Going From $50 to $6500 Minimum Per Photoshoot with Damaly Shepherd (Re-Release)

Summary

The Portrait System Podcast

Episode: Going From $50 to $6,500 Minimum Per Photoshoot with Damali Shepherd (Re-Release)
Host: Nikki Closser
Guest: Damali Shepherd
Release Date: March 13, 2025

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1. Introduction to Damali Shepherd

Nikki Closser welcomes Damali Shepherd, a standout member of the Sue Bryce Education community, to discuss her remarkable journey in the portrait photography business. Damali shares her passion for personal branding, particularly within the BIPOC community, and how she has successfully scaled her business in the competitive New York City market.

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2. Damali’s Journey into Photography

Timestamp: [00:35]

Damali attributes her rapid growth to discovering Sue Bryce Education (SBE) early in her photography career. She recounts how photography "found" her, leading to significant personal and professional transformations.

Damali Shepherd [00:35]: "Photography found me because it did and it is what changed everything. Like it's what showed me that I can be strong and I can be in the public eye if I want to and I can speak my truth and I can make money and I can photograph women and they pay me for it."

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3. Overcoming Challenges and Building Confidence

Timestamp: [10:53]

Damali shares a pivotal moment after her first significant sale of $1,500. Overwhelmed by the success, she took a hiatus from photography, fearing she couldn't sustain or replicate that success. With the support of a life coach and the SBE community, she returned stronger, eventually reaching $140,000 in annual revenue by 2021.

Damali Shepherd [10:56]: "I stopped photographing people for the rest of the year... a year later I was like, oh, I had that sale. And it scared me so much that like what I wanted was possible and I didn't feel ready for it, that I totally shut it down."

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4. Strategic Growth and Marketing

Timestamp: [16:10]

Damali discusses her marketing strategies, emphasizing online group engagement over traditional in-person networking. By authentically participating in business groups and nurturing relationships, she attracted a steady stream of clients. Her focus on providing value and differentiating her services helped establish her reputation.

Damali Shepherd [18:27]: "I started to engage in groups, like business groups, where personally they were for me too... it's easy to be around entrepreneurs because they need photos and they love what I do."

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5. Specialization in BIPOC Personal Branding

Timestamp: [23:04]

Damali highlights her commitment to representing women of color. By showcasing black women exclusively on her Instagram and website, she fills a crucial gap in representation. This focus not only resonates with her target audience but also sets her apart in a saturated market.

Damali Shepherd [23:14]: "I show black women and people of color in general because I'm a black woman. Representation is just so, so, so important to me."
Damali Shepherd [24:48]: "My clients know that they're my priority, and they are. While I work with everyone, the women that look like me are absolutely my priority."

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6. Innovative Packaging and Pricing Strategies

Timestamp: [26:44]

Transitioning to package-only pricing was a strategic move for Damali. Her basic package starts at $6,500, up from her initial $3,600, reflecting the comprehensive services she offers, including stylist collaboration and curated experiences. She further offers a $15,000 VIP package, which includes wardrobe assistance and personalized styling, enhancing the overall client experience.

Damali Shepherd [27:14]: "I went to package only pricing in 2020, and I started at $3,600. And then I've been up leveling those sessions and the way that I work ever since."

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7. Enhancing the Client Experience with Styling

Timestamp: [30:51]

Damali elaborates on the value added by incorporating professional styling into her packages. By collaborating with stylists who assist clients with wardrobe selection and on-the-day styling, she ensures a seamless and luxurious experience. This holistic approach not only alleviates common client pain points but also justifies the premium pricing.

Damali Shepherd [33:18]: "They're getting a whole new view of themselves, of what they can wear, of how they can wear it... they're walking away with the confidence of our photo shoot together."

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8. Technical Excellence: Lighting for Diverse Skin Tones

Timestamp: [46:12]

Damali shares her lighting setup, emphasizing its effectiveness in flattering diverse skin tones. Drawing inspiration from Lara Jade's Covergirl setup, she uses a single tilted light with black V-flats to create rich, natural-looking images that highlight the subject's beauty.

Damali Shepherd [46:12]: "My emphasis is really on just making sure that the woman in front of my camera is glowing. And my lighting setups reflect that."
Damali Shepherd [47:09]: "It's very simple. My favorite setup is from Lara Jade's Covergirl. It's just one light tilted down in front of the subject with two black V flats or two white V flats."

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9. Personal Insights and Advice for Aspiring Photographers

Timestamp: [52:04]

Damali offers heartfelt advice to newcomers in the photography business. She emphasizes the importance of perseverance, seeking support through coaching and education, and fully committing to one's passion despite challenges.

Damali Shepherd [52:04]: "Give yourself fully to it. It's uncomfortable, it's hard, you will cry... find help and ask for help in any way that you can and pay for that help."
Damali Shepherd [51:27]: "When she wakes up, she likes herself so that you don't have to."

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10. Future Goals and Vision

Timestamp: [43:26]

Looking ahead, Damali aims to stabilize her package-only business model, enhance her marketing efforts on Instagram and TikTok, and continue refining her messaging to attract clients who value her unique offerings. Her goal is to maintain a sustainable pace, focusing on quality over quantity to ensure personal and professional fulfillment.

Damali Shepherd [43:26]: "My goal this year is just to increase my marketing efforts, be better with Instagram... doing three or four of those shoots a month."
Damali Shepherd [45:41]: "My business is really custom tailored to who I am, and I am not a person who can do a lot of shoots in a short time frame."

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11. Conclusion

Nikki closes the episode by praising Damali's achievements and her dedication to representing and empowering women of color through her photography. Damali expresses gratitude for the support from the SBE community and reflects on the life-changing impact of her journey.

Damali Shepherd [54:09]: "Best weekend of my life... I'm really, really appreciative of the platform and what y'all have built. It's been just so life changing."
Nikki Closser [53:52]: "Someone asked for us to keep an eye on. I see you going big places, that's for sure."

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Key Takeaways:

• Community and Education: Engaging with supportive communities like SBE can significantly accelerate business growth.
• Specialization Matters: Focusing on a niche market, such as personal branding for BIPOC women, can distinguish your services in a crowded market.
• Comprehensive Packages: Offering all-inclusive packages that address client pain points (e.g., styling, wardrobe) justifies premium pricing and enhances client satisfaction.
• Authentic Marketing: Building genuine relationships and providing value without overt pitching fosters trust and long-term client relationships.
• Continuous Learning and Adaptation: Investing in coaching and continual learning is crucial for overcoming personal and professional challenges.

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Notable Quotes:

• Damali Shepherd [00:35]: "Photography found me because it did and it is what changed everything."
• Damali Shepherd [10:56]: "I totally shut it down. It was really nuts."
• Damali Shepherd [23:14]: "Representation is just so, so, so important to me."
• Damali Shepherd [33:18]: "They're walking away with the confidence of our photo shoot together."
• Damali Shepherd [52:04]: "Give yourself fully to it. It's uncomfortable, it's hard, you will cry."
• Damali Shepherd [51:27]: "When she wakes up, she likes herself so that you don't have to."

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This episode with Damali Shepherd provides invaluable insights into building a successful, specialized photography business. From overcoming personal fears and leveraging community support to creating high-value packages and authentic marketing strategies, Damali's story is both inspiring and instructional for photographers aspiring to elevate their craft and business.

Transcript

[Nikki Klosser]

Hey there, it's Nikki Klosser and I want to let you know about an awesome free giveaway for people on our email list. If you haven't already, click the link in our podcast description or go to theportraitsystem.com signup to get on the list. If you sign up, you'll get a free posing 101 PDF to jumpstart things. It's an epic PDF, so you'll definitely want to get this. Also, just by being in our email community, you'll get deals, sales and information about any of our upcoming events and activities. So head over to theportraitsystem.com signup and sign up. Today you're listening to the Portrait System podcast.

[Damali Shepherd]

I like to say photography found me because it did and it is what changed everything. Like it's what showed me that I can be strong and I can be in the public eye if I want to and I can speak my truth and I can make money and I can photograph women and they pay me for it. And it's amazing. Like it's been such a great ride.

[Nikki Klosser]

Welcome to the Portrait System Podcast. I'm your host Nikki Klosser and this show is here to help you succeed in the world of photography and business. To help you learn to become financially free, doing what you love and so much more. With over 1 million downloads, countless photographers have taken what they've learned from both our episodes and from the portraitsystem.com and they have grown their businesses, quit their day jobs and are designing a life of their dreams. We keep it real and share stories about the ups and downs that come with running a photography business. You'll hear real life stories of how other photographers run their business and you'll learn actionable steps that you can take to reach your own goals. Thank you so much for being here. And let's get started. Today's guest is Damali shepherd and she is such an incredible person to chat with. Not only is she just a great conversationalist in general, but she gave some really terrific business advice. Damali shares with us specific things she does to be the photographer people want to book in the saturated market of New York City. She grew her business rather quickly and went from $50 photo shoots to a starting price of $6,500 per shoot. And she also talks about how she personal styling in her $15,000 VIP package. Damali's specialty is personal branding, particularly with BIPOC folks and she has created just such a beautiful business and a beautiful portfolio and I'm So, so excited to introduce you to her. Okay, here she is. Damali Shepherd. Hi, Damali. Welcome to the portrait system. How are you?

[Damali Shepherd]

I'm so good. Thank you for having me.

[Nikki Klosser]

Nikki, I'm so excited to have you here. And I know I just said this, too, when we were just doing tech stuff, but you have such a great voice, which I'm really excited about.

[Damali Shepherd]

I'm so flattered by that. I give good voice. I appreciate that.

[Nikki Klosser]

It's awesome. Okay, so before we get started with your story and just what you want to teach everyone, can you just give a little bit of a summary? First, where are you located? And second, what do you focus on most in your portrait business?

[Damali Shepherd]

That is an awesome question. So I am from Queens, New York. I shoot in Brooklyn, and I focus on. On portraits and personal branding. And what I've done is kind of follow what Sue's always said, and I push my portraits to my personal branding clients. So my personal branding clients come to me now for a more editorial fashion, like portraiture for their brand. So it's kind of just portraits, but they kind of get to write it off, and they love doing that, and it's very fun for me too.

[Nikki Klosser]

Yeah. Okay. That's awesome. And I love, love, love your branding work. You just. It's almost like a.

[Damali Shepherd]

Like.

[Nikki Klosser]

Like you said, like, there's a fashion influence. It's just like, a fresh take on. On personal branding. I really love it.

[Damali Shepherd]

Thank you. I appreciate that.

[Nikki Klosser]

Okay, so I guess my question for you then is, has. Have you always been a photographer? Because. Well, okay, so I did see on your website, it's only been, like, four years, right?

[Damali Shepherd]

Yeah. This is year five. It'll be five years this summer. So that is really exciting and fun and, like, three years of me taking it really, really, really seriously. So. Yeah.

[Nikki Klosser]

Yeah, yeah. That surprised me when I saw that, because I was thinking that you are just someone who's been doing this for decades. Like, you just really come off as. And that's not to say that we can't achieve a lot in three or four years, because I did as well. There are so many people who are, like, killing it just after a year or two. So I'm not trying to downplay it, but there's something about your confidence in the way that you are as a photographer that I would have assumed you've been doing this for a long time.

[Damali Shepherd]

Thank you. I think. Well, I really attribute a lot of it to finding sue and all of you wonderful folks, like, early on of my journey. So sbe was the very first photography education that I purchased.

[Nikki Klosser]

Oh, okay.

[Damali Shepherd]

So right from the beginning, I think I bought, like, a book before, but it was like, you know, when I really decided that I wanted to work with women, and I really wanted to figure out what portraits were like. And someone was like, hey, check out this Sue Brice lady. You kind of had me from the hook. So I've been learning my camera game and lighting and leveling up kind of just like sbe did over the last few years. And I attribute most of that growth to just hitting it hard and being really deep in the coursework.

[Nikki Klosser]

Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It really is amazing education. And when you can find an instructor that you relate to, it's so priceless. And I try to tell people that, like, it doesn't. I know I'm obviously team Sue Brice. Like, I had learned so an immense amount from her, but there are different instructors that will speak to you, and it's just finding an instructor and a mentor who their personality or what they teach, you know, just something that resonates with you, and I think it's super important.

[Damali Shepherd]

Absolutely. I think, you know, like, in prepping for this, I was like, well, what do I really think about my journey? And I think that sue really called to me because she teaches portraiture in business, but she teaches it in this way where, like, you're kind of healing yourself at the same time. And so that's exactly what it did for me. Like, I. You know, people don't believe me, but, like, five years ago, for me to be showing up online and talking about personal things and photographing and sharing my work. Right. Like, you could not have paid me. Well, maybe, but, you know, it definitely wasn't something that I felt great about. And sbe, like, just listening to the way that sue teaches, and it kind of calls you forward, and I needed that in that moment. So it's like that personal journey kind of aligned directly with my professional journey. And that. That's been really awesome.

[Nikki Klosser]

I love that you shared that. And I think that it almost. I feel like being an entrepreneur is such a mind fuck in so many ways that being on that kind of personal journey along with learning business, it just coincides so well together. And it just. I feel like people who are. Who are embracing both of those parts of all of this often can, like, see more success more quickly when you're addressing everything. Do you think?

[Damali Shepherd]

Yes. Yeah, yeah. Cause it's like, it's one thing to want to figure out how to do your camera, but then for Me, it was like, okay, but you're really afraid of, like, being seen and you're terrified of, like. For me, I also was afraid of taking photos before all this started. And photography helped me figure out myself. Like, it really is a journey on both sides. So I think I was personally ready to change my life. And I like to say photography found me because it did. And it is what changed everything. Like, it's what showed me that I can be strong and I can be in the public eye if I want to, and I can speak my truth, and I can make money and I can photograph women, and they pay me for it. And it's amazing. Like, it's been such a great ride.

[Nikki Klosser]

Oh, that resonates so much with me. And I'm sure with so many of our listeners, it's like, people get to the point. Like you said, it's not just about. It's not just about switching careers or whatever it is. It really is about changing your life and just designing a life that you really enjoy and love.

[Damali Shepherd]

That's exactly what it was for me. Yeah.

[Nikki Klosser]

So tell us a little bit about that, then. What were you doing before?

[Damali Shepherd]

Sure. I was in HR for a tech company before I went full time into my photography. And I was just unhappy, like. Like everyone else's story. I. At the time, I was 29, so I would just let y'all clock my age. I was 29, and I just felt really depressed and overwhelmed. And it's really. Because it sounds really cliche, but I always had this feeling that I was meant to do more with my life. And clocking into that 9 to 5 and dealing with people that I didn't like, did not feel aligned with that vision for myself. And I just. I got so fed up that I was like, fuck it. You know what? Let's just figure out how to start a business. And I went to school for TV and radio in communication arts. And my uncle had gifted me a Nikon. Like, a kit. A kit Nikon for graduation. And I never touched it. I never touched it because I was still on the producing end when I was in school. Like, I wanted to be Shonda rhines or Ava DuVernay. And so we were going to Bali, and I was like, you know what? Like, in researching Bali, I was like, wait a second. People get paid to be on YouTube and take videos. Like, I could. I know my camera. I went to school for this. And from there I was just like, okay, okay, I'm not gonna be a YouTube vlogger. Cause it's Much harder than I thought it was. But I did realize that I wanted to focus on women and that relationship between them and the camera because I hated myself in the photos in that moment. I did not like it. And then when I would take my sisters out, like, it would be the same thing. So I got really curious, like, what the hell is up with this? And that just took me on the photography path, which is what made finding Suburai super aligned.

[Nikki Klosser]

Wow. Wow. Okay, so then, I mean, obviously you had this like other career happening. Whatever. At what point did you quit all of that and start making money with photography?

[Damali Shepherd]

Okay, so I'm a jumper before it all aligns. So everyone has really great advice where they're like, make sure you have money saved and all. That's awesome. Do that. But I'm kind of like a big thinker, big jumper. So I. It was like my three year anniversary at this job, by the way. Fabulous job with great benefits and all the good things, right? But I was just super unhappy there. So here is the fun part about this story for me is my first year of photography. So I spent a lot of time practicing first, right? And just doing a bunch of free shoots. And then I graduated to charging $50 a photo, which was so hard for me at that time. Like literally the hardest thing I did. And then like I, you know, did the 12 week workup. I didn't finish it, but I took what I needed to take and. And I had my first client who I set my prices to and she booked it and I had a fifteen hundred dollars sale. And then.

[Nikki Klosser]

Nice. Sorry, I just got really excited.

[Damali Shepherd]

That's awesome. But guess what I did? I stopped photographing people for the rest of the year.

[Nikki Klosser]

Oh, wow. Okay. This is so not what I was expecting you to do, which you're expecting, right?

[Damali Shepherd]

Yeah, I know. It's a detour. I literally, like, it freaked me out so much that I found so many excuses around like, well, why I shouldn't be shooting. And a year later I was like, oh, I had that sale. And it scared me so much that like what I wanted was possible and I didn't feel ready for it, that I totally shut it down. And that's like literally what I did. It was. It was really nuts. So I kind of like dealt with that. I also worked one on one with the life coach, which was super helpful and they kind of helped pull me back in. And then I dug back into the coursework and I made $19,000 the year after that. And then in 2020 I made almost 60,000. And then in 2021, I made 140,000.

[Nikki Klosser]

Wow. Tamale. That's incredible. I mean, that's a really impressive journey. I want to back up just a little bit because you said a lot of important things in there. So you. You mentioned you went through the 12 week course. And just for people who are listening, who might not have any idea what we're talking about, that's actually. We call it the 90 day challenge now. It used to be called the 12 week startup. Now we switched it to 90 days challenge. So that is on the website. Like, if you're a member, you get access to the 90 day challenge. So that's what you're referring to, right? I just want to make sure.

[Damali Shepherd]

Yes, yes, yes. It was that. Yep.

[Nikki Klosser]

Okay. And then it's just. It's crazy how you can get that one big sale and then. And then stop. Like, is that at the time? Okay. I shouldn't say it's crazy because we all have our own path.

[Damali Shepherd]

It's a little. It's a little out there, I think. I think it was really scary. Like, I didn't recognize it as that. Like, in the moment, my thought wasn't, oh, I'm done shooting. But I just, like, literally, like, shut down talking about, like, I had been starting to talk about it and I stopped talking about it. And I just. I was so afraid that one. That woman was going to call me and want her money back because she hated everything that we created, actually, and, like, doesn't give a crap about her wall art. And I just. I don't know, I was just so afraid of doing it again, so I just stopped. It was really interesting.

[Nikki Klosser]

Well, I'm really glad that you brought this up because I think. Well, I know that a lot of us have issues receiving money from people.

[Damali Shepherd]

Yes.

[Nikki Klosser]

You know, even though this woman chose to pay you, it's not like you held her down and stole her purse. Like, she chose to book you knowing your prices, booked you, paid you. And yet somehow we still have this just. I don't even know, this feeling of worthiness. Yes. Guilt. All of it. It's wild.

[Damali Shepherd]

Yeah. Yeah. It was definitely unworthiness. I still felt like what I did did not equate to $1,500. Like, and it now, in retrospect, like, hell, yes. Even though I don't. I didn't. You know, I don't love that work. Right. Like, my first shoots, those are pretty terrible now and to my standard, but for her, it was the best photo she had ever had. Of herself, and she loved them, and she spent money on them, and I made that a bad thing at the time. It was really strange.

[Nikki Klosser]

How did you. I know you said you had a life coach, and. Yeah, you know, but for, like. Cause I know there are so many people listening who can. Who can 100% relate. And I remember feeling the exact same way. It was like I'd break out into cold sweats anytime I had to talk about pricing or take money from people. I found myself giving things away, even though they had already agreed to the price. And I'm like, oh, but you can also have this. And they're like, wow, totally nice. It's just like, how did you work through it? I'm sorry. This is a really tough. I know. It's like a loaded question.

[Damali Shepherd]

Okay. I think that. Well, first of all, the group is the thing that always makes me come back to it, because while I would have loved to continue to hide and just keep my day job, when you show up in the Facebook group and you see, like, Felicia Reid killing it and killing it and all of these other, like, Bethany and everyone, like, all the mentors right at this time, it's like, three or so we're hearing about, like, all the mentors towards success at that time. And I was just like, shit. It's possible. I live in New York. Like, it's possible in these tiny towns, and I live in one of the biggest cities in the world. And, like, so I would always, like, even when I wanted to recoil, going into the group would be like, well, they're doing it to Molly. What the hell are you doing? Like, what are you doing with yourself? So there would always be that dialogue of, like, I know that I want to do it, which is why I kept paying for the membership and why I stayed in the group. And just, like, you know, the constant reminder that it's possible. It's possible. It was like, all right, we're gonna continue to open up and keep pushing ourselves out there. And even though it hurts and it sometimes physically hurt, like, I don't know how the brain does that, but sometimes it physically hurts. I knew that I had to in order to get what I really, really wanted, which is, like, the freedom I've been able to create now.

[Nikki Klosser]

Yeah. Yeah. So after you did that, I know you said for the rest of the year, you stopped shooting. You got a life coach, you kind of got back on track. Yeah, take us from there. Like, did you just go out and get a studio? Were you consistently booking at that point? Tell us A little bit about that.

[Damali Shepherd]

Sure. Yeah. So, okay. I quit my job in 2019, in the summer, right before the portrait master. So that was fun. I went and I met a great community there, some really awesome girlfriends who we're still super close to this day. So I had some personal support, right. In the form of that I was able to have. I had like three months rent saved. I'm not going to say I had zero dollars say I had three months rent saved up, but that still wasn't much, right. Like leaving. When I chose to leave, it could have been much more, but it was that moment where I was like, it's time to fucking do it. Right? Like, let's just, let, let, let's just really do it. So quit my job, started to market myself more and then went to TPM, came back from TPM, started booking folks. I, I did a 40 over 40. I started a 40 over 40. And that really confidence and pulling folks in. And then 2020 hit and I had to cancel almost everything in February because New York was one of the early big hits to experience Covid. And that devastated me again. Another, like, you know, before I stopped myself and this time the world stopped me. And that was really, really difficult to deal with at the time. Like having to cancel these shoots that I had worked so hard to book. I thought about quitting there during the, during the hiatus. I'll be totally upfront. I had to collect unemployment. Right. To get myself through those months. And I'm really grateful that New York extended it to contractors, which. So I qualified. And then summer came, people started to book again and I picked myself up and I targeted. That's what, that's when I made the shift to personal branding mostly. I engaged in a bunch of online groups and then the booking started to flow from there. So that's how I ended the year with that almost 60k. Most of that happened in like the last five months of the year, just because the other seven months New York was shut down.

[Nikki Klosser]

Right? Oh, gosh, it's. Yeah. And the fact that you were like really just started your. Starting your business during the pandemic, like really getting it going is. Oh, my gosh. But you found a way. It sounds like. Okay, so you, you talked about marketing yourself and joining groups and that sort of thing. Tell us a little bit about that.

[Damali Shepherd]

Absolutely. So I, you know, there's a big emphasis though. Excuse me, there's a big emphasis on in person networking, which is amazing. But for me, as a millennial, as someone who just loves to be on her phone. I decided to figure out where my ideal clients were. And so I started to engage in groups, like business groups, where personally they were for me too, because I love learning from other industries on what they're doing and it helps me tweak things specifically to myself. That's something that I really enjoy doing. But also it's easy to be around entrepreneurs because they need photos and they love what I do. So that's really how I built my business. There's like two groups in particular that I join and I would show up there authentically, not really pitching, but just like helping others and being myself. And then people would just click on my bubble, look at my work and be like, oh, shit, you're a photographer. You're a really great photographer. Like, I need photos. And from there, like, friending a lot of those folks, bringing them into my world, following them on Instagram, like, started to allow them to see me consistently. And even though I know everyone thinks that, like personal branding folks, like, they're ready to throw lots of money at you, that's not necessarily always the case. Like, some folks shoot and burn, I was able to build the value of what I do, how I do it, because what I do is different from some personal branding photographers, right? Like, I'm still doing the sbe way of consults and a full day photo shoot with hair and makeup and a reveal. And a lot of my clients have, have never experienced that. They're like, wait, you don't just like, give me a gallery? And I'm like, nope, sorry, not today. So I was able to educate them using my marketing and really build the value of what I do to them. And then they just start to book. So I have this stream of this group of women that I started on two years ago that just keep referrals flowing in. It is not as, as like saturated as I wanted to be for myself. That's me being a little bit of a perfectionist. But I'm continuously booking, right? So I've been able to pay myself and pay myself well so far. So that is. That is the win.

[Nikki Klosser]

That's fantastic. I have so many questions for you. Okay, okay. One thing you said that really stands out is that you nurtured these relationships. It wasn't like you just show up to these meetings and you give your pitch and you talk about yourself and that's it. Like, you are finding them on social media, paying attention to them, being top of mind. And I know I say this a lot for people who listen a lot. I'm Super Sorry that I'm always repetitive about this, but it's just so, so important to not expect to go into one meeting and book 10 shoots. It takes time. It takes time for people to trust you. We are reinventing the way that photography works. Like, you know, the shoot and burn type situation where it was 100 bucks or 150 bucks, a lot of people are still used to that. And it does take some time to show them that, you know what, we're doing things a little bit differently now, so. And some people right away will be like, hell, yeah, sign me up. But it does take time to show people that, you know, you're a full service type experience. And so it's not. Yeah, so it does. It does. It takes time, and it takes work, and it takes nurturing.

[Damali Shepherd]

It does. It takes a lot of nurturing. And I think, like, there are amazing folks who are like. Like, I literally had someone. I had a client. This was a 10k CL, by the way. And she friended me on Facebook. No, I randomly friended her. Because sometimes I will look at the business folks who I'm friends with and I will friend their friends because we. They know each other and there's, like, a point of reference. And I friended her. She accepted the friend request. She messaged me, and she said, hi. Oh, my God, your work is beautiful. And I thought she was just being friendly, and I was like, oh, my God, thank you. That's so wonderful. Gonna go check you out too. And then she's like, no, no, no, wait. Where are your packages? And then the next. Next day, she booked my 10k package. Right. So is there. There are those awesome clients that happens every once in a while that they're just ready for you, and then they're the folks who will need. Will need to watch you for two whole years. I just. I literally just shot a session with a wonderful woman who had been in my orbit for the last two years, and she's just been building her own confidence about wanting to spend that much money with me.

[Nikki Klosser]

Yeah. Yeah, you're right. There are those. It's like there's two different types of clients. The yes, I'm ready now, and then no. And then two years later, like, my last client that I just had, Jessica, she. I think she first contacted me a year and a half ago, and we finally just did it because she finally was like, okay, fine, I'm ready.

[Damali Shepherd]

Yeah.

[Nikki Klosser]

And, yeah, sometimes it just takes time. And that's okay.

[Damali Shepherd]

Yeah.

[Nikki Klosser]

Okay. So I know that you specifically photograph, like, specialize in bipoc folks. So is there anything special that you bring to your marketing?

[Damali Shepherd]

Yes and no. I feel like I show. I show black women and people of color in general because I'm a black woman. And that was. Representation is just so, so, so important to me. So as a black woman, it would feel like all hell to not want to include that in my portfolio. And I kind of flipped it because when I started photography and I was having conversations with, like, some models and, like, you know, like, fashion people, right? There was these terrible stories about how, like, you know, if you really want to make it, how you have to stop photographing black folks because, you know, no one wants to see that in your portfolio in X, Y, Z. And this is more fashion, not necessarily portfolio stuff. It was like. It was like New York fashion talk, right? And I was just like. Like, just kill me now. Super gross. And so I was like, okay, well, if that's what it is, I'm gonna only show women of color in my marketing. And honestly, it's. It's most of my marketing on Facebook. I show everyone. But for me, it's really important that my Instagram and website only feature women of color. And. And that's because I want the women like myself, who are so desperately searching to see themselves, to be able to find that in my work, because that's what I really needed when I was growing up and when I was a little kid. And it just feels super like we don't always get that chance. You know what I mean? So since it's my business and I get to run things the way that I want to, I want my clients to know that they're my priority, and they are. While I work with everyone, and I absolutely love working with everyone, the women that look like me are absolutely my priority.

[Nikki Klosser]

Yeah, they should be. Absolutely. And, you know, it all comes down to also showing who we want to photograph. And this is incredibly important. And, you know, when. When you scroll through your work, I see just remarkably beautiful women of color.

[Damali Shepherd]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[Nikki Klosser]

You've done such an amazing job of. Of being what you were told. You, you know, oh, you can't do this, or what? Like, it's.

[Damali Shepherd]

Right.

[Nikki Klosser]

Yeah, yeah.

[Damali Shepherd]

There's sometimes a stigma, especially around folks of color, where it's like, well, black folks don't want to pay that, or, like. Like, that's what my uncle told me, right? Like, when my family said, no, don't quit your job, they were like, but who's gonna pay that? And that's a personal Feeling right. Like what? You know, he. That that was his feeling. Now I've obviously proven him wrong, and he's happy that I. That I was able to prove him wrong. But, you know, there' you're almost afraid that if you target that, that you won't be paid what other demographics can pay you. And it's just not. It's not true. Black women helped me build my business, and I'm so grateful for their never ending support. And also, something special for me happens when I show women of color, which is that the white women that I do work with are so, like, accepting and loving and just more of the types of folks that I would prefer to work with versus intolerant folks, or I'll just say it racist. So it kind of like, it just creates a standard for who I am. When you look at that work, you're like, oh, this girl cares about diversity. Right. And you should probably too, if you want to work with her. And I'm really proud of that.

[Nikki Klosser]

Yeah, you should be. Well, and I noticed too, on your website, two things. I want to talk about how you write on your website, but I also want to talk about how what I saw is that your Packages start at 2,100. Is that right?

[Damali Shepherd]

Okay, sorry. My packages start at 6,500 now, but.

[Nikki Klosser]

6,500, this is new.

[Damali Shepherd]

And like, talking about this is. So the universe is testing me right now.

[Nikki Klosser]

Okay, well, you heard it here first, folks. It's 6500. I was like, 2100 is amazing. You know, is an incredible, like, starting package. Yeah, 6500 is. I love it. I want to hear more.

[Damali Shepherd]

Okay, so I went to package only pricing in 2020, and I started at $3,600. And then I've been up leveling those sessions and the way that I work ever since. So last year I was at 4,500, and this year my new pricing starts at $6,500. So that is where packages begin to work with me. And there's a few reasons for that. Like, my clients. Clients get stylist attention. Would they get wardrobe access? Which I know is a lot of the things that we all do, but I value it. Like when I say that you get to work with my stylist, I really value it, and I value the team that I work with. So when I say that number, it's not like, you know, we are all business owners. Right. I'm not taking home $6,500. Right. I pay my team really well for the package that. For the experience that we create for them, which helps them to show up happy and engaged and ready to go. And I also pay myself well, and I just set the standard for myself. That's like, if you're going to engage me for a day, which is more like three days, right? Because we're prepping on the day before and we have to detox the day after, and we're on a kickoff call and we're, like, coaching them. I just, like, literally value every part of what I do. So now we're at 6,500, and folks know that, and I'm still getting inquiries. So it's definitely I'm a rebel if you can't tell. Nikki, hey.

[Nikki Klosser]

Just a quick break to tell you that since you're here listening, you have access to a really great offer for our listeners only. We have a special promo code you can use to get 50% off the cost of membership. Just go to theportraitsystem.com or click the link in the description and use the promo code PODCAST50 to get 50% off of a membership we rarely discover. So this is a big deal, as I hope you already know. The membership is how I and so many guests on this podcast reached our success. And it gives you access to countless amazing videos, an awesome community, and all the tools you need to build a massively successful business. So use the code podcast50Now to join the community and to start building the business of your dreams. I'll see you there. Okay, tell us about this. Tell us about your whole service and what you provide. You know, so if I were to book you at 6500, knowing that out of my pocket initially, I'm spending 6500. Tell us about that. Like, what would we get for that?

[Damali Shepherd]

Absolutely. So with that package, you're getting 18 images. You're getting a kickoff call with me and my stylist so that we're going to start the process of mapping together what you want to create, asking you questions and making sure that we are building this dream session for you. And we're going to have the photo shoot day. By the way, I think I glossed over one of the earlier questions, which was like, do I have a studio? No, I don't. So I rent by the day. And that, of course, is a bit more expensive than what everybody else is doing. Right. So I don't have my own studio as yet, but yeah, we rent out a studio for them. They have access to me. I have kind of forged my way in the space that I'm in. As a photographer coach, and I mean that deeply as, like, coaching is a very big part of my life. I love to coach. And so my clients come to me because they need extra special attention, because they are terrified, because they want to express themselves in ways that they're not even exactly sure about. And I help pull all of that out of them and create something spectacular. And. But this session does not include any product. So this is a digital only package. I just value the hell out of it, and people pay me for it.

[Nikki Klosser]

It's so amazing. Your stylist, are you talking hair and makeup or also clothing?

[Damali Shepherd]

Clothing, yes, clothing. So, Yeah, I have two main packages. One is 6,501 is 15,000. And the $15,000 package includes. Includes us purchasing clothing for the day. Not to keep. They can buy it from us if they want to, but on that day it is. And I marketed the hell out of this Niki. I was like, imagine showing up on the day of your photo shoot and there are six custom looks tailored to who you are waiting for you on a rack. They're pressed, they're steamed, like you just got to show up with your bag. And I had two people, but I've had, I've had a few people book this package. But like, I had a client who flew in from California and she was like, I'm so glad I don't have to bring clothes with me. All the clothes are going to be there. And I was like, yes, benefits that we didn't know that we were, we were providing. So they're really getting an experience where we're taking photos, but because they get to work with my stylist, they're leaving with a whole new view of themselves, of what they can wear, of how they can wear it, of how to dress themselves in the future. They're walking away with the confidence of our photo shoot together. They're walking away knowing their angles and posings that we take them through, and they're walking away with these fantastic collection of images that look and feel like who they are. So I'm super proud of these packages.

[Nikki Klosser]

That sounds like a dream, like, for. As a. As if I were a client. That sounds like a dream to dress me. And I mean, are they giving you. I'm assuming there's some sort of, like, consultation where they're saying how they want to look and color preferences, like that sort of thing.

[Damali Shepherd]

Yeah. So after they meet with me, they meet with my stylist and she takes them through a long experience, extensive call where they go over, like, what they were doing. And then she's like, oh, well, you said you didn't like color, but guess what actually would be really great on your skin tone. And guess the fit for the jeans that you should actually be wearing. And guess what color combinations we can do. And it's just so exciting for them. And then what we do is she sends them this beautiful mood board of looks that have already been put together for them. Right. So when we're buying them, we do make the purchases for them. But I have had packages where we just gave them the mood board and they just click out into the links to purchase. And it's so easy and super fun. But, yeah, they're getting, like, this entire experience when it comes to the clothing. That just makes it ten times better.

[Nikki Klosser]

Wow. I feel like that is such a huge pain point for people is what to wear.

[Damali Shepherd]

Yes.

[Nikki Klosser]

I mean, I think sometimes people actually avoid booking a photo shoot because they have no idea what they're. What they're going to wear, and they don't want to go shopping. They don't want to deal with it. So you are, like, hitting it it. Not only are you making it a really fun experience and, you know, someone's shopping for you and telling you what looks good on you and all of that thing, like, it's an exciting and fun experience as well, but you're also hitting, you're like, taking care of that pain point for people.

[Damali Shepherd]

Yeah. It's a big deal. And that, that's really where the price increase for this year came from. Because I, last year, I started at $4,500, and that was great, but it didn't include stylist assistance. They had to purchase it separately. And so I, I. What I thought is that if you're spending almost $5,000 with me, but you're not getting the clothing, and you're still confused about what works for you, which so many of us are, especially with COVID Right. Our bodies are always changing and we. And shifting and, and we just don't necessarily know, like, where we should be at. I was like, it doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense to not include my stylist. So my packages now, all of them have a level of touch with my stylist. And the first level with the 6500 IS, is basic, but still hella informative and value filled. Right. Like, they're still getting that attention on their colors and their styling and everything else. She's just not putting together the big mood board that we create for my 15k client and where we buy the clothing for.

[Nikki Klosser]

Yeah, that makes sense. Now, Jamali, how do you. I know people out there are wondering, how do you pay the stylist?

[Damali Shepherd]

Yeah, well, I just include it. Like, I do my retoucher and everything else, so. And stylist. Stylists, Stylist. Costs vary. I've had as cheap as 500, and I've had folks pay. I. I know of a fantastic stylist who charges 7,500. Right. So stylists definitely vary, but there's a range, and, you know, you also get what you pay for, too. So I. I found a really great range with my stylists. Right now, she's around 850 to a thousand, and she's just fantastic to work with, so I love it.

[Nikki Klosser]

That's great. That's great. I think. I mean, in addition to finding someone who works in your budget with your package, do you find personality? I mean, obviously, everyone has to be of a certain mindset, of course. You know, but it seems like the stylist, even. Even more so. I don't know.

[Damali Shepherd]

Yeah, no, yeah. Like, she has to, obviously, you know, like, we're trying to be current, Right. So she should be body sensitive and body positive and, like, all those great things. And I forgot to mention that my stylist is also here on the day of photo shoots. Right. So she's there, which is such a godsend, because when I'm shooting, I can definitely be scatterbrained, and she will pop in and fix something that has fallen or the jewelry has turned around the wrong way. Like, having her there for the small details is so, so, so fantastic. So, yeah, we vibe super well together. She's also a supportive heir in the. In the room. And my clients love being fussed over. Like, at this point, I'm helping on shoes, she's buttoning something on the. On their jacket, and my makeup artist is dabbing on more highlighter. Like, they're like, what the hell is this? It's. It's pretty amazing.

[Nikki Klosser]

Yeah. Yeah, that's very. That makes so much sense. One of my makeup artists is very stylish. She's very stylish. So I'm. Yeah, I often defer to her, like, as I'm setting up the next set or whatever. You know, the backdrops, whatever. Sometimes she is helping my client pick out the jewelry or whatever, and she just does hair and makeup. She doesn't, you know, focus so much on picking out clothes or anything, but I love having that extra opinion. And she always shows up well dressed and looking, smiling herself. And so when I'm like, oh, Megan's my girl, you know, Megan's gonna help you pick out your jewelry. I mean, and Megan's right there, you know?

[Damali Shepherd]

Love it.

[Nikki Klosser]

So it's. It does. It adds that extra little level of service.

[Damali Shepherd]

Yeah. I really wanted to create what I needed because that. That's what I needed. I don't know how to dress myself entirely. Right. Like, I'm at this age of, like, growing into myself as a woman versus, like, what was I doing in my 20s. So I really just wanted to create something that felt like it was 360, taking care of the people who were coming in. And the response for it is amazing. Like, even for the folks who can't afford it right away, it's on their list. Like, people rate me daily, saying that my $15,000 package is on their list and that they are actively working towards it. And so that makes me feel really lucky.

[Nikki Klosser]

I love it. That's so great. Yeah. Being the photographer that people want to book, because obviously, there are a lot of personal branding photographers in New York.

[Damali Shepherd]

Yeah.

[Nikki Klosser]

But when you can set yourself apart in these ways, like you said, people are saving now, and they have you on their list to spend 15 grand with you as a photographer.

[Damali Shepherd]

Yeah.

[Nikki Klosser]

Because you are the photographer now that these people want to book. You know, the women who are saying, like, they want to book you.

[Damali Shepherd]

Yeah.

[Nikki Klosser]

Because of what you're showing. And are you now. Are you including this in your marketing as well, that you provide all of this?

[Damali Shepherd]

Of course. Yes. Yeah. I spend a lot of time. I like to think of my marketing as, like, I'm just figuring out different ways to give them permission to have this. So, like, that's literally all I do in my marketing is say, hey, it's okay to spend this much on yourself, or, hey, it's okay to treat yourself. Or, hey, like, wouldn't you freaking love a day to feel like a celebrity? Just like sue teaches. Right. Like, nothing that different, but I just look for different angles and other ways to just dig into how juicy and special this experience is.

[Nikki Klosser]

Yeah, I love that. I love it so much. So I know that you said they spend the whole day with you, right?

[Damali Shepherd]

Yes. It's a longer day, which made sense when I. When I created it. It's called the VIP day, and it was because of some of the branding folks. Right. Because I was still doing things like portraits, but they were like, you know, I need more time. I need more looks, I need more photos. I need something to account for that. And I was like, well, if. If I do this, it would have to be at a certain level because I can't charge, you know, what was it, maybe four grand for 30 images. Right. But then charge six grand for a hundred, which is like, sometimes what we, like branding folks are like, I want 50. Like, something like that. So the VIP day was my way of pleasing them and saying, if you want me to go all in, this is how much it'll be. I think I started at 10, and I was giving them all of the images. I know I slapped myself. We fixed that. We upgraded that greatly throughout the year or two of doing this. And now that $15,000 package is actually only includes 35 images. But it's like, you know, it's branding in my style, which they really want. I've somehow been able to train them into really loving what I do, the way that I do it. So the fact that they're not even pressed on the image packaging, which is important, and then they can still purchase more. And I've had. I've had someone purchase more on top of the VIP day.

[Nikki Klosser]

Another thing that I really love about your marketing is, like, I mentioned is the way that you write on your website before. Cause I was. I was just scrolling through, and you, like, had me captivated with everything I was reading.

[Damali Shepherd]

Thank you.

[Nikki Klosser]

Like, the way that you speak about what you do is so incredible. And it's like you give just enough information about yourself, but it's still not even really about you. It's still about the clients. Like, you've done such a brilliant job at it. And I think it's really important because it's not only is it important visually to show what you do, but, you know, it's important to tell people what you do as well. And you just. You do a really brilliant job at it.

[Damali Shepherd]

Yeah. I think that package only made me feel like I needed to set my game up just because, sure, booking in folks at $400, I mean, at the time, for me, it felt hard, but now, in retrospect, right, you're like. Like $400, $3,600 when I started. Right. Like, that felt like a big jump. And so I was like, I need to tell them more. I need to get them more emotionally invested up front so that they feel comfortable paying me that upfront. And that's how I figured out. Like, I prefer to be paid upfront versus at the sale. It lowers my level of anxiety, and it allows me to be more present in the day than when I was doing, you know, the other way for it. Right. So knowing that I was asking, asking more of these folks up front, right. For you to say, I trust Molly with this much money up front, I decided that I had to add more words and more information and more knowledge to help connect the images to the experience and the images to what they were actually getting for the money that they were paying me upfront. So that's why writing, like, I'm a writer, I've always been a writer, but I knew that, like, if I'm gonna sell them this, right, like, if I just have my photos up there and they read $3,600, they're going to click away. They're like, no, no image is that good, right? I mean, that's. That's probably a block of mine. But for me, I was like, no, but if you get on my website and you read about how transformative it is and you read the actual benefits of what this shoe is going to give you, you're like, wait a second. I never thought that I would pay this much for photos, but the way Damali does it, like, I think I will. And that's kind of what happens.

[Nikki Klosser]

Yeah, it's true. It really is. It's like you leave your website feeling like, why wouldn't I do this? Instead of, why would I?

[Damali Shepherd]

I love that.

[Nikki Klosser]

It's. It's just the way you write is very powerful. And I hate to use the word convincing because I don't think it's like convincing. I mean, yeah, like, not like, like slimy sales. Yeah, it just is, really. I can see why you have grown at the rate that you have. I mean, truly.

[Damali Shepherd]

And full disclosure, I did work with a copywriter on my website because while I'm a writer, there is a certain format for websites. Like when you get into the entrepreneurial space, that's important. So I've worked with two fabulous copywriters in the last few years to help fine tune that. But the heart, the theme, the value, that all does come from me.

[Nikki Klosser]

Yeah. Yeah, I believe it. Well, overall, I mean, I'm just excited to see where you're gonna go from here. I mean, what are your plans? What are your goals?

[Damali Shepherd]

That's such a great question. I think I am just working towards stabilizing the interesting thing with being package only. And starting at this rate also means that, like, inquiries can be lower. I hope that makes sense. Like, it's not like I don't get injuries inquiries. I do get inquiries. But I'm very upfront about my Pricing. So my form now says Packages start at 6,500. Are you okay with that? Right. And I've had folks check off yes. And book the call. But of course, there are people who I'm sure started that form and they were like, hold on, I can't afford that right now. Right. So my inquiries are slower than I want it to be. So my goal this year is just to increase my marketing efforts, be better with Instagram. Right now, Facebook is my primary source of marketing. It's where I get most of my clients from. But I do want to increase my IG presence and maybe a little bit of TikTok. We'll see what happens. Yeah, just like, really, you know, my goal is to do three or four of those shoots a month. And I'm just gonna keep working on refining my message strategy and connecting with my clients like I do online and just showing them how much fun it is to not just have this photo shoot, but also how much fun it is to, like, spend that much money on themselves. Like, I've had folks say that spending this money with me was their own form of self care because we don't usually think that we're worth spending that much money on. Right. And in a photo shoot, it's for ourselves. So I get to be someone's self care, which is kind of. Of fun.

[Nikki Klosser]

Yeah. And like you said, yes, there are going to be probably less people at this point that will spend 15 grand. Right. But that's okay because we're trying to work smarter, not harder. You know, we're not trying to work our lives. Well, I don't. I shouldn't put words in your mouth, but, you know, like.

[Damali Shepherd]

No, but you're absolutely right. Like, that is absolutely it. Like, my business is really custom tailored to who I am, and I am not a person who can do a lot of shoots in the. In a short time frame. I'm actually relearning that lesson because I decided to run a special in January, which I now am battling myself with because it's a bit too much. So it reinforces my original hypothesis, which is that three hour shoots a month at 6,500 or $15,000 is everything that I need to survive and be good with how I'm running my business.

[Nikki Klosser]

Yeah, yeah. Very, very, very cool. I'm excited for you.

[Damali Shepherd]

Thank you. I appreciate that.

[Nikki Klosser]

Well, thank you for sharing everything. I mean, actually, you know what? Before I go on to the questions that I always ask at the end, will you tell people about your lighting setup? Because you just like, preserve skin tone very, very well. And a lot of people don't. I mean, it's, you know, unfortunately. So I just. You do such a nice job with your color tones and skin tones and just lighting in general. So what do you do?

[Damali Shepherd]

Thank you. I'm very flattered to be answering a lighting question on this podcast because I don't think of myself as a skillful lighter. Thank you, Felix. Thank you. Thank you. I really do stick to two or three setups that I learned from Felix and Laura Jade's courses, the fashion series and the lighting series. And for me, all I've ever done with my lighting is put my subject in front of it and try my best to make sure that they look really good. And I think that when it comes to photographing black women in particular and women of color in particular, that some people struggle with that and they'll overlook that part. But I can't. Right. Because you're not going to come to me and then feel like I shot you. Ashley, as a black. I can't. That's. That can't happen. Like I said, my emphasis is really on just making sure that the woman in front of my camera is glowing. And my lighting setups reflect that. It's very simple. My favorite setup is from Lara Jade's covergirl.

[Nikki Klosser]

Oh, she's incredible.

[Damali Shepherd]

Yeah. It's in her lighting section, and it's just one light tilted down in front of the subject with two black V flats or two white V flats. But I use black because it is just better on black women. That contrast that pop it just for me, makes it super rich and beautiful. And then we edit that naturally. And I keep true to the skin tone on purpose. Like, I don't like to get too artsy. I do. I will sometimes. But for me, the best look is where that melanin looks like it could, you know, like. Like actual chocolate. So that's. That's kind of how I treat it. Yeah.

[Nikki Klosser]

Yep. Awesome. Well, again, thank you for sharing everything. And I just. I feel like you're. I'm like, you're. Someone asked for us to keep an eye on. I see you going big places, that's for sure. So, so very, very excited for you. Have you. You've told your uncle about all of this?

[Damali Shepherd]

Oh, of course I have. I rubbed that. I rubbed that $140,000 all up in his face. Okay. I was like, take that. Yeah. I rubbed it in my entire family's face. Everyone in the room said, no, don't quit. But now they're Very grateful that I did.

[Nikki Klosser]

I do hope that people from the fashion industry also take note, you know, with what you were told and just in general, what is often experienced.

[Damali Shepherd]

That would be nice.

[Nikki Klosser]

Yeah.

[Damali Shepherd]

So they're working on it, but it's going to be a long, weird road. Fashion has so many issues that they've got to work on, so we'll see what happens.

[Nikki Klosser]

I know. I know. All right, well, I do have some other questions to ask you that I always ask at the end of each episode, and the first one is, what can you. What can't you live without when you're doing a photo shoot?

[Damali Shepherd]

Ooh. What can't I live without when I'm doing a photo shoot? Can I say, like, my actual lights? Like, I. I've had to, like, train myself to check for actual natural light setup because I. I started this in my apartment where there was no light. So I'm just so used to shooting with my lights now that not having my lights sometimes feels unnatural.

[Nikki Klosser]

Okay. Do you use a specific brand of light?

[Damali Shepherd]

Yeah, I use Godox, which was there for me when I was broke, so I'm hanging out with them for a while.

[Nikki Klosser]

Yeah. Hell, yeah. That's awesome.

[Damali Shepherd]

Yeah.

[Nikki Klosser]

I used the same camera for years and years and years, and I finally just upgraded. I just upgraded. I got the R6.

[Damali Shepherd]

Ah.

[Nikki Klosser]

I debated between the R5 and 6. And Michelle Salentano, I interviewed her about on. On SBE. Well, the portrait system powered by SBE. Now, I had to. We talked about Canon cameras.

[Damali Shepherd]

Okay.

[Nikki Klosser]

And I don't know, she just talked me into the R6 instead of the R5 when I was listening to her, so I was like, all right, that's what I'm getting. I don't need the R5. R6 is good.

[Damali Shepherd]

Love it. I can't wait to go mirrorless.

[Nikki Klosser]

What do you. What do you shoot with?

[Damali Shepherd]

I shoot on my Nikon D750. I've had it since I. I've had it for the last four years, and it's time for an upgrade. It's starting to tinker out a bit from you. So I'm. I'm either going to go Nikon mirrorless or do a full swap to Sony. Those are my. My hopes. Yeah.

[Nikki Klosser]

All great options.

[Damali Shepherd]

Yeah.

[Nikki Klosser]

Actually started. My husband had a Nikon D80. I married into Nikon at the beginning. I had no idea what I was doing. When I looked at the thing, I'm like, there's so many buttons and, like, I don't even know. And then I use that briefly and then that my first like purchase myself was a Nikon 7 7.

[Damali Shepherd]

Yeah. That's my old faithful there getting. Getting me through with these sales. We love it.

[Nikki Klosser]

Oh yeah, for sure. Awesome. Very cool. Okay, next question. How do you spend your time when you're not working?

[Damali Shepherd]

I love tv. That's my number one thing. I love books. But yeah, you know, I went to school for tv so I'm obviously very obsessed with TV and movies and I write. I, you know, I want to write a book. There are so many other things outside of photography that I have my eyes on. I'm a very multi passionate person. So I am doing my best to channel other passions when I'm not doing photography. So I don't burn out in my photography.

[Nikki Klosser]

Yeah, yeah, that makes so much sense. For sure. Because you can burn out like it.

[Damali Shepherd]

Yeah.

[Nikki Klosser]

Real. Very real. So that's great. Okay, number three is what is your favorite inspirational quote?

[Damali Shepherd]

So my favorite quote is one from the great Lisa Nichols, who I heard this in one of her interviews and she said that when she wakes up, she likes herself so that you don't have to. And so that is like my favorite thing of reminding myself that I need to validate Damali first before I ever look to anybody else to do so. So that's one of my favorites.

[Nikki Klosser]

I love that. I've never heard that quote. But yeah, I'm so glad you said it because it is so true. Very cool.

[Damali Shepherd]

It's a good ones.

[Nikki Klosser]

Okay. And then number four is what would you say to people who are just getting started?

[Damali Shepherd]

I would say like, give yourself fully to it. Like it's uncomfortable, it's hard, you will cry. But so is living the mundane life that you're sick of too. So the thing that worked the best for me was just picking myself back up over and over again. And the other thing I'm going to say is get support. Like get support, pay for the subscriptions, pay for the coaches. I have worked with so many coaches and so many service providers that have helped me get to a place where I can free flowingly choose to charge what I charge. And that doesn't happen in a day or a month. Right. That takes months and months and months and years of reinforcing what it is that you do in the world. So find help and ask for help in any way that you can and pay for that help. Because I look at it now like when I invest in other people, I'm investing in myself and my quick growth, I think is because I openly spent so much money investing with other people. We're slowing it down now because Damali a few years ago was so hungry that she just charged it all. But it was so worth the growth that I've been able to experience because of it. It helped me grow and stretch in ways that I would not have without about it.

[Nikki Klosser]

Yeah. Very, very wise advice. Thank you to Molly.

[Damali Shepherd]

Thank you for having me, Nikki.

[Nikki Klosser]

Yeah. This was so great. This was so great. I, I again, you have a great voice and you didn't say like one time. Oh, you're just, you're really, really a great speaker as well. I'm just like picturing you on stages at like WPPI and you know, I don't know, I just, I just feel like you have a lot, a lot to share with the world and you know, just, just representing bipoc folks is just everything, everything about what you do is really incredible and I love your energy. So yeah, thank you very much.

[Damali Shepherd]

Thank you so much. I would love to be on some stages. So we'll see where I end up. Let's go.

[Nikki Klosser]

Yeah. Yeah. Well, sue, actually, after you spent a weekend with sue, she was like, you have got to interview Damali. And I was like done and done.

[Damali Shepherd]

So best weekend of my life, I must say. So awesome. She's great and I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to connect and do this. I'm really, really, really appreciative of the platform and what y'all have built. It's been just so life changing, honestly.

[Nikki Klosser]

Awesome. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Yay. Thank you so much for listening to the Portrait System podcast. Your 5 star reviews really help us to continue what we do. So if you like listening, would you mind giving us a review wherever you listen? I also encourage you to head over to soubreiseducation.com where you can find all of the education you need to be a successful photographer. There are over 1000 on demand educational videos on things like posing, lighting, styling, retouching, shooting, marketing, sales, business and self value. There's also the 90 day startup challenge plus so many downloads showing hundreds of different poses. We have to do checklists for your business, lighting, PDFs. I mean truly everything to help make you a better photographer and to make you more money. Once Again, that's Sue briceducation.com.