As creative entrepreneurs, we all face road blocks and the success or failure of our business is based on how we overcome those. Our guest on the podcast today is the lovely Sandra Coan, and she’s a photographer and educator who loves learning. She would take those blocks as a chance to broaden her knowledge and then teach others how to handle those same road blocks!
Sandra splits her time 50/50 between newborn and family photography and education. At the base of her love of educating is a passion for helping others create thriving photography businesses. She speaks at conferences, teaches online classes, and offers coaching sessions all while averaging 250-300 portrait sessions a year!
Sandra started out teaching elementary school and transitioned to photography as a way to supplement her income. After seeing how rare it is to build a thriving photography business, she got back into teaching to help others make a living being a photographer. The industry changed her life in such a positive way, and she wants to help others change their lives, too!
At the heart of every good educator is a learner, and Sandra Coan is just that. Her passion for educating comes from seeing her own successes through self-teaching and wanting to help others see that same success. She taught herself basically everything she knows, including lighting. In 2011, she made the switch to shooting in film, a medium that is completely reliant on lighting… in Seattle, a city that can experience some serious darkness! She took this challenge and taught herself lighting, learning how to create that beautiful natural soft light that she used to get through her windows with studio lighting!
Sandra is a trailblazer who knows what she likes and goes full force toward it! She shares with us some very relatable challenges and mistakes, and I know you’re going to love listening to her talk as much as I did!
WHAT YOU’LL HEAR IN THIS EPISODE:
- How Sandra got started teaching photography
- How she splits her business between education and shooting
- Online vs in-person teaching
- Tips for leading potential clients to a sale
- Challenges Sandra has faced in teaching
- Mistakes Sandra’s made in business
- Managing your e-mail lists
CONNECTING:
Sandra’s Website
Sandra’s Instagram
LINKS REFERENCED:
Gary Caynerchuk
Marie Forleo
Amy Porterfield
SPONSORS:
Showit – User-Friendly Web Design Platform: Use code MAGIC for 10% off your subscription!
Black River Imaging – High Quality Online Print Site: Use code MAKEMAGIC for 5 free thick press folio prints!
Boutique Bridal Show – An Intimate Boutique-Style Bridal Show
Loope – An easier, simpler and more intuitive way to handle a work day’s timeline and schedule
The Palm Shop by Davey and Krista – Professionally Designed, Customizable Website Templates and Resources Perfect for Photographers and Creatives
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