Unlock the Secret to Making $2000 Per Client: A Guide to Boosting Your Boudoir Photography Sales

Want to learn a bit more about earning $2000 per client in your boudoir photography business? Read on-- I have to warn you, though, you may not be all too happy with what you're about to read...

Let me start by saying I'm no genius. And I'm not a "sell the dream" type of photography fake guru. --You know the type, the ones who sell courses and seminars that promise riches in sales or being "totally booked," but they, themselves, have never actually run a successful photography business. I mean, because, if you were actually that successful (and busy) in photography why would you even bother selling a course for a few bucks!?

Why do they do it? Well, there are indeed those who are genuinely altruistic and want to help others succeed. There is also a another group who have learned that "selling the dream" is more profitable for them than running their own photography business. (Or at a minimum it brings in some easy cash.) Photographers out there are eager for success...and if they knew just that one secret to being fully booked... their lives and businesses would change forever! Dangling that money carrot in front of photographers is a powerful lure and very hard to resist.

What does any of that have to do with me? Well, I'm here to tell you that earning $2000 per client is indeed possible but the primary answer to reaching this-- as important as it is-- isn't going to be found in a crappy online "How to run a boudoir photography business" course... so save your money and put it toward something that can help you actually grow your photography business. I also know that if you're reading this article you're probably not making $2000 per client...but would like to!

...And that's fine! The wonderful thing about the photography business is that it is very community driven. There are countless message boards, forums, & groups out there with people willing to help others get started, and assist with almost anything from marketing to sales, and general business information, as well.

This type of large and diverse community can also be a drawback. You'll find lots of contrary advice and differences of opinions which can confuse-- and peppered along the path are wayyyy too many self-proclaimed "experts." --And not to mention the people who are purely wrong... or crazy. It can become overwhelming for a new boudoir photographer!

All of the "noise" out there can be confusing. After all-- you've probably started your boudoir photography business to make money, right? It was going to be so easy! Simply buy camera and money will follow! "Girl Power!" OK, so why aren't you making any? Let me guess... a few weeks after starting your business there weren't any people banging down your door and the first dose of reality hit home. Perhaps you started to think Hmmmm... what could I be doing wrong?? I did everything the internet told me to!

After your business initially went nowhere you decided to step back and maybe reassess and do some further research. What could you have possibly missed???

You've followed the prescribed boudoir internet "path to success" to the "T." You've signed up for every "boudoir-babe" style message board and chat group. You've "girl-powered" through a bunch of podcasts. "Girl Power!" You've made it clear to the universe you're here to heal all the damaged women psyches with your boudoir talents. You've talked all your BFFs into volunteering for photos and quickly posted them to your IG account with the obligatory "She slayed it..." commentary... You've even unrelentingly regurgitated the "body positive" and "love yourself" mantras in every single social media post... but nothing...

So, what could be the issue?

I'm here to assure you that making $1,000 - $2,000 per client possible. It's very possible. I do it regularly. --But here comes the uncomfortable part... There are likely several smaller reasons why you are not seeing that kind of money, and one really big one.

Typically, what I see that as main reason why so many boudoir photographers fail to succeed boils down to one thing-- a lack of self awareness. --Which is something that people really don't want to hear. Let me explain...

Do you know how in the early rounds of the American Idol auditions there are always people who go out and sing for the judges who are cringy awful singers, and all the judges wince in pain (or laugh) after the first few bars of singing. One judge ultimately always says something along the lines of "We appreciate your efforts, but this type of competition may not be for you... I vote no." And then the contestant walks away angry saying "I know I'm good! THEY don't know anything!" It seems the only person who doesn't realize they are not a good singer is the singer themselves... and still refuse to believe it.

Well... this may be you. Putting yourself out there completely unprepared- and not even being aware. How are your photographic chops? Do you know? What is your level of business acumen? What is your level of marketing and branding skills?

The first level of fail is surprisingly the most basic, and seemingly the least important to a new photographer (and it should be most important!)

You lack photographic skills.

You, however, are most likely a bad photographer... and no one wants to tell you... and odds are you don't realize it.

You've probably landed on the idea you were going to be a boudoir photographer quite suddenly... ran out and bought a camera... set up a website... and you were off. Just like that you're now "a pro."

Let me ask you this-- If you took out the "boudoir photographer" part and substituted, say, "rock guitar player"-- and told your friends you suddenly decided one day you were going to be a pro rock guitar player and were super disappointed because no one was coming along offering you millions of dollars to join the mega rock band-- would that be surprising? I mean you know nothing about music. Nothing about playing the guitar. Nothing about the music business at all. But hey... what does all that stuff really have to do with anything??

This is big, and probably most overlooked. I used to be a bit more active in the past on social media following boudoir photographers, and I'm happy to report that my unscientific survey is that 80% of boudoir photographers are technically bad. Bad. You'd think that photographers would be super vigilant in making certain they have the amazing technical skills needed to survive! Nope. Not only that... most don't even seem to care. ...And aren't even aware of how bad they really are.

Going back to my rock guitarist example.... Do y