Episode 158: Building a Luxury Photography Brand from Scratch with KT Merry

Being a your own boss in a creative industry is the dream, but have you considered what building a luxury brand from scratch looks like? KT Merry is a luxury destination wedding photographer, who has spent the last 14 years building her brand. After getting her start as a photography assistant, she found a love for weddings and transitioned into luxury destination weddings. In this episode, KT is sharing how she found her niche, manifested her dreams, and built her business. Listen in as she highlights the importance of building relationships and how to elevate your luxury wedding photography business. Dress for the Job You Want When you’re looking to move into a new niche or field, the key is to showcase the work that matches the types of clients you want to work with and the shoots you’re interested in shooting. As a photographer or business owner, it’s your responsibility to create a portfolio that matches the style you want to accomplish. You can do this through free shoots, personal projects, and styled shoots. Not only does this allow you to better market yourself to your ideal client, but it provides practice for the work you’re looking to create. Don’t Begin with a Luxury Approach After 14 years in business, KT is sharing her biggest lesson she could offer to those looking to move into a luxury space—don’t begin there. Offering a luxury experience takes time and practice, along with an amazing portfolio. The last thing you want to do is book your dream wedding and approach it with the “on-the-job training mindset,” meaning you’re not entirely sure what you’re doing. Work your way to that level, so that you’re able to grow—either slow or fast. Sometimes we get so caught up in who we want to serve that we don’t appreciate where we are now and serve those clients. Build Out Relationships to Improve Your Experience Your existing clients are so important for your growth, as they can offer valuable feedback to help you improve your experience in order to move into the more luxurious event space. Preparing Your Brand for a Luxury Service Prior to moving into the luxury wedding industry, take time to get clarity on your vision and why you want to be there. While there is value in every space of the market, finding where you’re looking to be and why should be a top priority for you. Get clarity, dream big, and start planning. Catch the Show Notes Get to Know KT (00:47) Getting Started as a Photographer (3:05) Moving into Weddings (4:57) Manifesting Your Dream (11:03) Practical Lessons Learned (14:10) Building Relationships through Experience (16:52) Encouragement to Start Elevating Your Business (19:46) RESOURCES MENTIONED instagram.com/ktmerry ktmerry.com The Abundance Plan – ktmerrycourses.com FOLLOW ALONG