How to Blow Your Photography Clients Minds with Nicole Ashley

11/01/23 • 48 min

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In this episode, Scott speaks with wedding and portrait photographer, Nicole Ashley, about her photographic and photography business workflows.

Nicole Ashley is a Canon Canada Ambassador and is not only a passionate photographer who sees the world through her lens but is also an active educator in the photo community, leveraging her Bachelors of Education degree to mentor other photographers. Beyond the camera, Nicole's personal life is equally captivating. Married to her best friend, Jon, an incredible artist and father, and a mother to a beautiful daughter. Nicole has an infectious energy that many of her clients say makes them feel like they've known her forever.

(00:00) - 028
(02:47) - What is one thing that you do for the photographic process that has saved you time?
(08:53) - What is one thing that you do for the business that saves you time or money?
(12:54) - What is one thing that you do for editing that has saved you time?
(15:33) - What is one thing that you do after a session that has increased business?
(25:43) - Can you share an outlined breakdown of your workflow from lead to delivery?
(33:41) - What does the future of AI in photography look like to you?
(43:00) - How did Imagen impact your life?

Get ready to dive into the world of photography in this captivating episode of Workflows! Join host Scott Wyden Kivowitz as he sits down with the incredible photographer and Canon Canada ambassador, Nicole Ashley. Discover Nicole's unique approach to photography, her love for weddings, and how technology has revolutionized the industry.

In this episode, Nicole shares her secrets to creating an unforgettable photography experience for clients, from sending sneak peek photos within 24 hours of a session to surprising them with tangible film prints at weddings. She also discusses her recent dream come true experience, working with a big brand and a diverse team of artists.

"Looking at photos should evoke a sense of happiness and nostalgia." - Nicole Ashley

Mentioned resources

Canva: A helpful tool for creating digital mood boards.
Pinterest: A valuable platform for inspiration and gathering ideas.
Instagram and TikTok: Platforms used for inquiries about weddings.
Focal: A fantastic AI-powered tool that has streamlined Nicole's editing process.
Pic-Time: An excellent tool for creating polished photo galleries and delivering stunning client experiences.

Want to learn how to create a memorable photography experience for your clients? Tune into this episode of Workflows and gain invaluable insights from Nicole Ashley's expertise! Don't miss the opportunity to enhance your photography business and create a lasting impact.

Key lessons in this episode

The importance of creating a date-like atmosphere for clients during portrait sessions.
Using digital mood boards to showcase textures, color schemes, and shopping for items.
The value of utilizing AI and automation tools to streamline and enhance the photography process.
Leveraging client portals for organized communication and professional presentation.
The positive impact of technology on reducing burnout and making photography more feasible as a full-time career.

Discussed in this episode

Sending sneak peek photos to clients within 24 hours of a session
- Carefully choosing and retouching the sneak peek photo
- Clients' appreciation for receiving the sneak peek and sharing it on social media
- Bringing a mini Canon printer and using the Canon Connect app for weddings
- Putting film prints in clients' seats as a surprise and tangible memento
- Being hired for one role but ending up doing multiple tasks on a large production
- Collaboration with different artists and learning opportunities
- Referring to sessions as "portrait sessions" instead of "headshot sessions"
- Mood boarding and discussing details with clients to reflect their identity
- Transition from physical mood boards to digital mood boards
- Emphasizing the importance of meaningful photos that can evoke emotions in the future
- Thoughts on AI-generated photos and the value of traditional photo shoots
- Mention of social media platforms for inquiries and directing clients to email
- Importance of creating a date-like atmosphere during photography sessions
- Capturing memorable photos that evoke emotions and happiness
- Valuing family and personal time alongside work
- Regret over not using a certain tool earlier to save time
- Enjoyment of photography and gratitude for ...

Join the Imagen Community on Facebook to continue the discussions between episodes.

In this episode, Scott speaks with wedding and portrait photographer, Nicole Ashley, about her photographic and photography business workflows.

(00:00) - 028
(02:47) - What is one thing that you do for the photographic process that has saved you time?
(08:53) - What is one thing that you do for the business that saves you time or money?
(12:54) - What is one thing that you do for editing that has saved you time?
(15:33) - What is one thing that you do after a session that has increased business?
(25:43) - Can you share an outlined breakdown of your workflow from lead to delivery?
(33:41) - What does the future of AI in photography look like to you?
(43:00) - How did Imagen impact your life?

"Looking at photos should evoke a sense of happiness and nostalgia." - Nicole Ashley

Mentioned resources

Canva: A helpful tool for creating digital mood boards.
Pinterest: A valuable platform for inspiration and gathering ideas.
Instagram and TikTok: Platforms used for inquiries about weddings.
Focal: A fantastic AI-powered tool that has streamlined Nicole's editing process.
Pic-Time: An excellent tool for creating polished photo galleries and delivering stunning client experiences.

Key lessons in this episode

The importance of creating a date-like atmosphere for clients during portrait sessions.
Using digital mood boards to showcase textures, color schemes, and shopping for items.
The value of utilizing AI and automation tools to streamline and enhance the photography process.
Leveraging client portals for organized communication and professional presentation.
The positive impact of technology on reducing burnout and making photography more feasible as a full-time career.

Discussed in this episode

Previous Episode

Incredible Photography Tools Behind Perfect Colors

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Discover the fascinating journey of photographer Scott Wyden Kivowitz, as he overcomes obstacles in his photography business on the latest episode of Workflows. In this episode, Scott shares how he tackled challenges arising from his color blindness, and the innovative tools and workflows he leveraged to ensure accurate and consistent colors in his photographs.

Join host Scott Wyden Kivowitz as he opens up about his struggles with dyslexia, color blindness, and anxiety, and how workflows became his rock.
- Learn how Scott's professor in college and the introduction of digital tools helped him achieve accurate color in his prints and edits.
- Uncover the game-changing tools Scott utilized to ensure precise color calibration in-camera and during post-processing.
- Learn about the invaluable role his wife played in ensuring accurate colors in his work.

"The most amazing part is that Lite Personal AI Profiles learn from you over time. It's a way for anybody and everybody to get started with Imagen" - Scott Wyden Kivowitz

Tune in to this insightful episode of Workflows and learn how Scott Wyden Kivowitz conquered colorblindness to become a successful photographer. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform to never miss an episode.

(00:00) - 027
(00:50) - Introduction
(00:54) - Colorblindness Struggles
(01:17) - Career Trajectory Change
(02:37) - Tools for Accurate Color
(03:32) - Calibrating Monitors
(04:11) - The Magic of Wife's Color Perception
(04:50) - Imagen's Lite Personal AI Profiles

Key Lessons:

1: Overcoming Colorblindness - Discover Scott's personal experience as a colorblind photographer and how it initially posed challenges in their career.

2: Assistance from Professionals - Learn how Scott's college professor guided them in the darkroom and later in Photoshop to achieve accurate color representation.

3: Essential Tools for Color Accuracy - Explore the tools Scott relied on, such as the ColorChecker Passport and ColorMunki, to calibrate colors in-camera and on their monitors.

4: Leveraging a Unique Perspective - Find out how Scott's wife, with her extraordinary ability to perceive colors, became an invaluable resource in ensuring accurate color reproduction.

5: Introducing Lite Personal AI Profiles - Dive into an exciting new technology that allows photographers to create personalized AI photo editing profiles based on their preferred Lightroom presets, resulting in dynamic and intelligent adjustments.

Join the Imagen Community and share your photo editing struggles with other Imageners. Learn from each other's experiences and enhance your photography workflows.

Next Episode

Busting Photographers' Off Camera Lighting Misconceptions with Bill Stank

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Discover the truth behind off-camera flash misconceptions with award-winning wedding photographer Bill Stank on this enlightening episode of Workflows. Learn valuable insights to improve your photography skills and elevate your photography workflow!

Bill Stank is an award-winning wedding photographer based out of Baltimore, MD and the Lehigh Valley, PA. He has been photographing weddings since 2012. He is a self-proclaimed Tikka Masala Enthusiast and lives with his partner, 3 dogs, a cat, and over 100 house plants.

In this episode, Bill Stank debunks common misconceptions about off-camera flash in photography. From addressing the belief of not being capable of using off-camera flash to exploring the pros and cons of this lighting technique in various situations, Bill shares practical tips to help photographers master off-camera flash and enhance their photography workflow.

"Don't forget to embrace the light that's there because it might be really beautiful." - Bill Stank

(00:00) - 029
(00:50) - Introduction and Guest Introduction
(02:04) - Bill's Introduction and Topic Overview
(03:00) - Misconception 1: Off Camera Flash is Too Difficult
(06:05) - Misconception 2: No Time for Off Camera Flash on Wedding Day
(09:33) - Misconception 3: Off Camera Flash Always Improves Photos
(12:50) - Misconception 4: Not Using Off Camera Flash Means You're Not a Professional
(14:59) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
(16:03) - Host's Closing Remarks

Key Lessons:

You can master off-camera flash with practice
- On a wedding day, prioritize using techniques you're comfortable with
- Understand the pros and cons of off-camera flash
- Embracing natural light doesn't make you any less of a professional
- Finding the balance between natural and added light yields exceptional results