Running a Creative Biz and 5 Steps to Make it Happen!

The other day I wrote an update about my biz on Instagram.   It got rather lengthy, but you know how I get when I'm on a roll!

So I'm just going to add more photos and a couple of more biz tips and call it a blog post!  So very clevery, huh? :)

Here are 5 steps that pretty much sum up how I try to run my biz.  Am I an expert?  Nope.  Am I rolling in the dough?  Not yet!  Do I enjoy building my biz?  Very much so! (most of the time)  Am I pleased with my progress?  You betcha!  Do I have a lot more to do learn?  Of course!  Am I happy?  YES!  =Very happy and very grateful.  And I'm having the time of my life! 

●1.  Soak up knowledge.   Become an expert. Then share it and give it away and help other people.  A bunch!

●2.  Make deliberate and thoughtful choices.  Make a plan.  Hang around smart people.  Be flexible.  A bunch!

●3.  Experiment a lot & compare little.  Don't judge others either.  And be kind to yourself.  A bunch!

●4.  Put yourself out there.  It's not as scary as we think.  It's a MUST and it must be "you".  Your people, tribe, buds, whatever you will call them will like YOU!   A bunch!

●5.   Enjoy the process.  Seriously,  what's the point otherwise.  Plus you'll make more $! Choose happiness.  A bunch!  Period.

Very simple.  I like simple.  Yes, I know it's more than five, but it remains simple. ♡

Okay, onto the big news!  I've got so much to share with you all, I don't know how I don't burst with the excitement of it all!  I'll give you my first big news now with plenty more to come! :)

■  By popular demand, (and I thank you so much for your encouragement)  I am moving up the opening of . . .  
☆Domesticraft's Insta-Styled Stock Library Membership Site!☆

■  It was scheduled to open in October, but you guys said you can't wait!  Okay then!  August soon enough for you!  I'll keep you posted as the date gets closer.  Maybe I'll have another party!! ♡

Here are a few of the highlights of becoming a member:

●  Killer Affordable Membership Rates:   

monthly•quarterly•half yearly•annually

●  Insta-styled Stock Photography

●  Creative & totally UN-stock images

●  Unlimited downloads

●  Instant Access

●  Over 1000 images to choose from.

●  50 new images added twice a month.

●  Easy peasy terms of use.  No lawyer needed!

●  Lots of FREEBIES including . . . ideas for use • tutorials • mini-classes adding text or your images & so much more!

●  The secret sauce that is going to make your creative biz, blog, website and social media platforms SPARKLE and SHINE like you always envisioned!

So, if you you've read this far, I've got a treat for you!  If you go over to my blog (link in bio) and hop on my mailing list, I will send you a FREE Teeny Tiny Mini- Banner Tutorial PDF. (It's super cute!) AND a 20% discount coupon on your Domesticraft's membership library purchase!  (Folks on my list already will, of course, get the awesome bonuses too!)

All plans are included in this great bonus! ♡ I'm not going to put a limit on how many peeps can get these bonuses either . . . I want you all to have a share!!

That's all for this post.  Lots more fun and exciting news still to come!  Thanks again everybody for your amazing support! ♡  Wait, just one more thing!.

I want to help you even more!  In the comments below, let me know what kind of images would you would like see included in Domesticraft's Insta-Styled Stock Photography Library? 

What could help take your biz to the next level?  Help me . . . help you! :)
 
xoxoxo
Nancy

DOMESTICRAFT'S NEW SITE ALMOST DONE!

bo·na fide

ˌbōnə ˈfīdē/

adjective

adjective: bonafide

1.

genuine; real; legit; true; authentic.

example:a.  "Domesticraft is officially, now open, as a bonafide business AD-venture in the making."

example:b.  "Domesticraft is now collaborating with the same caliber of bonafide clients."

Domesticraft:  A bonafide, boss lady run, start-up creative business specializing in unique and imaginative styled stock photography and styled product photography ( "You ship it, I shoot it") for creatives and their websites, blogs, shops and social media posts.  You will know in an instant if I'm your girl.  


If you are example b., I believe we can become bbfs. 

BBFs = Best Business Friends. 
 

So here's the skinny.
I shoot all my photographs with my cell phone.  Yep.  I have a Samsung Galaxy5.  I use ONLY the Instagram App to both TAKE and EDIT my photos.  That's it.  No fancy DSLR, no special lighting equipment and no Photoshop or Illustrator software. 

Just to be clear, I am NOT a professional photographer in the traditional sense.  I know next to nothing about that end of my "camera".  So please don't ask me if can I increase the whatever and lower the pixel rate and f-stop the lens.  See, that didn't even make sense to me, but I'm telling you that's what traditional photographers sound like to me.  So, again, that's why my prices are lower than the industry norm.  You are not having to pay for me to share that knowledge with you . . . ever! :)

What I am, is a girl with an "eye".  (Look up . . . remember my profile pic?)  And a unique and sometimes whimsical style.  I'm a maker and crafting runs through my blood and you'll see a lot of that in my photos.  I love food photography and flowers and vintage and color.  I adore RED!  I am a photo stylist who specializes in small products photo shoots.  And a  styled stock photographer.  That's what I call myself.  And that's what you'll be paying for.  My eye and my knowledge of how to capture that in a photo.



This is why you get great prices without sacrificing quality!  My overhead is low and I pass those savings onto you!  No fancy website either!  I'm a one woman Stock Shop.  No paid staff, but a whole bunch of supporters who believe I am just what you need!

I have merged my life long love of crafts and a "tiny" propensity towards hoarding with my insatiable desire to make pretty pictures.  To say I'm well stocked with enough adorable crafty delights would be an understatement . . . a rather sizable one. ;)  I have also curated a sizable collection of vintage props to use in photo shoots and a lovely selection of knic knacs AND a plethora of interesting curiosities.


So, let's cut to the chase.

meaning of phrase of cut to the chase

1. 1.

   North American informal

   
   1. come to the point.

   
   

   "cut to the chase—what is it you want us to do?"

example: a.  "I will take and sell pretty pictures to make your biz shine and make you happy!" example: b.  "You will fall in love and buy my pretty pictures and tell your friends and make me happy" Simple, huh?  I will curate some pretty packages at several price points, you can get a little or a lot, mix and match.  Come back for more.  I will be adding new collections all the time.  Got an idea for me?  I would love to hear about it.  And that's it for the styled stock shop.  Do you love it?  I sure hope so! Now, if you want to upgrade or do some add-ons, I am at your service.  My prices for these, are again, extremely competitive.  I'm also thrilled to do custom work.   Danielle from Prettybypost.com has the most awesome and unique subscription greeting card service.  This was a super fun photo shoot! Richelle from theredscorpio.com is a rockstar when it comes to handcrafting exceptionally creative jewelry.  These were amazing pieces of jewelry to work with, just gorgeous. I recently finished two small product shoots (one a lovely set of greeting cards and the second, a totally unique line of custom jewelry)  Both ladies sent their product to my studio via Priority Mail and I returned it the same way.  Easy Peasy. I love doing graphic design work too!  Nothing too fancy.  Creative, cute and fun are more my style.  I do it with my photos all the time for my blog and social media posts.  It's rather addicting. I am in the process of putting together a fairly extensive Styled Stock Photo Subscription Library with over 200 photos to start.  I would add approximately 25 new photos every two weeks.  My plan in to have this service up and running by  October SEPTEMBER of this year! I'll share more details as it progresses.  Please feel free to give me your ideas on this venture that you would like to see me implement.  *UPDATE:  Sept. 8, 2015 . . . Getting super close, guys! :) This is my set-up at the library when I just need a change of scenery. My final thoughts are . . . that having awesome photos for your creative biz, website, blog, social media and shop posts no longer has to be "a huge investment".  You can still have that salted caramel latte AND amazing images and gorgeous product photography for your business!  Pretty sweet, huh? Let's do some  brainstorming over a nice cup of virtual joe.  Let's see what some pretty and profresh photos from Domesticraft can do for your creative biz!  **Woot! ** New Website almost done! xoxoxo Nancy