The MCP Process

Welcome to MCP! This post is all about the process from inquiry to delivery. I want you to have every detail so there is no questioning what stage your session is at! There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes (and is factored into pricing) and I want to lay it ALL out!

It all starts with an inquiry! Whether that is a referral, a DM, or a website submission, every session starts the same way. You sharing your needs with me in order to gather all of the needed information to move forward with a session. Then both parties decide whether or not we are a good match (that could mean pricing, location, timeline... etc.) and head to the next step of the MCP Process. During the inquiry stage, I will usually ask you how long of a session you are hoping for and describe the benefits of each session length I offer. I will usually suggest a certain time frame based on the session style you are going for but it is always ultimately up to you to decide what is right for you! Clients either come to me with a location in mind or ask for recs (which I am so so happy to give!!) and we get to decide on the perfect location and time to have your shoot. Some clients come with a full vision and Pinterest board and others come looking to me for that vision, either one is doable and we will plan out our session to meet whatever needs you have.

Once the date, time, and location are decided on (occasionally we leave the date and time TBD for sessions like newborns because they tell US when they are ready), you will receive a booking link from me that states all of the session details, pricing, and contains a contract + questionnaire. The booking link requires a deposit (usually either $50 or $100) to secure the booking with the remainder of the payment being due before the delivery of your gallery. The contract attached protects the client and me from misunderstandings and emergencies with every possible scenario laid out. It states my turnaround time as well as my policy on cancellations. Everything you need to know about our session can be found in the contract and on the booking link.

You will receive a confirmation email from me thanking you for booking and containing my session prep guide which can offer outfit inspiration and will explain the flow of my sessions including delivery time. You are always welcome to chat with me as much as you want before your session (send over outfit options, ask questions about props, etc.), just know that I usually answer all client communication during the weekday business hours and on Saturday mornings. You will receive a reminder email two days out from your session to bring it to the forefront of your attention!

On the date of your session, I am so looking forward to meeting you for the first time or the 7th time and prepping my equipment. It is important that I have fresh, clear SD cards, full camera batteries, and lots of water going into the session! I always plan to get to my sessions at least 10 minutes early to scope the area and prep my session flow exactly. AND so that I can greet you when you arrive!

Once you arrive, we will chat for a bit about the flow and then get right into our session! I always ask if there are certain shots you are hoping to get (no photo will look exactly like an inspo photo but I always love to see your vision!). I will guide and pose you throughout every second of the session so you have no need to worry if you have never shot with a photographer before. I give as much guidance as I see the need for and will be super specific with you when it comes to where to stand and even where to put your hands. We will move through the session and depending on the length of time, we will walk throughout the location and make some quick change stops to allow for outfit changes (and bathroom breaks if needed!). I also love to take a few iPhone photos during our session, if time allows so that you can have a few shots to hold you over until your gallery is delivered. As our session comes to an end, we will get our last few shots and say our goodbyes! Then we head our separate ways and I usually go through all of the photos on my camera because I can’t wait to get editing.

Once it is time to edit the gallery, I sit down (usually with a coffee in hand) and insert my SD card into my computer. I begin going through every. single. photo (between 400-1200 depending on session length) and decide which ones are going to make it to the editing table. I then start editing each and every photo individually making sure it is straightened, the colors are natural, and my style is aligned throughout every photo. This can take on average between 2-4 hours depending on session length which is why I always try to stress that you are not just paying for our session time, you are paying for the full package of my eye and my skill being put into the final product. I always step away whether that is for an hour or 24 hours and then come back to the session with fresh eyes and go through every photo one more time to make sure I am proud of the entire gallery before exporting it. Once it is exporting I usually reach out to you to let you know that the photos are DONE and it is time to send over the remaining payment amount.

When your photos are done exporting, they are uploaded onto my online gallery tool that allows you to download your photos at a professional quality level and also reference the digital gallery for years to come. You can favorite, share, download, and print your photos after you have received your gallery and Pixieset makes it so easy! After you have your photos, our communication is usually over (sad day!) but I am always so happy to see you post your images on your social media and hang them in your homes. One of my favorite parts of this job is hitting “send” to deliver you your gallery but another top moment is seeing what you do with the gallery once it is in your hands.

It is important that my clients understand the process that goes into every single session that I book. No client is more important than the next and no client gets treated any differently. Each client whether it is a 15-minute session or a 2-hour session receives the same attentiveness in the session and in post. Delivering quality memories is my goal and I am grateful for each of you who allows me to do that every day for a LIVING.

If you have any questions about my process, please feel free to reach out! You can shoot me a DM at MadisonCrowleyPhoto on Instagram or at hello@madisoncrowleyphoto.com

Liz & Zach - Atlanta, GA: Downtown Elopement

What an evening!

Running around downtown Atlanta in a wedding dress is too much fun. Enjoy this gallery of this stunning downtown elopement style shoot!

Alissa & Will - Nashville, TN Engagement Session

Oh man, this gallery!

Alissa & Will and I had the most fun running through the fields, chatting about life, and laughing at silly prompts as well as with each other. Engagement sessions where couples trust me to guide them through unfamiliar prompts with laughter and ease are my FAVE. I try to capture movement and authenticity between my couples and Alissa & Will were more than ready to participate.

I wanted to share a glimpse of what an hour-long engagement session is like. We have LOTS of fun, we do lots of walking/adventuring, and there is lots of kissing involved. I aim to get the perfect mix of detailed close-ups and full body images in order to fit any “save the date” needs (or any kind of computer background collage you are looking for…) with your engagement images. For reference, I say hour-long engagement sessions usually return 75 images but Alissa & Will got 290 images back in their gallery… under promise and over deliver ;)

Enjoy some of my favorite selects of this stunning, wild, and beautiful gallery.

Gift Guide: The Photographer

How to Gift a Photography Session This Holiday Season

Hi there! Welcome to Blogmas Day 2! We are jumping right in with this second post. Getting right to the good stuff.

Photography sessions make incredible gifts. Specifically for your girlfriend, wife, Mom, and grandparents. Your girlfriend or wife will literally be OVER THE MOON if you gift her with a photo session. Your Mom and grandparents will be just as thrilled to be a part of one but will also cherish the photos in frames all throughout their home for years to come. The guy in your life could also be thrilled about this gift, especially your Dad. Dad's are complete mush balls (most of the time) when it comes to photos with their kids or grandkids. This is also the perfect gift to give to a couple (maybe they just bought a house? Just had a baby? Need some new photos for the frames in their home?), your daughter or son (do they need new pics with their boo? New headshots? A session with their beloved pet?), or even your parents as a fun activity for them to do together. You could gift a photo session to your boss, your in-laws, your roommate, your sister, you name it. Who doesn't want new photos?!

Now you're thinking, how do I gift a photography session...?! Isn't that so specific? Well sure! The date and location is super-specific. But you can purchase a gift card for the session price and print it and wrap it up in a frame or in an envelope to gift to your loved one and then work out the details later.

Step 1: Contact your favorite photographer (or your wife/girlfriend/mom/boyfriend/husband/dad/etc.'s favorite photographer) and ask if they offer gift certificates. 99% will, and they will have a procedure and process in place to get you through all of the steps in order to put a perfectly unique gift under the tree.

Step 2: Grab a frame or an envelope to print out this gift certificate! Either fold it up with a sweet message in a card or cut it out and place it in a frame that they will get to fill with photos from the shoot. Wrap it up and place it under the tree!

A two-step gift, what could be easier? And, you are helping a small business. We need all the help we can get this year ;) I want to say thank you on behalf of all photographers as you gift sessions this year. It means the absolute world to us. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Another easy way to gift session this holiday season is by sharing our posts! Simply just sharing our posts to your Instagram stories or Facebook feeds helps us tremendously by expanding our circle to your circle.

Have specific questions about giving the gift of a Madison Crowley Photo gift certificate? Message me on my Instagram (@MadisonCrowleyPhoto), submit a form through my contact page on my website, or shoot me an email at hello@madisoncrowleyphoto.com. You can simply copy and paste this message into either:

HELLO! MY NAME IS ____ AND I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE ONE OF YOUR SESSIONS AS A GIFT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. WHAT IS MY NEXT STEP?

After we work out the details, you will be emailed this image (in high-res) to print out. There is a second page with a section to fill out explaining what the details are to the person receiving the gift and an exact message that your loved one can include when they reach out to me to schedule their session.

Give the gift of memories this season, a picture is worth a thousand words and memories are truly priceless.

Have any other questions? You can find me at @MadisonCrowley, @MadisoCrowleyPhoto or shoot me an email at hello@madisoncrowleyphoto. I would be more than happy to walk you through this process or figure out any details you may be wondering about. Let's shoot!!!

Talk to you you tomorrow!
Madison

PS: If you feel so inclined, I would LOVE to hear how you got to this post. Instagram? Facebook? A friend?

PPS: Feel free to share this post!!!

Welcome & Hi: Blogmas Intro

Hi everyone! Welcome to Madison Crowley Photo if it's your first time and welcome back if it's not. I am really excited about starting a new tradition called Blogmas. I am a big YouTube watcher (not maker, I am horrible at video editing. I wish it came naturally to me.) and my favorite YouTubers (Danielle Carolan, Brooke Miccio, Kenzie Elizabeth, Sierra Furtado, Morgan Yates, etc.) do this thing called Vlogmas each year where they post a video every single day up until Christmas. This must take a LOT of work for them, yet I am so intrigued by it and wanted to put my own twist on it by doing it in my own way on my own platforms. I feel like it is a challenge for myself to see if I am capable of writing a post each day (or writing in batches to post on days that I am unavailable). I am curious about how the consistency of posting each day on Vogue & a Latte as well as my Madison Crowley Photo blog will affect engagement. Maybe it will, maybe it won't. Maybe I will be so tired of doing blog posts each day that I won't finish (I hope not though, that would be weak of me!!!). Maybe my engagement will stay the same. Some posts will get more views than others because naturally people are drawn to different topics, but really I am just focused on writing about topics that interest me but benefit you. Two years into photography, I have made mistakes and learned lessons that I want to share but also have a good amount of beginner photography wisdom that I want to share. I also have some wisdom on what it takes to be an influencer (I used to focus mainly on that so I know what it takes to pitch yourself, work out contracts, post before deadlines, etc.), how to social media content plan & schedule, as well as a thing or two about non-toxic beauty, gluten & dairy-free cooking, blogging, and so much more. I've got a lot of topics to write about and I am excited to take you along with me!!!

Here is a littttttle bit about me in case you are new:
+ I live in Atlanta, Georgia with my 6-year-old Yorkie-Poodle named Boston. If COVID didn't exist, I would be in Orange County every other month visiting friends, family, and clients.
+ As of today, I work full-time for myself as a photographer & mentor at Madison Crowley Photo (that's crazy y'all)
+ I have a passion for coffee tbh. I am becoming a coffee connoisseur (not a coffee snob, though) and am newly into matcha. I love fancy drinks. In another life, I would open a boutique coffee shop.
+ I started a fashion blog in 2016 called Forge a Frenzy that has evolved into Vogue & a Latte which is definitely not primarily (or secondary or even tertiary) a fashion blog. At first, I was paralyzed by that as I didn't know who I was or what to write about. Losing that desire and passion scared me for a while until I realized that the beauty of having your own blog is that you get to write about whatever YOU want. People are attracted to who you are. Write authentically.
+ I eat gluten & dairy-free (not by choice).
+ I care a lot about wellness (non-toxic living) because we come into contact with enough chemicals just by leaving our homes, why not manage the chemicals we actually can control?!
+ I have a wonderfully fantastic boyfriend who is supportive and Godly and funny and handsome and an answer to prayer.
+ I love fresh flowers. And green juice. And dainty gold necklaces. And good-smelling oils/lotions. And online shopping, unfortunately.
+ I am a major list girl. If it isn't written down, it's not happening. And that's a fact.

And here are some topics you can get excited about coming up this Blogmas:
+ Your Email Is a Trap
+ How to Start a Blog
+ How to Plan for Your First Photography Session
+ The Only Business That Requires 0 Investment Upfront
+ Everything You Might Be Wondering About Where to Market Yourself
+ Christmas Eve & The Importance of Planning Ahead
+ Launch & Adjust

This post was short, sweet, and to the point. How I approach a lot of things in my life. If you don't have efficiency, what do you have when it comes to your business! Most of these posts are going to be beefed up with tips, tricks, and education so we are starting off with a welcoming invitation to join me on this Blogmas journey. Fingers crossed we make it to the end!

You can follow along in real-time on my Instagram at @MadisonCrowley but until tomorrow, ttyl <3

If you feel so inclined, I would LOVE to hear how you got to this post. Instagram? Facebook? A friend?

3 Beginner Photography Mistakes I Made So You Don't Have To

As a photographer forging her way into the world of lifestyle, portrait, and family sessions galore, there are a lot of mistakes to be made. Lots of bumps in the road!! Thankfully, we recover and learn from them. And thankfully (most) clients are gracious. Whether you are just beginning to toy with the idea of grabbing your dusty camera hidden at the top of your closet or are heading into your 2nd, 3rd, or 4th holiday season as a photographer, here are some mistakes I made so you (hopefully) don't have to!

1. Always Turn On Your Camera BEFORE a Shoot... And Always Bring a Backup

Check your battery, your SD card, and that it actually takes a visible photo!
Storytime: A little over a year ago, I was parking my car and walking up to meet a client at Lido Marina Village. I greeted them with a big smile, chatted for a bit, and then got to shooting. I found the right location and lighting, then set her up with her first set of posing directions and began to click away. As always, I checked my screen to take a look at the photos and lighting and adjust accordingly. I noticed that my screen was black. Yes, you read that right, black. My heart stopped for a second and I panicked. I had to think on my feet and didn't want them to notice anything was wrong yet. So I lifted my camera back up to my eye and began to shoot some more. Still black... I told them I needed to fix the lighting and quickly scoured every setting I could possibly look at. I removed my lens and put it back on. Nothing. At this point I couldn't hide the fact that something was off so I had 2 options: Continue to shoot and pretend everything was good and then say that something happened to the SD card (keep reading for the storytime on THAT subject) or tell them that something was wrong with my camera and that the photos weren't capturing. I went with option #2 as that was the most honest, even though it was harder, and started explaining to them that I had no idea what was up with my camera, that I checked every setting and had no solution for the problem at that exact moment and needed to take my camera to the camera shop. I offered to take some iPhone photos for her so that she at least had a little bit of content from that day and assured them I would send back their deposit as this was completely out of their (and my) control. She and her husband were very gracious even though I could tell they were obviously very disappointed. I assured them that once my camera was fixed, I would reach out to them and offer a discounted session price to make up for this inconvenience. Clients prepare for shoots whether that be a hair appointment, taking off of work, buying a new outfit, or making a drive to the location you are meeting at. It is very important to give value to their time. It turned out that they did not end up wanting to reschedule, which is completely understandable. That was definitely a negative result of a beginner photography mistake! I didn't beat myself up for it, mistakes help us grow and become better, but it was definitely a major lesson for me.

Moral of the story: Had I checked my camera prior, this situation could have been completely avoided. I would have seen that something was off with my camera and simply rescheduled or just started the shoot with my backup camera. Had I had my backup camera, none of this would have happened. I would have simply switched to my other camera, changed over the lens and SD card, and kept the session moving. ALSO, never put your camera in overhead storage on an airplane. 🙃

I now ALWAYS check my camera before leaving the house. Does the shutter close all of the way? Does the image appear on the screen? Do I have enough room on the current SD card living in my camera? How is my battery level? I also never go to a shoot without a fully charged backup camera with a blank SD card inside. I never want to freeze on the spot like that again or lose a client's faith in me!

2. Protect Your SD Card At All Costs

SD cards are like tiny, easily destroyed pieces of gold. Carry them with the utmost respect or they will indeed revolt.
Storytime: I was heading back from a super creative and fun shoot with a client who I had shot with one time prior. A blogger whom I LOVE and got to capture lifestyle shots for (Hey Nikki!). I had other shoots to edit before I got to hers so once I got home I stuck my SD card into my computer and booted up good ol' Adobe Lightroom! I got distracted and started doing other things... for days. Meanwhile, toting my camera around with me. In my workbag. From my room to the living room, all while having my SD card STILL IN MY COMPUTER. Yes, I kept it in there the whole time. Never ejected. Just sitting in the side of my computer. But at the time I didn't see a problem with it. When I finally got back to looking through Nikki's photos, they were nowhere to be seen. SD card had a major error with no solution. I tried getting into that thing every way I could. Asked friends, professionals, no one could get the photos, so I had to reach out to her. Thankfully I had sent a sneak peek (always send a sneak peek when possible!!) so she had some of my favorites already but I had to profusely apologize, over and over, and explain the situation. I obviously refunded her money and gave her a discount on her next shoot. Thankfully, she was gracious, kind, and understanding and we have shot many, many times since then. Here is one of my favorite shots with her, and here is another. But not every client will be so gracious and extend a second chance.

Moral of the story: Had I understood the delicate nature of SD cards (like, duh) I would have never left my card in my computer and treated it like an indestructible object with no precautions and would have been able to deliver her full gallery and also wouldn't have lost any money from being careless. Working for yourself has LOTS of benefits, but in the end, it all comes back to you: your bank account, your character, and your reputation. It is important to treat every situation (any piece of equipment) with the utmost care and respect. Now I never so much as move from my desk to my bed with my SD card in my computer. I eject it every time that I can and always back up the photos when necessary on my hard drive. SD cards are the gold of your business, treat them like such so you don't make this same mistake!

3. Check. For. Sunset.

When changing up your shoot time or location, ALWAYS check your weather app for storms... and the time of sunset.
Storytime: This mistake was the most recent. I was hosting a round of headshot minis at one of my favorite locations in Atlanta, Ponce City Market. Such a great location for shooting!!! But, little did I realize, as the seasons change the sun sets sooner (ummm, yea Madison). I always shoot in the morning. Very rarely will I set up a session in the evening. But for these headshots I wanted working ladies to be able to get their headshots in after a full day of work! (Always be accommodating when you can, great rule of thumb.) So I scheduled my shoots well into 8 PM. All of the shoots were going great until I started to realize a shift in lighting. My heart started racing as I realized the grave mistake that I had made... scheduling shoots too late into the fall evening. By the time I had realized, it was too late. My headshot sessions were only 10 minutes and I didn't have enough time to reach out and reschedule before they arrived. My final 3 shoots I was able to complete, but they were nowhere NEAR my best work. I had to reschedule all of them, all 3 of them! I showed them the photos, apologized profusely for my grave mistake and error, and told them they absolutely did not have to pay the remainder of their fee, I would simply keep the deposit (as long as they were able/willing to reschedule) and take that as the final payment. Thankfully, all 3 women were kind and gracious and we rescheduled. They ended up loving their headshots AND one of those clients went on to do an engagement session with me as well as become one of my very mentees in my Madison Crowley Photo mentorship program. Be humble when you make a mistake. It is your only option. If you want to salvage the relationship between you and your client, you must remove all of your pride and recognize your error.

Moral of the story: If I had thought ahead about sundown, I would have never scheduled those shoots so late in the evening. I am still trying to grasp the actual time of sundown and have had to move a few of my shoots in the coming months as I didn't properly prepare for this fact! So PSA: Once November hits, don't schedule shoots past 4 PM! It is really unfortunate that in the winter months we lose 4 hours of shooting time, but just be flexible! Schedule shoot times in the morning and start working on being a morning person if you aren't already (@ myself). Always check your weather app for rain, but also for sundown. It will save you from making this mistake!

I hope that you learned something from my mistakes! Owning your own business is full of ups and downs and always a never-ending stream of valuable life and business lessons. As I begin my mentorship program, I am going to start highlighting and writing down things that I think beginner photographers could really benefit from. Things that I wish I would have known when starting out on this photography journey! We all need each other and we all can use help. Let's begin to foster and create community with one another and lend a helping hand. It goes a long way!

'Til next time,
Madison