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Tell us about yourself! We’d love to hear about your family, hobbies, and favorite food- tell us about your favorite things!

I’ve been a photographer for more than 20 years.  I started my business in Las Vegas and moved to Boise, Idaho 7 years ago.  I have studios in both Las Vegas and Boise.  :). I have been married for almost 18 years to an incredible husband who is super supportive.  I have A 14-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter, Who is actually my niece that I adopted.I have two dogs that I’m obsessed with. A goldendoodle and a Sheepadoodle.  I’m obsessed with traveling and vacations and music. I actually used to be a singer and moved to Las Vegas when I got hired in a band.  🙂

 

What is your favorite thing about being a photographer?

 

My favorite thing about being a photographer is changing people’s lives. I also love to be creative and change things up and to continue to learn each year.

 

What is the name of your company?

J. Renee Studios

 

What did you learn from your day job? Are there any lessons you learned that carried over into your photography business? Tell us the story that got you to where you are today!

 

I feel very fortunate that I have been able to be a full-time photographer for over 15 years.  Before that, I was a licensed aesthetician and a singer in a Las Vegas band.   I remember sitting in the spa and thinking of how much money I was losing being there because I had so much work to do in my photography business. I started as a wedding photographer and did 40 to 15 weddings a year until I got completely burnt out and couldn’t do it any longer. It’s really exciting that you can make as much, if not more doing portraits and boudoir

 

Can you tell us more about your photography business prior to joining Mastermind, what you did when you started, previous genres shot, clients per month/year, last calendar year revenue, IPS involvement, and average sale?

 

Before joining the master mine I was mostly a Maternity and newborn photographer. I used to offer boudoir shoots when I was heavily into weddings but I was really only doing it for my wedding clients and so the sales were not that high.   Once I went full force with boudoir it has literally doubled my business revenue!!   Before joining the mastermind my studio sales were around 250,000 a year.  Last year I hit almost 500 K!!!!

 

Can you share some details about your work after joining Mastermind, including the first thing implemented, the current genre being shot, clients per month/year, YTD and monthly revenue, IPS involvement, average sale, and most purchased items by clients (digital, albums, or wall art)?

 

So right now I am doing 50% boudoir and 50% maternity newborn.   Last year I hit just under 500 K.  I have always done IPS.  Last year I did 140 portrait sessions- and 88 boudoir sessions. I actually made more in sales on boudoir than I did in portraits so this year I’m hoping to change my portrait pricing to be similar to Boudoir!!

 

Do you have support staff? If so, tell us about them! For example- how many photographers, HMUAs, assistants, managers, etc. do you employ?

 

I am the only photographer, but I have a makeup and hair team in both Las Vegas and Boise. I have an assistant in Las Vegas and my makeup artist does all of my social media!  I also use Jiribette to take all of my boudoir calls and make all of my boudoir bookings!  I could not do it without her

 

How much revenue total has your studio brought in since joining Mastermind?

 

It has literally doubled from 250,000 to almost 500,000 this year

 

What is your advice to photographers just starting out? What is your advice to photographers who are full-time and struggling? Remember your own journey – what were your biggest struggles and what you wish someone had told you? 🙂 

 

Just go for it.  Literally, when you walk away from your day job your energy will shift and the doors will open allowing you to be as busy as you need to be. Work hard, and constantly improve your craft and it will come

 

What areas do you still want to grow in? Do you have any big goals that you are still looking to accomplish?

 

Yes. Hoping to do more boudoir shoots and to really raise my prices on my portrait side.

 

What is your biggest accomplishment – work and non-work related? Since your studio became successful, what is the coolest thing you’ve been able to do?

 

Travel the world of course

 

Please list any awards won and/or distinctions you would like noted in the article.

 

I’ve honestly been so busy that I really haven’t had time to submit to any competitions!  But I would really love to

 

To see her work, check out her website at: https://jreneestudios.com/.