With over 160 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 Stacey LaCoursiere -- an attendee of the April 2013 workshop in Charlotte, North Carolina. Stacey is located in Duluth, Minnesota and specializes in newborns and weddings -- the latter of which she often shoots with her 2nd-shooter-husband Mitch. This is adorable Stacey:
We get photographers at all stages of their businesses at the MJ2Day and Stacey was fairly established in her business when she attended. She had been in business for 5 years and was already a specialist in her fields. But she had never attended a workshop, so she had learned EVERYTHING the hard way and lacked confidence and a fundamental belief in herself. Coming to the MJ2Day a year ago was her attempt to make sure she was on the right track and to seek guidance for finer adjustments she could make in order to take her business to the next level.

I interviewed Stacey for this post and I appreciate what she shared in answer to my first question:

Q: What is the biggest difference in your photography since attending the MJ2Day?

A: The biggest difference in my photography since attending the MJ2DAY is my confidence level! I left the workshop with faith in myself, in my creativity, and in my approach toward interacting with my clients. I have become better at creating natural interactions between couples and I feel that this is a direct result of my confidence level. Clients can feel your confidence and personality from behind the camera, and if you show you are comfortable, then they will eventually look comfortable and natural too. I also became more critical of my editing style after the workshop. Before the workshop my images had a general warmth to them, and though that was my style then, and I had great feedback from it, I wanted to create even cleaner images and really hone in on what my “brand” editing style was in post processing.

Here are some examples of Stacey's work before the workshop:
And here is some of her beautiful work since attending:
Amazing stuff, Stacey!!


Q: What are some of your goals that you set after attending the workshop that you have since completed?

A: I left the workshop feeling inspired and ready to take my business by the reins with a true purpose and end goal! Before the workshop I was tired, worn down, and needed a change. After years of learning the hard way… aka “alone”, I was exhausted! After the workshop, I immediately created a “business refresh” plan. This included an 18-month plan to refresh my website, expand my websites, create marketing content that shows who we are as photographers and who our associate wedding photographers are, and start a blogging schedule of content. I’m so happy to be finished with the first three phases of this plan, and now through 2014 I’m ready to take on my blogging schedule goal!

Here are a list of the website changes which were included in the “business refresh” phasing goals I have accomplished:

-I removed all content from my website that wasn’t wedding related and refreshed the home page design.
-We spent many months along with a videographer in order to create this promo video which has helped immensely in showing potential clients who we are, our personality, and that we are truly passionate for what we do as photographers! The response has been great and since creating this video, I feel like couples know us even more!
-We created a brand new site to separate out my newborn photography portfolio and brand. Because I specialize in both weddings and newborns, and both are at such opposite ends of the photography genres, I decided to create two separate websites to best reflect my specialty in each genre. We also created a video for my newborn website to help foster that trust factor with parents booking me as their birth story and newborn photographer.
-And finally we created one more site to feature our associate wedding photographers! We currently have two associate photographers and a team of second shooters and assistants that work with them. I wanted to create an individual website and brand for my associate photographers to stand on its own. I'm so glad it's finally done!


Q: Have you changed or raised your prices since the workshop? And have you seen a change in your booking rate or the type of clients you book since the workshop?

A: After the workshop, I immediately went home and raised my prices and simplified my four wedding collections down to three per MJ’s recommendations and the immense support of the fellow attendees. I had been on the fence about raising my prices for some time because of the fact that I lived in such a capped market. At the time my wedding collections were already at the top of spectrum for my area, and I worried I would price myself out of the market with another price hike. But MJ and my group of fellow attendees gave me the confidence I needed, and since the workshop I have continued to raise my prices by $300 for every three weddings booked in order to stay on top of being overbooked beyond my capacity. Bookings have not slowed and I couldn’t be more thankful that I took this leap. My clientele has changed from “just booking a photographer” to “we want YOU as our photographer and we trust YOU with whatever your vision is.” It is amazing!


Q: Talk about the relationships you made as a result of the workshop and what relevance they have in your life and business today.

A: I attended the workshop with my good friend and local fellow photographer Anna Nesseth. It has been great to be able to continue to talk about our experience at the workshop, revisit topics and know that we both “get it”! It was also amazing to connect with other photographers from all over the country. For years, I had struggled to find photographers in my community that were willing to be friends without receiving the “you're my competition” attitude that came along with it. When I walked into the first day of the workshop my heart leapt because I felt such excitement to finally connect with others without judgement, feeling the need to hold back, or a competitive spirit. We still keep in contact and I can envision a 10 year reunion someday! :)


Q: Are there any other changes or exciting developments you'd like to share?

A: Well it has really been a crazy year since attending the workshop. We have been published with multiple blogs, websites, and even in print! The most exciting accomplishment for me after the workshop was being published in MPixpro’s featured photographer marketing ads with Professional Photographers magazine, Click, and Rangefinder -- you can find my work in the Oct/Nov 2013 issues of the magazines. Additionally we have been published as a guest blogger with MPIXPRO, and have had weddings published on Savvy Deets Bridal, Emmaline Bride, and Beach to Bay Bride.

My dream of becoming an international wedding photographer came true this year when a client asked us to photograph their wedding in Cabo San Lucas. It was an amazing experience that I will always cherish and be grateful for! You can view the wedding here!

After I return in 2015 from my most recent adventure crossing the line of being an enlisted Airman to becoming an commissioned officer of the Duluth Air National Guard, I plan to finally fulfill my dream of opening a studio. My girls will be starting school, so I plan to take the leap into a professional studio space! This is my dream!

Finally, I just want to say, if you are able to go to MJ’s workshop in the beginning of your photography journey, DO IT! I attended the workshop and was so frustrated with myself for not attending sooner. Life would have been so much easier if I had not had to learn the hard way. If you are dedicated to becoming a professional photographer, attending a workshop should be on your purchase list right along with your first SLR. However you can make that happen, you will not regret it. Melissa is an amazing person inside and out, and the experience, connections made, and business tools learned are priceless.


Wow Stacey! Thank you so much for sharing! I'm so proud of you and everything you've accomplished since the workshop! And I am amazed to hear about your upcoming adventure with being promoted to an officer for the Air National Guard! GO you! Thank you so much for your service and sacrifice! I can't even imagine doing that with both a family and a small business but I have no doubt, with the support you have and what a go-getter you are, that you will succeed.

If you're a photographer and would love to take your photography and business to the next level like Stacey has, join us at an upcoming MJ2Day! We still have spots open for June in California! It promises to be beautiful and life-changing!
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