Real Talk with Tamera

Hello Folks!It’s time for another month in Review and while I did share my 6 month assessment last episode, this episode I’m sharing a few feelings around what went down this month.During this episode I talk about:How prioritizing effectively leads to saving more time & energyHow the Elegant Excellence Journal was an amazing resource for accomplishing my main goals for the first 6 months of the yearMy frustration around being considered an Anti-Racism resource on several lists!My thoughts on the sudden swell of white followers… keeping it brief.My lessons from one of the biggest shoots of my career to date.Enjoy this episode!Much Love,P.S. I’m taking a break for the month of July and New Episodes will begin in August! July will be a podcast rewind where I’m sharing some of my favorites!Catch you in the Fall!Much Love,Tamera

Hey Hey.It’s time for a new episode of Real Talk with Tamera and I’m covering a few topics.If you’ve lost track of time it is Tuesday, 16th… My initial post was going to be how to rest + recharge during times of chaos, but that wouldn’t have been honest + genuine. To be honest, I’m exhausted mentally and emotionally.I’ve been finding ways to find peace + happiness and work has been one way to find a sense of joy and control. Work is certainly a coping mechanism and so my work output will certainly look different than most LOL.Instead, I wanted to take this episode to share how I’m feeling, along with the importance of establishing boundaries and the power of pressing forward.Also, while shit is crazy, we are still at the 6 month mark. This is a great time to assess what is working and not working in your business + personal life and I have some lessons to share.Once you’ve listened, I’d love to hear your thoughts or share what you’re proud these past 6 months. It can still be our year!

What is authentic? Authentic is certainly a buzz word nowadays. While it can certainly be thrown around, today I’m having an open + honest conversation with Lauren McPhillips, the founder of This Renegade Love who has built a following of over 39,000 on Instagram. She’s been able to build this audience organically, being herself while dishing out open + honest opinions & stories of vulnerability.During this conversation we covered how to just not give a *beep*, how being vulnerable & showing our failures is just as important as sharing your wins when building your community and what happens when we get some not so nice or unsolicited feedback or opinions from the peanut gallery.This is certainly a conversation worth having and I’m so happy to have it with Lauren. Before getting more into this episode, here is more about Lauren:Lauren McPhillips is the founder of This Renegade Love, serving up positive, purpose-driven content that teaches women to ‘influence with intention’. With a career background in magazine editorial and travel PR, Lauren has since spent the past five years growing a loyal following on This Renegade Love L through her no-BS approach to the influencer industry, and has worked with brands like Google, Indigo, Air Transat and Wealthsimple to share authentic, original content with her online community. In 2018, Lauren moved from online to offline to launch The Renegade Sessions, a series of intimate workshops for female entrepreneurs and did a TEDxTalk on 'The Power of Personal Storytelling', highlighting the ways in which we can use our voices and stories to bring people together and impact change. This year brings an exciting new direction for This Renegade Love as Lauren is set to launch consulting programs for both influencers and brands on how to navigate the industry with more intention and authenticity.Without further adieu, let’s get into this episode!

Whew. What a week in Black America. What this week and really any week reminds me of a quote from Will Smith “Racism never went away, it’s simply being recorded.”The reality is as a nation cannot move forward we cannot truly heal until racist systems + white supremacy is dismantled.Today is a special episode with Monique Melton, a friend and amazing woman who is an anti-racism educator…..We discussed so many things within this 60 minute episode. Topics touched included the practice of anti-racism, the assumptions around participating in this work, how anti-blackness materializes in our own communities, self care + what that looks like and how white women can begin using their privilege to begin dismantling oppressive systems especially in the digital space.Here is a little bit more about MoniqueMonique Melton is an anti-racism educator, published author, international speaker, and host of the Shine Brighter Together podcast. She is also the founder of Shine Brighter Together, which is a community dedicated to healthy relationships & diverse unity.She travels the world speaking at conferences and events on topics related to anti-racism, personal growth, diversity, and relationships. She’s been published in magazines, featured in blogs and podcasts, and has touched the lives of people all over the world.She is a natural big-bold dreamer and a deeply rooted woman of faith.She is a proud Navy wife to her high-school sweetheart, and she is a loving mother to two little ones.She has a BA in social science with an emphasis in sociology & psychology and two years of graduate school education in Clinical Counseling from Johns Hopkins University.She believes it's not all about your comfort, but it's about your growth.I hope this episode brings about healing, awareness + change within all who hear it.Let’s get into this episode.

I am back for another Month in Review, chatting about May… Is it just me or are the months just blending together? Like how are we already in June, almost 6 months into the year of our Lord 2020?While time definitely feels somewhat disjointed, I think we can all agree that time is still moving and is waiting for no one.This time, while completely jarring + unwelcome, has been a rather unexpected blessing.I’ve seen more Black people launch businesses, reclaim autonomy, pivot, collaborate and change the game so much, you’d be really hard pressed not to be inspired yourself and make some changes in your own life. Black people are amazing and I’m happy to be alive at a time to see all of the amazing developments + strides we are making in our culture.With that being said, if you’re not using this time…to dismantle personal negative beliefs, to launch something placed on your heart, to reconnect to yourself, to let old habits die… I’m going to ask you a question… what is at risk for you if you stay the same?Could you live with how your life will look a year from now, doing the same shit you’re doing today?During this episode I discusswhy you should stop blaming & using your loved ones for not sharing in your vision as an excuse to not pursue your own dreams + desireshow you can begin curating your own environment to work for your needshow I quick lesson in disobedience caused me to actually pivot & do what God called me to do when I launched my membership for Product Photographers.Take a listen and let me know your thoughts!Books Mentioned During the Episode?It’s About Damn Time by Arlan HamiltonYou Are A Badass + You Are A Badass at Making Money by Jen SinceroGirl, Stop Apologizing + Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel HollisBig Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Hello & Welcome to another Real Talk with Tamera episode! This one is really special, not to say any previous or following are not, but this was my first time hosting a live recording of the real talk with Tamera episode!This was a really great way to connect with listeners but also celebrate 6 months of the podcast, which is hard to believe it’s already been 6 months, but here we are.My guest for this special episode was my friend and fellow boss in charge, Sakita Holley. Sakita is an award winning publicist + the Founder/CEO of House of Success PR, an award winning firm that launched 9 years ago.The topic was increasing your visibility and how to thrive + build resilience in an unpredictable environment and this is totally something me + Sakita are pretty familiar with.Here is a little bit more about Sakita…Sakita Holley is an award winning publicist and the Founder/CEO of House of Success PR.The nine year old firm has worked with a wide array of clients that include Luster's Pink, African Pride, Lottabody, KinkyCurlyYaki, Harlem Arts Festival, Heat Free Hair and more. In addition to her PR work, she also hosts a popular business podcast called Hashtags and Stilettos, which is designed to help millennial women win at work, in business and everywhere in between. Sakita has been featured by Essence Magazine, Black Enterprise, Women's Biz Journals, xoNecole and more for her PR and business expertise.In 2017, Sakita was named as one of PRWeek's 40 Under 40 honorees and she is a proud graduate of Howard University. You can find and follow her on social media @MissSuccessWhat’s really special is we’ve seen each other grow up and build our businesses since the beginning. We graduated a year a part from Howard University and we’ve been in the thick of building our businesses, dismantling our own limiting beliefs and growing together.We talked for about 90 minutes, but I edited it down to about 70 or so and honestly, we could have gone longer.We covered how it was in the very beginning, how done is better than perfect, why it’s important to give someone their flowers, while they’re still here, the importance of networking laterally, actually building with people you like, some relationship advice and so so so much more.So grab your favorite drink or cocktail and settle in for what was an amazing conversation. So without further adieu, let’s get into this conversation.P.S. Towards the end of the conversation, a listener asked for our book recommendations for entrepreneurship and here they are!Sakita’s PicksThe 50th Law by 50 Cent & Robert GreeneThe Secret by Rhonda ByrneThe Dip by Seth GodinTamera’s PicksThe One Thing by Gary KellerYou Are a Badass by Jen SinceroMy So Called Freelance Life by Michelle GoodmanNew Favorite The Dip by Seth GodinNew Favorite Building a Brand Story (one of my favorites to date!)

Knowing when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em… We don’t like saying no, we’d don’t like to disappointment, but there is power in knowing when to say no.You can save yourself time, money & peace of mind when you decide to say no to the right things.I was inspired to talk more about this topic, when I saw a post from Myleik that said: Every time I deny my first mind, I pay for it. Every time I say YES, when my answer is NO, I pay for it.”I’ve learned, you can pay for it financially, mentally, physically or all of the above. Saying yes when you should have said no, can certainly be a teaching moment. I know the first client I ever had, was certainly a teaching moment.The thing with business, you’ll constantly be faced with the decisions to say yes or no. It doesn’t end once you’ve unlocked a new level in business. The decision making never really ends.Especially now more than ever, understanding what to say no to so you can say hell yes to the projects that will really make you soar is so important. But first, let’s quickly talk about why you should learn how to say no.During this short episode I share:The importance of saying no to the right thingsWhat to consider when saying NoWhat to consider when you decide to negotiateAdvice on how to terminate an existing project (because it can happen in business!)

Happy end of the month cool cats + kittens! It’s another end of month review and I have a lot on my chest. For most of us or depending on where you live in this country, it is Month 2 of lockdown or stay-at-home order.Many of our way of lives have been upended. Many of us are working on surviving. While big corporations continue to be bailed out. This isn’t a commentary on how much of a hot mess this country is because let’s be honest, this country was built on the backs of the marginalized and continues to be built on the backs of those who continue to be oppressed. This country will never be able to right their wrongs until they do right but us…but I digress.During this episode I’m sharing what’s been going down including:A real business takeaway surrounding the Babyface + Teddy Riley #Verzuz Music BattleThe importance of showing up during times of adversityWhat’s really been holding me back from building a viable 2nd stream of income (I finally found the issue and it even surprised me)One exercise for evaluating limiting beliefs you can try today.Grab your beverage of choice and enjoy!

What’s going on boos & welcome to another episode of the Real Talk with Tamera podcast. Today is fun because I’m chatting with fellow Howard alum and #TheSEOQUEEN Charlene McCraney. You may recall Charlene is also the creator & author of hair care blog Textured Talk and today we’re talking all about SEO.SEO or search engine optimization is definitely something that can incite excitement or complete anxiety for business owners such as myself and bloggers alike. This was really great because Charlene did a really amazing job simplifying SEO and how to begin using SEO now to drum up more traffic to your website which means more leads and why it’s so important now more than ever to improve our SEO skills. Before we get into this packed episode here is a little bit more about Charlene.Charlene McCraney is a blogging coach and SEO strategist that teaches bloggers how to grow online and beyond social media, so they can turn their blog into a business and stress less over likes and followers. In her 5 plus years of blogging, she has been able to generate consistent high traffic to her website creating passive income and monetizing through a variety of mediums.Charlene is passionate about showing bloggers and content creators they have value beyond a follower count. After developing a very unhealthy relationship with Instagram, Charlene shifted her focus to a platform she actually owned which brought her even more joy and success - her blog. As a result, Charlene helps other bloggers and content creators through her signature Blog Like A Pro! VIP Day where she teaches her four-part proven SEO system to blog strategically for growth in order to drive traffic and turn your blog into a business.Charlene also created her free #BlogGoals challenge that helps bloggers with showing up consistently with blog content for 30 days and teaches newbie bloggers how to build and launch a blog from scratch in 90 days through her online course Ready. Set. Blog!When she’s not blogging you can find her working out or binge-watching TV shows with her husband on the couch.Without further adieu, let’s get into this episode! Be ready to take notes!!!

Hey Folks! This is a quick listening episode where I’m sharing 4 thoughts to consider when hiring a photographer for your project. You may be surprised, but one is not price.During this episode I’m sharing:4 thoughts to consider when hiring or outsourcing content creationThe 2 categories my clientele fall intoWhy what the photographer’s work personality matters in the success of a projectEnjoy!

I’m really excited for today’s episode because I’m talking about how staying in your own lane + niching down allows you to grow your expertise and build multiple streams of income with intention. I always talk about how niching down allows you to scale up and grow your business while building your credibility + expertise. This conversation takes it a step further with how this concept allows someone to then expend their business with additional revenue streams. I’ll be having this conversation with Mallika Malhotra who is a professional brand photographer. Me and Mallika met via Instagram about 3 years ago and we’ve been following each other’s journey ever since. Before getting into it, here is a little bit more about Mallika.Mallika Malhotra of MikiFoto + Co is a professional photographer, brand expert and author of The Brand Photography Playbook. She is on a mission to empower women to stop playing small and to start showing up as the face of their brand. With over 12+ years in photography & a background in marketing + advertising, she combines her strategy, storytelling and photography skills to help women move from invisible to impact and emerge as leaders in their industry. When she is not taking pictures or building brands, she is at home with her three sons and husband, drinking coffee or red wine and dreaming about their next global adventure. To follow her, check out her IG or website. Without further adieu let’s get into this episode.This episode of Real Talk with Tamera brought to you by Celeste Sol Jewelry. I believe empowered women empower women and Real Talk with Tamera serves as a platform to spotlight other women-owned businesses who are making a difference in their community.Celeste Sol Jewelry offers chic everyday jewelry to compliment the conscious hustle of the modern woman. I’m a major fan of their jewelry and own a few pieces myself. You’ve probably seen me wearing the Disc Earrings and Large Sol Coin Necklace on the ‘gram. The pieces are officially in my everyday rotation!The icing on the cake is a percentage of proceeds supports organizations in need including the Garden of Eden Foundation where Celeste Sol provided prom jewelry for over 200 girls in the NY Metro area.One of the best ways to support a small businesses is with our wallets and as a thank you, Celeste Sol has offered a promo code for Real Talk with Tamera listeners! Use code RTWT15 for a limited time to receive 15 percent on your purchase when you shop on celestesol.com. Check out the link in the show notes. Look Good. Do Good. Feel Good.

I don’t know about you but live was certainly upended for a lot of you. First, it’s valid to experience the entire spectrum of emotions right now. Second, 2020 can still be your year.Listen to this episode for some REAL & Honest opinions on this current, unprecedented situation. During this episode, I’m sharing:4 ways to cope as we’ll all in this transition, togetherThe importance to use this time to now DreamWhy I’m suggesting you review your rates + financial projectionsWhat I’m doing during this time + possibly going forwardOne of the ways I’m coping is learning a new skill which is STOP MOTION! I found a great course offered by Trisha Zemp, a professional stop motion creator. Click this link to learn more + follow her on IG.The second, I’ll be offering yoga classes on ZOOM. The suggested donation will be $10 and can be sent via Venmo: Tamera-Darden. To be provided the weekly class schedule, sign up at bit.ly/yogawithtameraGrab your favorite beverage and take a listen. We’re in this together.This episode of Real Talk with Tamera brought to you by Celeste Sol Jewelry. I believe empowered women empower women and Real Talk with Tamera serves as a platform to spotlight other women-owned businesses who are making a difference in their community.Celeste Sol Jewelry offers chic everyday jewelry to compliment the conscious hustle of the modern woman. I’m a major fan of their jewelry and own a few pieces myself. You’ve probably seen me wearing the Disc Earrings and Large Sol Coin Necklace on the ‘gram. The pieces are officially in my everyday rotation!The icing on the cake is a percentage of proceeds supports organizations in need including the Garden of Eden Foundation where Celeste Sol provided prom jewelry for over 200 girls in the NY Metro area.One of the best ways to support a small businesses is with our wallets and as a thank you, Celeste Sol has offered a promo code for Real Talk with Tamera listeners! Use code RTWT15 for a limited time to receive 15 percent on your purchase when you shop on celestesol.com. Check out the link in the show notes. Look Good. Do Good. Feel Good.

Here is a warning, this episode is a complete edge snatch DRAGGGGGGGG. It’s also possibly one of my favorite episodes to date.During this episode I’m chatting with Davia Roberts, a good friend and certified edge snatcher lol.This episode we’re covering Radical Self Care Practices for Black Women, something that is so important especially during today’s climate. We have to learn how to balance our checkbooks and mental health and Davia offers an amazing and honest perspective on how we can begin doing that.Before jumping into this edge snatching episode, here is a little bit more about Davia.After nearly a decade in social services, Davia has become a recognized expert in the mental health and wellness field. Inspired to make wellness accessible to diverse communities, she created an online platform that cultivated an international audience of thousands. She created and hosted the AFFIRM podcast, which has been featured in publications like Bustle, MadameNoire, and Black Enterprise for its popularity among listeners seeking practical mental health resources. Her passion for educating others about mental health in a humorous and relatable way has made me a nationally sought after keynote speaker, workshop facilitator, and panelist.Get your castor oil & edge gel ready folks!A Note From Our Sponsors! This episode of Real Talk with Tamera brought to you by Celeste Sol Jewelry. I believe empowered women empower women and Real Talk with Tamera serves as a platform to spotlight other women-owned businesses who are making a difference in their community.Celeste Sol Jewelry offers chic everyday jewelry to compliment the conscious hustle of the modern woman. I’m a major fan of their jewelry and own a few pieces myself. You’ve probably seen me wearing the Disc Earrings and Large Sol Coin Necklace on the ‘gram. The pieces are officially in my everyday rotation!The icing on the cake is a percentage of proceeds supports organizations in need including the Garden of Eden Foundation where Celeste Sol provided prom jewelry for over 200 girls in the NY Metro area.One of the best ways to support a small businesses is with our wallets and as a thank you, Celeste Sol has offered a promo code for Real Talk with Tamera listeners! Use code RTWT15 for a limited time to receive 15 percent on your purchase when you shop on celestesol.com. Check out the link in the show notes. Look Good. Do Good. Feel Good.

We’re nearing the end of Q1 which is crazy, because January felt like a year. Not to mention, it was pretty slow for business and I shared my thoughts during my January in Review episode. Aside from complaining about free time, I use the beginning of the year to review my annual goals and then break them up into quarterly then monthly goals so they’re more tangible & easier to grasp.I also review current systems to see if there is an opportunity to improve the customer experience & possibly introduce some form of automation or delegation, review pricing and packages, catch up on sleep, write out affirmations etc.As I shared in a previous episode, my word for 2020 is Expansion. And while I’ve shared my overarching goals, I wanted to also take this opportunity to share random thoughts and activities around my process this year.So this episode I wanted to quickly talk about some business documents you should consider adding for your business that you probably haven’t thought about. These are documents aside from contracts or invoices that will help your business run more efficiently & effectively.Grab some hot tea & enjoy!!A note from our sponsors!This episode of Real Talk with Tamera brought to you by Celeste Sol Jewelry. I believe empowered women empower women and Real Talk with Tamera serves as a platform to spotlight other women-owned businesses who are making a difference in their community.Celeste Sol Jewelry offers chic everyday jewelry to compliment the conscious hustle of the modern woman. I’m a major fan of their jewelry and own a few pieces myself. You’ve probably seen me wearing the Disc Earrings and Large Sol Coin Necklace on the ‘gram. The pieces are officially in my everyday rotation!The icing on the cake is a percentage of proceeds supports organizations in need including the Garden of Eden Foundation where Celeste Sol provided prom jewelry for over 200 girls in the NY Metro area.One of the best ways to support a small businesses is with our wallets and as a thank you, Celeste Sol has offered a promo code for Real Talk with Tamera listeners! Use code RTWT15 for a limited time to receive 15 percent on your purchase when you shop on celestesol.com. Check out the link in the show notes. Look Good. Do Good. Feel Good.

While my first client ended in giving a refund (only about $60, but still) I was truly appreciative for having a basic understanding knowledge & the importance of having a contract.When we first start business, we often go to Google to grab a quick contract template to draft a somewhat functioning contract. But eventually it’s time to customize your contracts based on Scope of Work, Jurisdiction, Copyright Usage and more that we discuss during this episode.I’m chatting with Michelle Pitts, someone I met through my network. Michelle is a lawyer and uses her knowledge to support creatives.Michelle Pitts is the owner of Burgess Law PLLC, an intellectual property law firm located in Washington D.C. As a Miami native, Michelle grew up surrounded by creatives. She began her career as a prosecutor and eventually chose to combine her interest in law and the arts by opening a firm dedicated to demystifying the world of business and law for creatives and small business owners. So whether your passion is a side hustle or a full time business, Burgess Law PLLC can help by supplying you with the necessary contracts, trademarks and copyrights to protect your brand and business.During this episode we cover:common mistakes when writing your contracts3 non-negotiables that should be in your contractshow to handle 3rd party licensing

This week enrollment for the Photography Mastermind is open! The Photography Mastermind is a 6 week program for photographers who want to book their D.R.E.A.M. clients and build a business with less anxiety & overwhelm.To celebrate, I invited an alum of Round 1, Jocelynne Flor. Jocelynne is a product & lifestyle photographer for wellness + eco conscious brands based in Toronto. During this episode we talk about her experience before, during and after the Mastermind.If you’d like to learn more or enroll in Round 4, visit bit.ly/photography_mastermind to get started for only $97!This episode of the Real Talk with Tamera Podcast is brought to you by, The Photography Mastermind, an 6 week program for photographers who want work with their D.R.E.A.M clients, grow their business with less anxiety & overwhelm.Look, I know there are a lot of amazing, talented photographers out there and maybe you’re one of them. You could have several years of experience, but you may still run into these issues:you lack organization and a workflow to help you manage your clientsYou occasionally experience anxiety from not having enough clients or making enough moneyyou’re still running your business like a hobbySo imagine with me for a second not feeling anxiety because you’re consistently booking with your ideal clients at higher rates. Implementing organized & automated workflows so you can work smarter, not harder in your business. Having more control of how you actually spend your day, while doing the work that you love.Trust me I’ve been there, I remember staying up late experiencing major anxiety, doing random Google searches trying to find the best prices to charges & which programs to use to run my business & wondering if I should just give up and put my resume on indeed.com or get a full time job doing social media management, which isn’t my ministry. Yes it was tough, but I knew there was something better and trust me there is better!With the Photography Mastermind, I’m sharing the proven tools & skills to help build your clientele in your niche, implement an organized workflow and increase your prices confidently during this 6 week program. As one student put it, “it was the swift kick in the peach, she needed.” I launched the program in May 2018 and I’m bringing it back for Round 4. Want to learn more? Visit bit.ly/photography_mastermind.Enrollment closes on March 6th, so photographers, don’t miss out! Make this the year you build a business doing what you love.

While January felt like forever, February felt like it was going 100 MPH. Now we’re at the end of the month and if I had to describe the month, it was a major blur.During this episode, I’m sharing:how the beginning of the month I was still reeling from a major loss that affected everyonethe state of my business & understanding it isn’t a reflection of my productivityhow being an enneagram 3 encouraged me to get back to teaching AND coachinghow imposter syndrome affected me during this slow season of business.I shared a few resources, including one of my favorite books: Big Magic, by Elizabeth GilbertLastly, I shared that I’m relaunching my Photography Mastermind: Book your D.R.E.A.M. clients, grow your business with less anxiety & overwhelm. My goal is teach 100 photographers and I’m willing to try doing this again and not quitting.Next week on March 2nd at 12pm EST, I’m teaching a free training: 5 Step Roadmap to Booking More Clients, Grow Your Photography Business with Less Anxiety & Overwhelm. To learn more or sign up, visit bit.ly/5steptrainingAfter the episode, leave a comment and tell what you think!

Happy Tuesday People!How is everyone?! We’re in February Week 3 and I gotta say whoa. This month marks 6 years since I’ve had a traditional 9 to 5 job. In February 2014 I walked out of 11 Penn Plaza and the next chapter of my life started.While most people following me knowI’m the founder of Darden Creative, a content creation agency for beauty, wellness & lifestyle brandsI’m a product & branding photographer & creative directorI’ve been a spin instructor and I’m 200 HR YTT… it’s nice to actually go back to where it all started, before I walked out of 11 Penn Plaza. So this episodes covers how it all went down and what I’ve learned about myself and in business in the past 6 years in one episode. Of course there are so many bumps and bruises, but the fact is I’m still here.I hope you enjoy this episode and let me know your thoughts in the comments! xoxo

Happy Tuesday Folks!Today’s episode is another good one, not to say other episodes are not, but this is another episode relating to how to sell your services or products using intuitive & effective sales copy with the lovely Rita Olds.A couple of weeks ago, I asked my audience to throw out some names of people they’d love to hear from on the podcast and Rita threw her own hat in the ring and honestly it was a no brainer because she lives and breathes copywriting and just doing it well.I’m really happy to have her on the podcast. Before we get into the episode, where is a little bit more about Rita a copywriter who helps women develop their signature voice so they can sell more authentically and generate more revenue.She helps clients write persuasive science-based web copy with personality guaranteed to convert and have stress-free launches with words that sell.Her main mission is to empower black women to find, develop and use their voices to change the world.When she’s not helping her clients sell more, she has her nose in a good book, cooking, dancing in the mirror and running.During this episode we coveredWhat is the difference between Technical Writing & Sales CopywritingThe 2 myths when it comes to writing sales copyWhat really should be on your About Page, 3 mistakes and how to fix them (1 of them is not showing your face)How can you figure out the right things to say to your audience to inspire them to buy with youWhy mastering your mindset is so important in mastering your sales copy2 scenarios when you would hire a copywriter to take you to the next level in your businessAnother good one! Enjoy!

This may be an unpopular opinion but I didn’t gain success in my business from being good. Sure that is a huge reason of why people like my work, but that sometimes isn’t enough for people to buy.I gained success because I’m not afraid to sell. It doesn’t matter if you have a great product or service, if you do not know how to sell it. That’s why this month, I’m chatting with a few dynamic women on how to sell.I’m talking about one of my favorite things selling with the lovely Allison Davis. Random Fact, I met Alison at the Create Cultivate Small Business Summit last October in line for breakfast. I loved her suit lol.But I digress, Selling is definitely a skill that can be cultivated and honestly a non-negotiable in any business. Here is a little bit more about Alison: Allison is a creative and thoughtful sales leader who brings a deep sense of curiosity and integrity to her work. After 16 years in the publishing industry, Allison transitioned to sales training and consulting for companies and 6 & 7 figure mission driven entrepreneurs who are changing the world, where she felt she could have the greatest impact.She believes in a consultative and heart-based approach to selling — being authentic and building relationship is the very best way to grow your business. And she does so with the A.L.I.G.N. method.She's brought her energy and empathic sales acumen to companies like National Geographic, Time Out North America, and Gabrielle Bernstein, Inc. Speaking of Gabby Bernstein, Alison handled brand sponsorships, Gabby’s affiliate program and other sales projects.During the episode we talked about:What was greater: the fear of starting over or staying in a traditional 9 to 5 settingThere isn’t a one size fits all method to selling: me and Allison chatted about our different selling techniques and it was an eye-opening experienceThe importance of a call to action and why you need to get on the phone with a potential clientThe idea of “Features Tell, Benefits Sell”What are pain pointsHow to overcome objections in your sells callsI’m telling you this is a goodie! Get your cup of tea and enjoy the episode.

Ya’ll we made it through January, well almost because as I look at my calendar it is the 28th and I gotta be honest, I’m ready for this month to be over.January is typically my slowest and lowest revenue month of the year and it was certainly felt. The great news is that all of my bills were paid. I had more free time to plan and review my business. I’m redesigning my website and improving a few workflows. I have more clarity on my overall goals for this year and I feel overall optimistic about the year. I’m even expanding my offerings for beauty & wellness product based businesses which will roll out in the Spring.However, I did find myself feeling like I had too much free time. It’s led me through a rabbit hole of thought & contemplation. This episode is just my thoughts and my review of January. I’ll be planning to do a review of each month this year to just track my growth & share with you guys. As always I’d love to hear your thoughts.During this episode I’m sharing:Why I felt like I have too much free timeWhy my financial health supersedes my revenue goals this yearWhy I just cannot & will not launch a course this year (or ever)

Good Morning Listeners!This is an exciting episode because today’s feature my first guest, Marlena Banks author of Big Idea Food.We’re talking Mastering Your Mindset and I immediately thought of my good friend & client Marlena Banks. Me and Marlena actually met in 2018 on the same day I found out I was teaching at Alt Summit 2019. I became a fan of hers after reading Big Idea Food in 2018 and slide in her DMs after reading her entire book Big Idea Food in about 2 days.Here is a little bit more about the Marlena Banks.Marlena Banks is the founder of Big Idea Food, a lifestyle brand that creates relevant, biblical content for today's Christian entrepreneurs. Since releasing Big Idea Food book, a down-to-earth, faith based devotional for entrepreneurs in 2018, she's continued to grow the brand's offerings to include a weekly devotional newsletter & edge-snatching social media content. She’s found admirers across the globe including Yvonne Orji from the powerhouse show Insecure and other faith based entrepreneurs and tastemakers. You can also find her speaking at inspirational events and working one on one with early-stage founders to launch & grow their big ideas. Her ultimate mission is to elevate the influence of more creators of faith so that, together, we can positively impact our world at the level God intended. Learn more about Big Idea Food and sign up for the weekly newsletter at bigideafood.comDuring this episode we cover:The major misconception when it comes to mindset work/developmentThe 3 behaviors that best help to cultivate a healthy mindsetHow there is room for God & Living Our Best Lives while being entrepreneursLet’s get into this episode

So what are we talking about this episode?How to Optimize your Instagram.Recently, The CEO Adam Mosseri announced the some users in the US will have their likes removed on IG. When asked, Adam said “We have to see how it affects how people feel about the platform, how it affects how people use the platform, how it affects the creator ecosystem.” In short, he hopes it will “reduce anxiety” and “reduce social comparison”And look we know Imposter Syndrome is real and using these platforms without some sort of restraint can cause a negative impact on users including feelings of comparison, anxiety and depression. While it is certainly up to the user to instill personal boundaries and show restraint on these platforms, like curating your feed to show what truly inspires and who you want to connect with, placing a personal social media curfew, I can see Adam’s intent behind this move.In the meantime, many people are casting aside Instagram blaming the lower engagement or algorithm for slower sales or limited sales. Here is the thing, Instagram like other social media platforms is a money making machine. It wants to keep you on the platform for as long as possible.This platform can only work for you, if you do the work. Emmkay?Instead of blaming Instagram, I’m sharing 4 tips to Optimize your Instagram and a Bonus towards the end.Check it out and let me know if you’ve tried them for yourself!

Money, Money, Money we all need it, we all want more, and we’re all trying to figure out how to get it. Since starting Darden Creative I’ve seen so much confusion around charging.Moreover, talking about money and getting guidance from others in your industry sometimes seems to be a taboo topic. I really want to demystify the idea of pricing with this episode. I’m going to say this will complete remove the veil, but I truly hope it helps.During this episode, I’ll be sharingWhat psychologically happens when your prices are too lowMy opinion on working for free when you first start your businessWhat happens when you increase your rates3 Factors to consider when increasing your ratesHopefully this episode takes some of the worry out of pricing. I want you to simply take away from this , while you’ll be a forever student in your business, you are more experienced than you think. You should celebrate it and increase those rates like yesterday….Real Talk with Tamera Podcast Episode 10 Pricing for ImpactTamera Darden

Happy Tuesday!Depending on when you’re listening to this, it’s either New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day! With that being said, Happy New Year!!!Last episode I shared my year in review and this episode, I’m sharing my word for 2020 and my overall thoughts on what this looks like… Also, shouts out to those who have shared their words with me. I’ve heard some good ones including, Boundaries and Sustainability. I’m excited to see how that manifests for those ladies. During this episode I’m sharing my word for 2020 and I how I expect it to manifest for my personally & professionally.If you’d like to share your word with me, send me an email at hello@dardencreative.com or on the ‘gram @tamera.dardenEnjoy!

Happy Tuesday & Christmas Eve!I feel like the older I get, the faster the years move and 2019 was really no exception. I can remember the beginning of the year as much as I do the yesterday. 2019 started slowly, with only 3 clients in the pipeline and they were blogger clients. But the way your year begins doesn’t have to be how it ends.When it’s all said and done, I worked a 3rd of the year, with 29 clients and 44 shoots, and made doubled my income this year over last year. I mean professionally, it was a win win! While I know there are opportunities to grow the business, another topic for another podcast episode, ladies & gentlemen, I had a boss ass year.But instead of this being an episode about numbers, I wanted to share the lessons I’ve learned in 2019. I’ve learned more about myself. These lessons have brought more clarity and insight for me personally & professionally. Enjoy!Real Talk with Tamera Podcast Episode 8 2019 Year in ReviewTamera Darden

This week I’m bringing you a 2nd episode featuring Alignment Mastermind Alum Shakira Hunt!Shakira is an interiors & branding photographer/interior designer based in Wilmington, DE. She was a member of Round 2 in July 2018. Since the program, she gained more clarity in her business allowing her the ability to introduce another stream of income for her business.Towards the End of the Episode, she shares how having a grasp of her business income was essential during a recent life transition.This is certainly one you don’t want to miss!To follow Shakira on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/shakirahunt.creativestudioTo book a consultation, visit her website http://www.shakirahunt.comThis episode of The Real Talk with Tamera is also brought to you by, Alignment Mastermind, an 8 week program for service based business owners who want to go from Burnout to Bliss in their business.Look, I know there are a lot of amazing, talented entrepreneurs out there and maybe you’re one of them. You could have several years of experience, but you may still run into these issues:you lack organization and a workflow to help you manage your clientsYou occasionally experience anxiety from not having enough clients or making enough moneyyou’re still running your business like a hobbySo imagine with me for a second not feeling anxiety because you’re consistently booking with your ideal clients at higher rates. Implementing organized & automated workflows so you can work smarter, not harder in your business. Having more control of how you actually spend your day, while doing the work that you love.With the Alignment Mastermind, I’m sharing the proven tools & skills to help build your clientele in your niche, implement an organized workflow and increase your prices confidently during this 8 week program. As one student put it, “it was the swift kick in the peach, she needed.” I launched the program in May 2018 and I’m bringing it back for Round 4. Want to learn more? Visit bit.ly/alignment_mastermind to read about past students’ experiences and the program content.In a few weeks, I’ll be hosting a free masterclass, where I’m sharing the 3 behaviors that took me from burnout to bliss in my business. Visit bit.ly/burnouttoblissmasterclass to sign up! Doors open soon so you don’t want to miss out. Make 2020 the year you build a business doing what you love.

Happy Tuesday!This episode is a continuation of how to develop your brand voice series. The first episode, we covered how to establish your core values and hopefully that has given you some clarity and understanding of how you’ll show up online & IRL for your audience and potential clientele. Now we’re covering your Objective & Client Avatar or Profile, Muse whichever feels more comfortable to use.It made sense to talk about the client avatar & objective in the same episode because, while we may be hard pressed to just create any kind of business, in the words of Jereshia Shaw, a high ticket sales coach, we cannot be solving broke people’s problems!To keep you accountable, I’ve created a workbook for you to download, so you can build out your brand voice! To access click this link to download.This episode of The Real Talk with Tamera is also brought to you by, Alignment Mastermind, an 8 week program for service based business owners who want to go from Burnout to Bliss in their business.Look, I know there are a lot of amazing, talented entrepreneurs out there and maybe you’re one of them. You could have several years of experience, but you may still run into these issues:you lack organization and a workflow to help you manage your clientsYou occasionally experience anxiety from not having enough clients or making enough moneyyou’re still running your business like a hobbySo imagine with me for a second not feeling anxiety because you’re consistently booking with your ideal clients at higher rates. Implementing organized & automated workflows so you can work smarter, not harder in your business. Having more control of how you actually spend your day, while doing the work that you love.With the Alignment Mastermind, I’m sharing the proven tools & skills to help build your clientele in your niche, implement an organized workflow and increase your prices confidently during this 8 week program. As one student put it, “it was the swift kick in the peach, she needed.” I launched the program in May 2018 and I’m bringing it back for Round 4. Want to learn more? Visit bit.ly/alignment_mastermind to read about past students’ experiences and the program content.In a few weeks, I’ll be hosting a free masterclass, where I’m sharing the 3 behaviors that took me from burnout to bliss in my business. Visit bit.ly/burnouttoblissmasterclass to sign up! Doors open soon so you don’t want to miss out. Make 2020 the year you build a business doing what you love.

Happy Tuesday,Ask and you shall receive! This is part one of a 3 part series where I’m sharing how to develop your brand voice. If you’ve been listening to the podcast, I’ve shared time management tips, networking and briefly hinted at core values. So, I’m ready to get a little bit deeper into developing your brand voice with hopes that you can take control of your narrative and block out the noise.During this episode, I’ll be sharing:The definition of Brand Voice https://www.feedough.com/brand-voice-guidelines/The 4 components of your brand voiceHow Darden Creative got startedHow to establish your core valuesTo keep you accountable, I’ve created a workbook for you to download, so you can build out your brand voice! To access click this link to download.This episode of The Real Talk with Tamera is also brought to you by, Alignment Mastermind, an 8 week program for service based business owners who want to go from Burnout to Bliss in their business.Look, I know there are a lot of amazing, talented entrepreneurs out there and maybe you’re one of them. You could have several years of experience, but you may still run into these issues:you lack organization and a workflow to help you manage your clientsYou occasionally experience anxiety from not having enough clients or making enough moneyyou’re still running your business like a hobbySo imagine with me for a second not feeling anxiety because you’re consistently booking with your ideal clients at higher rates. Implementing organized & automated workflows so you can work smarter, not harder in your business. Having more control of how you actually spend your day, while doing the work that you love.With the Alignment Mastermind, I’m sharing the proven tools & skills to help build your clientele in your niche, implement an organized workflow and increase your prices confidently during this 8 week program. As one student put it, “it was the swift kick in the peach, she needed.” I launched the program in May 2018 and I’m bringing it back for Round 4. Want to learn more? Visit bit.ly/alignment_mastermind to read about past students’ experiences and the program content.In a few weeks, I’ll be hosting a free masterclass, where I’m sharing the 3 behaviors that took me from burnout to bliss in my business. Visit bit.ly/burnouttoblissmasterclass to sign up! Doors open soon so you don’t want to miss out. Make 2020 the year you build a business doing what you love.

’Tis the season where we’re blasting our favorite Christmas Carole by the incomparable Mariah Carey, pulling out the Christmas decorations, drinking our favorite hot drinks, like a hot toddy lol. But while the Holidays can bring about some warm fuzzies, it’s still can be an emotional difficult time of the year. Life is still happening all around us and there is still lost of loved one, you don’t like/love your family dynamic, or the holidays can bring feelings of loneliness or hell, of all the above.This episode I’m sharing my most vulnerable self and how I’ve dealt with grief in my life. I experience trauma just like everyone else but I hope this episode encourages you to know experiencing grief is a part of the human experience. During this episode, I share various resources for how to deal with grief that you can find below. I encourage everyone to find help & seek help when they are ready.Therapy for Black GirlsOpen Path Collective Psychotherapy - Really good resource for finding a therapist on a budgetNational Suicide Preventative Hotline - 1 800.273.8255

Happy Tuesday Beautiful People!First, I love asking for ya’ll opinion on the ‘gram. After a poll asking you ladies for the next episode topic, Time Management Hacks edged out How to Deal with Grief (being released the first week of December).62% of my clients this year came from product photography the core offering in my business so that is no accident. An about 85% of my clients are actually based outside of the DMV! I’ve worked with clients on the West Coast, the Caribbean, Canada, South. Clients ship their product to me and without giving my entire workflow away, I still am responsible for hitting deadlines sometimes amongst several clients simultaneously.So, when people ask me “Tamera how do you complete your photo shoots when the client is off site?” The honest answer is Jesus and…. Bills are due every month. Which That is a great motivator.But the more detailed answers, it’s possible because of the systems and process in place when working with my clients and how I manage my time.During this episode, I share:the importance of understanding your productivity peaks and lowseasy to use time management hacks to trylast minute sharing the best way of answering an emotionally charged email.Once you’ve listened, share your thoughts in the comments or send me an email at hello@dardencreative.com. Click below to listen or go on iTunes, here.

Hey Love,First, thank you to all of the love & support I’ve received after Episode 1 of Real Talk with Tamera! It truly warms my heart. I did an IG poll to vote on the next episode and Networking with Intention won by a landslide.Networking. Some people are good at it… and others find themselves with sweaty palms and wanting to just crawl into a ball and Netflix & Chill. But we’re not doing that. I’m speaking to the introverts out there too. I want you to win, regardless of your affinity for crowds or lack there of. Because at the end of the day, closed mouths don’t get fed.During this episode I cover:the benefits of networking3 ways to network with intentionthe importance of your 15-30 second pitch and how to create oneand in my last minute, the importance of getting reviews/testimonials from your clientsClick below to listen!

I’m all about gratefulness and gratitude, but the memes are just becoming a little bit overkill. Almost lacking substance or surface level. I find that while the memes and quotes mean well, they leave us wanting more. Or rather, we question, how do we actually implement gratitude into our lives? We understand that gratitude is good for us, but why? Or rather, how can you implement/show gratitude in a way that feels good to you? Not what IG says you should to show gratitude.During this episode I’m sharingthe psychological reasons why it is difficult to implement a consistent gratitude practicethe benefits of creating a gratitude practicereal down-to-earth ways you can implement a gratitude practice starting nowOnce you’ve listened, please share if any of the ideas resonated with you and which one or ones you’ll begin implementing in your life. Want to send a personal note? Send me an email at hello@dardencreative.com.Until the next episode, peace, love and do you boo!