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

We have 4 biological children aged 7, 9, 17, 18, and a foster child who’s now 18. We have two huskies. Mel enjoys pole fitness and Dave enjoys cooking and basketball.

 

What is your favorite thing about being a photographer?

Being able to help people with their body image and self-confidence, whilst expressing our creativity.

 

What is the name of your company?

Boudoir By Angel Eyes

 

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!

We both have a strong history in retail, therefore have brought the required skills of customer service across from that field. Mel started Photography in 2009 capturing child and family portraits. She went full time 2011 after being made redundant in her previous merchandising role. Dave took on the role of Marketing for the business while still maintaining a full-time job. In 2017 Dave decided to branch into Dramatic Light Sports Photography, to bring his creativity to the business. In late 2019 we decided to branch out again into Boudoir and shoot together, by this time Dave had reduced his hours to casual at his other job.  We started with education and launched in January 2020. Dave went full-time into the business in June 2020.

 

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?

We Joined Mastermind March 2020. We were shooting Family, Sports and had just started Boudoir (5 shoots in total) then covid shut the world down and we didn’t shoot for 3 months. In 2019 we averaged 10 clients per month for a total of 149 for the year only Family and Sports. That year we made $93,060. We were doing IPS, the average sale was $624.56.

 

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)?

The first thing implemented was the pricing, due to covid, we were able to focus 100% on the mastermind and we worked through the course every day. We are now solely Boudoir, we shoot on average 10-12 per month in 2022 we had 108 sessions, average sale $4594 right now. Most clients will spend $5000, which includes digital files, an album and wall art.  The 2022 Year End was $496,193, we average $50,000 months and do IPS.

 

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

We have Mel & Dave as the photographers and 3x makeup artists on rotation.  1x makeup artist is also employed and does 10 hours per week doing reels and Instagram.  We also employ a studio manager for 20-25 hours per week who does all calls and admin, 1x social media all-rounder who does 20-25 hours per week doing group posts and planning, and 1 x social media support who does 10 hours per week doing support work for our team.  We outsource retouching to an agency and outsource marketing of FB and Google Ads to Photography to Profits.

 

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

$1,050,000 since joining.

 

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? 🙂 

Advice to photographers just starting out: educate yourself, know how to use your gear, and then focus on the business side.  Know your worth! Don’t charge stupid prices.  Those who are struggling…go back to basics! Prospect, build your group, and make connections.

 

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

We would like two associate photographers, to step back from shooting so many per week. Grow to a $750k – $1M studio,   We would like to purchase a studio house closer to where we live.

 

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?

We purchased our dream home, kept the studio as also a place for our eldest kids to live, and then 12 months later purchased an additional investment property in a way to pay less tax.

 

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

Nil – we have never entered any awards.