00:00:04.580 --> 00:00:05.960

Amy Hutto: Welcome to So...

00:00:05.960 --> 00:00:12.400

Amy Hutto: Tell Me What You Do, I'm Amy Hutto, a productivity coach who takes the friction out of work for independent small business owners.

00:00:12.840 --> 00:00:17.740

Amy Hutto: If we talked, you'd know instantly that what I love most is learning all about other people's work.

00:00:18.200 --> 00:00:27.200

Amy Hutto: So join me as we talk to a different small business owner, entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, or creative each week, so they can tell me and you what they do.

00:00:33.003 --> 00:00:36.703

Amy Hutto: This podcast represents the opinions of the speakers and guests to the show.

00:00:37.183 --> 00:00:40.543

Amy Hutto: The content should not be taken as advice, medical or otherwise.

00:00:40.763 --> 00:00:43.323

Amy Hutto: The content here is for informational purposes only.

00:00:43.623 --> 00:00:48.683

Amy Hutto: Because each person is so unique, please consult a healthcare professional for any medical questions.

00:00:51.183 --> 00:00:51.723

Amy Hutto: Hi, Megan.

00:00:52.403 --> 00:00:53.443

Megan Sanchez: Hello.

00:00:53.463 --> 00:00:54.623

Amy Hutto: How are you?

00:00:54.643 --> 00:00:57.103

Megan Sanchez: I'm awesome, today's a great day.

00:00:57.703 --> 00:00:58.503

Amy Hutto: Perfect.

00:00:58.703 --> 00:01:00.043

Amy Hutto: Megan, do you want to introduce yourself?

00:01:01.243 --> 00:01:03.563

Megan Sanchez: Hello, I'm Megan Sanchez.

00:01:03.863 --> 00:01:07.123

Megan Sanchez: I am a photographer for Megan Sanchez Photography.

00:01:07.623 --> 00:01:09.383

Megan Sanchez: I specialize in portraits.

00:01:10.243 --> 00:01:16.923

Megan Sanchez: I love capturing just people in general, and I love to specialize in boudoir photography.

00:01:17.223 --> 00:01:18.463

Megan Sanchez: That is my favorite.

00:01:19.063 --> 00:01:25.883

Megan Sanchez: And not only am I a creative as far as photography, but I do have a day job that I work and try and balance.

00:01:26.043 --> 00:01:28.623

Megan Sanchez: And I work in Murray County Schools, and I'm a teacher.

00:01:28.903 --> 00:01:29.403

Amy Hutto: Perfect.

00:01:29.803 --> 00:01:36.223

Amy Hutto: So, Megan, for those of us who don't know what boudoir photography is, will you give us a quick little definition to start?

00:01:36.643 --> 00:01:44.343

Megan Sanchez: Yeah, boudoir photography is photography that is a little bit more risqué.

00:01:44.383 --> 00:01:47.283

Megan Sanchez: You might be wearing a lingerie.

00:01:47.623 --> 00:01:50.323

Megan Sanchez: You might be in more of a dark, moody lighting.

00:01:50.343 --> 00:02:04.423

Megan Sanchez: It's just an opportunity for people to feel powerful, feel sexy, feel confident in their own skins, and it is the most fun type of photo shoot you could possibly do.

00:02:04.443 --> 00:02:08.143

Amy Hutto: Okay, I hear your enthusiasm leaking out already.

00:02:08.203 --> 00:02:13.343

Amy Hutto: So, Megan, as a boudoir photographer, tell me what it is you do all day, every day.

00:02:15.063 --> 00:02:16.003

Megan Sanchez: All day, every day.

00:02:16.023 --> 00:02:29.183

Megan Sanchez: It definitely, it's different because I think women need a reason sometimes to give themselves permission to feel sexy or to feel powerful or to feel confident.

00:02:29.703 --> 00:02:49.263

Megan Sanchez: So, every day, it's a lot of me working on promoting my business, trying to put my work out there, post on Instagram, post on my socials, and just start the conversation with people who might be interested in doing a boudoir session.

00:02:49.283 --> 00:02:59.503

Megan Sanchez: And then once someone reaches out, they're more interested in it, then the day can look different because we're planning their schedule or their session.

00:02:59.523 --> 00:03:04.603

Megan Sanchez: And I'm answering questions like, what do I wear for a boudoir session?

00:03:05.063 --> 00:03:06.823

Megan Sanchez: Or what is this going to be like?

00:03:07.283 --> 00:03:10.383

Megan Sanchez: I'm really nervous to be on front of camera in general.

00:03:10.403 --> 00:03:11.943

Megan Sanchez: I don't like getting my photos taken.

00:03:12.063 --> 00:03:19.103

Megan Sanchez: So, it's a lot of coaching women to understand what their session might be like.

00:03:19.163 --> 00:03:29.383

Megan Sanchez: And then once we're there at their session, I like to gather and figure out people's energy to start out with.

00:03:29.403 --> 00:03:34.343

Megan Sanchez: And most always, women are very apprehensive and they're a little closed off.

00:03:34.663 --> 00:03:38.703

Megan Sanchez: They come in, they're not really sure how to feel right away.

00:03:40.263 --> 00:03:49.783

Megan Sanchez: So, we get some emosis, we got the music going, we try and facilitate a really positive, exciting vibe for someone to just feel a little bit more comfortable.

00:03:50.163 --> 00:03:53.943

Megan Sanchez: And we'll spread out all of their outfits, because I always get, what do I wear?

00:03:53.943 --> 00:03:57.423

Megan Sanchez: What is the best outfit that I should choose?

00:03:58.163 --> 00:04:03.683

Megan Sanchez: And I send out an outfit guide, of course, for them to be guided in a direction.

00:04:05.183 --> 00:04:12.283

Megan Sanchez: But as women, we love to, we go in our closet and we're trying to figure out what is it that we're going to wear that day.

00:04:12.703 --> 00:04:19.623

Megan Sanchez: So for a photo shoot, I spread out anything that they want to bring or wear onto my kitchen table here.

00:04:19.643 --> 00:04:29.923

Megan Sanchez: And I help them select what I think might let them, what's going to photograph really well and what they're going to feel most comfortable and confident in.

00:04:30.303 --> 00:04:36.043

Megan Sanchez: And then once we have their outfit picked, we have a couple of mimosas, and then we get straight into it.

00:04:36.063 --> 00:04:40.383

Megan Sanchez: And I coach everyone through every single pose.

00:04:40.423 --> 00:04:52.163

Megan Sanchez: They never have to feel like they have to put on a sexy face because that's part of, I think a lot of the insecurity is, I don't know how to look sexy.

00:04:52.543 --> 00:04:59.363

Megan Sanchez: I will always tell them exactly what type of poses, how to coach their face, and how to look.

00:04:59.363 --> 00:05:01.523

Megan Sanchez: And I'll demonstrate for them as well.

00:05:01.943 --> 00:05:13.983

Megan Sanchez: So here I am out there, just also being put in this situation where I'm showing them as well, how to feel comfortable and what that might look like.

00:05:15.083 --> 00:05:18.343

Megan Sanchez: And their session, it always is just so much fun.

00:05:18.363 --> 00:05:24.483

Megan Sanchez: We have the best time when that people book a boudoir session with me.

00:05:25.903 --> 00:05:26.343

Amy Hutto: Awesome.

00:05:27.143 --> 00:05:31.403

Amy Hutto: So you're not just having people do what you say, it's also do what I do.

00:05:32.243 --> 00:05:32.783

Megan Sanchez: Correct.

00:05:34.583 --> 00:05:35.903

Megan Sanchez: Yes, absolutely.

00:05:37.343 --> 00:05:40.403

Amy Hutto: So Megan, what made you start with boudoir photography?

00:05:41.963 --> 00:05:56.223

Megan Sanchez: I had a friend back in 2016 who was getting married and she said, hey, I know you have a camera and I know you typically do video, but would you be interested in shooting my boudoir photos?

00:05:56.543 --> 00:05:58.063

Megan Sanchez: I had never heard of the term.

00:05:58.203 --> 00:05:59.943

Megan Sanchez: I had no idea what that was.

00:06:00.583 --> 00:06:03.703

Megan Sanchez: So I said, yeah, let's try it.

00:06:04.023 --> 00:06:10.263

Megan Sanchez: And we had an Airbnb and it was all of her girlfriends, the people that were her bridesmaids.

00:06:10.923 --> 00:06:15.543

Megan Sanchez: And we all just, same situation, got together, had a bunch of mimosas.

00:06:16.043 --> 00:06:24.163

Megan Sanchez: And then we just created this fun environment where we're all just screaming and lifting up the bride and shouting compliments.

00:06:24.183 --> 00:06:30.643

Megan Sanchez: And all of us are just having the best time as I'm putting her in different poses and I'm snapping photos.

00:06:31.243 --> 00:06:33.083

Megan Sanchez: And that was so fun.

00:06:33.103 --> 00:06:35.023

Megan Sanchez: I said, why don't we just do this?

00:06:35.203 --> 00:06:37.203

Megan Sanchez: Not just for a wedding.

00:06:37.223 --> 00:06:47.903

Megan Sanchez: Like, can we just do this in other, like, can this be a photo shoot that women do just for themselves or not for the purpose of just getting married?

00:06:48.503 --> 00:06:57.803

Megan Sanchez: And so after that, it was, I'm adding this to what I want to start doing and getting involved in, because this was such a fun experience.

00:06:58.863 --> 00:07:04.083

Amy Hutto: Okay, so there's a lot of things you can have fun doing, but you don't turn all of them into a business.

00:07:05.103 --> 00:07:09.763

Amy Hutto: What made you add this to your business portfolio and really pursue it?

00:07:10.403 --> 00:07:24.543

Megan Sanchez: I think it's really, like, I am very, very blessed and lucky to have this business, and it also be a hobby that I love.

00:07:25.383 --> 00:07:27.223

Megan Sanchez: And this isn't what I do full-time.

00:07:27.643 --> 00:07:52.223

Megan Sanchez: I am a teacher over at Mary County Schools, and because I have something that is stable, that provides the day-to-day paycheck, it allows me to tap into this creative business mind of what do I want to shoot, not just what's going to make the money.

00:07:52.303 --> 00:07:54.943

Megan Sanchez: Because if I just wanted to make the money, I'd be doing weddings.

00:07:55.623 --> 00:07:56.983

Megan Sanchez: I don't like to do weddings.

00:07:57.343 --> 00:07:59.123

Megan Sanchez: Those are not my favorite thing.

00:07:59.143 --> 00:08:00.383

Megan Sanchez: They are very long days.

00:08:00.583 --> 00:08:10.163

Megan Sanchez: I second shoot with another couple for a wedding photographer sometimes, but I'm not in charge of the entire day.

00:08:10.183 --> 00:08:22.703

Megan Sanchez: And because I have that day job, it allows me to have the flexibility to really hone in on the type of photography that I'm most interested in.

00:08:23.003 --> 00:08:24.263

Amy Hutto: So what do you love most about it?

00:08:26.203 --> 00:08:39.343

Megan Sanchez: So there is a switch that happens in every single boudoir photo shoot that I've done where someone looks and feels a little bit more insecure.

00:08:39.363 --> 00:08:45.943

Megan Sanchez: And while we're doing that, we're just starting out on their photo shoot, and they're starting, they're letting me pose them.

00:08:45.963 --> 00:08:47.483

Megan Sanchez: They're letting me coach them.

00:08:47.983 --> 00:09:00.883

Megan Sanchez: And then there's a moment that happens in the photo shoot where they switch to where they have now given themselves permission to do this for them and to have fun with it.

00:09:01.143 --> 00:09:10.043

Megan Sanchez: So they don't need me to necessarily coach them on their pose or their face because they are into it.

00:09:10.103 --> 00:09:15.323

Megan Sanchez: They're into it, and it's starting to show their confidence through the photo and through my lens.

00:09:17.183 --> 00:09:21.983

Megan Sanchez: And that is the absolute best part because they're now having fun.

00:09:22.203 --> 00:09:25.643

Megan Sanchez: They're now trusting the process, and they're now doing this for them.

00:09:25.983 --> 00:09:33.763

Amy Hutto: So what is it that you wish you could get those clients who may feel nervous even thinking about this to understand?

00:09:35.723 --> 00:09:41.523

Megan Sanchez: So the question is, what can I get shy clients to understand about potentially doing a session?

00:09:42.283 --> 00:09:45.483

Amy Hutto: What do you wish you could get your customer or client base to understand?

00:09:47.443 --> 00:09:51.763

Megan Sanchez: That you don't have to do this for a man.

00:09:52.443 --> 00:09:54.923

Megan Sanchez: You don't have to do this for a partner.

00:09:55.283 --> 00:09:57.423

Megan Sanchez: You don't have to have a reason to do this.

00:09:58.823 --> 00:10:10.763

Megan Sanchez: I just did a bunch of Valentine's Day boudoir minis, and I really truly believe that those were really successful because women had a reason to take photos.

00:10:12.443 --> 00:10:16.663

Megan Sanchez: Because they were gifting them to their partner, or it was Valentine's Day or whatever.

00:10:17.643 --> 00:10:23.163

Megan Sanchez: But there were a couple of women that signed up just in their single, and they just did it for them.

00:10:24.063 --> 00:10:26.563

Megan Sanchez: They did it as a present to them.

00:10:26.583 --> 00:10:28.863

Megan Sanchez: It was a self-care moment for them.

00:10:29.803 --> 00:10:37.703

Megan Sanchez: And that was really powerful to be a part of and to create that experience for you to just do this for yourself.

00:10:39.163 --> 00:10:42.063

Megan Sanchez: Not necessarily as a gift for somebody else.

00:10:42.083 --> 00:10:49.583

Megan Sanchez: You can't give yourself permission to do something that makes you feel powerful, confident, and sexy.

00:10:49.903 --> 00:10:55.083

Amy Hutto: Megan, all businesses come with challenges, whether you're doing them full-time or part-time.

00:10:56.323 --> 00:10:59.583

Amy Hutto: What is your eternal challenge as a boudoir photographer?

00:11:01.623 --> 00:11:12.383

Megan Sanchez: My eternal challenge is being in the Bible Belt where people feel a lot of shame towards their sexuality.

00:11:14.903 --> 00:11:34.383

Megan Sanchez: It is very difficult to promote and talk about a business that I would say culturally feels a little bit too risqué for people to talk about or showcase.

00:11:36.383 --> 00:11:50.083

Megan Sanchez: So the eternal challenge is how can I promote pictures or my work when women completely have the autonomy to decide how comfortable they are with me sharing their work.

00:11:50.103 --> 00:11:54.303

Megan Sanchez: Like, images are kept private as private as you want them to be.

00:11:54.703 --> 00:12:04.763

Megan Sanchez: I can, I send out a questionnaire or a contract to make sure everyone's comfortable with what I might do with their photos.

00:12:05.963 --> 00:12:13.743

Megan Sanchez: And they have the option to decide if they're comfortable with me showing their images only in person so that they aren't sent across the internet.

00:12:14.023 --> 00:12:25.403

Megan Sanchez: They have the decision to decide if they're comfortable with me posting their photos without any personal identifiable features, such as like tattoos or their face.

00:12:25.863 --> 00:12:29.943

Megan Sanchez: I even had a girl that was insecure about her wedding ring.

00:12:30.403 --> 00:12:34.163

Megan Sanchez: Just, she didn't want it to be identified in any sort of way.

00:12:34.743 --> 00:13:08.163

Megan Sanchez: So, that is the challenge, is how can I talk about such an awesome, empowering, women-empowering business, but also promote it when women don't always have permission to talk about feeling sexy or their sexuality, because it is so shamed and that's something that I would say I've really struggled with as well.

00:13:10.623 --> 00:13:18.803

Megan Sanchez: Just in my background, I have really struggled with the Bible Belt cultural shame around my sexuality.

00:13:18.823 --> 00:13:40.423

Megan Sanchez: And doing something, this quote-unquote risqué, it's hard to talk about, because it's almost like you have to build a network of people that you trust before you talk about that, or that's the mindset that we have in our society.

00:13:42.763 --> 00:13:47.423

Amy Hutto: So that's a huge challenge, because making promotion is such a big part of a business.

00:13:47.603 --> 00:13:56.083

Amy Hutto: How do you find yourself trying to meet and work with that challenge?

00:13:56.103 --> 00:14:04.043

Megan Sanchez: I have several photos that I've done, so many sessions that I love and I'm so excited about that I'm not allowed to share.

00:14:06.083 --> 00:14:13.203

Megan Sanchez: And so I'm never going to convince somebody to share their photos that they are not comfortable with.

00:14:13.403 --> 00:14:33.163

Megan Sanchez: I think in ways I've handled it a little bit in the past is I will bring down maybe a price cut, I will do a session for free, I will find some sort of way to offer it to someone who is comfortable with me sharing their photos.

00:14:33.623 --> 00:14:38.323

Megan Sanchez: That way I do have some content that I can push out there to the world.

00:14:38.663 --> 00:14:41.643

Amy Hutto: Focus on the people who are comfortable and let them bring the other to you.

00:14:41.983 --> 00:14:44.123

Megan Sanchez: Yep, 100%.

00:14:45.683 --> 00:14:48.563

Amy Hutto: So Megan, everybody has hard days in business.

00:14:48.583 --> 00:14:52.203

Amy Hutto: There's times when you're like this image again, I need a new one.

00:14:54.483 --> 00:14:59.863

Amy Hutto: What are the moments that let you fall in love with this business all over again?

00:14:59.883 --> 00:15:04.823

Megan Sanchez: I think it's after a session.

00:15:05.063 --> 00:15:13.503

Megan Sanchez: It's after a session when someone says to you or says to me, I couldn't have done this session without your energy.

00:15:14.663 --> 00:15:24.003

Megan Sanchez: And that feels so validating and so rewarding because I was able to provide someone with an experience to feel confident.

00:15:25.203 --> 00:15:30.643

Megan Sanchez: And then also hearing about how they feel when they receive my photos as well.

00:15:30.663 --> 00:15:34.963

Megan Sanchez: That is super validating when I get really excited editing these photos.

00:15:35.383 --> 00:15:41.923

Megan Sanchez: Of course, editing in a place that is private and complies with our contract.

00:15:41.943 --> 00:15:45.183

Megan Sanchez: But when I'm editing these photos, I'm getting all excited.

00:15:45.483 --> 00:15:49.223

Megan Sanchez: So that excitement feels very valid.

00:15:49.763 --> 00:15:55.583

Megan Sanchez: I get that validation whenever my client also feels excited and receives their photos.

00:15:55.603 --> 00:15:57.103

Megan Sanchez: And they are surprised.

00:15:57.823 --> 00:15:58.883

Megan Sanchez: They said, Is that me?

00:15:59.063 --> 00:16:00.103

Megan Sanchez: Is that really me?

00:16:00.223 --> 00:16:02.443

Megan Sanchez: Like, I did that.

00:16:02.663 --> 00:16:03.323

Megan Sanchez: That's me.

00:16:04.223 --> 00:16:07.183

Megan Sanchez: So that is completely worth it.

00:16:07.923 --> 00:16:09.583

Megan Sanchez: That moment is completely worth it.

00:16:10.263 --> 00:16:12.283

Amy Hutto: You literally change how people see themselves.

00:16:15.123 --> 00:16:15.693

Megan Sanchez: That is the...

00:16:15.693 --> 00:16:17.623

Megan Sanchez: I mean, come on.

00:16:17.963 --> 00:16:19.903

Megan Sanchez: Like, I'm a natural teacher.

00:16:19.923 --> 00:16:25.603

Megan Sanchez: So I love, of course, people discovering things about themselves.

00:16:26.003 --> 00:16:34.963

Megan Sanchez: So I think that moment of people being able to look at themselves in a different way is so powerful and so important.

00:16:35.203 --> 00:16:48.463

Megan Sanchez: And I feel like that's something that if we all worked towards and encouraging others and work towards empowering people, man, what an awesome place it would be to live in.

00:16:50.463 --> 00:16:54.763

Amy Hutto: Megan, who is it that you only wish you could reach?

00:16:55.683 --> 00:17:13.763

Megan Sanchez: I wish I could reach the women who have felt a lot of shame about their bodies, a lot of shame about their sexuality, a lot of shame about even talking about sex.

00:17:15.383 --> 00:17:21.583

Megan Sanchez: I wish I could reach the people that have been hurt by the church potentially.

00:17:25.023 --> 00:17:43.243

Megan Sanchez: I just wish I could help redefine and provide an experience that would really help them feel more comfortable and almost, what's the word I'm looking for?

00:17:45.283 --> 00:18:11.123

Megan Sanchez: It's relearning a way to see yourself because of your experience that you have had and the negative body image that you have grown up that has been pushed down us since we were kids, of looking at women in the magazine, of, oh, I'm never going to look like that, or, you know, looking at your friends and, oh, they're so much prettier than I am.

00:18:11.143 --> 00:18:25.983

Megan Sanchez: Like, having that, those women who have such negative body image and negative views of their sexuality is people I would really think would benefit from doing a boudoir session.

00:18:26.003 --> 00:18:34.163

Amy Hutto: So, Megan, you said that you got into this in 2016 kind of by accident, a little gift from the universe asking you.

00:18:34.743 --> 00:18:38.583

Amy Hutto: And now you've had all of these years doing boudoir photography.

00:18:39.663 --> 00:18:41.863

Amy Hutto: What's your big takeaway from doing this work?

00:18:42.783 --> 00:18:51.343

Megan Sanchez: My big takeaway is that this is always going to be something that I do for others.

00:18:52.843 --> 00:18:56.163

Megan Sanchez: I love to do it 100%.

00:18:56.163 --> 00:19:01.523

Megan Sanchez: They say I love that I get to do this and have this be a business.

00:19:02.483 --> 00:19:16.403

Megan Sanchez: But if I change any sort of mindset that this is for me, I just feel like that takes the fun out of it, and that takes the purpose out of building up and lifting others.

00:19:16.883 --> 00:19:43.183

Megan Sanchez: So I think the biggest takeaway out of all these years of me trying to promote my business and me trying to build my clientele and all of that, if my direction has to be about the people that I'm serving, that has to be the mindset, in order for this to continue to be something fun and uplifting and powerful for me as well.

00:19:45.363 --> 00:19:46.403

Amy Hutto: Remember why I started.

00:19:47.003 --> 00:19:49.203

Amy Hutto: Megan, thank you so much for sharing with me.

00:19:49.243 --> 00:19:57.263

Amy Hutto: If there's someone listening who might be ready to reach out bravely and learn more about boobar photography, where do they find you?

00:19:58.403 --> 00:20:05.043

Megan Sanchez: I am on all the social media, MeganSanchezPhoto, on Instagram and Facebook.

00:20:05.083 --> 00:20:08.023

Megan Sanchez: My website is megansanchezphoto.com.

00:20:09.723 --> 00:20:10.963

Amy Hutto: Thank you so much, Megan.

00:20:12.223 --> 00:20:13.703

Megan Sanchez: This was so fun.

00:20:14.223 --> 00:20:14.663

Amy Hutto: Good.

00:20:20.393 --> 00:20:21.433

Amy Hutto: Thanks for joining us.

00:20:21.753 --> 00:20:25.593

Amy Hutto: If you felt inspired by what you heard today, please subscribe and leave a review.

00:20:25.613 --> 00:20:30.433

Amy Hutto: And if you haven't already, I encourage you to take that first step towards what you feel called to do.

00:20:30.993 --> 00:20:33.733

Amy Hutto: If you need some help gaining clarity on that vision, reach out.

00:20:34.113 --> 00:20:37.973

Amy Hutto: The world needs more people doing the thing they love most, and that includes you.