When you want to be heard you go to Sarah Bateman, owner of Speak Up! Be Heard! Through her workshops, individual coaching, and her own example, Sarah helps people to communicate with confidence and clearly convey their messages to different audiences. She coaches people for all types of speaking engagements, from wedding toasts to networking presentations, to introductions. Sarah has won several speaking awards and is planning to host a conference for entrepreneurs in the Fall, as well as publish a couple new books.

Sarah came to me to upgrade the visual side of her business by getting photos taken to use for all of her marketing needs, including the worksheets she offers during her classes. I set up my studio at her home in Edina and we even snuck in a few personal photos. Her husband is Chinese, and their home has a wonderful array of cultural elements from China. We ended up creating some beautiful portraits of her with a piece of jewelry - a gift from her husband. A few of those photos also included her adorable youngest grandchild, Lucas.

I was impressed by how a person who makes her living as a professional speaker has such a talent for listening. That is a great quality to have in a photo shoot where the photographer is giving you directions and guidance to get the best shots. I also witnessed her skills as a great communicator and storyteller. She delivered a short presentation during the photo session so we could capture her natural hand gestures and facial expressions.

Makeup for the session was applied by Jody Winter - Winter Artistry. Sarah looked lovely in a wide selection of clothing options with outfits tailored to her figure. She selected great shoes and jewelry to accessorize, and we also used a couple necklaces from the necklace bar I bring along.

Sarah told me the best thing that came out of her session was the wide variety of shots. She is now working with a graphic designer to create strategic marketing pieces for her presentations. Here are some words from Sarah about her photo session experience:

"Had a wonderful photo session with Laine. She came to my house and set up a studio in my living room. She patiently explained and demonstrated a variety of poses for me to try. The pictures turned out beautifully."

Here are some of the poses she selected:

If you are a busy entrepreneur looking for flexible and professional photography services, I can offer you an in-studio or on-location shoot. We will collaborate to create a diverse library with branding images for your business. Get in touch to learn how you can upgrade your photos to support custom marketing pieces that will let your brand shine.