How This Boudoir Photographer Booked Six Sessions Almost Immediately with Chantal Guibord

Summary

Podcast Summary: How This Boudoir Photographer Booked Six Sessions Almost Immediately with Chantal Guibord

Title: Book More Photography Clients Podcast | Photography Business, Marketing, Leads, Business Plan
Host: Brooke Jefferson - Oklahoma Family Photographer, Photography Business Coach
Episode: How This Boudoir Photographer Booked Six Sessions Almost Immediately with Chantal Guibord
Release Date: July 17, 2025

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of the Book More Photography Clients Podcast, host Brooke Jefferson sits down with Chantal Guibord, a burgeoning boudoir photographer from Southwest Florida. The conversation delves into Chantal's journey in the photography business, the challenges she faced, and how Brooke's guidance through the Fully Booked Method program propelled her to quickly secure six new photography sessions.

Guest Profile: Chantal Guibord

Brooke begins by introducing her guest:

Chantal: "I am completely stoked to be here... My business name is Bu Photoco and I’m in year two of business."
(02:01)

Chantal, also known as CC, shares her background as a self-taught photographer who transitioned from a full-time career to pursue her passion in boudoir photography.

Journey into Boudoir Photography

Chantal recounts how her interest in photography evolved:

Chantal: "I was in yearbook back in the day in high school... I bought my first camera in 2023, but it sat on my shelf for a whole year."
(02:11)

Her foray into boudoir photography began when a fellow photographer friend invited her to model for a boudoir session, igniting her passion for the genre.

Early Challenges in Business

Despite her enthusiasm, Chantal faced significant challenges in the early stages of her business:

Chantal: "Last year I had three shoots that were paid for... I felt like I was missing something."
(04:13)

She struggled with visibility and consistency, leading to feelings of discouragement despite implementing various marketing strategies.

Discovering Brooke Jefferson and the Podcast

Chantal found solace and guidance through Brooke’s podcast, which became a pivotal resource in her business development:

Chantal: "Your podcast came with all those free resources that I was looking for... how do you shift your mindset on money? How do you niche down?"
(05:31)

The podcast provided her with foundational knowledge in business and marketing, filling gaps in her self-taught approach.

Joining the Fully Booked Method Program

Motivated by the insights gained from the podcast, Chantal decided to invest in the Fully Booked Method program to further structure her business:

Chantal: "What I was really just looking for was a little bit more organization in my business... I had to become visible."
(07:19)

She sought comprehensive strategies in networking, marketing, and email campaigns to enhance her business visibility.

Immediate Results and Growth

Chantal's decision to join the program yielded swift and significant results:

Chantal: "I added at least six sessions to my books almost immediately. Now I'm able to move forward and keep just doing what I'm doing to continue those bookings to come through."
(10:52)

The program not only boosted her bookings but also reinforced the effectiveness of Brooke’s coaching methods.

Balancing Photography with a Full-Time Job

As a full-time assistant branch manager at a credit union, Chantal manages to balance her day job with her growing photography business:

Chantal: "Just doing it scared, do it tired, do it however you need to do it. Just do it."
(14:43)

She emphasizes the importance of organization, over-communication with both personal life and clients, and diligent time management to sustain her dual roles.

Program Structure and Benefits

Chantal appreciates the structured yet flexible nature of the Fully Booked Method:

Chantal: "I like that there's a start and finish date because I knew that like, okay, this is the week to put your head down and hustle... I really like that the lesson gets released and then you have that time frame to do it and get it done."
(18:08)

She highlights the self-paced modules, practical printouts, and integration of tools like ChatGPT, which enhanced her efficiency and communication skills.

Advice for Fellow Photographers

Encouraging fellow photographers to take the leap, Chantal shares heartfelt advice:

Chantal: "I want to challenge you to do it because it not only changed me in my photography world, what I'm learning there helps me in my other professional world too... You can do it."
(21:00)

She underscores the transformative impact of having a coach and investing in structured programs to elevate one’s business.

Chantal’s Goals and Final Thoughts

Looking ahead, Chantal aims to master email marketing and continue expanding her client base:

Chantal: "For the next 12 months, email marketing... I really want to make something of that and have that newsletter and that email marketing completed."
(21:00)

She remains passionate about empowering her clients to see themselves in new lights through her photography, reinforcing her dedication to her craft.

Connecting with Chantal

Chantal invites listeners to connect and follow her journey:

Chantal: "Come find me on Instagram at BU Photoco. Slide into my DMs if you have questions about the program."
(24:38)

Her approachable demeanor and willingness to support others make her a relatable and inspiring figure in the photography community.

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Key Takeaways:

• Visibility is Crucial: Ensuring potential clients can find you is fundamental to securing bookings.

• Structured Learning Pays Off: Investing in comprehensive coaching programs can lead to immediate and sustained business growth.

• Balancing Commitments: Effective time management and communication are essential for those juggling full-time jobs with entrepreneurial ventures.

• Embrace Tools and Technology: Utilizing resources like ChatGPT can enhance business operations and client interactions.

• Community and Support: Building relationships through platforms like podcasts and coaching programs fosters trust and accelerates professional development.

Chantal Guibord's journey from a hesitant, self-taught photographer to a confident boudoir artist with multiple bookings exemplifies the transformative power of targeted mentorship and strategic business practices. Her story serves as an inspiration for photographers seeking to elevate their craft and grow their businesses effectively.

Transcript

[A]

And if I'm not visible then my clients aren't going to find me. And what I do for my clients is a very powerful thing. You can go from feeling zero to hero to goddess to, you know, all the sorts in boudoir photography. And it's really important for me to make sure that the right clients are finding me and I did not have that visibility in the beginning.

[B]

Welcome to the Book More Clients Photography podcast. You can stop spending hours on Google and YouTube because just found your number one resource for growing a profitable and sustainable photography business. Hi, I'm Brooke Jefferson. I'm a believer wife, mama to two and Oklahoma family photographer. I left the classroom in 2018 to pursue my photography career full time. Now I'm here to help you do the same. In this podcast we're covering the most asked about topics including pricing, marketing, client experience and in all things systems and workflows. You won't find any fluff or BS here. Just tried and true strategy. Are you ready? Grab your kids some snacks and charge those camera batteries. It's time to jump in. Chantelle, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to come on the podcast, talk about your business and talk about your experience inside of the fully booked method. Before we dive in, can you take a minute and introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your photography business?

[A]

Yes, sure. Thank you so much Brooke for having me on today. I am completely stoked to be here. For those of you that don't know me, my name is Chantal Gaboard, I live in Southwest Florida. I also go by CC so you'll see that around on my photography pages as well. My business name is Bu Photoco and I got started with photography. I am in year two of business.

[B]

That is so awesome. Was photography something that has always been a part of your life or was it like one day you found yourself with a camera and you ran with it?

[A]

It's funny you ask. I was in yearbook back in the day in high school. I always liked photography. I found myself whenever someone needed some photography I wanted to be the one to help out. I wanted to jump in. But then in 2023 I bought my first camera and it sat on my shelf for a whole year. I think I touched it maybe twice. I made a commitment to myself in 2024 that I was going to start and just start somewhere and start learning so I'm fully self taught. And then I decided to that I wanted to do this so I liked the creativeness it gave me.

[B]

Yeah, it's A great outlet. When you first started taking photos, what were you photographing and at what point did you really start to get into the space you're in now for photos?

[A]

For me, I was basically shooting anything I wanted. I wanted to see what genre of photography I was going to like or what niche I was going to like the best. It happened for me that I got introduced to Boudoir. Actually, I got introduced to Boudoir from another photographer friend of mine who is starting her boudoir photography portion of her business. And she recommended to me that I be a model for her so she can try it out in her business. And from there I have been so stuck. So now for me, I niche in boudoir photography, couples and creative.

[B]

I love that so much. So since you are really more so in the beginning of your business, right? Not at the very beginning, but you're still like two years under our belt, right? For you, what are some of the challenges or frustrations? You know, what, what do you experience in your business when it comes to those things?

[A]

Honestly, last year I had three things that I like, three actual shoots that were paid for me for gigs. It got discouraging towards the end of the year last year because I was like, well, I feel like I'm doing all of the right things, but what am I missing? Like, I felt like I was missing something. So. So in the very early stages, that is when I found your podcast. Your podcast came with all those free resources that I was looking for, what to do, what's a mini session, Even if it was something that I had no idea about, you know, how do I shift my mindset on money? How do I niche down? Like, how do I do that? How do you officially pick something like that? So with your photography podcast, it kind of introduced me to those things. And this year, what I ended up learning before I joined the program was the basics of running a business. So like I said before, I was fully self taught and I didn't have any basis and I had maybe two or three people I could ask what the basics were. But it wasn't until I really started the program that I was like, wow, there's a whole foundational element that I was missing and you have to kind of start with that element and, and work your way up.

[B]

Yeah, that's such a great point. I'm so happy that my podcast could be a resource for you because ultimately that's why I started it. I think it's been, what are we on six, seven years now of the podcast, which is still just mind blowing to me. But the fact that it can really be a resource in and of itself, right? Without people even spending a dollar, they are able to take away, you know, foundations and basics of business and marketing and actually go out and take action on the things that I'm teaching and see results from, you know, a free podcast, it will always blow my mind. And I'm so happy to hear that you were a podcast listener as well. Was it the podcast that originally built like, do you think that by listening to my podcast it built trust for you to want to invest with me a thousand percent?

[A]

Because I already felt like we had that relationship before actually ever meeting in on Zoom in real life, if you will. So, like, it was like, I know every Thursday morning on my drive in to work. So I am also, I have a full time job, so I know that I can take like that time in the morning to. Okay, this is like my coffee chat date with Brooke. I'm gonna go listen to this week's podcast episode and I'm gonna go see, you know, what I can grab from that and apply it to my business and how I want to move forward.

[B]

I love that so much, man. I'm never gonna stop getting giddy when I hear things like that. So I love that we're having coffee chats in the morning on Thursdays. That is so awesome. What was it about the fully booked method in particular that attracted you to it? Or what were you hoping to get out of it when you joined joining the program?

[A]

Really what I was looking for ultimately is that foundational element. Like I said before, I felt like I was missing something and I didn't know exactly what I was missing, but I knew that, like, you can only do so much by word of mouth. You can only do so much by trying to get your website out there. You can only. And, you know, so it was one thing after another. And so what I was really just looking for was a little bit number one more organization in my business and how to do things. Especially like, how do you network, like network market or email marketing? I had zero information on email marketing. And I've had some hurdles that I've had to like, overcome to get myself to a point where, okay, now I'm really putting myself out there. So I was really just looking for ways to just become visible. I had to become visible. And if I'm not visible, then my clients aren't going to find me. And what I do for my clients is a very powerful thing. You can go from feeling zero to Hero to goddess to, you know, all the swords in boudoir photography. And it's really important for me to make sure that the right clients are finding me. And I did not have that visibility in the beginning.

[B]

I feel like visibility is every photographer's cry out there. Right? In fact, right before I hopped on this interview with you, I happened to be on Facebook and I saw a post from one of the photography Facebook groups pop up and she was basically like, is anyone booking out there? Because I have. It's just crickets for me. And I read through the thread of comments and, and there were a couple that were like, nope, I'm fully booked over here. I'm good. But most of the comments were, it's dead. I didn't book anything last year. And it breaks my heart because I just think like, oh, there's so much you don't know. Like, I just want to take their business and just pour into them and show them what they're missing. Because while it's saturated out there, you know, I believe that there is success for the photographer who's going to put the work in. How do you feel about it now, going through the program and actually working with me? Has that changed your mindset at all? Do you feel like, you know, yeah, we're saturated, but I have different thoughts on it. I'd love to just kind of hear your opinion on that.

[C]

So I will say the biggest thing that probably got me to join your program was that there's never going to be a right time to join like you. You have to do it. And I remember, like, there was one key thing that you said right before I joined your program, and I believe it was after one of the boot camps that you hosted too. And it was, I'm going to give you the tools to make back your investment. And you gave us like the step by step guide onto how to hold a mini session or how to hold photography sessions that you will be get that investment back. And so I was like, oh my gosh, I have nothing to lose. Like, I just need to do this because I want this knowledge so bad. I know it's going to be so beneficial for me and so that's why I joined. But since joining, I had my first.

[A]

Repeat client.

[C]

And so I was super excited. That was really important to me. It made me just feel so good. But since then, from joining, oh goodness. I would say I added at least six sessions to my books almost immediately. So at this point and season in my life, those sessions I have completed and now I'M able to move forward and keep just doing what I'm doing to continue those bookings to come through.

[B]

That is awesome. Congratulations on the repeat client. Thank you. That is huge. I think that is the biggest compliment to us photographers is when someone comes back to us. Anybody can book us the first time around, but when someone either A comes back and uses us a second time or B, refers us to their friend and their friend books us. Highest level of compliment for me and it never gets old. So I am so proud of you for that for sure. And the fact that you were able to see an increase in bookings almost immediately just having the influx of there, I think that it just so many good things. One, it boosts our confidence. Two, it allows you that income. But three, it really shows you that what you learn works, right? Like what you are learning from the program that I put together. It does work. Is it overnight all the time? Absolutely not. And that's the thing. If you are someone that you come in with an open mind, you want to soak everything up like a sponge, which is very much you. And you have specific goals in your business and you put the work in, there is no way that you can fail. You can't. Like, you will see results. They might come slow, they might come overnight. Like, you never know until you get in there. So I was really proud of you for that. You definitely are an action taker and I know you have a lot going on in your life right now. Like, we hit crazy seasons, sometimes we join programs and our life blows up. Our life's been blowing up since April and I'm in a program myself and it's just, it takes a lot of. I've had to take like two weeks where I just paused and I told the instructor I'm taking it seriously, but like, I need a mental health break. I'll be back in two weeks. So I also really, really respect and admire you for that as well. Interrupting this episode for just a minute to tell you about the fully booked method. Imagine if you were booking consistent, quality clients year round, not just during the busy fall season. Imagine if you were making enough money to pay your bills, cover groceries and save for that family vacation. Imagine if you are being referred by clients and raved about in your community. And imagine if you wake up each day thinking, I can't believe that this is my job. It's time to go from stressed out to booked out. And I want to invite you to save your spot on the wait list for the next round of the fully booked Method. This is my 8 week group coaching program that helps photographers clarify their brand, optimize their marketing and double their bookings in 90 days. So if you're ready to book more clients and find out more information, head to Brooke jefferson.com fully booked and get your name on the wait list. I'll see you in the next round. Can you maybe speak to the photographer that is working a full time job but has a dream of eventually either a just making more money in her in her side photography business or eventually replacing her full time income? What has it been like in your perspective, in your shoes to invest in a program and try to make time for everything?

[C]

I'm so glad you asked this question. A lot of things that I have learned over the year have come from my full time job. How I use sales and service. I've learned a lot of that through my full time job. So I am a full time assistant branch manager for credit union here in Florida. And so not only do I love to talk finances, I am just very analytical. I love numbers. I love doing those things. For the person who is working a full time job and thinking about doing your program, please for the love of goodness, just do it. The love of goodness, just do it. Do it. Scared. Do it tired. Do it however you need to do it. Just do it. And I say this because I learned a lot about myself in the season over the last few weeks as well. Meaning switching jobs, learning new things. You know you have all your personal activities at home. You know there's a significant other, there's family activities, there's family vacations that are already being thrown in and just extracurriculars and anything like that. What really worked best for me, my calendar was glued to me. You know we all have our devices. I have my calendar on me at all times and I list out everything over communicate with those in your life. Tell them hey tonight I need to get this gallery done or tonight I have coursework that I need to work on to submit to Brooke as our homework. You know like just hey I really need you to take on dishes and dinner tonight if I can work on this please. And just like being over communicative with the people in your life that really probably saved me and that includes with my clients though too because for my clients I love to get out sneak peeks. Hey, this is what's going on in my world. I want to let you know that you are a part of my world. Your sneaks are, you know on their way and however many business days you deliver them so the over communication, the making sure you have your list, if it wasn't done yesterday, put it on tomorrow's to do list with a number next to it and just staying really organized that way. It kind of helped me.

[B]

That is such solid advice. I totally agree with everything that you said. You have to put it in your calendar and you can't just think, oh, I'm gonna squeeze in this program and not tell anybody else. Especially for those of you who are moms or you have spouses, you guys have to let them know, like, hey, I'm doing this. It's only eight weeks and so I'm going to hustle or I'm going to give up TV or I'm going to give up whatever it is for a short amount of time so that I have the time to dedicate to this program. Speaking of the program, we're kind of rounding things out here. One of the questions I wanted to ask you is specifically about the format. So it is timed, there are deadlines, it is eight weeks long. What are your thoughts on the things that you like about the structure? What makes it, whether it's doable or what makes it more attractive to you, knowing that there is a start and a finish date and all the things in between. What were some of your favorite parts about that and what did you love about it?

[C]

I like that there's a start and finish date because I knew that like, okay, this is the week to put your head down and hustle. Like, this is the next six weeks, eight weeks. Just I had blinders on, but I had to take blinders off and put them back on too at the same time. What I really love about the structure is that it is self paced. Throughout the week. Your course gets released to you. You can pace yourself throughout the week or if you're like me, sometimes I had to do it all in one night because that's just where it let me be. But I really like that the lesson gets released and then you can you have that time frame to do it and get it done and submitted. What I really also liked is just the different printouts that were given to us. So like our mood boards for certain things or hey, I really loved and I use it and we've talked about it. Chat GPT. Yeah, we, we. I love the prompts because it also is like helping us train our Chat GPT voice on what our niche was and I was using ChatGPT before the podcast came out on that episode. But I really like that you included those little prompts because it helped me fine tune that voice. So now when I do go in and I do use it for what I need to get done, that's a tool that really helps me and it helps me be that effective communicator too. I love that.

[B]

Yeah, Chad was a huge favorite from all the students across the board. The reason that I wanted to intertwine what I'm teaching With Real Time 2025 Chat GPT is because it is exploding. If you're not using it in your business, you need to start because it's not going away anytime soon. It's something that even corporations are utilizing. ChatGPT is almost replacing different parts of departments. And it's not that it's the end all, be all, but it is such a wonderful tool and assistant for you to make things faster, make it more efficient, make it help you in your business. And so I thought it would be fun to pair everything I teach anyway and then bring in chat GPT to really help photographers and just 10x the efficiency and clarity in their business as well. So I'm so glad that that was one of your favorite parts. Okay. To round it all out, I would love to know what is like your, let's say your 12 month goal for yourself and your business and then what would you say as like a final note to a photographer that is on the fence really trying to decide if this is the program for them.

[C]

So I know end goal I would have for this year but for me for the next 12 months, email marketing. I have a love hate relationship with it, not gonna lie. But I really am trying hard to get over those mindsets and like shift that mindset to be a lover of email marketing. And I'm challenging myself to do a full year one year newsletter. I want to start this year and finish out this year but like next year I really just want to make something of that and have that newsletter and that email marketing completed. And of course more repeat customers, clients and of course more revenue would always be nice just to that's the boost that sometimes a photographer needs to see like, oh, people believe in me. Yes, girl, we believe in you. I believe in you. You don't even know me and I believe in you. But I'm a cheerleader for the students that are on the fence about doing the program. Come talk to me if you need any extra little bits of encouragement. But I just really, I want to challenge you to do it because it not only changed me in my photography world, what I'm learning there helps me in my Other professional world too. It's a two way street. It's very encouraging. And then I love to be able to use what I'm learning. And so you're learning so much. I can't say anything else except for just jump in, just do it scared. And you hear it all the time from other creators just to do it. And I didn't really understand why does this person keep telling me just to do it, just to do it. But it's so hard to explain when you go from not feeling like the best in your business to feeling like, oh my gosh, I'm, I'm a legitimate photographer. Like I can officially say that and actually back it up though. And that's the difference is backing it up. So for me, it's very important to have a coach. All coaches need coaches. For me, because I was so brand new in my photography business, I was scared you guys to invest. I'm so glad I did. I am no longer scared and I'm no longer scared to put myself out there for the betterment of my clients and helping them feel the way they feel. They feel good because I can bring that to them now. The confidence that they didn't have before they met me, they now do they see themselves in a different light. Whether you're divorced and trying to find your spark, whether you're about to get married and you want to give your soon to be hubby like the most precious gift in the world besides yourself, of course, in the marriage. But just seeing their faces when I show them the back of my camera of an image of them. Who is that? Who is that girl? Who is that person that they see now? And that's the number one question. Who is that? It's you. And you can do it.

[B]

Oh, well spoken. Okay. I love it. All right, so where can people look at your photography, talk to you, ask you questions about the program? Specifically, where's the best place that they can connect with you?

[C]

Oh my gosh, I'm a lover of Instagram. Come find me on Instagram. You can find me at BU Photoco. That's B E Y O U Photoco. And my work is listed there. Slide into my DMs if you have questions about the program. If you want to talk anything boudoir related as well, I'm more than happy to help anybody bring them to this program. Watch your confidence soar and I'd love to cheer you on as you do it.

[B]

Oh, good. Thank you so much, Chantelle, for being here.

[C]

Thank you for having me.