Today, I’m excited to share my recent conversation with Michael Sasser.
Michael is based in Los Angeles and started out as a videographer but now shoots boudoir exclusively. I’m a huge fan of his work and his marketing.
The way that he uses video on his marketing website to promote his business and connect with new clients is absolutely perfect.
Tune in to hear why photographers need to have video on their websites, tips on email marketing, and how Michael has overcome some of the hurdles that come with being a male boudoir photographer.
(Here are the highlights, but you can watch the full conversation below or listen to the episode on the Momentum podcast).
The Power of Video
The first time that Michael shared a client testimonial video he booked 6 weddings because of it. He doesn’t shoot weddings anymore but continues to use video whenever he can to market his photography business, Boudoir by Sasser.
Why is video so effective?
In a world where people are more mobile and less patient, they scroll through websites but don’t read them. Video makes people stop and pay attention. Video is memorable and helps you emotionally connect with the viewer. It builds trust in a way that no paragraph you could write can.
When people can see and hear actual clients — people just like them — talk about their experience with you, it gives them confidence. When they see you working, they can imagine what it would be like to have you at their event. When they can see you posing people, they see that you are professional and know your craft.
Video has the ability to answer questions that people may not even know that they have and gives them confidence in you and builds trust.
So where do you start?
All you need is good light, a stable camera, and decent audio to make a solid video. You don’t have to hire a professional videographer.
Shooting video for yourself isn’t hard. There’s no risk. If you do something wrong, you can shoot it again. A good enough video is better than no video at all.
A lot of people stop before starting because the thought of editing video is scary to them. The truth is, you only need to know about 10% of any editing software to make short videos for your website. This 10% is very learn-able and less overwhelming than you think.
You don’t need expensive software. iMovie and Davinci Resolve (for PC users) have everything that you need and YouTube is a great resource for learning. Speaking of YouTube, Michael’s YouTube channel actually has a video that will help you shoot your own promo video. Watch it HERE.
Michael also has a boudoir video course that breaks creating your first professional video down into just 4 easy steps.
- First, he’ll show you which gear is best.
- Second, you’ll learn to shoot stable, clean footage.
- Third, he gives you a mobile shot list that makes sure you never miss a key shot.
- Fourth, he shows you how he cuts together a sample video with the right song in just 25 minutes! Check it out HERE.
Email Marketing
On this show, we talk a lot about the importance of email marketing. It’s so valuable and I always like to hear how photographers are using it and what it’s doing for them.
For Michael, part of the value of email marketing is that it allows him to keep in touch with people who may not be ready to book but are curious or interested in what he does. Offering people something of value in exchange for their email address is a good way to build your email list.
Michael created a guide with 25 boudoir outfit ideas and gives it to people who subscribe to his list. Once people get the guide, he sends them about one email every month so that he stays relevant and people don’t forget who he is.
The emails usually have a video with a client testimonial, behind the scenes look into a session or before and after pictures. Occasionally he asks for their business or does a promotion but this is only after he’s provided them with value.
Thoughts on Being a Male Boudoir Photographer
In our conversation, Michael said, “I think guys get stuck on what other people are going to think of them more so then what they think of boudoir and what they are doing.”.
Once you identify your “why”, the hurdles start to fall away. For Michael, his passion is to help women see how beautiful they are.
The biggest hurdle is building trust, but as Michael points out, that’s something that female photographers have to do too. While it may be a little bit harder for a man, it’s not “so off the wall different”.
At the end of the day, there are women who will never hire a male photographer, and that’s ok. You don’t have to be the right choice for everyone.
Links from the episode:
Photography Education with Michael