Today I’d like to introduce you to a fellow Momstyler and close friend of mine, Jennifer Mason. Jennifer is a birth and breast-feeding photographer living in Denver, Colorado. She was one of the first women I met when I moved to Colorado nearly 10 years ago, and we’ve talked about all aspects of our careers and businesses during our weekly “knitting” (i.e. girls’) nights. She photographed the birth of my second daughter and has done our family photos several times.
Jenn loves to work with free-spirited and sentimental families in the Colorado area and across the globe. Jennifer believes that the birth of your child is one of the biggest days in a family’s life, and that it should be documented and celebrated.
As you can imagine, the work life of a birth photographer is unpredictable. There is lots of time on call and long, unexpected work days and nights. What’s more, Jenn is the mother of two daughters – a 4 year old and a 3 1/2 month old. Securing some passive income has long been on Jenn’s list of ways to grow her business.
Birth photography is a relatively new, but on the rise profession. And Jenn receives questions from other women who want to be birth photographers about how to get started. Jenn recently partnered with another birth photographer, Monet Nicole, to put together a Birth Photography Toolkit to support their emerging profession and help other birth photographers get their start.
Jenn was kind enough to answer a few questions about how this product came to be.
Laura: Where did the idea for your digital product first come from?
Jenn: The idea for my digital product came when I began in birth photography and realized there was no great resource for a new birth photographer. However, I didn’t really figure out what my product would be until I went to Laura’s first in-person Digital Product Workshop. It was there that I was able to brainstorm the idea of doing a toolkit for beginning birth photographers.
I was really inspired when I heard Laura speak in person. Even though I’ve known her for years, I didn’t know just how successful she was and I’d never heard her share her story in such a candid way. It was then that I knew I needed to do this, for myself, for my family, and the future of my business.
Laura: What were some of the more challenging parts of getting from idea to done, and how did you work past them?
Jenn: The biggest challenge for me was twofold. Name recognition, and getting the toolkit actually completed. I’m not a hugely famous birth photographer, but my best friend is. When I reached out to ask her if she wanted to join me in this endeavor, to help me finish the toolkit and help sell it, she was definitely on board.
Together, we were able to finish much more quickly and we added a lot more items and value after brainstorming together. We also decided to include a private facebook group where clients who purchase the toolkit can ask us questions in a private forum. Working together we were able to accomplish so much more and in a much quicker time frame, and we are already planning our next digital product idea!
Laura: What did it feel like to see that first sale come in?
Jenn: I’ve been on cloud 9 all day; so far in 3 hours we’ve had 4 sales! And then 10 sales in our first 24 hours! We only did a soft product launch in a private group too. I can’t wait to see where this goes once we really get it going!
Laura: What would you recommend to other women who are putting together their first digital product?
Jenn: Believe in yourself is #1. Believe Laura is #2. Keep working in it, even little by little.
Then, those final things that you are struggling with, whether that is proofing the toolkit, getting it online, or any other struggles, find someone to pay to do it for you.
I am one of those people who would just do everything myself, to save money. But once I really decided that I wanted it done and realized what my hangups were (proofing and getting it online), I hired Marci Dahms from Indigo Administrative Services to proof it, which freed up my time so that I could get it online myself.
Laura: Congratulations Jenn! I’m so happy for you, and I can’t wait to see where your digital products take you and your business!
Be sure to check out Jenn and Monet’s Birth Photography Toolkit and their website showcasing the best birth photography around the world, Birth Becomes Her.
