Seona Misumi of www.seonamisumiphotography.co.uk is a successful portrait photographer based in Scotland where clients spend from $3000-4500 per session, and she photographs around 2/3 sessions a week.

She started her photography business in 2007 – focussing on boudoir with just $500 – in what you might call an ‘unpleasant' area in the city of Glasgow. That business grew to a six-figure business.

In 2015, she switched genres to newborn and family photography and never looked back.

She's a mum of three, having had her first baby in her first year of business, and a great believer in just jumping in and getting started in business with whatever you have – perfection should not be a factor.

Something about her photography makes it stand out in the family photography genre – higher contrast, beautifully lit, emotive and even edgy. However you describe her style, it's attention-grabbing.

In this interview, learn that it's possible to generate terrific portrait photography sales, no matter your location — something reported as a myth by many UK based portrait photographers.

Here's some more of what we cover in the interview:

• A look back at Seona's photography business and how it developed


• How to start a photography business


• Closing a photography studio business due to building lease issues


• Building and running a 6-figure photography business in the UK


• Is it still profitable to run a business without large overheads


• The difference between running a photography studio vs a home-based studio


• How Seona attracts clients — then and now


• Attending events is one of the best ways to find new portrait clients


• Which events should family and newborn photographers attend


• Addressing the common problems of family photography clients


• Utilising a photo booth at an event


• How Seona generates bookings during an event


• Seona's booking process


• Is there really less pressure of doing IPS when you downsize your business


• Seona's thoughts on pushing to get sales from clients


• Cost of doing business when leasing a studio


• Seona's secrets for successful IPS


• Seona's IPS process in step by step description


• Why Seona only books a sales session when both couples are present


• When is the best time to talk about money during an IPS


• Seona's average sale


• Seona's payment process


• What Seona offers in her education course


• How Seona teaches newborn photography

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything away from what Seona shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, let me know by leaving your thoughts in the members FB Group. What are your takeaways, what do you plan to implement in your business as a result of what you heard in today's episode?

Most of my most loyal clients come from events that I've been to and I've spoken to personally. – Seona Misumi

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Seona or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to comment inside the Members FB Group too.