Crystal Clear Podcast

In this episode Crystal is discussing the advantages of working with a Creative Director when planning your photoshoots and why it is important to be aware of the current marketing trends. She breaks down 4 different areas that a Creative Director can help you design a shoot that fits all of your needs. \r\n  \r\n For full show notes head here >> https://crystalclearcreativestudios.com/podcast/\r\n  \r\n Connect with Crystal on IG & go say Hi in the DM’s >> https://www.instagram.com/crystalclear_creativestudios/\r\n

Crystal shares the top two tips she focuses on when creating content and plans for herself and for her clients. She encourages you to slow down and forecast for the month ahead. She also breaks down the ways to be efficient in your forecasting and planning. \r\n  \r\n For full show notes head here >> https://crystalclearcreativestudios.com/podcast/\r\n  \r\n Stile and Co Mats 10% off (add code - CRYSTAL10) >> https://stileandco.com/discount/CRYSTAL10\r\n  \r\n Connect with Crystal on IG & go say Hi in the DM’s >> https://www.instagram.com/crystalclear_creativestudios/\r\n

Kaitlyn Parker of Copy Uncorked joins Crystal on the podcast today to talk about all things copywriting. She chats about the disconnects commonly found in copywriting for a brand and shares with us some tips on writing social media captions. She gives insight into gaining inspiration for your brand and copy and tips on how to stand out from your competitors.    For full show notes head here >> https://crystalclearcreativestudios.com/podcast/   Connect with Crystal on IG & go say Hi in the DM’s >> https://www.instagram.com/crystalclear_creativestudios/

Crystal is back with part 2 of the Do’s and Don’ts of Product Photography series. If you are looking to DIY your next photoshoot or even looking to outsource the photography this is a great do and don’t list of things that you should do yourself or be looking for when looking for someone to outsource to. This is for those looking to take their product photos to the next level - either at home or by outsourcing to someone else.  Grab your copy of the Creative Director Secrets here >> https://bit.ly/planyourproductshoot For full show notes head here >> https://crystalclearcreativestudios.com/podcast/ Connect with Crystal on IG & go say Hi in the DM’s >> https://www.instagram.com/crystalclear_creativestudios/

Bethany from Stile and Co. joins Crystal on the podcast to chat about the importance of good backdrops when you are photographing products and food. Crystal and Bethany chat about the current photo trends they are seeing and the most popular styles of the year. Bethany also shares an exciting new product she is launching that will be a game-changer for photographers!    Interested in the flat lay backdrops mentioned in this episode head over to Stile and Co. >> https://stileandco.com/ Use code CRYSTAL20 for 20% off from March 1st - March 7th If you hear this after March 7th you can still get 10% off with the code CRYSTAL10    For full show notes head here >> https://crystalclearcreativestudios.com/podcast/   Connect with Crystal on IG & go say Hi in the DM’s >> https://www.instagram.com/crystalclear_creativestudios/

Maintaining brand consistency can be difficult for those that enjoy lots of props, different styles, and colors. In this episode, Crystal shares 3 tips on keeping your brand consistent in your product photos. And no, by consistency she doesn’t mean using the same setups and props but instead the ways that you can change things up while maintaining consistency.    For full show notes head here >> https://crystalclearcreativestudios.com/podcast/   Connect with Crystal on IG & go say Hi in the DM’s >> https://www.instagram.com/crystalclear_creativestudios/

Kelsey Chapman joins Crystal on the podcast today. She is an author, podcaster, and personal cheerleader. Kelsey comes on the podcast today to chat about business and mentorship. She debunks a common business myth, her favorite content trend in the new year, and how mentorship can impact your business and life.    For full show notes head here >> https://crystalclearcreativestudios.com/podcast/   Connect with Crystal on IG & go say Hi in the DM’s >> https://www.instagram.com/crystalclear_creativestudios/

Are you looking to DIY your photography? In this episode, Crystal shares with you 5 do’s and 5 don’ts when developing new ideas for your product photography. These tips are perfect for those looking to DIY their photography as Crystal gives you the general rules to product photography.    For full show notes head here >> https://crystalclearcreativestudios.com/podcast/   Connect with Crystal on IG & go say Hi in the DM’s >> https://www.instagram.com/crystalclear_creativestudios/

As a creative director Crystal shares her secrets on gathering inspiration for photos and using it to create something unique that will attract your ideal customer. Tune in this week to hear her top tips on creating unique product photos that will help your ideal customers stop their scroll and absorb what you are promoting.   For full show notes head here >> https://crystalclearcreativestudios.com/podcast/   Connect with Crystal on IG & go say Hi in the DM’s >> https://www.instagram.com/crystalclear_creativestudios/

New year, new marketing trends? In this episode, Crystal shares her top 4 marketing trends for 2021. Crystal gives a brief overview of each trend she is seeing and different ways that you can incorporate these trends into your marketing strategy in the new year.    For full show notes head here >> https://crystalclearcreativestudios.com/podcast/   Connect with Crystal on IG & go say Hi in the DM’s >> https://www.instagram.com/crystalclear_creativestudios/

Are you looking to create more content in the New Year? In this episode, Crystal spills her secrets on making the most of your photoshoots so that you can amplify the time you are spending in shoots and create more content for your business.    For full show notes head here >> https://crystalclearcreativestudios.com/podcast/ Connect with Crystal on IG & go say Hi in the DM’s >> https://www.instagram.com/crystalclear_creativestudios/

As I reflect on 2020 I share some of the top lessons that I learned during the year. 2020 was a year with a lot of negativity but the year also brought a lot of really good things like clarity, direction, and simplifying areas of life and business.  I think going back and looking at a few takeaways from the year and what came of it really helps to put things into perspective for where I plan to go in 2021.  Things I learned this year…  I learned to listen to myself. I had a lot of time for reflection and time spent in the unknown so it forced me to look at the things I can control. Sometimes we get so caught up in all the things that other people are doing that we forget to stop and ask ourselves “Is this something that I like or want to be doing?”. When everyone around us is launching something new and exciting it is easy to feel like we need to be doing that also. But, what I realized in 2020 is that I needed to slow down and really evaluate what it was that I wasn’t for myself and for my business. Ultimately, this is your life and all you have is the family and friends closest to you so do the things that make you truly happy. For me, that was doing less and understanding that sometimes less actually is more. I was able to do less of things thing I originally thought to be important and my business still grew.  I focused on my mindset. Mindset is a huge component for business and being successful. If your mind isn’t in the right place it can begin to hinder your growth and your goals. My goal in 2020 was to simplify and at the time I didn’t think it would be possible to grow the way I wanted to while also simplifying things. But, being able to pull out of everyone else’s orbit and really hone in on the things that I really wanted and focus less on the things I thought others wanted of me. My goal was to gain more clients, but I didn’t want just any clients. I wanted ones that would work with me consistently and grow through and with me. One of the best things I was able to do at the end of the year was an audit of my business. I was able to see that through simplifying I was still able to get the clients I desired and reach my goals.  I dropped the planning and lived in the now. It wasn’t easy for me. Not having a plan just isn’t something that I regularly do. But, in 2020 pretty much everything that I planned flew out the window which threw me for a loop and forced me to learn how to live in the now and not worry about planning everything. The best part is by doing this and living in the moment it left open the freedom I was seeking to step away from social media, the computer and take the time off. During my end of the year audit, I was able to see that my business grew 30% last year. I was able to reach my goals by controlling less than I usually would. I learned that spending less time on social media didn’t crush my business. This is so tricky and can feel scary. But, I dropped off. I reduced the time I spent on social media and the content I was putting out. I pulled back and was able to focus on the things I wanted the most and then go pursue those dreams.  I was able to explore my creativity in ways I hadn’t done before. I began to dip my toes into video and the different ways video can be used in business. Which lead me to being able to offer more and deepen the relationships that I already have.  What can you take away from 2020? Have you stopped to evaluate and audit your business or are you throwing it in the trash and moving on?  Let me know, I would love to see if this insight from my year might have helped you realize some of the positive things you might have experienced too!

As I reflect on 2020 I share some of the top lessons that I learned during the year. 2020 was a year with a lot of negativity but the year also brought a lot of really good things like clarity, direction, and simplifying areas of life and business.  I think going back and looking at a few takeaways from the year and what came of it really helps to put things into perspective for where I plan to go in 2021.  Things I learned this year…  I learned to listen to myself. I had a lot of time for reflection and time spent in the unknown so it forced me to look at the things I can control. Sometimes we get so caught up in all the things that other people are doing that we forget to stop and ask ourselves “Is this something that I like or want to be doing?”. When everyone around us is launching something new and exciting it is easy to feel like we need to be doing that also. But, what I realized in 2020 is that I needed to slow down and really evaluate what it was that I wasn’t for myself and for my business. Ultimately, this is your life and all you have is the family and friends closest to you so do the things that make you truly happy. For me, that was doing less and understanding that sometimes less actually is more. I was able to do less of things thing I originally thought to be important and my business still grew.  I focused on my mindset. Mindset is a huge component for business and being successful. If your mind isn’t in the right place it can begin to hinder your growth and your goals. My goal in 2020 was to simplify and at the time I didn’t think it would be possible to grow the way I wanted to while also simplifying things. But, being able to pull out of everyone else’s orbit and really hone in on the things that I really wanted and focus less on the things I thought others wanted of me. My goal was to gain more clients, but I didn’t want just any clients. I wanted ones that would work with me consistently and grow through and with me. One of the best things I was able to do at the end of the year was an audit of my business. I was able to see that through simplifying I was still able to get the clients I desired and reach my goals.  I dropped the planning and lived in the now. It wasn’t easy for me. Not having a plan just isn’t something that I regularly do. But, in 2020 pretty much everything that I planned flew out the window which threw me for a loop and forced me to learn how to live in the now and not worry about planning everything. The best part is by doing this and living in the moment it left open the freedom I was seeking to step away from social media, the computer and take the time off. During my end of the year audit, I was able to see that my business grew 30% last year. I was able to reach my goals by controlling less than I usually would. I learned that spending less time on social media didn’t crush my business. This is so tricky and can feel scary. But, I dropped off. I reduced the time I spent on social media and the content I was putting out. I pulled back and was able to focus on the things I wanted the most and then go pursue those dreams.  I was able to explore my creativity in ways I hadn’t done before. I began to dip my toes into video and the different ways video can be used in business. Which lead me to being able to offer more and deepen the relationships that I already have.  What can you take away from 2020? Have you stopped to evaluate and audit your business or are you throwing it in the trash and moving on?  Let me know, I would love to see if this insight from my year might have helped you realize some of the positive things you might have experienced too!

Launching a business is tough but taking your business from in-store to online with a small audience can be even tougher. Where do you start, how do you market but most importantly what images would you need to get going? On today's episode I dove in to 3 types of images that you want to consider for your product if you're planning to launch anything new here in 2021!   Here are the 3 types of photos:   Catalog on White Backdrops This serves a double purpose: Not only do they create a clean look on your storefront, but they also are becoming a requirement for almost all wholesalers (even companies like Amazon). Depending on where you plan to aim your initial marketing efforts these images are key to starting your business.   Lifestyle with Models These styles of photos have taken off this year. Having a model is a must have to take your business to new heights and to compete in what has become a HUGE market (thanks to Covid). Lifestyle Models provide the opportunity to reflect the diversity in your business. In addition to this, models allow for the chance to tie emotion to your ads that help your ICA connect to the transformation your product provides.   Texture & Ingredients This is my FAV! Another amazing trend from the last 6 months has been detailing the product texture and product  ingredients. With more and more brands leaning on organic and natural ingredients they want to show it off too. Embellishing on the texture helps connect the "feeling" factor to the product; presenting the ingredients as things they can recognize establishes trust in the product.   Fight off the overwhelm with direction. A Creative Director, like myself, focuses on helping map out your photoshoot to achieve your desired images, brand recognition and most importantly impact on your ideal client. Ready to invest in product photography? Let's chat! I offer, in fact, I insist on a free consult call to discuss your brand, what images you may need and design photoshoot options that works best for your business.  

We all make mistakes, and (hopefully) learn from them. Sometimes these mistakes can be avoided if we take the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of others!   Here are four common mistakes to avoid in your business:  You’re doing “all the things,” but none of them well. As the old adage goes,”A Jack of All Trades is a Master of None.” Instead of spreading yourself thin, find your focal point. You’re not marketing enough times to get your audience to buy in and pay attention. Unfortunately, in this day and age, people tend to have shorter attention spans - but by making your product, and business, more visible in your marketing, you increase the opportunity to obtain their attention. Chasing the “next best thing” - in other words, trying to provide an additional service or build a membership instead of honing in and perfecting your current service and offer(s). Instead, take in customer and professional feedback, elaborate on your current offer(s) and find a way to make a better package. Don’t split time trying to create something else; focus first on your initial product. Becoming paralyzed and lost in your sense of direction. Lack of goals or clarity around your offer(s) and product can cause this.Take the time to brainstorm and really solidify your intent with your product.   Check out the Freebies Vault! Use some of these tools to aid in solving and learning more about avoiding these mistakes: 90 Day Goals Time Management to get back control of Productivity Develop your Creative Sales Rhythm Offer That Sells - going back to the drawing board to fine-tune things and recenter with the core of what you want to do

This episode is not to debunk one source of lighting over the other but rather to talk about the difference in the two. My background is in natural lighting. Its the main source for all of my photography since I started my business. However, in the last year I have found many uses in studio professional lighting.   So to dive right on in... the true difference in studio lighting and natural lighting is control.   With studio lighting, the whites are whiter, in other words providing a crisp and more actual depiction of the colors. The shadows can be more direct and controlled in a professional setting. Though they can also appear a bit more harsh unless your light is balanced. The best part is getting to add or take away the lighting, shadows and drama in your images. Lastly, the clarity and focus is infinitely better and reflected in the end result.   So why might a photographer still choose natural light over professional lighting? The natural lighting provides a realness and softer appeal that the studio lighting lacks. There’s a better, intrinsic balance without shadow. As a photographer myself, I like the option of having the option to backlight my images and add an element of overexposure where needed. The natural lighting can also provide a warmer tone. I’ve also found in my work, that models’ skin tone, in natural light, to show more true because of that warmer tone from the sun.   The past few months I've really enjoyed mixing my lighting sources and options to fit each clients brand even better. So, tell me, are you a natural light kind of gal or is something more dramatic ideal for your brand?   Take a screenshot and share with me on Instagram as I dive in to more tips and behind the scenes of my product photography.

Outsourcing is a common and often used tool  in the small business community. Generally, it starts with the need and desire to show up everywhere. In your ambition, you want to do all the things, all the time and in all the right places. Thus begins the pull to hire people to help, so that you don’t burn yourself out.   How do you avoid the spiral into an outright burnout, but also avoid outsourcing too soon? Find your healthy balance! Its going to be a different path for every business owner and every type of business but you can almost always count on finding your balance and feedback by getting some insight from other Creative Business Owners like yourself.   Start by marrying yourself to one source of marketing to get the ball rolling. Then repurpose that; let it grow. Nothing in business happens fast if you don't already have an established audience. It's not always desirable but is the best way to keep your budget under control if your income and profit aren’t yet consistent.   At the end of the day don't rush yourself into thinking outsourcing is the thing you need right now! If you're in the first few years of business it may not really be an option. Instead, look at one-time projects, collaborations, and one focal point for your marketing until you get the traction and growth.   Need more direction and guidance? I challenge you to join The Creative Boss Society and see if you don't gain the direction, strategy and step by step guidance to grow your business.

The WHO to your business is the biggest center focus for any marketing you may do now or in the future. I commonly throw out the term ICA which stands for Ideal Client Avatar.   Just in case you're not familiar with the term here ya go! Your Ideal Client Avatar is the person you’re targeting when you’re advertising your product. When connecting with your ideal client visually, like through photography, think transformation: How can I show my ideal client that my product will provide the satisfactory difference they’re seeking?   So, how does that translate to your photography? Simple, that transformation (end goal) is your focus in the photoshoot.   Determine the transformation and how it relates to the client by showing them where they want to be! And here are a few examples I go over in this episode to help you get down the idea:   For example: Clothing Products - the ICA is almost always looking for a lifestyle and will relate to wanting to be like, look like, and/or live the lifestyle you portray that fits that clothing style.  Skincare Products - the ICA is almost always looking for textures. It's not just about the look of the skin, but the "feel" that comes with it. So portraying different textures, whether of the product or the props used, are key to displaying the transformation. Jewelry - the ICA is almost always looking for emotion: the doting husband buying a stunning ring or necklace to celebrate an anniversary; an inherited family heirloom being passed to the next generation. The transformation is in how it makes your targeted client feel.  Digital Courses - the ICA is almost always looking for a transformation within themselves and fine tuning a specific skill or working on a specific goal. A common, often sought out goal is growing in social media presence; in this provide a specifically defined end result to be expected, i.e. grow by XX number of followers. DIY Digital Products - ICA is almost always looking for an outsourcing option without breaking the budget; seeking opportunities like purchasing templates to create great looking graphics without the pricey cost that comes with custom-to-brand  or someone else creating it for them Need more help with your product photography? My main role as the Creative Director is to help your business by developing the ideas and concepts that tie your images to that ICA's transformation in a way that helps you increase your sales, visual consistency and grow your audience. Click here for a free consult to see how I can help you!

To niche or not to niche is the question up for debate. So I decided it was time we talked about it. Niching isn’t always what you think. It’s so taboo and it can sometimes feel like it’s impossible to niche your business or even figure out how to niche in the first place. Everyone is afraid of alienating people or potentially turning business away and no one wants that. So let’s talk about the different ways that you can niche so that you AREN’T alienating people or turning away potential business but instead GROWING your business.    Niche by talking to a particular audience. Who do you notice the majority of your audience is? Are you talking to creative bosses? Product-based businesses? Maybe fitness gurus, mom, the knitting community, dog lovers, etc? I think you get my point! Start by knowing who you are talking to and what space they are in.    Niche by services offered. Maybe you have a broad audience so it’s hard to find a specific audience you are talking to. A different way to niche is by the services you are offering. Photography for example. You can niche in product photography, portrait photography, family photography, brand photography, wedding photography, etc. I could keep going but I think you get the point. Maybe you are a graphic designer who only does social media posts or you offer illustrations for hire. Or maybe a digital product shop. All of these examples are niched by the service that they offer not the audience they are speaking to.    Niche by industry. This is a similar, but still different, way to niche your audience. When you niche by industry look at who you are serving. Maybe your focus is helping product bosses with their physical products or helping moms of teens. Developing products for teachers or even more specifically offering digital support tools for SLP teachers.    When you niche down you are essentially just looking to find the person or service you enjoy the most and then speaking to them specifically in order to help grow your business.    Let’s look at the pros and cons of niching down in business.    Pros:  -> Getting really specific on the person you are working with -> Become and be seen as an expert in your area quicker and more easily -> Dial in on what problems you can solve -> Dial in on your offerings and area of expertise Cons:  -> You can limit your ability to grow out of or beyond what you are doing -> You can be so dialed in or niched that you can’t really make a living from it -> You have to look at your growth as a long game verse a short game because it can sometimes take a bit more time to find your people and have your audience grow   This is just one of the many things I can help you work through inside The Creative Boss Society. Inside of The Creative Boss Society Membership, I help you figure out who your audience is, how to market to them, and how to ultimately convert them to paying customers. Head on over and check it out. Can’t wait to see you on the inside.    New to business and not sure you are ready to dive into a membership just yet? Check out my freebie vault where I give you resources to get you started. 

Not sure when the right time to hire a professional photographer for your products might be? Confused about why it might be time to outsource to a photographer? Today I am diving into this headfirst. I am sharing my top two (& most important) reasons your products need a professional photographer.    My first reason for hiring a professional photographer for your product photography is when you are ramping up sales and getting ready to market your products. You have the marketing strategy in place. You have perfected the product, the label and your brand. Maybe you even have a website and some images ready for that. But now you need to ACTUALLY market the product. In order to implement a good marketing strategy you need GOOD images to go along with it and often times you need A LOT of images so that you are able to try different tactics on different platforms. Investing in a professional photographer to asset in your market strategy by providing the images you get a professional touch and eye to help make the strategy be as successful as possible. A professional photographer can help you to bring out the emotion you are wanting your ideal customer to feel when they see or interact with your product online.    Bonus tip: Your business is going to get busier as those market strategies start to convert therefore you are going to have less time on your hands to perfect the images you need to continue marketing at a high level. Let a photographer take that piece off of your hands allowing you to focus more on nurturing all of the new leads you have brought in.    Hiring someone to help you with your marketing strategies and aesthetics allows you to have a proactive eye on your business instead of a reactive eye.    The second reason is product photography for a product launch. Hiring someone to help you with the photography for a new products allows you to get the detailed and special images you need that will allow your new product to stand out and become the center piece of your business. This will help you to have the images you need to get your new product on your website, implemented into your marketing strategies, sent to influencers to help with promotion etc. Hiring someone to come in for a product launch, especially when you’ve had someone help you professionally previously, allows for you to blend your new product into your current products while also allowing the new product to stand out and draw in new customers.    Speaking from experience, having someone on your team that is your go-to product photographer allows you to create a cohesive and smooth brand image across the board. Your photographer will be able to help you get the images, videos, and re-freshes you need with confidence. This is something that I specialize in - helping you coordinate the visuals you need for to create a successful marketing strategy to use on repeat. Head over to Instagram and shoot me a DM. I’d love to chat with you about all the ways a professional photographer can help you in your business.