Okay I wrote a whole blog post and then didn’t save it. genius. What does Certified Boutique even mean?
Did you know that literally ANYONE in Maine can call themselves a professional photographer. No license required. People, please, please, please VET your photographers. I’m guessing you wouldn’t hire a contractor without first making sure they met professional standards and probably getting a free consultation to determine if they’re even the right person to work with. You DEFINITELY wouldn’t pay in full up front and then hope for the best. Well, a photographer IS a contractor. They’re also an artist. Please make sure you know who you are working with.
Becoming a Certified Boutique Photographer means I meet and exceed my industry standards. By the way, those standards are set by my mentor and business coach, Sarah Petty, and the Photography Business Institute in Springfield Illinois. I do my business coaching through them and invest heavily to stay in the program. The standards include but are not limited to the following:
*Business donated at least $1,000 to charity in the last year
*Business meets financial and marketing standards including accurate number tracking and reporting, tax payments, separate business accounts, relationship and education based marketing, etc.
*Photography is excellent and consistent across sessions and clients. Photographer displays a clear style and intention through their work.
*Certain gross revenues must be met. This certification is meant for professionals who work with quality clientele.
*Business provides a full service experience including a complimentary design consultation, and dedicated artwork ordering appointment. Pricing is a la carte only (we don’t sell digital galleries) and artwork is archival quality.
*Business owner continues to invest in their education, so they can best serve clients.
I’m extremely proud of this certification. It took me over a year to complete, and required a deep dive into all of my systems. Of course, none of this would be possible without my amazing clients and community partners. I’m thankful to be on this journey, and to maybe meet you along the way. 🙂
