EPISODE #123

Guest: Alicia Insley Smith

Owner, Maternity & Newborn Portrait Specialist
Insley Photography
Fort Mill, South Carolina
insleyphoto.com

DATE: August 22, 2024

“…Just knowing what I was doing wasn’t working was enough of a push for me to try something different.” – Alicia Insley-Smith

Smart girl.

Today’s guest started out a card-carrying people pleaser with clients who didn’t always appreciate her like they do now. She was also suffering from a major lack of confidence.

Alicia Insley-Smith, owner of Insley Photography, in Fort Mill, North Carolina, began her photographic journey as an intern to a local portrait photographer; but when it came to running a business of her own, she realized it wasn’t quite as easy as it looked. Alicia, however, was determined to learn.

An accomplished photographer specializing in maternity and newborns, Alicia made the effort to educate herself but found that not every educator was aligned with the goals she had for herself and her business.

Luckily for us both, in 2021 Alicia enrolled in the first-ever launch of The Art of Selling Art, my online course for portrait photographers looking to build better businesses, and I could tell she was a star from the get-go. 

Girlfriend had great questions, she showed up, did the work, she was ALL IN. 

Now, three years later, she’s thrilling amazing clients and experiencing success that that nice little intern could only dream of. 

Listen in on our conversation as Alicia details how she transformed from being afraid to express her opinions to confidently leading consultations and planning client sessions with clear goals. 

How she made the leap to becoming the expert in her own business and how thrilled her clients are as a result. 

I hope Alicia’s story will inspire you to take a look at your own neuroses and make a few leaps of your own. 

Let’s do it!

>>> In addition, I have a FREE resource just for our ReWork listeners,
that you can grab here: The ReWork Guide to Converting Leads Into Clients.<<<<<<< 

In this episode, you will learn about

📸 Alicia’s journey from a hobbyist photographer to a successful business owner and the challenges of self-confidence

🖼️ Her transition from offering digital files to selling physical products and how this shift improved client satisfaction

🥰 Her approach to consultations, highlighting the importance of guiding clients through planning

👥 How Alicia involves clients’ partners in the planning process

💡 How Alicia’s experience and education helped her develop confidence

Here’s a glance at this episode:

• [3:02] – Alicia started photography as a college intern, growing it from a hobby to a business focusing on maternity and newborn photography.
• [5:55] – Hear how Alicia realized the importance of finished portraits after a friend’s photos were lost.
• [8:36] – A passion for maternity and newborn photography grew from personal experience.
• [10:53] – Alicia learned to confidently and expertly guide clients through the process, discussing their needs upfront.
• [12:45] – Rather than making a big leap, Alicia gradually improved her business by using presentations to guide clients through their choices.
• [15:47] – Clients almost NEVER know what they want; it’s up to us to help clients realize their vision using our expertise.
• [17:44] – Alicia points out that morning newborn sessions work best; combining maternity and newborn shoots was a game-changer for her clients and her business.
• [20:16] – Alicia walks us through her consultation process.
• [23:10] – ATJ weighs in on Alicia’s consultation process.
• [24:44] – Alicia talks about how including client’s partners in the planning process helps them stay engaged and supportive.
• [27:37] – Caution: Being overly focused on the client experience can overshadow the actual product, leading to dissatisfaction and missed sales.
• [29:15] – ATJ describes why showing too many images is a problem and what to do about it.
• [32:47] – Learning from mistakes and adapting approaches helps improve client satisfaction were key in building Alicia’s confidence.
• [35:34] – Positive feedback from a family boosted confidence in selling albums for ATJ.
• [37:17] – Alicia recommends that people find educators whose advice resonates with them, and to not wait for perfection before taking action.
• [39:35] – Alicia enjoys the Bridgerton series and books by Denise Duffield-Thomas.
• [41:37] – Alicia encourages listeners to get a family portrait done this year.

Click here to listen!

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Links and Resources:
Download a Transcript
ReWork Episode #113

TV:
Netflix Series: Bridgerton

Reading:
Author: Denise Duffield-Thomas

Alicia Insley-Smith
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Do The ReWork
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Allison Tyler Jones
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