Coaching

Laura & Steven–Coaching Session Models

Mar 03 2016 Leave a Comment

These two lovelies just recently graced my blog with their amazing New Year’s Eve Wedding! Now you get to see them again because they modeled for my latest Coaching Session!

Laura and Steven were totally ok with only night shots for their wedding portraits, but because it was so cold, their guests were waiting, and we were moving around downtown with multiple flash stands…I just wasn’t able to move as quick as I normally would with my couples. I was afraid Laura & Steven wouldn’t get as many bride and groom portraits as most clients do. But actually, they did! Because they braved the cold and they rocked it! But just in case they didn’t, I asked if they would be up for modeling for me in their wedding attire for some day time photos. It was a win-win for both of us! Laura jumped at the opportunity! What bride wouldn’t want to get back into her dress and be a bride again?!?

Check out a few of my faves from the hands on posing/shooting portion of the coaching session! Laura & Steven…thanks for braving the cold again and being so gorgeous!

Coaching Session–Jeanette

Feb 29 2016 1 Comment

In August of 2014, I received a message from Jeanette expressing some interest in a coaching session. Since wedding season was about to pick up for the fall, I let her know I wasn’t offering any at the time but I would email her when I did. Twenty days later, we found out we had been chosen by a birth mother and our baby girl was due in 2 months! Although I love coaching, it got put on the back burner for a while since I became a new mom!

I decided to offer them again in February and I remembered Jeanette! It had been a while, but I emailed her anyway. She emailed back immediately wanting to claim a date! Since her grandson was about to be born, we decided on late February.

Due to everyone in my family having the stomach bug, I met Jeanette at Wild Mountain Bakery (instead of my house) in Murray Saturday morning. We talked about life, kids, marriage, and business. She simply started out photographing her grand babies…she has 9 of them! As time went on, she fell in love with photography and started her business. We spent time setting some goals for this year so she can continue to grow her business with clients in the areas she’d most like to photograph.

Since Jeanette has never been on Murray State’s campus, I took her there for her headshots. It was a little cold, but she braved through it with me! Enjoy some of my favorites of beautiful Jeanette!

Carolina & Ethan

Feb 25 2016 Leave a Comment

My favorite part of my coaching sessions is the last part of the day when we meet with up a couple to go over posing and shooting techniques. I always choose a past or current MLP couple to model for us and it’s so much fun! They have already been in front of my camera and they’re use to the way I pose so they’re pretty comfortable! Plus, they get more engagement or wedding style photos, which they’re always up for!

When it was time to plan for my coaching session with Megg, I emailed Carolina. Her engagement session with Ethan was adorable last fall. They were relaxed and so fun! I knew they’d be up for posing for Megg and I. And like I already knew…they were rockstars!

Carolina & Ethan are getting married in April and I’m SO looking forward to their big day! Be sure to look out for their early spring wedding!

Coaching Session — Megg

Feb 23 2016 Leave a Comment

I first met Megg through Instagram. We began following one another and after a few weeks we finally got to meet in person! Megg attended our Pursuit Paducah group, which is a local group for creative entrepreneur women. She was talking about wanting to do a coaching/mentor session with a wedding photographer and I said, “I offer coaching sessions!” We talked more about it and by the next day she emailed me to say she was in!

Megg is really excited and eager to grow her business as a wedding photographer! We talked all day long about the things that come along with running a wedding photography business. I just love her personality and her ambition. We talked about workflow, timelines, client management, goal setting, vision planning, etc for most of the day! We enjoyed a yummy lunch at Jasmine’s, the Thai restaurant in Murray, and then set out for some head shots of Megg. She was a bit camera shy, but I think these pictures truly show her sweet personality! We ended the day with one of my couple’s, Ethan & Carolina, for a live shoot where I posed and photographed them while Megg observed.

It was such a fun day and I absolutely CAN’T wait to watch her journey! She has weddings booked this year and she will be second shooting with me too! Her work is already so great so I am excited to keep growing! Megg–thanks for spending the day with me! I am truly enjoying getting to know you!

Matt & Brooke

Sep 04 2015 Leave a Comment

You may remember these two from their gorgeous wedding last May! I have thoroughly enjoyed photographing them for their wedding journey, so when I needed a couple to model for my recent coaching session, I immediately thought of Brooke and Matt. To no surprise, she jumped at the opportunity to have more pictures taken of her and her Matty. They are CRAZY about one another and completely naturals in front of the camera. The best part is, they enjoy doing it and most of the time they know what I’m about to tell them to do before I even say it!

During the coaching session with Jennifer (see yesterday’s post), I explained the 4 core poses I use and how I expand on that as the shoot progresses. As I shot, I gave tips and tricks for getting them comfortable and relaxed and how I move from one thing to another. Then it was finally Jennifer’s turn! She got the chance to pose them and shoot as well! I don’t know about coaching session attendees, but this is my favorite part of the day! I love watching all the things we’ve discussed throughout the day finally get put to action! Hands on learning is the best!

Jennifer

Sep 03 2015 Leave a Comment

Last year I started something that I wasn’t sure would take off in our area. But I felt God leading me and my business that direction, so I followed. I began offering coaching sessions—a whole day of one on one teaching, encouraging, goal setting and practicing with another photographer. God made it clear to me that my business wasn’t just for me, but it was a great tool to mentor and cheer others on too! Community over competition, right?!

I really enjoyed doing coaching sessions in my non wedding season months. Then I became a mom and time just disappeared! (funny how that happens 😉 ) But this summer, I finally had the opportunity to do another one!

I actually met Jennifer when I was shooting my good friend Rachael’s birth. She was one of Rachael’s nurses that day and she began asking me some questions and asked if I offered workshops or coaching sessions. I said “I’m a new mom, but hopefully I’ll get back to them soon!” So, when the time came around and I decided to do some in July, Jennifer immediately signed up for one!

We had a blast talking, eating, talking more, and shooting together! Her business is really growing! Check out her Facebook page here. Enjoy some of my faves from her head shots we did during her session!

Abby & Jonathan

May 21 2014 1 Comment

I just love these two! I enjoyed their engagement session back in October and emailed them to ask if they would be willing to model for me during my coaching session with Anne. I always try to ask one of my couples to help me out with this because they’re already use to how I do things. Abby was planning to take a summer class and they weren’t going to be able to make it, but then she emailed back to say they could. Hooray!

They’re super cute and they we’re so excited to have some summer-y pics since their engagements were done in the fall. Plus, they were a huge help to me as I showed Anne posing techniques. I can’t wait for their wedding in August!

Anne

May 19 2014 Leave a Comment

I’m really excited to introduce you to Anne! I didn’t know her until last week, when she did a coaching session with me. I first heard from Anne after doing my first rounds of coaching sessions in February. She emailed me saying she thought it would be the perfect thing for herself and her business. I’m so glad she did because I really enjoyed my time with her! She has such a sweet and calming spirit and in just a few hours with her, I could tell she is a good wife, mom, and friend.

She runs her business on the side since she works as a nurse during the week. She is a great photographer and her work is fantastic! We set some goals for her to begin working towards, one of them being making herself known. She likes to stay behind the camera and not draw attention to herself, so I challenged her to put herself out there a little more! I have learned the importance of helping your clients and followers get to know who you really are (blog post on that later!) so I’m excited to see Anne add some photos of herself and start a blog!

Here are some of my favorites from her head shots!

IMG_0770-Edit Her dark hair and light eyes are so pretty! IMG_0763-Edit IMG_0773-Edit Isn’t she gorgeous?! IMG_0777-Edit Anne–Thank you for coming to spend the day with me! I can’t wait to see what happens with your business over the next few months!

Ben & Brittney

Mar 13 2014 1 Comment

I could shoot bride and grooms all day! Seriously…the bride and groom portrait time is my favorite part of the wedding day. I love the excitement, the emotions, the love between the two of them. What was fun about this shoot for my coaching session was Ben & Brittney made it feel like it was really their wedding day. They’ve been married for a little over a year and a half but still act like newlyweds. Their love for one another radiates.

They volunteered to model for Emily’s coaching session. Although it was super cold and windy, they were total troopers! They have never been in front of my camera together, but they did awesome as I posed them and taught Emily along the way. (Even though she rocked the posing…she didn’t need me!) Here are a few of my favorites!

Brittney, you’re beautiful!

LOVE!

Ben & Brittney–thank you so much for modeling for us! You two are so great and I love your love for one another.

New Coaching Dates

Mar 11 2014 Leave a Comment

Coaching Session Coming Soon When I started my business, I was pretty much on my own. I had a lot of friends and family cheering me on and encouraging me along the way, but I didn’t really have anyone teaching or coaching me. I spent a lot of time reading online, watching videos, making my friends model for me…a lot of trial and error. I figured most things out by myself. To be honest, my business took off pretty quickly and God blessed me tremendously.

A few years later, I came across some photographers that were so open about what they’ve learned in the business and were very willing to share what was working for them. I was thankful to find community with people that shared the same passion as me, even though some of these photographers I hadn’t even met. I didn’t feel like I was doing it alone anymore!

Towards the end of 2013, I began praying about the next step in my business. The word “coaching” just kept coming back. Even when I pushed it away and told God I wasn’t capable, He kept putting the word in my heart. I realized that the next step for my business was community. Why keep “the tricks of the trade” to myself?! Why do this on my own? Why see other photographers as competitors instead of friends? I’m ready to spend time with people… invest in them, encourage them, walk with them, cheer for them, coach them.

So, last month, I did two coaching sessions. You may have already seen them on the blog, but I thought I would take time to fill you in on what these coaching sessions are all about!

Here’s the deal:

9:00am-1:00pm– Office Q&A time–> Bring a list of questions and we will spend time chatting about absolutely anything you want! We have plenty of time to cover business organization, editing, social media, equipment, software, workflow, etc and a website/blog/Facebook critique is included. We will also spend time setting some new goals for your business!

1:00pm-2:00pm-Lunch somewhere delicious, on me!

2:00pm-3:00pm– Head shots of you for your business with a little bit of teaching while I shoot

3:00pm-4:00pm– Shoot with live models to practice shooting, posing, and composition techniques

$450

Check out what Emily & Michelle said about it:

“I truly enjoyed my coaching session with Makenzie. Being able to learn from such an amazing photographer is a great opportunity. I learned new posing techniques, tricks with our software and even new software that will help make my business run more smoothly. I feel you can never learn enough in this business and having another photographer review your work and suggest tips is great!!! If your wanting to grow in your business I would suggest a coaching session with her!”-Michelle

“My coaching with Makenzie was everything I hoped it would be! Ever since I began my business in 2010, Makenzie has always been willing to lend her advice, but I never thought I would have the opportunity to learn from her in this way! Being able to ask countless questions and doing a photo session alongside such an accomplished photographer was invaluable. She touched my heart with words of encouragement and challenged me to set goals for my future. I already feel as though I have grown as a photographer and businesswoman. You will not regret booking a coaching session with Makenzie Lynn Photography!” -Emily