Sunday Muse Studio

Friday reminder.

If Instagram's got you feeling like the only way to live is on the EDGE, a gentle reminder that there's nothing wrong with being in your comfort zone either.

Want to know the first step to effortless, effective marketing?

Believe - wholeheartedly - in what you do! ✨

When you're passionate about what you do, when you know it serves your community and you know your clients are better off on the other side of working with you, letting people know about your offerings becomes that much easier.

Reflect on your offer and ask yourself:
✨do I believe in what I offer?
✨ if I was my client, would I be happy with my offering?
✨ how could I make what I do even more valuable?
✨ is there something that's missing from my offer?

Believing in what you do is the first step - not the only step - but it's an important one!

✨ Start here!

Scroll through to find out:
📝 What services Sunday Muse offers.
🧍‍♀️ Who I work with.
🔗 How to know if we're a great fit.
🔑 What my key values are.
🌈 A little about my clients.
📞 How to book.

DM me if you've got any questions - I look forward to hearing from you!

I love working with this beautiful team!

And yep, this image is a little more polished than some of my earthier frames but that's what this particular session and this refined brand called for.

I've long aspired to get to the point with my work where you'd look at it and be able to tell it was mine without seeing my name attached to it. Where you'd stop your scroll and say 'ah, that's by Sunday Muse'. But I've decided it's time to stop feeling bad that my work is diverse.

Being able to adapt my style and the finish of your images is actually really handy - it ensures I'm producing images that are suited to your business's personality and help you to put your best business foot forward. It ensures I'm creating images for you, not me. I know who I love to work with - kind, passionate people - and I love celebrating the things that make them and the work they do unique.

Let's make slow cool again.

Let's make days spent being entirely UNproductive sexy.

Let's make white space in our calendar something to lust after.

Let's make maximising time with loved ones the pinnacle of success.

Let's make finding peace in nature the ultimate luxury.

Let's make living with intention the new definition of achievement.

Let's make slow cool again.

A little sneak peek from a recent shoot with .nutrition.

After a lot of soul searching in the first half of the year (well, let's be honest, I'm always soul searching 🤣), I feel really clear about where my little business is heading.

There's been a lot of reflecting, sometimes forcing the answers to come to the fore (unsuccessfully) and sometimes happily happening upon them in moments where I was focussed on other things entirely (ah, how many times must we learn the lesson that answers drop in when we give the mind space).

I hope you'll be able to see the subtle changes and shifts over the coming months as I slightly change course. It's not a huge variation because the underpinning values remain the same but it's a course that is hopefully more closely aligned with my deepest desires than ever before.

If you're interested in working with me, you can always reach out in my DMs or book a call via the link in bio.

Here's why you don't actually want to go viral ✨

Once upon a time, ‘going viral’ was seen as the pinnacle of socials success. But now we know it’s less about the NUMBERS in your following and more about the FOLLOWING in your numbers.

In other words, a handful of engaged followers who are interested in you and your offering is always better than 20,000 randoms that are following along for the LOLs. Why? Because going viral and amassing a huge number of followers usually does NOT equal more enquiries.

It often just means your audience is full of random people who are just along for the ride.

For a more fulfilling socials experience, make it less about HOW MANY followers you have and instead speak specifically to ONE kind of person (your right fit kinda client). Put your time and energy into creating content that helps the people you want to work with to discover you and look after them with valuable, authentic content once they’ve found you.

The disclaimer is that sometimes going viral can be VERY useful for your business but for the most part, it's not the be all and end all.

Want to know if we’re a great fit? Book a call via the link in bio.

I never wanted to own my own business.

I wanted to be a policewoman, a teacher, a cinematographer, a film director, a university lecturer or a psychologist but I never dreamed of being self-employed.

It wasn't until my life was drastically changed in 2016 by a series of unfortunate events, including the deaths of three family members within five months, that I was set on a path that would lead to me starting a business three years later.

Before 2016, I was sure that success meant climbing a ladder, increasing your salary year on year and being recognised as intelligent and hardworking. I had no sense of what being connected to your intuition was, what a dysregulated nervous system meant (even though mine was haywire) or what on earth the appeal of yoga could possibly be.

Then I went down the spirituality rabbit hole. It was fun, overwhelming, confusing and intriguing. I started practising yoga, reading self development books, deliberately choosing to do things that were outside of comfort zone and took three months off work to just exist. It felt like coming home to a place I hadn't known even existed. Life changing stuff.

After all this exploring and processing, I woke up one day and decided I wanted to work for myself as a photographer. If I'd even been capable of tuning into a thought like that three years earlier, I would've regarded it as nonsense. But I had learned that the conviction I felt - despite having no idea how to bring the idea to fruition - was worth my attention.

And so here I am - still mystifying myself that I ever developed the discipline and gumption to start my own business - let alone sustain it for five years. Every day that I wake up in this life, I am grateful for the opportunity to follow the breadcrumbs, to continually evolve, to find edges and to make new connections.

It's why I try to share my journey openly: we've all got our own story about why we're here. My work requires you to be vulnerable in sharing a little of yours so I want you to know I meet you in that space - and what a privilege it is.

📸: A frame from our little getaway to Mansfield last week where we popped in to the incredible .

I get it - there's so many things to invest in and when you can just take your own photos, it can be hard to prioritise professional photography.

Here's some perspectives you may not have considered.

✨ Most of us aren't models who get paid to stand in front of a camera and know what we're doing. The right photography will make you feel relaxed and guide you through how to pose.

✨ Get great photos by choosing a photographer you vibe with AND whose style matches your branding. You'll get amazing results if your values and personalities align AND the tone of their images (moody, fun, corporate etc.) matches your branding.

✨ I have no idea where to start when planning my shoot. That's OK - the right photographer for you will give you lots of direction and help you to come up with a vision for your images, guiding outfits, styling, shotlist and location decisions.

✨ Waiting for just the right time? I'll let you in on a secret - it doesn't exist. Professional photography will help you to build trust and authority with your community. It will help you to stand out and make an impact. In other words, it'll be part of the key to driving growth in your business.

✨ I can just take my own photos. You could ... we're lucky to have access to cameras in our pockets. But professional photography is about more than the photos - it's the vision, the impact and the strategy. It's also an excellent way to easily outsource a task in your business freeing you up to work in your zone of genius.

(And not wanting to throw your phone at the wall in frustration).

Let me know if this offered you a different take on some of these common obstacles.

Can I let you in on a secret?

No one feels comfy when they're having their photo taken - you're not alone.

Your zone of genius is doing the incredible work you do in the world, not being in front of a camera. There's no expectation you'd have any sort of confidence when it comes to posing to have your photo taken (I don't either!).

So it makes sense that the number one question people ask me before they book is 'can you work with someone who has no idea what they're doing in front of the camera?'.

Long story short - yep!

In fact, it's a HUGE part of what I do. My business branding sessions are so much more than just clicking the shutter button. You're supported every step of the way - from choosing locations and outfits, to feeling relaxed and guided in how you pose on the day. I love that my clients always tell me they actually had FUN.

So if you're ever looking at my work and feeling like it's impossible to achieve your own relaxed, joyful images, I'd love to let you know it's literally my job to ensure you DO!

Now booking from mid-June, just before EOFY - DM me "June" if you'd like more info.

Did you catch my stories today?

I had a big ol' chat about vulnerability, the exhaustion associated with creating scarcity all the time and open, honest and direct communication.

I don't know about you but I find perpetually maintaining scarcity EXHAUSTING. It has its place, sure, but having to focus on and cultivate a sense of busyness, fullness, momentum all. the. time. is tiringgggggg. I'd much rather share the ups and downs and be able to authentically connect with you rather than hiding the truth and never getting to have any juicy, 'I can totally relate to that' conversations with you.

Are you ready for a little less busy and a little more real on social media? I sure am.

📸 : who is as real as they come.

If you're feeling bad because you aren't posting as often as you like, I'd love to say:

Don't be so hard on yourself.

Your community of followers will still be there when you get back.

And every time you're not on socials, you're attending to something IRL.

And that's pretty important.

If you'd love to have beautiful imagery ready to go so you can post and get on with living real life, I'd love to hear from you. My packages are designed to work with you to design a shoot experience that is unique to you, supportive (and even fun!). DM me "READY" and I'll send you more info.

Details for .sr.emsella ✨

Kazz and her team are beautiful humans who look after your pelvic floor health - did you know there's a huge host of extraordinary benefits for both women and men? I had no idea!

I love the team's down to earth, super warm and welcoming approach and their fab sense of humour - my fave kind of people!

Sharing some fave frames from recent-ish family sessions in the great outdoors.

My approach to family sessions:

✨ come as you are.
✨ wear whatever you like - coordinated or not.
✨ bring toys, fishing rods, food.
✨ let's keep things relaxed, playful.

Autumn is my fave time of year for family sessions - perfect weather, gorgeous light, beautiful colours in nature and being able to shoot in the golden glow of sunset and still be home in time for dinner.

🎉✨GIVEAWAY 🎉✨

To celebrate five years of Sunday Muse Studio and to say a HUGE thank you for your incredible support (I'm so grateful for it), I'm giving away:

🎉 2 x $750 vouchers + 2 x $250 vouchers 🎉

TWO lucky winners will win $750 each plus $250 to gift to a friend (because the odds feel nicer when there's multiple prizes!). Prizes can be put towards a family or business branding session for your service-based or handmade product business.

TO ENTER:
✨ tag 3 friends in the comments.
✨ 3 tags = 1 entry.
✨ extra TWO entries: share to your story with why you'd like to win.

T&Cs:
✨ entrants must live within 75km of Alb / Wod (or travel feels will apply).
✨ current clients very welcome to enter.
✨ vouchers to be used by 30/09/24.
✨ voucher for personal use (your own family or biz).

DISCLAIMER:
This giveaway is not endorsed by or affiliated with Meta.

Happy giveaway-ing! ♥️

Keeping it simple, soft, natural and relaxed for ✨

Some images just work so well in B+W! I tend to choose those with high contrast (light lights and dark darks) and negative space (such as the expanse of white wall in this frame) - which both serve to make the subject pop!

For each B+W image, you'll also receive a version in colour so you can choose which you like best.

May you find the courage to run boldly in the direction of your dreams and deepest desires.

Happy Monday ✨

📸 images of beautiful in .

Having your photo taken is a big deal. Not only is it daunting to be in front of a camera but your images need to help you to put your best business foot forward.

Here’s 3 questions to ask when choosing a photographer to ensure they’re a great fit ✨

1. PRIOR EXPERIENCE
When it comes to photography, experience matters. The more experienced your photographer is, the better they are able to adapt to different situations and lighting scenarios. Ask your photographer if they have experience working with similar businesses in similar environments to yours.

2. DELIVERY TIMELINES
How quickly do you need your images? Gallery delivery times vary significantly depending on your photographer from days or weeks to several months. It’s a great idea to confirm with your photographer when you can expect to receive your final images and make them aware of any deadlines.

3. PERSONALITY MATCH
Having your photo taken is a vulnerable experience. The best photographer in the world will struggle to capture authentic images if they’re making you feel uncomfy. Ask your photographer if you can chat to them over the phone first or stalk their socials to confirm you love their vibe.

Want to know if we're a great fit? Book a call via the link in bio.

A little series for who wanted to focus on form and the amazing shapes we can create with our bodies.

Want to know why Autumn is the BEST time of year for fam photos?

✨ sunset is early = you're home in time for dinner.
✨ earlier start times = happier kiddos (+ happier you).
✨ beautiful light thanks to clear days + crisp evenings.
✨ it's not near any busy times (I'm looking at you Christmas).
✨ gorgeous natural tones thanks to changing leaves.
✨ not too hot, not too cold = perfect weather!

If you'd love to update your family portrait before we head into the silly second half of the year, I have spaces left in May. Reach out via DM to book your spot.

A little series from February's branding session with .co.

Beth's products and the thought and intention that go into them are an inspiration. Plus she's a fellow 1% For the Planet member 🌍 🥰

The aim for this session was to showcase the products in their natural environment - in homes and in use - to build an emotional connection by giving potential customers an insight into the ways these gorgeous creations could enhance their bathing and self-care rituals.

If you've got a mindfully curated, planet-friendly product that you'd like captured 'in the wild', email me at [email protected] ✨

None of us like to talk ourselves up!

So it's hard to market your business without feeling ick.

Here are three simple ideas to market your business without feeling like you have to sing your own praises from the rooftops!

1. SHARE SOCIAL PROOF
Feel uncomfy at the idea of having to talk about how great you are? Yuk! Why not let your results speak for themselves instead?Share case studies and testimonials of times when you helped to transform your clients’ problems into incredible solutions.

2. GIVE, GIVE, GIVE
It feels so uncomfy to ask people to buy from us! So before you take, make sure you GIVE. Share simple ideas about how your right fit clients could solve problems they commonly face. Ensure the solutions you offer are good quality to build trust and authority.

3. BE TRUE TO YOU
You don’t have to market or promote something every time you’re on social media. Part of giving value to your audience is about entertaining them and offering them insight into who you are. People are drawn to authenticity and it helps them to decide whether you’re the right fit.

These might seem simple but how many of them are you implementing?

There's always room to share more of your clients' results, more insights and more about yourself.

I love family sessions with 'grown up' kids!

Whilst I love playful sessions with littlies, adapting to evolving personalities, I also really enjoy sessions with older kids, too. I love that we can have a chat, I can get to know a little more about you all and the pace is generally a little slower (and there's no risk of tears 🤣 .

I know people often feel that family portraiture is for toddlers but it's not - it's for documenting your family at any age and stage. It's all still the same - we're photographing a moment in time for you to bottle up and look back on for years to come.

It really IS all about the in-between moments 🥰

Each of these were captured spontaneously in between the next photo setup for this beautiful extended family session. One of my fave challenges of photographing people - moving quickly enough to capture the spontaneous moments where the magic happens!

There's two marketing tactics that just aren't working on me anymore.

And one of those is 'How to achieve [huge transformation] in just one week!'.

I used to LIVE for this kind of content - don't we all? The idea that you can fast track a huge transformation in your business or life is pretty darn appealing. Skip past all the hard stuff? Achieve greatness in one measly week? Sounds fantastic!

Only, you realise pretty quickly that it doesn't work like that. Instagram is pretty good at making business success look fast and easy - and it's neither! Now, whenever I see taglines promising a profound shift in your business in a week or without good old-fashioned work, I tend to cruise on past.

And I'm not disappointed by this realisation. In fact, I feel SO much better since realising that transformation, up levelling, growth takes time! And there's nothing wrong with me because I didn't achieve [insert huge goal] in a month. I take comfort in the fact that huge transformations take time, there's so much value in the process and I'm excited for what the future (the far off future) holds.

Does this rejection of quick fixes resonate for you?

Grateful to these two for trusting me and allowing me to follow some creative whims!

Five easy ways to offer more value ✨ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​You've been told to offer value to your audience but what does that even mean? Here are five different and simple ways to add value to your social media content.

1. Information 📚
You know your industry inside and out but your audience doesn’t! By regularly sharing knowledge and insights, you’re establishing yourself as an expert they can rely on. People love to work with people they can trust so ensure the value you offer is abundant and worthwhile.

2. You 🙋‍♀️
The most important thing about your business? You! Sharing favourite quotes, memes, behind the scenes, your fave things and your ‘why’ allows people to build a relationship with you and we know people like to work with people they know and like.

3. Social proof 🗣️
People are far more likely to trust what other people have to say about your business than what you say about it yourself. Share testimonials, transformation stories and outcomes from happy humans you’ve worked with to demonstrate the results that people can expect.

4. The destination 🏝️
Turns out it’s actually about the destination NOT the journey. Instead of boring your audience with the ‘how’ (the journey), tell them ‘what’ they can expect (the destination). Share what problems you’ll solve and how your audience can expect to feel after they’ve worked with you.

5. Your offer ✨
Don’t forget to talk about what it is you actually do! Keep it clear, simple and outcome-driven (no fancy pants language or industry jargon). Let people know how they can begin the process of working with you - book a call, send an email, slide into your DMs - and remind them often.

Which one could you easily start doing more of today? ✅

Without a doubt, my fave part of being a photographer is the people I meet. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Like this incredible human! Kara is a death doula and let me explain a little about what that means.

Kara is trained as a palliative nurse but she utilises those skills and her experience and incredible warmth to provide non-clinical support (think helpful information, an ear to listen, master tea making skills & more) for people and families going through the death and dying process.

Kara once remarked to me that we have so much support, celebration and recognition of the importance and profundity of birth that it's a wonder we don't honour the other end of the life spectrum in the same way and boy did that stick with me.

Kara is committed to changing that and I don't think I've ever met a person who cares more about people and what she does.

Kara booked me mid last year to take photos for her business around the same time that my family was dealing with a traumatic death. Kara is an angel and I can't help but feel that her entrance into my life was fated (in the best possible way). I was so grateful for her warmth, passion, experience and skills at that time and for her continued encouragement and support now.

A very public shout out to this woman who is as caring as she is brave - carving a path in an emerging industry in a regional town is no small feat but she does it with grace and guts. All whilst making sure everyone around her feels like sunshine. Here's to you beautiful Kara 😇

Happy V Day lovers!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Tell me - do you love or loathe this day?

P.S. look at me go with my desaturated green grass here 🤣

I rallied against desaturating my greens for the longest time. I really like to do things differently and I died on this hill for a while - and by hill, I mean the proverbial 'green is a great colour and doesn't need to be desaturated' hill.

BUT there comes a time in one's photographic career where one's eye for colour becomes refined and I realised I was really pushing the green love with some rather un-aesthetic greens from time to time - unless you're going for a really stylised look, neon anything is usually not a good idea.

Never fear though - you've told me you like my true to colour editing style so I don't intend to drastically change it any time soon. Rather, born is the new era where I still try to preserve green (and watch it coming back into vogue), preserve all colour in fact with minimal desaturation - but do it with a little more know-how.

TLDR; I somehow just turned a post about Valentine's Day into a reflection on editing the colour green 😜

... and here's Monday again! 🤪 ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​✅ If you're feeling productive, here's a speedy little task you can do right now to easily intro you to new followers.

1. Choose a well performing post from your grid that speaks to who you are (your personality, values, your why), who you do it for (your 'right fit' type of clients) and how you do it (your services, offerings, unique point of difference) - bonus points if you can find a post that speaks to all three!
2. Click the three little dots in the top right corner of that post and hit "pin to your profile".

📌 The post will now remain as the first tile on your grid which means anyone coming to your page can see this first instead of having to stumble across it.

⏰ If you've got extra time, find another two posts to pin (you can pin up to three).

⏰ ⏰ If you've got extra extra time, create the perfect post that covers who you are, what you do and who for!

Happy Monday!

📸 :