BUSINESS NAME: Lynn Crane Portrait
CITY & STATE: Raft River, ID
BUSINESS OWNER: Lynn Crane
WEBSITE: lynncraneportrait.com
BP: Tell us about your business.
LCP: I provide a pampering portrait experience that makes women feel valued and beautiful. The experience includes not only creating the photos, but also a full makeover and luncheon on the session date and a portrait reveal session once the portraits are edited. My goal is to create definitive portraits of my clients – the kind of portraits that will be treasured and displayed for generations.
BP: How and why did you get started?
LCP: I’ve been a photographer for close to 20 years one way or another, but about 10 years ago a friend of mine was invited to be in the studio audience of a Creative Live taping, and I created an account so I could watch her. I scrolled through the classes and came across one taught by Sue Bryce, a world renowned portrait photographer. I watched the class, fell in love with her work, and joined her education group. She became my mentor and teacher, and I started implementing what I could in my on-location work, since I didn’t have a studio. It wasn’t until I was able to open a studio space that I could fully dive in and create the experience for women that I dreamed of, which I did a little over a year ago. I feel that I’m finally doing exactly what I was meant to do and I absolutely love it!
BP: What sets you apart from your competition?
LCP: I’ve developed a sophisticated, painterly style that women love. Ultimately, though, I think what sets me apart is how I make women feel. I have the tools and knowledge of posing and direction at my disposal so women feel supported, confident, and beautiful. I truly see the beauty in all women, no matter their shape or size, and it’s my privilege to help them see it too.
BP: Tell us a funny story that happened with your business.
LCP: I don’t know that this is particularly funny, but it’s memorable! This happened soon after I opened. While a client was in hair and makeup I thought “Gosh – she’d look stunning in a purple tulle skirt.”. So I grabbed a dress form and quickly started making a skirt. My studio floor is polished concrete, and at one point I came out of the changing room, took a step, didn’t realize I was on a piece of tulle…and down I went in a cloud of purple. It was less than professional, but certainly lightened the moment! And the client said later, “Now I know why my girls like to dress up as princesses all the time. I want to wear this to do dishes!”. So making the skirt, even with the mishap, was worth the humiliation!
BP: What’s your favorite type of marketing and why?
LCP: My favorite type of marketing is anything that involves developing relationships with people. I like to do public speaking, attend women’s conferences and expos, join and create networking groups, and host events in the studio where women can get together.
(You can also find Lynn on Facebook and Instagram.)
BP: What advice do you have for someone looking to start their own business?
LCP: Speaking to people who are in creative-type businesses like photography and the arts: Don’t sell yourself short! We’re passionate about what we do, but as creatives we sometimes tend to be kind of disorganized and run things by the seat of our pants given the chance. You know it’s true! Be sure to be a legitimate business, price accordingly, pay your taxes, give yourself a wage, put money back into your business, and hire someone to take care of the business / record-keeping part of things if necessary. You will be able to make a profit and not burn yourself out, you will be taken more seriously as a business, be able to breathe easier, and enjoy doing what you love longer without burnout.
BP: What else would you like to share?
LCP: Women compare themselves to what they see in the media too much. I always say, though, that the only difference is that most women simply don’t have the luxury of a stylist to get them photo-ready every day. I hope the women who come to me will be able to jump off the comparison trap, and that they’ll look at their images when they’re in their grotty mom-clothes and see that they’re actually pretty darn beautiful, given the chance!
BP: Thank you, Lynn! What an amazing gift you have supporting and building up women. Do you happen to have any pink tulle? Asking for a friend.
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