September 16th – 30th
Business Information:
Name
Kamil Jania
Name of business
Kamil Jania Boudoir
Location of business
Lublin, Poland
Website
Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest/Twitter
https://www.facebook.com/KamilJaniaBoudoir/
https://www.instagram.com/kamiljania.boudoir/
Technical Specs:
Camera used
Panasonic LUMIX G9
Lens choices
Sigma C 30 mm f/1.4 DC DN
Sigma C 16mm f/1.4 DC DN
Processing Software (just provide the names of the one’s you use)
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Lightroom
Do you use any actions?
No
Do you retouch and if so can you give me a quick rundown on if you use any plugins, etc.?
Yes. Basic white balance some exposure on face, shadows down, sometimes highlights down or up, remove blemishes and simple skin smoothing in Lightroom via texture slider.
CLIENTS:
What most people want to know is how you market to your clients. Have you qualified who your is your ideal client?
I’m on beginning so marketing everywhere where I can, hired SEO company for Google also running Google ads campaign, also have 2-3 Facebook ads running continuously. I have VIP Facebook group, also trying my best in networking with local wax salons, and cosmetic salons. Word of mouth is working too because so far I have 100% of satisfied clients. But in Poland, Boudoir is not very popular and people don’t seek for it and don’t know what it is. Right now I don’t know who my ideal client is and need to gather more data from sales, etc.
Do you have a “welcome” product you give the clients?
Not product, but in my pre-session questionnaire I’m asking about favorite chocolate/sweets and when they come to my studio this thing is awaiting them. ????
SALES:
How do you sell to your clients? Can you provide info on your sales process and your pricing? Can you provide numbers on what you charge for a session and what products you offer?
I’m selling through IPS (in-person sales), my session fee is 495 PLN (including hair and make-up) and my products start from 150 PLN for smallest metal print, as for albums they range from 195 PLN to 2,295 PLN. I also offer digitals for 60-20 PLN each, depending on amount bought. It’s very versatile because IPS is rare in Poland and I want to see what people will choose to make a more targeted pricing list.
If you have a PDF or a copy to your price list you don’t mind sharing, that would be great.
https://spark.adobe.com/page/w9VVsw0E7iOWy/ – but it’s in Polish so…
What products perform best in your studio?
From number of sales – Albums, but money wise – Digitals
STUDIO:
Best describe your workspace. Do you have a studio or work from home? How large is your space? What are the challenges with it? What works really well for you?
I work in studio, its office space redesigned by me to look like home. There are 4 areas in it – bedroom, living room, dayroom and fake shower set. Everything is easily movable and the space is easy to rearrange. It’s 24 square meters big.
Do you have any plans to change and/or grow from your space in the near future.
As I was designing the studio for the first time, I made a lot of mistakes, and yes, already have plans to change sofa color to something honey/mustard and remove overboard or cover it with some nice tapestry. I also already ordered 2 sets of silk sheets in dark blue and golden color. There is a lot of soft natural light which looks great.
Do you keep strict hours of operation with your clients?
No I’m very versatile. I usually work on weekends or workday afternoons.
Natural Light, Studio Light, combination of styles? What’s your preference? What are your strengths and weaknesses with lighting, if any?
Most of the time natural light. I have huge windows on one wall of my studio, but for fake shower, I’m using 50 cm LED ring light. My biggest weakness for now is mixing Studio Light with Natural Light to sometimes fill shadows on the face, etc. Getting white balance match is a real struggle.
Do you have makeup artists you work with in your studio? If so, can you give me a run down of what the rate is you pay them and how you feel about the importance of that relationship. If you don’t use them, is there a reason?
Yes I have. Right now I work with 3 teams of HMUA’s and they are very very important as the last person who my clients talk to before session, and they can calm down nerves and make Her more comfortable and add some courage.
Do you play music during sessions, and if so, what are some tracks on your playlist? Do you ask clients what music they like and if they would like certain music during their session?
Yes, in my pre-session questionnaire I ask about favorite music, and this type of music is playing when they enter studio and through whole session.
BUSINESS IN GENERAL:
How long have you been in business? What were you doing before you started your photo business?
I’ve been doing Boudoir since January and officially opened my business in June. In August, I rented my studio space, so I’m in the very beginning of my business. I’m still working my day job in accredited testing laboratory.
Did you go to school for photography or are you self taught?
I’m self taught. Almost everything I know is from Ephotozine’s critique team and trial and error.
Did you always want to be a photographer or was it something that came later in life?
It came later in life. I bought my very first camera about 2.5 year ago… Would never believe that I will be doing this in my life.
What is your biggest struggle in this business?
I think it’s that society is very conservative and critical against women who decided to do photo shoot. People will not share their pictures or even tell anyone how it changed their lives and how wonderful this experience was, and this makes marketing and getting a stable flow of clients very hard for me. Also I’m male so that doesn’t help either.
Is there a reason you shoot boudoir and do you shoot any other genre? If you’re exclusive, and/or recently went exclusive, can you give the readers some insight into why you did? If you’ve only ever done boudoir, again we’d love to hear why.
I’m exclusively Boudoir photographer from the beginning of my business, there is not a lot of Boudoir photographers in distance of about 100 km from where I live, and most of them also do other genres. I think that specializing and being exclusive for Boudoir can convince potential clients.
ADVICE:
If you knew someone who wanted to be a photographer, and could give them one piece of important advice, what would that be?
Hmm… when buying gear, look for something cheap and from second hand, buy more expensive when you find what type of photos gives you most joy. Also, take as many photos as you can and take more care about connecting with your models than technique/gear.
Have you ever done a boudoir session yourself? Do you think it’s something that is important for boudoir photographers to do?
I haven’t but I want to. I think it’s very important to know and feel what your client is feeling and this can only improve you as a boudoir photographer.
How do you feel about the male / female debate regarding boudoir photographers?
It’s important to have choice. If a client is more comfortable with female or male let her/him choose. If someone is really professional in what he’s/she’s doing, there will be no difference for client.
What do you do to avoid burn-out? Is there ever a time when you just want to throw your camera out the window?
I’m still in the beginning, still learning, but at every session I’m always trying to try something new and look for what can be improved on from previous shoots to make it better next time.
What do you love about the business?
Client reactions for photos, and their testimonials, or what they say just after their session that’s beautiful and addictive.
What do you hate about the business?
For now really nothing. Quite a lack of clients, but there’s nothing to hate, just work harder!
Are you a member of any professional photo organizations like PPA, WPPI? What benefit do you feel you get by being a member?
Nope
Do you compete and do you have any opinions on it? AIBP runs contests regularly. Do you participate? If not, is there a reason you don’t?
Yes I do, with some smaller and bigger successes. This motivates and sometimes forces for creativity (monthly award, but it’s absent lately ☹). Also it’s a great subject to put on social media and see more interest and trust from potential clients.
SOME FUN, MORE PERSONAL STUFF:
Favorite food?
Pierogi!
One guilty pleasure in life?
Any kind of Belgian chocolate
What is your favorite piece of clothing?
shirt
What’s one song on your playlist?
Eminem – Lose Yourself
Favorite shoes to wear?
Flip-flops
Are you married, single, have kids, husband? Is life a juggling act for you?
I’m married
