156: How to Have a Successful Brand Photo Shoot for Your Design Firm
Michele 00:01
Hello, my name is Michele and you're listening to profit is a choice. Catrina Maxwell from Cat Max Photography is joining me on the podcast today to talk about how to create a successful brand and lifestyle photoshoot. Cat and I recently worked together to create my new photos and her process was top notch. So much so that in the middle of our photoshoot, I said to her, I have to get you on the podcast to talk about this. I've loved crafting the storylines with her and then taking the pictures to actually tell the story. Listen in as Cat shares her journey and photography, and then shares how we can take photos that allow us to make human connections.
Michele 00:50
Every day empowered entrepreneurs are taking ownership of their company financial health, and enjoying the rewards of reduced stress and more creativity. With my background as a financial software developer, owner of multiple businesses in the interior design, industry, educator, and speaker, I coach women in the interior design industry to increase their profits, regain ownership of their bottom line and to have fun again in their business. Welcome to Profit as a Choice.
Michele 01:20
Hey Cat, welcome to the podcast.
Catrina Maxwell 01:22
Hi, how are you?
Michele 01:23
I'm great. I am so excited to talk to you today. You and I just recently got to work together doing lifestyle and brand photo shoots one for my business. And I said you then oh my gosh, this was so much fun. It was such a great time. And I want to go on and talk about the profitability of having really great pictures. And you know, not just for the things that we do, but for who we are. And so I know we're going to jump into that conversation today. But before we start, I would love to just have you share with our listeners a little bit about your background, like what brought you into photography, did you always grow up taking pictures, knowing that's what you wanted to do? Like, how did you get into photography?
Catrina Maxwell 02:07
So it's interesting, I never knew, I mean, as a child, apparently, it was something that I wanted to do, because my mom has found paperwork from school that said, that is what I wanted to do. But I didn't really realize it until I was 28 years old. And I was deep in the accounting field. And, you know, people started telling me at parties and stuff where I was taking pictures that I should do this for a living. So I was like, well, if I'm going to do it for a living, I need to go to school. So I quit my job, went to school full time, and started shooting a lot of event and rock and roll photography, and concerts and things big concerts in town, and found that that wasn't really paying the bills, but it was fun. And then so I went towards the corporate route, to try to make a profit at what I was doing and make a living, and really enjoyed working in the corporate world because I hadn't had that experience from being an accounting. So it really kind of went hand in hand. But then when COVID hit and I also thought that corporate would be a What do you say like corporate wasn't going anywhere?
Michele 03:12
Like, here I can now when you say when you say corporate to explain a little bit about what that means? Were you taking pictures of like headshots for companies, were you taking pictures of their building? Were you taking pictures of their events? Like, what? How were you using your father?
Catrina Maxwell 03:30
I mean, I guess yeah, I guess the concert photography is somewhat like event photography. And so it kind of transitioned into event and then it was like corporate event. And then those clients were needing headshots, and then they needed sometimes they needed product shots. And since I went to school for commercial photography, I knew how to do all that. So I was able to help the corporate world with whatever they needed. I even did some interiors for corporate clients when they got new offices and that sort of thing. So I was like, Okay, I'm good. I'm stable, I'm in a, you know, and I would, I would get a lot of like all day headshots for different big companies. And we would bring in makeup and we would do headshots all day long. But, and then I also did some editorial stuff during that time, and it was not sure if you're familiar with it, but Style Blueprint is an online publication and they would highlight women entrepreneurs. And it was during a time in my life when I really needed that and just seeing these strong women and doing what they love and being successful. And so I did that a little bit too mixed in with the corporate. Well then when COVID hit corporate headshots and corporate events were no longer
Michele 04:40
They weren't especially we thought they were going to be during that timeframe right
Catrina Maxwell 04:43
Yeah, exactly. That's what I'm saying. Like I thought I was good because I didn't figure corporate was going anywhere but it did and it did in a matter of like 48 hours, I lost everything. So and I wasn't doing Style Blueprint anymore. They had they had kind of folded up here in Atlanta, and so,
Michele 04:59
stop right there for second, okay, so you've had build a business going in doing corporate events, corporate headshots, supporting corporations. And I just want us to understand that in 48 hours, that means every booking that you had going forward for the foreseeable future in March of 2020, went away.
Catrina Maxwell 05:21
Yeah, it was literally like a rug had been ripped out from under me. I sat here for those 48 hours,
Michele 05:26
and probably watched them come in one after the other. Oh, my gosh,
Catrina Maxwell 05:30
it was either a text message, it was an email, it was a voicemail, it was phone call. I mean, it was like,
Michele 05:36
you're probably afraid to look at your phone or answer. It wrote an email. Yes,
Catrina Maxwell 05:41
yes. And my husband was like, I just looked at him. And I was like, what is happening here, like, what this isn't supposed to happen, like, and another thing is like, when I was in the corporate world, I got laid off a lot. And the reason I went into business for myself, as I said, if I don't make it, it's because I'm not hustling hard enough. It's not because someone decided that my paycheck was too much. So they got rid of me, it was because I wasn't working hard enough. And so at this point, when COVID happened, it was like, I've been doing everything, I've been working my butt off, I got all these contracts. And now within 48 hours, they're gone.
Michele 06:14
If I had known you then I would have given you a great big hug, I wouldn't have been trying to be cherry Oh, that just know how it on the interior design side. Like I understand what that felt like, ours didn't get pulled out from under us as much as it got put on hold, right, until we could find a way to do it online and get around it and go in and, you know, wear 14 masks and sneak in when they were out of the house or whatever. But you cannot do that when you're photographing somebody's face at a time that we are not supposed to be together and the world is shut down. And people aren't even going into the offices, you certainly can't be next in them doing makeup. So right. I mean, yours was definitely different.
Catrina Maxwell 06:58
Yeah, and the corporate was 85% corporate events and corporate headshots for 85% of my business at the time. And I. The other part was, I did, I was getting into the interiors I had been I was about two years into trying to network and start doing interiors. So I did have a little bit of a foot in the door. And where that kind of started was I was doing the headshot days at a deck and they would sell out every year. And I was meeting interior designers. And then so I started doing interiors and just kind of blossomed from there. But I only had like a handful of clients at that time. And so it was that's kind of where it started and kind of where it progressed. And then like I said, when COVID happened, it was just like, what's happening, and I went, you know, I did just like most, I mean, a lot of people during that time, I went to a dark place. And, you know, stayed in my house. Like most people stayed on my bed, really and just was like, everything's gone. Like what's the point even like in my husband, thankfully for the people around me, my husband, my past clients, my family were just like rooting me on and saying it's going to come back and it's going to come back with a vengeance Catrina, you better get ready, you know, and, and I saw a lot of people pivoting during that time. And so I just started trying to think about what I wanted to do and what I was going to do going from this point.
Michele 08:19
Right, diversification is key to some of this, right? Yeah, that if one complete industry goes away, or shifts or has a hit there or something else. So the one nice thing is, yeah, corporate was 85%. But 15% was building in that interior design side and some of the others. I know, that's how I first found out about you was we both live in Georgia, and you had done the pictures at ADAC. And I knew people whose pictures were taken at ADAC by you, because they started using those new headshots. And I've always am digging who took your picture, because that's something that I was always looking for, like who took that picture. So that was how I found out about you was all the way back. Wow. You know what, in 19? Where you did ADAC Day.
Catrina Maxwell 09:14
Yeah, I've did it since I think it was 17 was when we started. But I've done it for five years now. And luckily, it was crazy, because that was the last job I did before COVID hit. I was at ADAC and we were doing the headshot day in March. And then everything shut down that next week. So I just barely got that last one in there. But like I said, I mean, every one that we've done it ADAC has been sold out and people seem really happy with you know, and a lot of the clients that I have now are from that. So I mean a huge, very grateful for ADAC and what they've helped me so and well and then I'll just say sorry, I was going to say that and we're actually talking in talks right now. Next week, we're going to start talking about ADAC Day but we're going to possibly do it in the fall. So,
Michele 10:01
nice, nice
Catrina Maxwell 10:02
Because we weren't able to do it in the spring.
Michele 10:04
Sure. You know, what it also makes me think about is the profitability of saying yes, one time to the right thing. You know, while that that one opportunity with ADAC wasn't necessarily your bread and butter, it was the thing that you had built enough up credence or credibility rather up and that people were like, Okay, so I've seen you, I've seen your work, let's move forward and you know, move into interiors that gave you that foot in the door as you described it. And so I think that's important. And sometimes those yeses that seem a little bit off the beaten path can sometimes become the path later. Right, right. Exactly. Exactly. So Alright, so COVID hits, you have your pity party, rightly so I would have had it with you If I had known you at that point. And then you move forward, and you start working with designers more and more, because our industry opened back up, where corporate still has not in a lot of ways. So right, you know, at least the way that it used to be in person, pictures, the whole thing. So then tell me how you got into kind of some of your specialties within the interior design photography.
Catrina Maxwell 11:19
So while I was having my pity party, a lot of what I did was surfed Instagram, and a lot of the people that I follow our Instagram are interior designers. HGTV I watched a lot of HGTV. And, and I realized that that's something that I really enjoyed. And then as I was sitting around here, I was like, What in my life have I enjoyed the most like, photographing, like, I love being behind my camera no matter what. But what is it that really brings me joy. And I was, I started thinking back to those editorial pieces that I did for Star Blueprint, and highlighting those women entrepreneurs and helping them to be successful and telling their story through those editorial pieces, that it just kind of lit a fire in me. And I was like, that's what I want to do. I guess these things happen for a reason is what I was just telling somebody the other day. And as miserable as I was last year, I sat here and I was like, what's going to make me happy. And I was like, I want to help women entrepreneurs again, how can I do that? I wanted to be able to tell their stories correctly. And then I found this class that was a mastering branding photography class. And it was a six week course. And I was like, Well, what else am I doing? I'm sitting around here, my pajamas, you know, like, let me see, you know what, let me see what this is all about. So I sat for six weeks went through the courses. And the each time each week, we got to, you know, another class and we had to do homework and all this stuff. And I was like it lit a fire in me. I was like, oh my gosh. Like suddenly I didn't care about anything else that was happening in the world, I was just happy to be like doing something and focusing on something. And it really pulled me out of that dark place that I was in. And then I you know called up some of my women clients that I'm new, we're still rocking and rolling most of them interior designers. Because that when I was surfing through Instagram, that was the other thing. Interior Design didn't stop, like, and then I would hit up my clients and be like, you seem busy. Are you really busy? And they're like, yeah, oh my god, I'm slammed, you know. And so I'm like, Okay, well, the interior market has not slowed down at all. So I was like, maybe I can highlight some of these women. And so I just reached out to some of those clients and started telling them my ideas and what I was thinking about doing. And I gotta give props to Leah May. Because she was my first one. I was like, Look, I know you need me to do interiors, but we're doing a branding shoot. And so she was like what love her.
Michele 13:47
Love her, she's such a delight.
Catrina Maxwell 13:49
Yeah. And so I did a whole branding shoot with her on top of her interiors. And she was like, this is amazing, because it's like a lot of now you have a lot of content. It's not just your interiors, you have a headshot, you have lifestyle you have behind the scenes, you have personality that's going to go with all of this. And it tells your whole story, not just a piece of your story by sharing an interior, you know what I mean? And that's the other thing when we're all sitting in our houses, looking at Instagram and Facebook. That's all you have to tell your story, you know, and connect with your audience. And so and I think that's very important in the business world is to be able to connect with that audience. And on social media. That's a much huger audience than just going to a networking event. You know what I mean? So it's really important to you, it's really important that you put yourself out there and you show people who you are through and through, and that you're going to be able to collect, you know, like have more clients that way, by putting yourself out there. I mean, that's what it's all about.
Michele 14:51
Yeah, no, absolutely. And I think what was so cool about it, watching it, and Leah and I have worked together before and I was looking through Sandra Well, firstly, I know Leah and of course, I saw other people that I know Jennifer and I saw Jill and just other people that I knew that you had done some of that for. And I thought what was so cool about it was not that your photography is not beautiful and perfected, but it showed the realness of the person. And I think that's part of what branding is, is there's a realness, like we have enough that is photoshopped to darn death, we have enough that is where you don't even know if you can trust it or not based on the way you're looking at it. And so even seeing some of the behind the scenes that you can throw up in stories and then seeing the more posed that, you know, you might want to put on your nine square or whatever it is that you're doing. They just all look like they were so great. And the pictures don't look flat, meaning it doesn't they don't look dead. Do you know what I mean? They look like there is a story to be told. And I want to let's move in and talk about that. Before we do that. Let's talk for just a minute about the difference between what is a headshot, and what is a lifestyle branding photoshoot. Because they are different, very, it doesn't mean they can't be mixed, but they are different types of pictures and perhaps different use of pictures, share with us a little bit because for example, you would never consider going into a corporate environment going let me take your lifestyle shots, they would think we were nuts. But we are creating a brand here, which is a different thing. So talk first about having a headshot, and what that how we would use a headshot and what that would do for us.
Catrina Maxwell 16:49
So a headshot is basically just that, it's a headshot.
Michele 16:54
It's like a picture from the chest up. I mean, it's really a picture of your face and your head.
Catrina Maxwell 17:01
Right. Exactly. And it's um, I mean, I want to say corporate ask, but I'm not necessarily because I feel like a headshot is something that you use. However, I've seen people use my lifestyle shots as their profile pic. So, I mean, it's either or. But it's, it's more staged and more like looking at the camera straight on, you know, no props, no, you know, there might be different backgrounds, but it's very cool and clean. And a lot of people use it for like LinkedIn, or Facebook or Instagram is just that profile picture.
Michele 17:35
And it's also used a lot. I know like when I write articles, they asked me for a headshot when I do a speaking event, they ask for a headshot, they don't necessarily want a full body shot, they don't want a lifestyle shot many times, they want just that small, clean, straight on, let's see your face. This is who the presenter is, or this is who wrote the article. So it's used a lot in publications as well.
Catrina Maxwell 18:01
Right. And that's and it's something that I always try to include with the brand new shoots, because you do have those situations where people ask for them. And so and I try to get vertical and horizontal to use for different reasons. And I try to get both angles, just to you know, so you have it for those different reasons, like when people message you and things like that you have the options of that. That is I mean, I tried to include it in the branding shoots every time unless somebody just is like, I don't want a headshot. But I can't say I've ever heard someone say that to me. So it definitely is included and something that you need in your business. I feel like.
Michele 18:33
Well, and I've told this story on the podcast before, but I don't think I've ever told you. So the first time I wrote an article oh gosh, this was back and maybe 2005. Someone asked me to write it was Atlanta Home Improvement magazine. And I wrote I mean, we're talking 15, 16 years ago. So is the first article I'd had published after leaving corporate and you know, moving into the interior side of things. And they asked me to write an article and I wrote the article, I was able to take pictures of everything that I was doing that needed to be done all that was great. And then they asked me for a headshot. And I was like, I don't have a headshot. And they're like, but we need it and we need it by tomorrow. So I didn't even have time to like go to the picture place at the mall. Like I didn't know anybody that could do a headshot. I'm like, I can't even get into JC Penney's or like the headshot place at the mall to get a picture. What am I going to do? And so we had just had our pictures taken for the directory at church. So it's like, oh, my husband, me and the boys. And I went in and out my cropped my face out of the church directory picture. And the funny thing is, there's like a corner of my husband's shoulder right down because there was no way that I could square it up. I didn't have Photoshop that I mean, I was getting by, right. And I sent that picture in, they used it and they published it and I still, to this day, my husband still giggles and laughs at me. And he's like, I'm totally in that picture with you. And I'm like, that is your shoulder sweet boy, that is your shoulder. But what it did was it made me realize that if I was going to continue to put myself out, and back then we didn't have social media, we didn't have all those things back in 2005, the same way. So there wasn't as much of a need for a headshot, other than to maybe put some pictures on a website that just unless you were doing an article and speaking, which I had not really that was, you know, kind of the beginning of me, starting to put myself out there, I realized very quickly, I needed to go get a headshot. And so I then set up to get a more professional headshot without my husband's shoulder, lurking in the bottom corner of that picture, Oh, my gosh, I still laugh about that. And now these days, I would tell everybody, you never know when you're going to need it. And often when you need it, you need it quickly. And so just go ahead as you're starting your business, and at least get a vertical and a horizontal headshot, and have it in ready so that you have it you feel comfortable, confident, beautiful, handsome, whatever it is you want to feel in that shot. But then it in picture tells a little bit about who you are so that you can send it because when I've been asked for one it has not been like and yet send us a headshot in the next three to four months after you have a photo shoot it is we need it by Friday, or we need it by Wednesday, I'll just go ahead and plan to get a good headshot done at the beginning. The reason I wanted to separate these two, Cat is because when I reached out to you a lot a couple of months ago now and said hey, I'm looking to get some new shots. And I was supposed to get some done last fall. And between the photographer that I've used before, who I love dearly and has always done a beautiful, beautiful work for me, her schedule, my schedule, we can never connect, nothing was working. And so I knew that I was going to have to reach out and find somebody. In addition to help me brand myself. It's funny because back in the day without knowing I just always thought I was looking for headshots, more of like, like you would hear in maybe in the modeling world, you know your book of headshots. I guess that's just the thought that I always had. So the idea years ago of lifestyle and branding, I was like I don't, what do you mean, and then trying to think of as a coach, which is different from an interior designer? What does a lifestyle branding shoot look like? For me, that's always been I think one of the struggles is because I'm not when I had an interiors business, I'm creating window treatments, I'm doing these things, I had something to take a picture of, it was something that I was creating, or designing or fabricating, or installing or working with the result, like an object that I'm holding, that I'm responsible for, in coaching a lot of what I do the majority of what I do are concepts, mental concepts. There's no way to take a picture of that, right? And so I was having this like, What do you mean, let's just take some pictures may here's three cute outfits, stand cute. Learn how to stand so that you don't look wide, like move your hips this way, move your shoulders that way, stick your neck out like a turkey, so you don't look you have 14 chins like you know all the things that you start to learn. But I never thought about it the way that you and I approached it this time. And I have to give I had already started thinking about before I reached out knowing that I needed lifestyle show. So I certainly knew what they were by now I understood. But you took it to the next level when you reached back out to me. And so I know that this has been something that you have been kind of really, really focused on maybe within the last nine months, 10 months. But I'm telling you your process was fantastic. And so tell us a little bit about how you put together a process so that we are telling a story so that we are working on the brand because these this the same attention and detail I think went into my work with you. And I don't I've never told you this because we just did the shoot a couple of weeks ago. But I think there were a lot of similarities that went into my process of working with you, as it did the process that I have gone through working with people that that were helping me brand, my website and brand my social media and brand some other things like how do I want to be seen you in parallel came along and asked a lot of the same questions. And then you worked really hard to give me ideas on how those would translate into a photograph and it was Amazing because you made me think about that. And we can tell the story when you share in a minute, but you made me think about things that I love that I like that I enjoy, that I had not thought about. quite that way. Tell me a little bit about how you created your process and, and what that has done to help this be like a really rich experience.
Catrina Maxwell 25:25
Well, so a lot of it came from the course that I took. And then a lot of it came from, like I said, my background with the Style Blueprint shoots and telling those stories. And then a lot of it came from my personal experience being on Instagram, to back up a little bit when you're talking about needing a headshot, and you need it tomorrow. And no one's ever looking for a headshot and telling you can you send it in three months from now after you get done with your shoot? We're in a visual world, I mean, no doubt about it. Between Facebook and Instagram and Tik Tok and all of them like you just, yeah, it's all visual world. So I feel I mean, I'm very strongly believing that just like you need a business card, when you own a business, you need a headshot, at least. But if you want to, I feel like with connecting with your client and your client base and producing that audience, you are the person behind your business. And the more authentic you are with your clients, the more you're going to get the client you want because you're your ideal clients going to come to you. And you know, a lot of people just look at that as Oh, well, I just need to be businessy. And I just need to be behind my laptop and I need to be, you know, I don't like whatever it is that you do like work. Yeah, those shots are important. And it's nice to show that and by all means your audience likes to see the behind the scenes of what you do. But it's also you need to connect on a personal level I feel like and the interest that you have, you'd be amazed at the that's a lot of the interest that other people have. And then not only are you connecting with them on a business level, but you're connecting with them on a personal level. So I mean, a lot of it when I get on the phone, or I send out my questionnaires. I asked people I'm like, What do you like to do? Like, what's the, if you were able to just have a day to yourself? What would you do? And you know, some people say they like to, I know I remember years binge watching Netflix, you know. And so that was one thing. There's so many things that I've heard people say I mean, a lot of times people are I say what are their favorite things to eat? Or what are their favorite things to drink or you know, just to try to get their brain going because more than likely, whatever you like somebody else likes and when they see that in the Instagram and they're flipping through or whatever social media they're on and they see somebody with a cup of coffee, they're like, Oh, what's that? You know, like, I like coffee. What is she drinking, you know, like, it's just a way to pull that audience in.
Michele 27:58
It is an instant connection. Um, you know, one of the things that I mentioned to you and we used in my shoot, I love antique glassware, I love antique, love looking for that. And mine get started the love for that was started when my grandmother was moved into the nursing home and we had to go in and help clean out her home. And it was funny, everybody kind of came in and took the things that they wanted out of the home, meaning family members, and in the cabinets, there was less this avocado green glassware that had like a pitcher and eight glasses. And I don't know if it was dark oak cabinets and dark green and somebody just missed it. But between my mom and her sister and her brother, everybody taken everything they wanted these things were left. And no, they told us go and get whatever you want. You can have it. And I was like, Well, can I have that pitcher and those glasses? And they said yes. Well, it gives me such a connection to my grandmother and to our family. And I have now been like for years, my mother and I go hunting at the antique stores to find more and more and more. So I have green glass all over the place. Then I started realizing that Anchor Hocking and all of the other people that made green glass back in the 20s 30s 40s and 50s think they're all the colors. So then I have all the colored glass and it I mean it just kind it brings me such joy, that and florals and that goes back to my grandmother raising violets in this perfect light and her front room and all of these things. And I know that when I scroll through Instagram, I've seen a couple of different designers who will stop and put something about and I see the glass that I collect on their pay and I'm like, Oh my gosh, where'd you get that glass and we had this whole conversation about glass. And I immediately feel like we could be friends. Because we both like the same glass. Exactly never right. But I never stopped and thought about it on my side about putting it out there. But I certainly the minute you and I were having more and more of those conversations was like, I got it. I got it now, but it also made me stop and think this was an interesting part of your photoshoot, and just my own self reflection to answer your questions. I never really stopped and asked myself why I love floral so much. Like I am that nerd that if everybody designed an all white, all gray and all age, I would have a florals and color everywhere. And anything floral. You know, within reason my husband's like that makes me think of you that makes me think because he knows I love it. I had never asked myself why I like flowers so much. I'd never stopped to really understand that connection, honestly, until the photoshoot we did a couple of weeks ago, because I kept saying to you flowers are important to me. I want flowers, I bought fresh flowers. I'd like the azaleas are blooming. Let's walk by my azaleas like where can we go where I can get some florals? Anyway, it was just a really neat experience for me to maybe dig down into not only what are the things that are important to me, but why? Hmm, I mean, I know I'm a thinker anyway, but in a question or but it really made me wonder why. And that even made me love the pictures even more that you took and presented to me.
Catrina Maxwell 31:37
Yeah, well, and that's the other part of connecting with that audience is you share the same likes, and the same interests. And then, you know, that creates a connection and a bond. And I also feel like it also creates a trust, because they're like, Oh, she's just like me, you know, like, if someone sees it, all it is, is business business, business, business. Like, I mean, yeah, business, I mean, serious and boring. Exactly. But then when you start adding in the fun stuff, and you have those connections that you both like, and that bonds you together, and it gives you something else to talk about other than just numbers and business, you know, it creates relationships and relationships and creating those connections. I mean, create revenue, in my opinion, like, yeah, I and I and I enjoy work so much more, I will say when I was in the corporate world, like I've always said, I enjoy being behind my camera no matter what. But to make solid connections and relationships with my clients, which is what I've been doing this past, I would say a year, the people that I have worked with, I'm not just working with them, their relationships, their friendships now like, and it's so funny because I was talking to my stylist the other day, and I was like, This isn't just my client, it's my friend. Like, it's my best friend, you know, like, and it's so great. And just getting women together. I just love it. I don't know, it's just something about it. And so that's where all this kind of came from and originated and what it's turning into. And I love hearing your story. And I love being able to put it together for you to where you could share it to your audience. And I love seeing my clients use their images and people connecting with them. I mean, what's better than that, like, cream, right? It's it's really, I can't think of the word right now. But it's just very rewarding. It's rewarding, and it's definitely where my passion is. And it's crazy because of like we said in the beginning, I mean, I was doing concert photography, you know, I was shooting events, I was shooting court, but now I really feel like at the age that I'm at, I've finally honed in to what I absolutely love to do.
Michele 33:54
You know, there were a couple of other questions that you asked and one of the things I want to suggest to people if they're thinking about doing brand and lifestyle photography, one of the things that you also did you certainly sent out a PDF answer these questions. How do you want to feel? Were you going to use these pictures? Do you have any specific needs? You know, as far as do you need a white background? Do you need this do you need that you asked all those questions. But then you and I hopped on the phone as part of your process at the very at the end and we certainly talked about hair. We talked about makeup I brought in a hair and makeup artist for the day and actually hired her to stay throughout the entire photoshoot which was really great. And I think it was great for a couple of reasons. Number one, she took the time to get my makeup done in a way that would look good on camera, which is slightly different than the way that we might do our hair and makeup for the day today. I had hairspray upon hairspray holding that hair where it needed to go. But you know, I'm a girl in the 80s. So I was give me some Aqua net all day long. I don't have a problem that, but she didn't do it, I did it. But what was so cool was she also was there to help. For that stray hair, you know that after you've changed clothes, 14 times you've moved indoor, you moved outdoor, you're holding props. And it's sometimes it's those one or two things that then catch your attention in a picture. And she did a really great job along with you and your assistant of looking at the pictures in real time on the iPad, being able to make those small adjustments, pull my shirt a certain way to get the wrinkle, the things that I would never see standing there. And you're looking at photo composition, you're looking at so many other things, you're checking lighting, it's like having a stylist when you do a photo shoot for an interior, separate from the photographer, you see things in multitude of ways. And so there were three people, you know, not dimension, I brought my almost daughter in love with me, who was great and helped me get my stuff ready. But you guys all work together, looking at things from slightly different angles to make sure that we were maximizing what we were doing. And so I really want to highly recommend having somebody there separate from the photographer who can pay attention to those small details like are you super shiny here? Do you have a hair out of place do you is your necklace skewed is your bra strap showing like all the little weird things that later you're like, oh snap, now I either have to pay for massive editing to clean that up. Or I'm not going to be able to use that. And it was a perfect picture of a perfect smile and perfect everything. And it looks like have horns because of the way that you know the light fixtures behind me or something.
Catrina Maxwell 37:01
Right? You know, I've always I'm always big into saying I know the makeup artists may be an extra cost, but it's worth it in the end. Because they also I feel like when there's a makeup artist on set, my clients are more comfortable, they're more relaxed, because they feel like somebody else is looking out for them. Somebody else is making sure that hairs in place somebody else is making sure their necklace isn't you know, got the class on the front and someone else's, you know, fixing their shirt. And when I shoot I shoot to an iPad, and I'm able to show the client and so I always show the client and if the clients not happy with the lip color, because they just changed their top because we're doing a different wardrobe. Look, the makeup artist can come in and change the lipstick or Oh yeah, like you said, I'm getting a little shiny because I've been taking pictures for an hour. Like let's put some more powder on, you know.
Michele 37:49
Or dry she brought rosewater for me because I tend to get dry and not shiny. I mean, it was just just those little things that made me feel cared for. But also in a way that I knew was also trying to make me look my best that day. And it's an investment right great photography, the site and don't skimp on it and telling you pay a professional, the same way that we went to be paid professionally for interior design, and not hire somebody because they watched HGTV to come in. And now they're a designer to decorate. Just because somebody knows how to pick up an iPhone does not mean they need to be your brand photographer. So pay for professional and let them come in and do it. But having them having other people on the team to support you. And me, I think allowed that day to go off. I mean, it felt like we were zooming by and having fun. It didn't feel stressed. I don't love being in front of the camera. I I prefer being right here. As much as I usually love my pictures when they're done well, there are plenty that I would throw away like everybody else, but I don't. I'm not as comfortable in front of a camera. I'm comfortable on a stage in front of 1000 people, but not necessarily in front of a camera is the weirdest thing. But um, I have to say, I've all the photoshoots I've done, I was probably most comfortable that day, compared to any I've ever done.
Catrina Maxwell 39:18
Yeah, because you felt like you were being taken care of. You felt like you're being taken care of and being that you were prepared and you had done your homework to get ready for that shoot. And then we did have, you know, the my assistant and the makeup artists there, we were able to, like you said get the most out of that shoot, and I can't, I can't remember how many final images I sent to you. But there was a lot and that's a lot of content for you to use over the next you know, month or two or even three months to cycle through your social media and like you said until those stories and so that's the other thing that's good about having the extra hands and the being prepared and getting off That strategy call beforehand because then that way we're on the same page. And then when I show up to the shoot, we're not spending, you know, the first 30 minutes trying to figure out location and figure out, Oh, do you have this? Can we find this? Like, no, we came to that shoot prepared, and we were ready to make it happen, you know. And I do feel like we got a lot of great stuff. I really enjoyed your shoot.
Michele 40:22
So one of the things that I thought made it work out that way, I want to talk about this for a minute. And that was again that our conversation 30 min, I don't remember how long the last 30 minute conversation we had. At the beginning. You started asking me of course, like we talked about where am I going to use them all those general questions, but then we started getting into okay, so you love Netflix? Tell me how do you how do you like to watch Netflix? And I'm like, I'd love to just snuggle up on the couch and turn it on. And I you know, I told you I think I said like right now my husband and I are watching Schitt's Creek and laughing our rear ends off. And, you know, we we've watched all kinds of shows that we can watch together and you came up the idea of well, why don't you pop some popcorn? And why don't we put you on the sofa? And have you watch Netflix. And we have a picture of me holding a remote pointing to Netflix. And I was like, Oh my gosh, that's a great idea. And then we talked about, of course, the antiques and the flowers and we pulled out then you immediately asked me Do I have pets and I was like I have two little dogs and you're like, Oh my gosh, bring your little dogs outside, which was a riot because they were not well behaved with five people around me telling them what to do. They were not they were not interested in doing that. They were sweet. But they were sweet. They were they were sweet little puppies. But you asked me questions, like I told you, I love to read. And so we pulled out some of my favorite books that I use in coaching and took some pictures of that. But you I said to you, I said, I'm so boring. And you're like, no, you're not looking at all these things that you do. And then we were able to translate that so that we had a list like you I loved it. You know like when you go into a wedding and you've got the list of here the shots I need to get you came to the photo shoot with a list of shots. And we looked at what did we want to put on that list to add to that list. I had purchased flowers I had pulled together already report are popped out of the popcorn I had already done all the things that we had mugs that we were going to use that had sayings or things that we wanted, because we had had that photoshoot conversation, I was able on my side to pull together all the things to make it go well. While you were able to pull together what you knew you would need to show up at the photoshoot. So it did it was the combo of us being on the same page before the day came as opposed to getting together and going now what are we going to do? Exactly? We had done that work prior to. And that made it easy. I have to I'm going to on myself a little bit because I think you'll appreciate it. We were down in my basement level, which is you know, a family room and all that. And I said, hey, Cat, you want to see where it all started, and you want to see what one of my other hobbies is now and you're like, Sure, I now walk you back into my drapery workroom and you're like, Oh my gosh, why did you even tell me about this? And what are you doing? Why are we not taking pictures back here? And I was like, Oh, I said, Well, I had that business like 16 years ago, I didn't really think about that for today's photoshoot, you're like, we are totally taking pictures in your drapery workroom. And I just so happened to be working on, because I still go down there and work. It's now a hobby for me where it used to be a business. But I was working on all new window treatments and bedding for the redo of my son's bedroom. He's moving out and getting married by the time this airs, he will be married and I needed to redo that whole room. So I actually had things on the table that I was working on. And you were like, I cannot believe you didn't even tell me about that.
Catrina Maxwell 44:08
Because that was the beginning of your story. You know, like people's eyes light up when I go, well I started in accounting and they're like, Wait, what? And they want to hear that they're like, how did you go from account? That's part of your story. That's who has that's what has made you who you are today. And we can't leave that out. You know, like we got to tell that part of your story. So I was just like blown away. And I have to say that was one of the first times I've had that happen where I just like turn the corner and I'm like, wait a minute, this room is full of textures and colors and this is your space like this is you want one of your favorite spaces, we have to capture it.
Michele 44:47
So it does make me laugh. Okay, but you know, one of the reasons I bring that up and I'm telling myself that I didn't even it did not even dawn on me to let us take a picture of in drapery workroom like it just didn't dawn on.
Catrina Maxwell 45:02
And as many times as we talked and emails and like, and I'm like, how could you have been hiding this from me?
Michele 45:08
Right. But I think the point of that is, is sometimes, some things that we do, we almost take for granted that either everybody knows we do it, or that it maybe doesn't hold the level of importance. And it wasn't that I don't think my drapery workroom is important. Like I made, you know, a great living great money, it launched everything, I did it for 16 years. I just wasn't thinking in that direction. And, you know, it's easy sometimes for us to miss something that another person can pull out of us. And that's what I did love about your process and your questions, and all the things was, it brought it out. But I would also say on the day of don't be afraid to mention something to the other person. Right? Like, what if I had never showed you that space? I would have been very wise, if I would have been very upset with you. If later you had found out about that hole, because it's an awesome space. And what if I hadn't shown it to you, we were just talking about things we love and what we do and how we spend our time.
Catrina Maxwell 46:16
Especially with you being in the interior design field, how many other people how many other of your clients do you think are into draperies all of them? Exactly. So they want to know that that's where you came from, you know, and that's where your passion, you know, passion was when you started this journey. So like, Yeah, and I think it gives you great things to talk about, and again, a way for your clients to connect with you. Oh, so you're a consultant now, but you used to do drapery, and you still do drip and you love doing that. Like that's one of your side things. Like that's awesome. You know, like, it's again, it's another connection point.
Michele 46:53
It is, it's just so funny that I never even thought about it. I mean, I don't know why I don't I don't know, if I had a mental block. I don't know what my problem was. But I love that you were so quick to go, oh my gosh, we need to add this in. Let's do it right now set this up. We're taking this picture like we're moving forward here. And you'd be out of it. And you, you were so kind to be able to see the potential in the picture that I had not recognized yet. And that is another reason that I think we need to hire a professional photographer, especially one that is focused on doing these things because they know and can help tell the story. You saw something that I didn't see, but you brought it out. And then immediately I saw it. And I think that is what separates a professional from somebody who takes good pictures with their camera.
Catrina Maxwell 47:45
Yeah, and I those honestly, those are a couple of my favorites. I mean, I have a I have quite a few from your shoot. But those were those because also because of the story behind it because it was a secret. And it's like look at this shot I got that would have never happened. Had she not brought me in there to show me.
Michele 48:03
It's like a hidden gem right?
Catrina Maxwell 48:04
Yeah, exactly. Exactly.
Michele 48:07
Yeah, no, that's awesome. So let me ask you, then, you do a lot to have yourself prepared for the photoshoot for branding photoshoot? What do you think that those of us being photographed can do to be prepared? Well, for the photographer and the stylist and everybody to come in, what can we do on our side? To make it, because it is stressful? You and I talked about it you even talked about when you're on the other side of the camera is stressful. I know I stressed about what clothes Am I going to wear? How do they fit me ironing them because I know that wrinkles are hard to Photoshop out. Like I remember all the things. But it still was it's a lot because it feels like for me it's a lot of money. Three or four days. Totally well invested money, but it's an investment. You have a short amount of time. And it's not like I can go back later and say I wish I could change to different clothes. Like when the pictures taken. It's what I have on that day. And then I'm praying for a good hair day the whole day. Right? we all we all do that. But what can we do on our side to prepare to be ready to work with a brand stylist, lifestyle photoshoot?
Catrina Maxwell 49:23
Right? So with, how I do it, like I will say my background and editorial, I would get a phone call and they would be like you got to go shoot this person and tell their story next week and good luck, you know, and it's like, okay, you know, and or sometimes it'd be like, two days from now like, that's the only time they're available. Like you got to go tell their story and I'm like, oh, okay, you know, and it was very last minute a lot of times and so I had to tell those stories. But what I like to do now with what I do is I like to get us both on the same page. I have, like you said a process I have a planning guide. Have a questionnaire, these get us on the same page. And then after those are completed, then we do a strategy call. And we get on that phone call. And we just brainstorm and we talk and we get to know one another. And I think it's important because that makes you comfortable with me, because now I'm not just showing up at your location. And you're like, I don't know what I look like or who I am, you know what I mean? Like, it's, it's, it makes that connection on the phone, and we put our heads together. And we can tell that we both are after the same goal. And, and then whatever, when you go over or whatever we talk about, like, do as much as you can ahead of time, like, you've already touched on that you had the popcorn pops, you had all the props sitting on your kitchen counter and was like, this is everything that I pulled together, and I'm like, Oh, my gosh, this is brilliant, you know, because if you have all that it's less that you're having to carry up here, because it's all right there in front of you. And so you want to be as prepared as possible and take as much off of you the day of the shoot. Like I said, when I did the editorial stuff I just showed up, and I had everything kind of going on up in here. And sometimes the person that was shooting didn't have any idea what I was going to do, and I just did it, you know. But the nice thing about this and making it an investment is we're both working together and collaborating together to get that story and to tell those parts of you that are going to help you connect with your audience. So you just want to come prepare, you want to like you said, it's an investment you got to put the time in and the time that you put in is what you're going to get out. It's not just about the photographer, it's I mean, yes, I'm putting my time into, but by having two people putting their time and efforts and into it, you're going to get more out of it.
Michele 51:35
Yeah. And I know I took a lot of notes on the strategy call that we went through, I told you that. And then I even wrote down based on some of the pictures that you and I mentioned and kind of brainstorm that we can take where you kind of created your list of the of what the shots would be. I wrote down here's what I need to do and prepare and pull together for that. And then I went out into Asana and created a project called photoshoot listed every single thing I had to do, and started putting it into my calendar, like choose my clothes at this point. Choose my jewelry at this point, and pulled together all of the different props at this point. So I scheduled time on my calendar. I know people are really seeing my nerdiness come out. But that was what helped me make sure that when you came in that day, at least the things that I knew about. I had ready I even had time in there to iron clothes. And I hate to iron I hate to iron. I had downy wrinkle released as much as I could. And I knew I had to pull out the iron, but it's totally okay. But I earned even more than I thought I would need, which was a good thing. Because a couple of times, I switched into something that I had not originally planned just to get another quick picture. So almost trying to be over prepared in a way really made it so that when you asked me Do you have one other thing like this? Do you have this? I'm like, sure it's right here. Yeah, it's right here. And when we picked up and moved to a second location, it was easy for me to take and put things in a bag and get in the car and go two miles down the road to the next location, and have everything that I needed there as well. I even went so far as we're doing. We did a picture with champagne to celebrate. And I even found champagne called Michele. And I was like, Oh my gosh, that's perfect. Yeah. Because this detail. And I mean, who want to drink champagne that was named after them, right? Because surely it was named after me. One of the thing I want to just say, um, in regards to how the photographs can be used, and kind of what I did with mine, just to give some people an idea, all the stories that you and I brainstormed. And when I say stories, things like I love antiques, I love milk glass, I love flowers. I wrote those down as independent like storylines. And then I sent them out to all of my marketing and social media teams. So that when I gave them access to the pictures, I gave them like the subject line, if you will, for the stories that we were telling. So they now have jump off points. And I you know, and I said to them, I I'll provide any information you need. I gave them all kinds of background around why we took that picture, the different ways it could be used. That was helpful because you and I had already brainstormed it. I just picked it up and moved it into a bullet pointed list. send it out to my marketing team. So they know how to use those pictures and tell the story that is really about me, what it what was going on behind the picture why we did it. And so I just want to encourage people as you're doing the work. We always talk about repurposing it. repurpose the brainstorming because they all wrote back and said this is gold and I'm like yeah, because now it makes their job easier because they're telling the real story behind the picture.
Catrina Maxwell 54:59
Yeah. And I mean, I'm sure a lot of us can relate to posting something on Instagram and going, Okay, what do I say about this? You know what I mean? Like, how do I talk about this, but if it's something that you're passionate about, and that is a personal interest to you, yes, it makes it a lot easier. So definitely, I mean, and again, that's where the connection comes in with your audience, because those stories, I mean, some people on the picture person, so a lot of what I do is scroll through and just look at pictures. And then occasionally I'll stop and read the verbiage. But then there's people out there that are readers, and they like to read the stories. So I mean, it's, there's so many different audiences that you can attract by doing these things. And taking these pictures that tell the stories.
Michele 55:43
So how often Catrina, do you think we should be taking these pictures? And we can't do it every month. And I know that, you know, if we're tying in some of it into an interior photoshoot, then we're getting a sprinkling of lifestyle branding while we're photographing the interiors. But if we were looking at really just doing a lifestyle branding, shoot, are we talking once a year, twice a year? You know, once every five years? What do you recommend?
Catrina Maxwell 56:15
I mean, some of my clients do it twice a year, every six months. Some of them do it every quarter. It just, it really depends on the social media outlets that you're using, and how much excuse me how much you put out there? And how much you want to, you know, put out there. I know that. I mean, every quarter is a lot. But I mean, I'm trying to I cannot remember how many I want to say you've got like 80 photos in your shoot, right?
Michele 56:46
Something like that. It was a lot.
Catrina Maxwell 56:47
Yeah. And you think if you cycle those through twice, like, and if you're posting once a day, or are you a person that post three times a day like it, that's where it's going to vary. But I do offer packages of like discounted packages, the more you book with me, so like, you can just book one session and see how it goes. Or you can book every quarter with me. And we can go ahead and get those dates on the calendar, lock them in so that you're ready and prepared. And we'll start the process, you know, of giving you in that cycle.
Michele 57:18
I think at least twice a year, honestly. And look at the different seasons. Because like a lot of my pictures are I've got on short sleeves, and I'm outside. But that feels a little weird, sometimes in the dead of winter to be unless I'm putting on my gosh, I can't wait for spring to arrive again. But otherwise, it's kind of nice to have some of those more fall, winter, and spring summer.
Catrina Maxwell 57:43
Yeah, oh, I completely agree. And there's so many different things you can do on the different seasons, that with your photos. And again, it speaks to the people during that time of year. And these are photos that you can cycle through, you don't just use them once. And that's the thing by putting all the time and effort and planning into it. They're solid images that you can use again and again and again.
Michele 58:05
And helps create that video kind of library if you will.
Catrina Maxwell 58:09
Right. And you just kind of keep building on that. But yeah, I think I mean, I have clients that do different, you know, somebody on once, and one time a year, some twice, and then sometimes four times a year. So it's just up to the person and how much they want to be posting.
Michele 58:24
Perfect. Well, I love my pictures, I loved the experience. I love thinking it through. I've already talked to you about fall coming up, you're ready to do it again. And I just want to recommend everybody hire a professional photographer for your pictures. Take the time to not just photograph the interiors, people really do want to connect with the interior designers in the drapery work rooms in the upholstery work rooms and the stagers that are behind the work. Like if I go look at a page and I never see people or I go to a website and I never see people, it's just work. And we want to connect with each other. I think that's what I mean. That's really what we're doing is, is trying to have a human connection and then do business together. And so hiring that really great photographer who can bring out kind of the sparkle, and that each person has and to show it in the best light. Come up with the story before you go into the photography session. It does make it so much easier. And if you can, if you're in the Atlanta area around here, call it the trainer for sure. If not fly in and talk to her or, or to seriously look for somebody in your area who does something similar. I think you will. um they're great photographers around the entire country. You just want the right one for what it is you're trying to do. Absolutely. So Catrina, as we wrap up our time together today tell everybody where you're hanging out on Instagram and and what your website is so that they can follow you.
Catrina Maxwell 59:56
So my Instagram is just @catmaxphotos. And where that came from is my first name is Catrina. So cat. And then my last name is Maxwell and they x. So cat max photography, photos. So at cat max photo is my Instagram handle. And then my website is catmaxphotography.com. And on there you can see on the left hand side, there's a personal branding experience tab. And you can see all about the personal branding experience there. I'm also on LinkedIn, and Facebook, but Instagram and my website are where most of my work can be seen.
Michele 1:00:36
Awesome. And I will have the links to everything in the show notes. So anybody who's looking, you can always go there and get it. And I just appreciate you coming on to talk about a branding shoot lifestyle shoots, why they're necessary, what they are, how they differ from headshots and so much great information. It was just really such a fun day, it was, it was a lot of fun. And you know, one last thing I want to say is, I think it's amazing how God doesn't waste anything. And so when you look at your accounting background that helps you understand corporate, when you look at photography that helped you understand corporate, when you look at all those things, and then you started working with other people and then found joy and interiors, it really is a combination of all the work that you had done before. And perhaps if you hadn't done that work, you wouldn't know how much joy This brought you. I know I look at my life the same way starting off in corporate building financial software, moving into doing interiors, and now moving into coaching, consulting, combining the two, you know, 20, something 30 actually almost 30 years of work combined to do what I do today. But I could not do what I do today if I had not had those experiences. Exactly. So it's just a neat thing to see how God is at work in your life. Yes, and bring other things around. So exciting. Absolutely.
Catrina Maxwell 1:01:58
And I'm so glad I'm so thankful for the opportunity to do this podcast with you today. And I'm thankful for the opportunity that you were put in front of me, because I really enjoyed your shoot and pulling out of you what your personal story is, and being able to and you being able to share that with others. And that's what brings me joy to is seeing how those images help you and work for you. And so I'm excited to see that today. You showed me your website and how much change has happened on your website with the images. And I'm just very excited to see what happens from here for you.
Michele 1:02:36
Me too. Thank you for being part of my story now. So we got other chapters, right. So hang on.
Catrina Maxwell 1:02:42
Thank you so much.
Michele 1:02:43
You're welcome. Thanks, Cat.
Catrina Maxwell 1:02:44
All right. Take care
Michele 1:02:45
You too.
Michele 1:02:46
Thanks Cat for joining me on the podcast. I really do love all of the photos you took and I enjoyed working with your team consistency and our branding is so very important starting with our why our values, and then letting that actually show up in the pictures that represent our work and our business. If you're interested in learning how to be very intentional with the business you're creating, check out my masterclass where I teach you to reclaim your time, regain control in your business and make more money. You can find this on my website at www.ScarletThreadConsulting.com choose to invest in your business to create profitability. And remember, profit doesn't happen by accident. Profit is a Choice is proud to be part of the designnetwork.org where you can discover more design media reaching creative listeners. Thanks for listening and stay creative and business minded.