The Beginner Photography Podcast

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BPP 328: Tracy Kirkland - Breaking into Boudoir Photography : Growing a Photo Business without Social Media

Tracy Kirkland is a boudoir photographer who found it difficult to grow her business when social media would keep taking down her photos. Tracy has went on to build a 7 figure boudoir photography business without having to rely on positing her photos on social to attract clients. Tracy shares the fine line images must tow and the way to get started in boudoir photography, and provide tips about lighting and posing for photos. In this interview we talk about organic ways you can start and grow boudoir photography without depending on social media. Tracy also shares boudoir posing and lighting tips that will be sure to help out at your next session!

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the Big Ideas

  • Learn camera settings to create art

  • Dive in 100%

  • Exaggerate curves with light

  • Hire models to promote business

  • Plan ahead for success

  • Focus on business first

  • Know lighting, posing, settings

  • Shoot today, be better tomorrow

Time Stamps

  • 00:03:04 Learn photography to control your life.

  • 00:06:12 Dive in and learn.

  • 00:19:31 Emphasize curves with light.

  • 00:25:37 Hire models to promote work.

  • 00:30:06 Plan ahead for success.

  • 00:37:45 Focus on business first.

  • 00:41:52 Take control of your business.

  • 00:45:44 Shoot more, become better.

Resources:

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Learn camera settings to create art.

When it comes to photography, the ability to create art can be greatly enhanced by a mastery of camera settings. This is something that Tracy Kirkland, a boudoir photographer, knows all too well. She first picked up a camera in 2013 and immediately knew that this could be the beginning of something special. After graduating from dental hygiene school, she was looking for a way to control her own life and was determined to find it.

When she first picked up her camera, she was immediately taken with the artistry that she could achieve with it. She was able to see her photos on the back of the camera and was amazed at the difference between that and a point and shoot or a camera phone. She quickly threw herself into learning the camera and within three weeks had mastered manual settings.

For those just starting out in photography, understanding the basics of camera settings is key to creating art. First, it is important to understand the three main settings – aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Aperture controls the amount of light entering the camera and the depth of field, or how much of the image is in focus. Shutter speed controls how long the shutter is open and how much motion is captured in the image. Lastly, ISO controls the sensitivity of the camera and how much noise is present in the image.

Once you understand the basics, it is important to practice and experiment. Try different settings and see how they affect your images. This will allow you to create the look you want and will give you the confidence to take on more challenging shots.

With the right camera settings, you can create beautiful and unique works of art. Tracy Kirkland is a testament to this and is living proof that with the right knowledge, anything is possible. So take the time to learn the basics and then let your creativity take over. With the right camera settings, you can create art that will be admired for years to come.

Dive in 100%!

Tracy Kirkland is a professional photographer who has mastered the art of boudoir photography. She has been in the industry for over 10 years and has worked with some of the best photographers in the world. Her journey to success was not an easy one. She had to learn the basics of photography and then practice and practice until she was confident enough to shoot her first boudoir session.

Tracy did not take the easy route. She read manuals, attended workshops and even took her camera to work so she could practice during her breaks. She was determined to learn as much as she could and to master the art of photography. She also learned the importance of lighting and how it affects the final outcome of her photos. She attended a workshop with Jerry Gionis, a master of lighting, and learned how to look at light differently and how to use it to her advantage.

Tracy’s journey to success was not easy, but it was worth it. She has a passion for boudoir photography and loves the fact that she has control over every aspect of the photo. She can control the lighting, the poses and the expressions of her clients. She loves that she can create art that will be admired for years to come.

Tracy’s story is an inspiration to us all. It is a reminder that if you dive in 100%, you can achieve anything. With the right knowledge, you can create beautiful works of art. So take the time to learn the basics and then let your creativity take over. With the right camera settings, you can create art that will be admired for years to come.

Exaggerate curves with light.

One of the most important elements of creating beautiful boudoir photography is learning how to exaggerate curves with light. Tracy knew that in order to make her work stand out, she needed to master this technique. She practiced with 40 models before she felt confident enough to go full time with her photography. Through her hard work, Tracy was able to create beautiful, flattering photos that accentuated the curves of her subjects.

Tracy's technique for exaggerating curves with light is simple. She suggests that when a model is against a wall, the photographer should over-exaggerate the curves to make the model look more curvy. This means that even if the model is not very curvy, the photographer should still over-exaggerate the curves to make them look their best.

Tracy also recommends that the photographer use light to accentuate the curves of the model. This can be done by having the model face the light and having the body away from the light. This will create shadows that will draw attention to the curves of the model.

Tracy’s story is a testament to the power of practice and dedication. With the right knowledge and a little bit of hard work, you can create beautiful works of art. So take the time to learn the basics and then let your creativity take over. With the right camera settings, you can create art that will be admired for years to come.

Hire models to promote business.

But what if you don’t have the time or the resources to learn all the necessary skills? That’s where hiring models comes in. Hiring models to promote your business can be a great way to make sure you’re creating images that will stand out from the crowd. Not only will you be able to create stunning images, but you’ll also be able to show off your skills and your style.

Tracy, a boudoir photographer, has used models to promote her business. She has found that hiring models to create images for her portfolio has helped her to create a unique look that her clients appreciate. Not only does it give her portfolio a unique look, but it also helps to make sure that her clients feel safe and taken care of. She knows that her clients don’t want to feel like they have to be the ones booking the space and doing all the things they want to feel taken care of.

Hiring models can also be a great way to make sure that you’re creating images that will be shared on social media. By hiring models who are also business owners or influencers, you can make sure that they’ll be happy to share your work and promote you as well. This can be a great way to get your work seen by a wider audience and can even lead to more bookings.

In conclusion, hiring models to promote your business can be a great way to make sure that you’re creating images that will stand out from the crowd. Not only will you be able to create stunning images, but you’ll also be able to show off your skills and your style. Additionally, it can be a great way to make sure that your images are shared on social media and to get your work seen by a wider audience. So if you’re looking to take your photography to the next level, hiring models might be the way to go.

Plan ahead for success.

However, it’s not the only way to ensure success in photography. For example, another great way to make sure that you’re successful is to plan ahead. Planning ahead can help you to make sure that you’re always ahead of the curve and that you’re never left scrambling to fill gaps in your schedule. For example, boudoir photographer, Melissa, uses her spreadsheets to track her historical data and plan out her semi-annual sales to fill any gaps in her schedule. She also runs a Black Friday sale to make sure that her next year’s clients can book their sessions on the days of the sale. By doing this, she’s able to make sure that her schedule is always full and that she’s never left scrambling to fill gaps.

In addition to planning ahead for sales, Melissa also uses email marketing to reach out to her clients and keep them informed about her business. This is a great way to make sure that you’re always in touch with your clients and that you’re able to keep them updated on any promotions or sales that you may be running.

Overall, planning ahead is a great way to make sure that you’re successful in photography. Whether it’s planning ahead for sales or using email marketing to keep your clients informed, planning ahead can help you to make sure that your business is always running smoothly. So if you’re looking to take your photography to the next level, make sure to plan ahead for success.

Focus on business first.

This is something that Tracy Lynn has done in her photography business. Tracy is a boudoir photographer and has been in the business since 2016. She has had great success due to her focus on the business side of things, rather than just the photography. She has found that focusing on the business side of things has allowed her to grow her business faster than if she had just focused on the photography.

Tracy has found that by focusing on the business side of things, she has been able to get to the top of Google and have her blogs appear on the first page. She has also focused on email marketing, blogging and word of mouth, which have all helped her to grow her business. She has also mentioned that she avoids using ads as she believes that you can grow your business just as fast without them.

Overall, Tracy’s experience has shown that focusing on the business side of things can be incredibly beneficial. It can help you to grow your business faster and be more successful. So if you’re looking to take your photography to the next level, make sure to focus on the business side of things first. This way, you’ll be able to plan ahead for success and grow your business faster.

Know lighting, posing, settings.

One of the most important things Tracy has learned is the importance of lighting, posing, and settings. When you have a good understanding of these elements, you can focus all of your attention on your client and get better photos. It can be easy to get caught up in the technical aspects of photography, but if you take the time to learn the basics, you’ll be able to focus on the more important aspects of photography, such as connecting with your clients and taking great photos.

The second important lesson Tracy has learned is the importance of making your clients feel comfortable. When you’re taking photos, it’s important to make sure your clients feel relaxed and at ease. If your clients feel uncomfortable, it can be difficult to take great photos. Make sure to take the time to get to know your clients and make them feel comfortable before you start taking photos.

The last lesson Tracy has learned is the importance of taking business growth into your own hands. Don’t rely solely on social media for growth; instead, focus on other aspects of your business, such as working with other businesses or hiring models to help you promote your work. Taking business growth into your own hands can help you to reach new heights and be more successful.

Overall, Tracy’s experience has shown that focusing on the business side of things can be incredibly beneficial. It can help you to grow your business faster and be more successful. So if you’re looking to take your photography to the next level, make sure to focus on the business side of things first. This way, you’ll be able to plan ahead for success and grow your business faster. Additionally, make sure to focus on the basics of photography, such as lighting, posing, and settings, and take the time to make your clients feel comfortable. Finally, take business growth into your own hands and don’t rely solely on social media for growth. With these tips, you’ll be able to take your photography to the next level and be more successful.

Shoot today, be better tomorrow.

The phrase “shoot today, be better tomorrow” is a powerful reminder to photographers that the only way to get better is to practice. It’s easy to get caught up in the business side of things, but if you don’t take the time to actually shoot, you won’t be able to improve your skills. That’s why it’s important to take the time to actually shoot and practice your craft. When you take the time to shoot, you’ll be able to experiment with different techniques, lighting, and settings. This will help you to develop your skills and become a better photographer.

Additionally, it’s important to focus on the basics of photography. This means taking the time to learn about lighting, posing, and settings. This will help you to create beautiful images that will wow your clients. Additionally, make sure to take the time to make your clients feel comfortable. This will help you to create images that your clients will love and that will help you to grow your business.

Finally, it’s important to take business growth into your own hands. Don’t rely solely on social media for growth. Instead, focus on networking and building relationships with other photographers and potential clients. This will help you to grow your business and find success.

In conclusion, if you want to improve your photography, it’s important to focus on the basics and take the time to shoot. Additionally, it’s important to focus on the business side of things and take business growth into your own hands. By following these tips, you’ll be able to take your photography to the next level and be more successful. So remember, shoot today, be better tomorrow.