I am so happy to bring you today’s episode All About Studio Photography with our special guest Janessa Taber.
Janessa is a beautiful mother of four from Northern California and has been running her successful business for 17 years. She is a fine art maternity, newborn, and child photographer, and she currently works full-time out of her studio in Butte County & part-time at a studio in Southern California.
I’m so excited to have her on today to chat with me about what it’s like to run a photography business in a studio, how photographers can set themselves apart from others in such a saturated market, some tips for newborn safety, where you can go for education on how to get started in a studio and so much more!
In this episode:
[5:20] Janessa’s father bought her a camera when she was 5 years old, and that’s when her passion for photography started.
[8:30] Success doesn’t happen overnight. You have to build it and invest in yourself.
[9:44] Janessa shares how she went about finding and building her own studio.
[11:14] Janessa’s love for capturing motherhood and newborns developed out of her admiration for photographer Anne Geddes.
[17:08] Janessa’s top 3 tips for photographing newborns.
[20:22] When shooting newborns, never put a newborn baby on a prop that could fall over.
[22:41] Janessa’s advice to aspiring newborn photographers – Do model calls and keep practicing.
[23:52] Photographers must have liability insurance with plenty of coverage to protect themselves from legal action.
[24:27] Newborn shoots are best done within the first 10 days of a baby’s life.
[25:49] As much as possible, keep the room temperature around 70 degrees and have a space heater near the baby.
[26:43] Every baby is different. There’s a variety of things that you can use to keep a baby calm and asleep, and you have to figure out what’s best for the baby.
[30:31] Janessa uses hand painted backdrops for her photoshoots that she created herself.
[32:43] Any photographer can paint his or her own backdrops. Keep trying, keep practicing, and you will get better at it.
[35:11] Make your own inspiration board. Look for images that inspire you, and add your own twist to them.
[35:48] Don’t be afraid to do something different. Just be creative and go for it!
[37:43] Lighting identifies who you are.
[38:38] Part of setting yourself apart is setting up a style that fits you and that clients recognize.
[40:18} Janessa’s process for doing in-person sales.
[45:30] Have your clients choose their favorites while they’re still at the shoot. As a result, they’ll be more likely to purchase them all before they leave.
[46:37] Starting your own studio is a big undertaking, so it’s important to consider your finances and to establish your clientele before you get started.
[52:05] Always aim to provide an exceptional experience to your clients. Serve them like they’re your family and always make them feel special.
About Janessa Taber
Janessa is a beautiful mother of four from Northern California who has been running her successful business for the last 17 years. She’s a sought-after photographer specializing in fine art maternity and newborn photography. She currently works full-time out of her studio in Butte County and part-time at a studio in Southern California.
Connect with Janessa
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