest difference in your business since attending the MJ2Day?
A: I learned SO much and have implemented much of the information from the workshop into all aspects of my business. One of the main things I learned from MJ is that I can't be everyone's photographer :). We had made wedding photography our thing by the time of the workshop but I took that information back and streamlined the content of the blog a bit. I realized I wanted to showcase and promote mainly what I wanted to continue shooting and that further helped to establish more of a concise brand. In conjunction with that, I learned how to say "no." I want to be able to offer my best to each client, and also have a great experience doing something I love, so it became important to me to only work with clients I felt meshed well with us and were on the same page with style, and I learned to listen to my gut on that.
In addition to this, the most prominent and nail-biting change has been the change of my business name. During my one-on-one consultation with MJ at the end of the two days, she really encouraged me to think about using my name for my business name. I had used the name "Lucia Belle Photography" for almost 3 years, and although it was the artsy, ultra feminine name I wanted in the beginning, the last thing I wanted to do was confuse a potential client, and I was starting to see that trend. I really took MJ's advice to heart, and I'm proud to say my business is now Jessica Maida Photography!
Q: What are some of your goals that you set after attending the workshop that you have since completed?
A: To name a few, I have:
-Developed a better structure for my album & package pricing
-Started submitting every wedding or collaborative shoot for online or print features
-Developed a more personal brand that offers more of a boutique product
In addition, I have really worked hard to educate my clients up front and improve my interaction with them. This was GREAT advice and I have since offered wardrobe coordination and worked to incorporate sentimental and personal details into my sessions to really tell each couple's unique story. During a shoot, I also no longer feel afraid to say, "O.k., this isn't working, let's try this..." and I feel more confident in directing my clients to get the balance of posed and candid shots that fits my aesthetic.
Q: Have you seen a change in your booking rate or the type of clients you book since the workshop?
A: Yes! I have tried to improve my client experience to reflect more of the high-end service MJ offers her clients. As a result, the majority of our bookings for 2013 are referrals from past clients and vendors. I was so excited when I recently got a call from a potential bride getting married in Brooklyn next summer who wants to book me based on a referral from her friend -- my past client! Such a great feeling! When I attended the workshop, I was desperately trying to figure out how to expand and book more travel weddings and I'm excited to report that I'll be shooting weddings in at least four states next year!
Q: Are there any other changes or exciting developments you'd like to share?
A: Yes! I have recently co-founded a bridal collective boutique in Richmond called Blush on Berry. It's the first wedding industry cooperative of its kind here, and it's been a wonderful experience collaborating with my co-owners and the dozens of vendors and advertisers who have partnered with us. Blush on Berry provides us all with a gorgeous space in which to meet with clients and also serves as a boutique shop and event space as well.
I'm also excited to share that we'll have our first print feature in The Knot magazine this coming spring and have been featured in print and online on the Richmond Times Dispatch, as well as several other well-respected wedding blogs and inspiration sites.
The MJ2Day was an encouraging and strongly motivating experience that helped develop a great enthusiasm in me for wedding photography. I love the relationships we've been able to establish in the industry and thoroughly enjoy my job each and every day! Thank you MJ!
SO great Jessica! So proud of you and blown away by your growth!! I can't wait to see where this next year takes you! Thank you for taking the time to share so openly with us.
If you're a photographer and would love to take your photography and business to the next level like Jessica has, join us at an upcoming MJ2Day!
Comments
