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've heard so many fun stories from past attendees that leave me beaming with pride at their coolness and I can't wait to share!
Today, I'd like to introduce you to Allison of Allison Marie Photography -- an attendee of the very first MJ2Day ever in May of 2009. Allison is originally from Iowa and recently moved her business to Kansas City after getting married to the love of her life. Last summer she 2nd shot my cousin's wedding with me and we got to catch up while I was in Kansas City. This is Allison:
Today, I'd like to introduce you to Allison of Allison Marie Photography -- an attendee of the very first MJ2Day ever in May of 2009. Allison is originally from Iowa and recently moved her business to Kansas City after getting married to the love of her life. Last summer she 2nd shot my cousin's wedding with me and we got to catch up while I was in Kansas City. This is Allison:
She is such a genuine, sweet and caring person. You just want to cheer her on with all your might, and I'm excited that I get to do so as I watch God use her life and develop her business.
We get photographers at all stages of their businesses at the MJ2Day and Allison was a newbie when she came to the workshop -- having only 2nd shot two weddings and one of her own for free. But she knew then that weddings were for her, and I'm so glad she decided to attend early on in her journey.
I interviewed Allison for this post and I love what she shares in answer to the first question:
Q: What is the biggest difference in your photography since attending the MJ2Day?
A: This question seems so impossible to answer succinctly, because I truly believe my photography has grown in every way imaginable since the workshop! However, if I were to pick THE one biggest difference, it would be my use of natural light and correct exposure. Before the workshop, if I had to photograph people in an area where there was no shade to use, I believed it was an impossible situation. I knew better than to photograph people in sunlight...or so I thought! I quickly began to understand why Melissa LOVES backlight! It took me quite a while after the workshop to get my exposure correct in a backlit situation, as well as finding beautiful backlit areas and shooting the couple from an angle where the light hits them beautifully. I too am now enamored by backlighting and find myself constantly searching for it during a shoot!
Here are some examples of Allison's work before the workshop:
We get photographers at all stages of their businesses at the MJ2Day and Allison was a newbie when she came to the workshop -- having only 2nd shot two weddings and one of her own for free. But she knew then that weddings were for her, and I'm so glad she decided to attend early on in her journey.
I interviewed Allison for this post and I love what she shares in answer to the first question:
Q: What is the biggest difference in your photography since attending the MJ2Day?
A: This question seems so impossible to answer succinctly, because I truly believe my photography has grown in every way imaginable since the workshop! However, if I were to pick THE one biggest difference, it would be my use of natural light and correct exposure. Before the workshop, if I had to photograph people in an area where there was no shade to use, I believed it was an impossible situation. I knew better than to photograph people in sunlight...or so I thought! I quickly began to understand why Melissa LOVES backlight! It took me quite a while after the workshop to get my exposure correct in a backlit situation, as well as finding beautiful backlit areas and shooting the couple from an angle where the light hits them beautifully. I too am now enamored by backlighting and find myself constantly searching for it during a shoot!
Here are some examples of Allison's work before the workshop:
And here are some examples of her work after attending:
Amazing! You can tell Allison truly has mastered the use of natural light, and her off-camera flash work looks great too!
Q: What is the biggest difference in your business since attending the MJ2Day?
A: Melissa inspired me to truly enjoy the business side of photography, something I never, ever thought would happen! I remember her telling us early on in the workshop that such a small portion of her time is actually spent photographing, and a much larger percentage of her time is spent on her business. At the time, I thought, "oh, that will be different for me"...but oh, how correct she was! Melissa's workshop provided me with such a great foundation for my business overall, because when I took the workshop, I was unsure of myself and nearly clueless when it came to running a business! We covered so many topics, which gave me the perfect starting place to grow and develop my own business.
Q: What are some of your goals that you set after attending the workshop that you have since completed?
A: On the very last page of my MJ2Day workshop binder, I made a long list of goals! I pulled it out to answer this question, and the list is so fun to look back at! The first goal on my list was to re-brand my business with a new logo and web design. Which I have since done time and again (see next question). The other goals I set were pretty basic since I was just starting out, such as: register my business and get insurance, purchase a 70-200 lens, invest in flash equipment, order sample albums, look into using photojunction for my album design, and restructure my pricing. I remember my mind absolutely spinning when I left the workshop, because there was SO much I needed to do! I started out with these basic steps, and then once I got home, I followed Melissa's advice and created my own 101 in 1001 list of goals. I loved the task of brainstorming a list of goals this long that I created a 2nd list in 2012, which is currently in progress! I have found goal-setting to be so crucial for propelling my business forward!
Q: Have you made any changes to your website/branding?
A: YES!! I sure wish I had a screenshot of my initial website to share, but I didn't think about doing that years ago! However, I do have the link to my old blog, which is definitely humbling to provide the link for...but here it is! You can see my first logo and business name, and my branding has undergone a few changes since then. I first made my own logo for Allison Marie Photography, then I hired a company to design me one a few months later, and then in 2011 I went through an entire re-branding process that included a new logo, blog and website design. I finally feel like my web design really fits me and inspires me! Click here to read a post about these branding changes. One of the scariest, yet most valuable aspects of the workshop for me was having my website reviewed by Melissa in front of the other attendees! I volunteered, and this was completely optional, but talk about intimidating! Nearly everything about my website needed to be changed, and I was so thankful for Melissa's kind criticism and the "why's" behind the revisions I needed to make. I learned how important it is to flood my website with both professionalism and my personality!
Q: Have you changed or raised your prices since the workshop?
A: Yes! Pricing for me over the years has been a struggle. After the workshop, I initially set my packages to start at $2000, thanks to Melissa's recommendation. I remember this being a scary start, and the sheer delight that came after I began booking many weddings at that price point! Since then, I have changed and re-structured my pricing a few times (especially with re-locating my business to a different city and market), and within the last 6 months have finally developed a structure of pricing that has worked really well for my clients in Kansas City. My base package currently starts at $3200, and my average wedding client spends $4600, which includes a gorgeous wedding album (my favorite product!).
Q: What relationships did you form as a result of the workshop and what relevance do they have in your life/business today?
A: I am SO thankful for the friendships I built with Gail Werner and Tina Jay at the workshop! Although we've only seen each other once since then, we correspond online, and it's so great to have friends whose journeys are all somewhat similar, having just started our businesses around the time of the workshop. I had the GREAT honor of having Gail shoot my wedding in 2010, and Tina was her 2nd shooter! I was so confident having them document my day, and didn't once have to worry about them getting the right photos. They made my wedding day complete (because it was so fun to reconnect with them!), and I couldn't love my wedding photos any more! Click here to read about my wedding and see their images!
Q: Are there any other changes or exciting developments you'd like to share?
A: I really could write all day long about changes and developments! However, to highlight a few...
1) Editing time: I have been able to hone my post-wedding workflow to two weeks, but more often than not, finish editing a wedding in one week! This has relieved stress in a huge way!
2) Getting Published: My work has been published on Wedding Chicks, Emmaline Bride, Delightfully Engaged, and in two local wedding magazines. A huge thanks to Melissa for encouraging us to submit our work!
3) Confidence: I remember feeling so inadequate to be a wedding photographer before the workshop because I don't have a "superstar" sort of personality. How silly that thinking was! When I met Melissa and took notes as she taught, I was so encouraged because she was so down-to-earth and seemed just like me in a lot of ways...just with a crazy business and photography talent! She instilled so much confidence in me to simply be myself, pursue my passion with zeal, and not be afraid of failures along the way!
I am SO thankful to have had such an amazing woman at my very first MJ2Day. I feel so blessed to have been able to be a part of Allison's journey, and to still call her a friend. Thanks for sharing with us, Allison!
If you're a photographer and would like to take your photography and business to the next level like Allison has, join us at an upcoming MJ2Day!
Q: What is the biggest difference in your business since attending the MJ2Day?
A: Melissa inspired me to truly enjoy the business side of photography, something I never, ever thought would happen! I remember her telling us early on in the workshop that such a small portion of her time is actually spent photographing, and a much larger percentage of her time is spent on her business. At the time, I thought, "oh, that will be different for me"...but oh, how correct she was! Melissa's workshop provided me with such a great foundation for my business overall, because when I took the workshop, I was unsure of myself and nearly clueless when it came to running a business! We covered so many topics, which gave me the perfect starting place to grow and develop my own business.
Q: What are some of your goals that you set after attending the workshop that you have since completed?
A: On the very last page of my MJ2Day workshop binder, I made a long list of goals! I pulled it out to answer this question, and the list is so fun to look back at! The first goal on my list was to re-brand my business with a new logo and web design. Which I have since done time and again (see next question). The other goals I set were pretty basic since I was just starting out, such as: register my business and get insurance, purchase a 70-200 lens, invest in flash equipment, order sample albums, look into using photojunction for my album design, and restructure my pricing. I remember my mind absolutely spinning when I left the workshop, because there was SO much I needed to do! I started out with these basic steps, and then once I got home, I followed Melissa's advice and created my own 101 in 1001 list of goals. I loved the task of brainstorming a list of goals this long that I created a 2nd list in 2012, which is currently in progress! I have found goal-setting to be so crucial for propelling my business forward!
Q: Have you made any changes to your website/branding?
A: YES!! I sure wish I had a screenshot of my initial website to share, but I didn't think about doing that years ago! However, I do have the link to my old blog, which is definitely humbling to provide the link for...but here it is! You can see my first logo and business name, and my branding has undergone a few changes since then. I first made my own logo for Allison Marie Photography, then I hired a company to design me one a few months later, and then in 2011 I went through an entire re-branding process that included a new logo, blog and website design. I finally feel like my web design really fits me and inspires me! Click here to read a post about these branding changes. One of the scariest, yet most valuable aspects of the workshop for me was having my website reviewed by Melissa in front of the other attendees! I volunteered, and this was completely optional, but talk about intimidating! Nearly everything about my website needed to be changed, and I was so thankful for Melissa's kind criticism and the "why's" behind the revisions I needed to make. I learned how important it is to flood my website with both professionalism and my personality!
Q: Have you changed or raised your prices since the workshop?
A: Yes! Pricing for me over the years has been a struggle. After the workshop, I initially set my packages to start at $2000, thanks to Melissa's recommendation. I remember this being a scary start, and the sheer delight that came after I began booking many weddings at that price point! Since then, I have changed and re-structured my pricing a few times (especially with re-locating my business to a different city and market), and within the last 6 months have finally developed a structure of pricing that has worked really well for my clients in Kansas City. My base package currently starts at $3200, and my average wedding client spends $4600, which includes a gorgeous wedding album (my favorite product!).
Q: What relationships did you form as a result of the workshop and what relevance do they have in your life/business today?
A: I am SO thankful for the friendships I built with Gail Werner and Tina Jay at the workshop! Although we've only seen each other once since then, we correspond online, and it's so great to have friends whose journeys are all somewhat similar, having just started our businesses around the time of the workshop. I had the GREAT honor of having Gail shoot my wedding in 2010, and Tina was her 2nd shooter! I was so confident having them document my day, and didn't once have to worry about them getting the right photos. They made my wedding day complete (because it was so fun to reconnect with them!), and I couldn't love my wedding photos any more! Click here to read about my wedding and see their images!
Q: Are there any other changes or exciting developments you'd like to share?
A: I really could write all day long about changes and developments! However, to highlight a few...
1) Editing time: I have been able to hone my post-wedding workflow to two weeks, but more often than not, finish editing a wedding in one week! This has relieved stress in a huge way!
2) Getting Published: My work has been published on Wedding Chicks, Emmaline Bride, Delightfully Engaged, and in two local wedding magazines. A huge thanks to Melissa for encouraging us to submit our work!
3) Confidence: I remember feeling so inadequate to be a wedding photographer before the workshop because I don't have a "superstar" sort of personality. How silly that thinking was! When I met Melissa and took notes as she taught, I was so encouraged because she was so down-to-earth and seemed just like me in a lot of ways...just with a crazy business and photography talent! She instilled so much confidence in me to simply be myself, pursue my passion with zeal, and not be afraid of failures along the way!
I am SO thankful to have had such an amazing woman at my very first MJ2Day. I feel so blessed to have been able to be a part of Allison's journey, and to still call her a friend. Thanks for sharing with us, Allison!
If you're a photographer and would like to take your photography and business to the next level like Allison has, join us at an upcoming MJ2Day!
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