Creative Business Mentoring
If you have big dreams for a new business - or you’d like to breathe new life into a photography side hustle, mentoring can help.
Want to sell prints directly to collectors? Start a service-based business? Sell courses, workshops, digital or tangible products? Want to brainstorm and dream with a knowledgable cheerleader on your team?
I’ve got you covered.
I have many years of experience running successful photography businesses and arts nonprofits. I bring a creative spirit, tech expertise, and a healthy dose of nerdy, strategic business savvy to all my mentoring sessions. It’s one of my life’s great joys to share it all with budding creative business owners!
In our sessions, I’ll share everything I’ve learned from years of research, trial, and error - so you can cut to the chase and get moving on your ideas more quickly. You’ll leave each session with a fire in your belly, concrete action steps, and clear answers to questions you’ve been stalled on.
“I appreciated your encouraging words and your vast knowledge of the photography (and commerce) world. I think anyone that is looking for in-depth feedback on their work or portfolio would be well served by mentoring with you. I heartily recommend it. I learned so much! ”
We can talk about...
How to sell prints, products, courses, workshops, or creative services (like portraiture sessions)
Heartfelt, authentic online marketing that won’t leave you feeling smarmy and pushy
How to make your website even stronger (so it’s truly targeted to your business goals)
Personable social media strategies that work without having to post constantly
How to develop a diverse portfolio of income options, including passive and active income streams
Launch strategies for new programs, services, or products (hello, world!)
Down-to-earth copywriting that converts…and isn’t a pain in the patootie to write
Beautiful branding to make your offerings shine
How to run a top-notch shop on your site (everything you need to know about upleveling your e-commerce)
Ad strategies that feel aligned with your personality, energy, and budget
A real game plan for growing your email list (plus, how to create email newsletters that are effective and actually serve your audience)
How to choose savvy price points for your offerings
Facebook/Instagram advertising that’s targeted and effective…so you’re not burning money to get dubious “likes” from click farms
You’ll also get an honest, industry-informed assessment of how your passions, skills, and personality line up with the business opportunities you’re weighing, so you can make choices that will lead to longterm happiness (instead of burnout)
Plus, I’ll share my top recommendations for platforms, programs, tech, and materials that will make your job easier (skip the endless research and benefit from mine!)
And so much more…sessions are tailored to your exact needs
Hi, I’m Laura!
I help photographers deepen their relationship with their art and thrive in their creative ventures.
In addition to my own photo practice, I teach e-courses, support emerging photographers in my creative mentoring program, lead retreats, and curate exhibitions for galleries and photography festivals around the world. I also jury photo competitions and serve as a reviewer at national and international portfolio reviews, where I help photographers fine-tune their vision and promote their work with confidence. I’ve run my own creative business since 2012 and grew it to the point that I was able to leave my nonprofit arts career in 2017.
There are a lot of misperceptions about how people earn a living in the arts. Mentoring gives you clarity, focus, and an essential reality check so you can make savvy choices.
“Laura is more than a great photographer, she’s a builder of photographic community. She’s got that special ‘je ne sais quoi’ that inspires, and inspires people to inspire others. Her help has no doubt saved me countless hours and helped me avoid roadblocks, but more importantly, has also helped me dream about new ways of sharing photography.”
This is for you if...
You have a hazy vision of what’s possible…but you’re not sure what the smartest first steps are
You’ve had a photo business for a while, but it’s basically on life support
You don’t know if your ideas are realistic or ridiculous and you want to run them by someone with a deep knowledge of the field
You’re stalled and you’d love an accountability partner to help you get moving again
You’d love a savvy cost-benefit analysis of your different ideas, to see which ones have the most earning potential
You’re very aware that “you don’t know what you don’t know," and you’d love an experienced creative business coach to point you in the right direction
This is not for you if...
You aren’t interested in having a web or social media presence
Or, your skills are limited to the point that these platforms feel beyond your capabilities to manage
“I would not have been so fortunate with my art successes without your early assistance. I imagine there are MANY photographers who feel the same way about you that I do! I am very grateful, thank you.”
Book Your Mentoring
Ready to make big, beautiful things happen with your photography? Choose an option below and I’ll reach out within 48-hours to welcome you and schedule our first session. All mentoring sessions happen via telephone or Zoom, and all time zones can be accommodated. Scheduling is flexible and sessions don’t expire.
I look forward to working with you!
Five-hour package
When you sign up for the five-hour package, you get five hours for $100 off the hourly à la carte rate. If you’re moving quickly on big goals, we can meet weekly. If you’d prefer to meet monthly or quarterly, that works too! Mentoring doesn’t expire.