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When you think about shopping at Target where does your mind go? Probably to a happy place. Think about that adorable little $1 rack full of cute things you don’t need but fill your cart with anyway. The fact that some stores have a Starbucks inside and also sell wine! How they somehow figure out exactly what you like and with their sales, RedCard, and Cartwheel, you feel like you are part of an exclusive club!

So why shop at Target when you could shop elsewhere for cheaper?

It’s their client experience! 

Now more than ever, consumers are more concerned with their shopping experience rather than “getting the most bang for their buck,” so to speak. They want to feel good! The same thing is true when searching for photographers. With so many talented photographers, it’s not just about creating beautiful images. Clients want to know your story and they are looking for an amazing experience with you!

Everyone is capable of creating an awesome customer experience and with these quick tips, you’ll be able to nail the client experience and fill your calendar faster than you can keep up with!

Picture Your Ideal Client!
Who are they? What do they do? Where do they shop? Before you can start creating an incredible experience, you must first figure out who your “person” is. Because what might be a great experience for someone, might not be the best for someone else. Some people actually don’t care for Target (I don't know who they are but I know they are out there!)

Tailor Everything to Them
Your branding, your wording, your everything - make it for your ideal client. Yes, we will all have some clients that are less than ideal but to continue filling your calendar with quality clients, make sure you are creating things to fill THEIR needs. Take control of what you put out there!

Identify Their Pain Points… & Fix Them!
Nothing makes a person feel better than having someone take a problem off their hands. This is the perfect and easiest way to make someone feel good! Brides stressed about timelines? Create it for them! Grooms don’t know how to tie their bow ties? Teach them! Couples unsure on how to go about planning their big day? Educate them. This is an incredible way to not only elevate their experience but it establishes you as an expert in your field!

Go Above and Beyond
Under promise and over deliver. In everything! This is the motto I live by! If you live by this motto and treat every single client interaction like it’s super important, your clients will feel valued, heard, and understood. That’s what anyone wants, right?! Look for ways to be there for your clients instead of just focusing on the job at hand. Figure out ways you can help them!

Everyone Likes a Good Surprise
Just like I love the surprise treasures I’ll find at the clearance aisles at Target, your clients like being surprised too! Whether it’s during your first meeting and you surprise them with a gift or you stay an hour extra during their wedding day to ensure they get every single photo they need, don’t be afraid to surprise them once and a while. An unexpected treat can go a long way. 

Tips to Help you Elevate that Client Experience even more!

• Create an awesome meeting environment 
• Offer discounts if they order products
• Surprise them with thoughtful gifts
• Offer to help with additional planning
• Educate them on ways to make sessions go smoother

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  Written by: @shaunaeteske

Hey friends! I'm thrilled you are here! I'm Shaunae - a wedding photographer, blogger, educator, wine lover, and cat mom who shares inspirational and educational posts for Strawberry Revolution to creatives and lady bosses just like you! 

Photo by Agostina Dimartino Photography

As Beyoncé says…

Who run the world? GIRLS!

Oh girl, if you are anything like me you are tired of “running your world.” Whether you’re raising kids, running a business, trying to turn your side hustle into your full-time job - it’s exhausting. As female entrepreneurs, we are constantly working on that balance of doing what’s right, getting the job done, and making sure everyone feels taken care of. Some days I’m sure you’re ready to throw in the towel. Ready to call it quits. But I’m here to tell you to keep going, to keep pushing, and to embrace your inner Lady Boss!

You are worthy. Worthy of greatness. Worthy of having everything you ever wanted. Worthy of creating a life worth loving. Don’t let the hardships and struggles of running a business force you to give up. Use it to push your further. Use it to make you stronger. 

Sister, you deserve whatever your heart desires! You are a Lady Boss! Fearless, strong, determined, hard-working, and incredible! You are fearfully and wonderfully made, never forget that. There is no one quite like you. You are a gift and you have SO much to offer to this world.

Photo by Agostina Dimartino Photography

So go out there and conquer that to-do list. Send those emails. Schedule those meetings. Crush those goals. Chase new dreams and win more battles. You’ve got this!

Lady Bosses of the world unite! Comment below if you are ready to make the most of today and embrace your inner Lady Boss!

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  Written by: @shaunaeteske

Hey friends! I'm thrilled you are here! I'm Shaunae - a wedding photographer, blogger, educator, wine lover, and cat mom who shares inspirational and educational posts for Strawberry Revolution to creatives and lady bosses just like you! 

It’s June! Which for most photographers means it’s almost wedding season (except for our friends in the South and in the hot climates.) If your wedding season is like mine, you know things can get super cray and busy in just a matter of weeks! To keep you sane, I’ve complied the perfect checklist to make sure you are totally relaxed, prepared, and ready for this crazy ride that we call Wedding Season. 

• Clean Your Gear

Whether you are sending it off to the Canon or Nikon Factory for professional cleaning or if you are doing it yourself, make sure your gear is in tip-top shape. Nothing ruins a wedding day faster than realizing your gear doesn’t work or your lenses are too dirty!

• Check Your Calendars

Verify all your dates and times. Create wedding day timelines for each couple. I have each wedding specifically marked in my calendar with notes on each day. Every month I review what’s coming up so I can be ready for anything!

• Prep Your Attire

What are your favorite outfits to wear on wedding day? Check out your closet and make sure you have the right clothing for all your weddings. For me, that means comfortable yet stylish dresses (must have pockets), comfortable footwear so I can stay on my feet, and cardigans for all those chilly reception spaces. I also love prepping my editing attire for when I get home. I lay out my comfiest pajamas, my favorite fuzzy blankets, and an adorable Straw Rev Studio Tie-Back to keep the hair out of my face and keep my eyes focused on editing! 

• Prep Your Back-up Gear!

Not just your camera gear, but your emergency back-up gear too! Band-aids, umbrellas, sewing kits - everything you need in case the day gets crazy! These items can be things that not only help you but could help the bride and groom and their guests too. Check out everything that’s in my emergency wedding day kit!

• Take Time for You

You know life is about to get crazy so give yourself some time once in a while to relax. Pour yourself a glass of wine, snuggle up in your favorite Straw Rev shirt, and binge on your newest Netflix obsession. Your body and your mind will thank you!

• Pop the Champagne and Do A Happy Dance

No matter how insanely busy wedding season gets, never forget out how lucky you truly are. To be a wedding photographer is a gift, we get to document the lives and love of some amazing couples. With each couple, I celebrate the fact that they trusted me with their special day. That gives me all the motivation I need to do this all again next week. 

How do you prep for your Wedding Season? What are some of your favorite tips and tricks to get ready?

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  Written by: @shaunaeteske

Hey friends! I'm thrilled you are here! I'm Shaunae - a wedding photographer, blogger, educator, wine lover, and cat mom who shares inspirational and educational posts for Strawberry Revolution to creatives and lady bosses just like you! 

Hold on to summer with one of our anchor print Studio Tie-Backs™. From now through the end of August, you can purchase any of our Anchor prints for $18! Make the toughest decision of your end-of-summer days whether to get your Anchor Studio Tie-Back™ in Coral or Mint. Get your Anchor Studio Tie-Back™ here. 

Strawberry Revolution's Studio Tie-Back™ is a revolutionary design created with usability and comfort in mind for every woman. Wear it thin, wear it wide. Wear it up, wear it down. Great hair days, bad hair days. Errands, workouts, car pooling, or just having fun. With Strawberry Revolution's Studio Tie-Back™, you can make it yours! 

We thought it would be fun to interview a few REAL LIFE Mom Bosses, so we put out an ad looking for submissions. BOY DID WE GET A LOT! It was SO hard to filter through because their are so many talented mamas out there!

We picked 4 amazing Mompreneurs and we want you to know their story! While reading through their interview we hope you find comfort in knowing that you're not alone in this, and laugh a little as well. Sometimes this "Entrepreneur world" can seem lonely and we as moms think we're failing on a daily basis, but that is a normal part of being SUPER MOM! Even though our lives are hectic and we are over-worked and under-showered, we are doing the best we can and most of the time succeeding even if we don't feel like we are. So, when you're feeling overwhelmed, just hear these words: You are doing great, your kids are great, and you are going to be OK!!

Here is our first featured Mompreneur: Simply Grace Photography

What is a time where you felt “mom guilt”? While I am downstairs at my desk working when my husband is home & the kiddos stand upstairs at the baby gate begging to come down to play. 

 

What does your typical work day look like? I wish I could say I had a regular routine that I stick to, but I just don't. My mom duties always come first & then I just get my work done in between the madness. I probably shouldn't consider myself a mom boss since technically I work for my kids! lol 

 

What does dinner time look like? Dinner in our house is similar to a show at the circus. Lots of juggling, running circles, dancing, interruptions & laughter. But as long as we eat dinner before 7pm, I consider it a win in my book.

 

Has there ever been a life changing moment or incident when you realized you are working too much and need to cut back? Tell us about that moment. Last year I had to miss my oldest daughters very first soccer game because I had to shoot a wedding. At this point in my life, my growing children & family are priority, so I just try to stay strict with my schedule so I do not over book myself. 

 

What is one thing that has helped you keep family and work life balanced ? I try to manage my schedule in a way that will still allow us family time. However, there is still usually a month or two, especially in the fall, where my schedule gets a bit crazy. We are consider the busy times a blessing though & make the best of it. 

 

What is one product that you can recommend to other Mompreneurs to make life easier? I have a plethora of products that I love & that help me in my day-to-day mompreneur duties. I would say a good sized crossbody purse filled with all of your family essentials (wipes, hand sanitizer, lip gloss, lotion, hair ties, baby snacks, water, pens, paper, crayons, business cards,etc.). This comes in handy for me with my kids & for sessions. I am totally one of those people that you might say is carrying too much, but I like to consider myself well prepared. 

 

What can we find on your desk most days? (be honest!) My computer, printer, planner, about 4 random water bottles, a protein bar, photos of my sweet children, a few framed motivational quotes, a few pens & sticky notes of to-do lists. 

 

What is your favorite thing to do FOR YOU? I am a girly girl at heart. Shopping, thrifting, getting pampered, gardening. Any of those things will get me to a 'happy' place.

 

What is your FAVORITE thing about being a #MOMBOSS? It's easy to say 'being my own boss' is what I love, but it's more than that to me. I have the opportunity to be present with my children, to raise them & watch them grow each day. It's not always easy & boy do I miss the days where I used to sleep, but I wouldn't trade any of this for the world. I have learned so much about myself & my capabilities while running a business of my own.

 

If you had a “Real Housewives” slogan what would it be?  My faith keeps me strong, my family makes me whole, & this life I am living keeps me inspired.  

 

If you could have a super power what would it be? My superpower would be I am not going to lie, I really thought about this for a while, but kept coming back to the same thing. All corniness aside, I 100% would love to be able to sprinkle 'KINDNESS' on people. Think about it. If everyone had a kind heart, this world we be a much more pleasant place. Clearly I am not a superhero kind of gal. lol 

 

What do you want your children to learn from seeing you work so hard? I hope that my kids learn that no matter what situation life brings us that it's important to make the best of it. There is always someone out there that would love to be in our position, so consider all trials a blessing & move forward.

 

We are all about giving back here at StrawRev, do you donate or give back to any cause? Paying it forward brings me so much joy. I don't have a specific organization or cause, I just simply give what I can.  Anything from donating a session to benefit, paying for someones lunch behind me at Panera or randomly posting a Starbucks giftcard barcode on my Instagram page. 

 

And DUH, what’s your favorite product in the StrawRev.com Shop?

 I am in love with the tiebacks & cannot wait to get my hands on some of the new spring prints. They all look gorgeous!