Pricing, the devil and angel on your shoulder in business, the hardest thing to decide always! I always battle with being affordable and also earning a wage, I would love to shoot for free but it just isn't possible, if you charge too little you are literally running an expensive hobby.  In the early days if a customer asked me for money off then I would just agree! I tried to people please all the time, it taught me a lot though and I don't regret my business journey, the only advice I would give to my younger business owner self would be to invest in yourself early on! Forget the product and be a businesswoman! Yes the product is my business but without business knowledge, you're just another person with a camera..In my years in this industry many amazing photographers have had to give up because their business side let them down, I have also seem some terrible photographers absolutely fly because they are dynamite at sales! I like to think I sit in the middle, I like to give my customers a relaxing experience with great photos and earn money for myself too, still here 12 years later so something must be going ok!

I want to politely ask customers to not ask for discounts for no reason, I have to compare it to people who are employed, if your boss decided to give you a pay cut that month for no reason, literally no reason, then it would be a flat no, this is the same thing as asking a small business for a cheaper service, remember this business puts food on our tables and clothes our children.  

I wanted to add a visual below for anyone who says "I want a photoshoot that doesn't cost an arm and a leg" there's budgets out there for everyone, so don't make a photographer feel bad for charging what they do and other professionals in the field, please charge your worth! 

Photography is a luxury service, not a necessity, and we are commissioned to work, we don't force customers to do something they haven't instructed us to do <3
​
Nicky 

​xoxo

So I wanted to write this post in January, but I also wanted to have a proper xmas break so in Jan I had 3 weeks off to reset and be with my family.

Also to prepare for 2022 and see what I want my business to be, 12 years this year and counting, and boy does it ever change! Never stop learning! 

I have been absolutely privileged to work with many repeat customers, and many new ones who I hope to see for years to come as their families grow...

I did about 150 shoots last year, there's a few of them below - here's to 2022

​Nicky xoxox

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I am currently trying to learn Instagram reels, I Feel like they're a minefield but here's a few below! I will get better and I will crack them! 

Any tips would be gratefully received! 

​Nicky xoxo

So its a record, I did my last blog post a month ago and despite it being my busiest month this year, I am back to write another one! 

August & September have been amazing for me, I have had more website enquiries for newborns in Weymouth and I have truly felt valued.  I cannot thank my customers enough, so many have ordered wall art too!

They have given me Facebook reviews and I haven't even asked them too, all shares, likes, recommendations help small businesses so much in this every changing market.  Yesterday I concentrated on making instagram reels, every day is a school day as they say :)

For today I wanted to share some of those kind words

​Nicky xoxo

So where do I start? Its been 4 years since I wrote a piece for my blog! I am still here, busy working, that never changed apart from in Lockdown! I think its down to the ever changing business models that Facebook and instagram drive you towards.  Years ago I could just upload an image to Facebook and I would guarantee to get at least 3 bookings, those days are over! I am in Year 11 of my business and constantly still learning what works to make a successful business as the goal posts change all the time! So this week I have had some free time so I am busy updating my website with fresh images then I came on blog and saw it needed a word or two! 

I am back in Lynch Lane Offices, it truly is a place full of life and small businesses which I love! It's clean, its got facilities and a car park and ticks all the boxes for me.  Come November I would of been back in there for 2 years already which seems to have flown by! 

This year we also bought our first house! About time I say! Something I am extremely proud of and wouldn't of being able to do it without my amazing customers! 

This week I launched my xmas mini sessions, my yearly minis that are always so successful! 2 days worth have nearly sold out already, more dates to add! 

I plan to keep the blog up to date, watch this space.

Here are some favourite images from this week.

This was a Gift voucher session, newborn photos are such a lovely gift but I always advise the person buying to ask whether the customer actually wants a newborn shoot, newborn shoots are a couple of hours long and it can be daunting for a first time mum to have a stranger in their home handling their baby when they didn't ask for the shoot.... Luckily this family did want the session and adore the photos... The Dad LOVES Batman so we even got some themed shots too - shooting in the customers home doesn't have to be restrictive - ask for those shots, push the boundaries and I know you will love the outcome 

Nicky - Weymouth Newborn Photographer xoxo

Hello 2017 - every year my business grows, every year I move with my business and adapt where needed - I believe its the key to success.  I left my studio 18 months ago - when I look back I wasn't quite ready for it - my 2017 goal is to get one again! I am ready, I feel quite limited with space and light in some shoots and this can stunt creativity which is what a photographer is booked for! I am very proud of the images I create in peoples home because at times it can be tricky! But its time to grow again....thank you to each and every customer that helps me do that - I genuinely enjoy every session and get on well with my customers :) 

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I cant believe I have been in business for almost 7 years now!! I cannot reiterate enough how much I love my job, I feel truly blessed that so many families choose me to capture their new babies! I have been photographing Weymouth Babies now for almost 7 years which means that the babies I photographed in the beginning are now in Year 3! Book here to get a newborn session in - beautiful photography in your own home - Nicky xoxo

Wow, haven't updated my blog in a long time....heres the reason why....its all about Facebook!! I have been concentrating on keeping that page nice and busy that I have simply forgotten about my blog (naughty me) 

So a little update - most of my customers know that I have become mobile again since last June - I really feel its best for new mums (and dads!) the shoot is so relaxing and convenient at home :) I can make the space work, I am very experienced in working with newborns at peoples houses...and finding it is working really well for both of us :)

Here is some of my work from recent months! Click here to book

​Nicky xoxo