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Ep. 130 - Posing with Udo Asomugha
113 Plays1 year ago
Happy Woo Wednesdays. Today Udo reminds us creatives + entrepreneurs: Never give up. If you believe you've been called to do a particular assignment that's in tandem to your calling, never give up. Take breaks! But never abandon what's been placed within you! It's there for a reason. Give in to it!
Udo Asomugha Studios is a female, black-owned boutique photography studio in Redondo Beach, Los Angeles County. Celebrating a decade behind the lens, Udo's journey in photography has transformed into a heartfelt dedication to capturing the essence of life's most cherished moments and she is genuinely thrilled to continue celebrating you from behind the lens. Her Nigerian heritage, the backdrop of artistic elegance, became her canvas for personal expression. Her photography sits at the intersection of transformation and revelation, witnessing this revelation of every client who comes to my studio.
Hot Topic:
Posing! In this selfie world, people still dread getting in front of a professional camera. The main question I always get is, “What do I do with my hands?”
Relax and follow me, i’ll give you every bit if direction you need. You wont stop hearing my voice. You’ll end up feeling like a pro, afterwards.
Freebie for HECK YES listeners
I’ll give one (1) blessed listener a $0 session fee valued at $500 for a maternity session, modern woman session or full branding session. If you’re pregnant, I photograph you between 27-32 weeks into your pregnancy.
Connect with Udo
https://www.instagram.com/udoaphotography
Connect with Carissa Woo
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Transcript
Introducing Udo the Photographer
00:00:00
Speaker
Happy Woo Wednesdays! I have my friend Udo in the Get A Heck Yes House. She photographs woman in the most beautiful way. She has a studio in Redondo Beach where I live and it looks like you are in the lofts of downtown LA. So posing and getting your photo taken can be super awkward, but Udo makes her clients feel loved, comfortable, and like a million bucks.
Heck Yes Sales Breakthrough Promotion
00:00:25
Speaker
Before we begin this conversation, make sure you hop on this deal, my Heck Yes Sales Breakthrough System. It's only $50 with code Heck Yes. You are going to fill out a questionnaire. I'm going to audit your whole entire business and I'm going to send you back a video of what you can improve, how to get more bookings, how to get on the preferred venue vendor list, how to sell out and be booked out for
00:00:53
Speaker
2025 and a whole lot more. It's like taking your business to the doctors. But let us begin this conversation with Udo. She is amazing. Hope you enjoy.
Podcast for Wedding Creatives
00:01:09
Speaker
Welcome to Get a Heck Yes with Carissa Wu. I'm your host, Carissa, and I've been a Los Angeles wedding photographer for over a decade. I've traveled the world, built my team, and seen it all. I now coach wedding photographers hit 10K a month and build a thriving business. In this podcast, we are going to deep dive into how top wedding creatives get that heck yes from their dream clients. We are not holding back on the struggles of the business and how to push through the noise. Some healthy hustle, mindset shifts, up-leveling your money story,
00:01:38
Speaker
Time packs because I'm a mom of two, a little bit of woo-woo, and most importantly, self-love and confidence are just a few of the many things we will talk about. I want to give you a genuine thank you for following along my journey. I hope to inspire you every Woo Wednesday so that you say heck yes to listening to this podcast. See you guys soon!
00:02:01
Speaker
Hey everyone, welcome back to Get Ahead Guess with me, your girl Carissa
Udo's Journey from Nigeria to Redondo Beach
00:02:04
Speaker
Wu. I have my friend Udo Asamua Studios, a female blacked-out boutique photography studio in Redondo Beach, neighbors to me, Ellie Calmy, and she has been a photographer for over a decade. Her Nigerian heritage, the backdrop of artistic elegance, become her canvas for personal expression. Her photography sits at the intersection of transformation and
00:02:28
Speaker
Relevation, witnessing this revelation of every client who comes to her studio. Welcome, Udo. Hi, guys. Thank you for having me. Such an honor. Thank you. Yay. Last time that me and you hung out, we were dancing to really good guitarists at a great place in Redondo Beach, and we just had a great night. So I could truly call you a friend now. Yes, yes, you are a friend. Thank you.
Family, Faith, and Heritage Influences
00:02:56
Speaker
Yay. Oh, my God.
00:02:58
Speaker
I guess to just warm you up, just tell me like a little bit about yourself, what you're up to today. I don't know where you live and anything just really fun. Yeah. So as you guys know, I am a first generation American born Nigerian. I live here in the South Bay and I have lived here since I was a baby from Lawndale to Torrance, grew up in Torrance, went to high school in Torrance.
00:03:27
Speaker
I've never lived further than four miles from the beach, and I've loved every minute of that. I am a believer in Christ, so I am a Christian, and I love my walk with the Lord, and it really translates in what I do for other women as a photographer. So that's a little bit about me, not to keep too much going, but yeah. I love it. I'm a soft-baked girl, true and true, so me and you. That's why we get a lot.
00:03:57
Speaker
I went to West High. How about you? OK, I went to North. Yeah. OK, yeah. All my friends went to North because I went to Casimir. But my parents won't. And that's why we get along so much. Yes, it is. So we know a lot of the same people. Yeah. And I'm a Christian. I'm a photographer. I'm a Christian. We're the same person. We are the same person. Oh my God. OK, so I guess we'll go way back. South Bay Grove at Nigerian Heritage. Tell me a little bit about like
00:04:27
Speaker
your family growing up, what you're like as a kid, and any hobbies or interests that made you, I don't know, find this passion in photography? Yeah, so growing up was great. I'm the youngest of four, and my family is big on family. So we were always very close together. We played a lot of sports. Me and my siblings played a lot of sports. I grew up running track.
00:04:55
Speaker
Um, I played basketball for a little bit, but I feel like I was a deer in the headlights. Anybody who's watching this and knows me. Yeah. Um, so I was a track girl through and through 400 meters was my race. Um, four by four, four by one. Um, that was just me, but yeah, growing up, it was great. My family is good.
00:05:15
Speaker
My family was good and we were close and we were knit. We did suffer a tragedy. My dad did die when I was nine. And so grew up in a single parent household since the age of nine. But I got to say that God is good. That's what I say to that. He is good because he really kept us and I had a good life. Wow. You have a strong mom for raising.
00:05:41
Speaker
Four kids. 100 Prince. Shout out to my mom. You are strong. Yeah, that's amazing. Oh my gosh. What did your mom do for work? So my mom is a retired pharmacist. She owned her pharmacy for 20 years, but before that was working for other pharmacies for 20 years. So it's about a 40 year journey for her, but she's a retired pharmacist now. Oh, that's amazing. Yeah. That's awesome. And all your siblings are in the South Bay as well? No.
00:06:11
Speaker
Everybody is spread out. My sister travels from country to country. I have a sibling in Virginia and then I have another sibling here in LA. So we're kind of all just spread out. I have six nieces and nephews. So it's the cutest little thing ever. But yeah, we are all spread out but still keep in touch via the great old WhatsApp.
00:06:32
Speaker
Oh, awesome. Yeah. If you're afraid of WhatsApp, don't be afraid of all those messages that keep coming in. It's been doing that since before time. Oh, that's so funny.
Transition from Purseline to Photography
00:06:46
Speaker
Oh my God. Okay, so I know me and you had like a drunken talk about your like crazy story about getting into photography because you did something totally different. But so this is a fun story. It should take us a good amount of time. But you can tell a pretty thorough story about
00:07:01
Speaker
kind of maybe career paths that you have before photography and kind of what led you to owning your own like studio in Redondo Beach and yeah.
00:07:12
Speaker
So there's one career path that I can't talk about online. And we'll skip that. You probably remember that, but we'll have to skip that. But I will say I started in photography. I was, so I'm a serial entrepreneur. So from a young age, I've just always had different businesses. I am a seamstress. I started a purse line and that's actually where photography began. It was called Clutch It.
00:07:37
Speaker
and I was making handmade clutch purses with African Ankara fabric.
00:07:43
Speaker
And they were being worn on red carpets. People were buying them. I was excited. But I realized that I couldn't photograph my product well. So I bought the infamous Nikon D3100 at the time back in 2013. And I was like, I'm going to learn how to take good photos of my product for my website. It's going to be amazing. I got the camera, and I didn't know how to use it.
00:08:11
Speaker
So I'll never forget, I enrolled in a class at Paul's Photo in Torrance. Have you ever heard of Paul's Photo? Yeah. I'm like the same person. So I enrolled in a class at Paul's Photo. And I'll never forget, my first homework assignment was photographing people. First of all, the instructor was like, yeah, whatever you came to do, whatever you're interested in, we're going to be photographing humans. So your product photography is going to have to wait.
00:08:39
Speaker
So my first homework assignment was photographing humans and I say humans, I'm funny, but I photographed my sister and I remember putting her in front of her garage, taking the image of her and then taking that to class. And he literally looked at it on the like big screen TV and he was like, you have an eye. And I fell in love with photographing people, with photographing women,
00:09:08
Speaker
with showing their story through their eye, just getting that focus on them and being able to see a part of them that they didn't see. And since then,
00:09:19
Speaker
the purses went away, that website went away. Like my whole entire trajectory of like entrepreneurship changed and it went into photography and it just went into this passion and I just kept with it and I'm still here 10 plus years later. Yeah. Yeah. The guy, Martha instructor didn't say that about me for sure.
00:09:45
Speaker
Like at the water fountain, like blurry photos, whatever. Mark told Mark told me he said, yeah, whatever you came to do. No. And I was like, really? And I was like, OK, so listen, a little bit. OK, tell me about this, like, photograph and what was so good about it and what like I don't know. I feel like this this was like the ignite, ignited something like the fire. But like, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:10:14
Speaker
Was it powerful? Was it her eyes? Was it the light? Like, what was it? So here's the thing. I remember it like it was yesterday, right?
00:10:21
Speaker
um, sat her in front of her all white garage. Cause I think this assignment was about reflectors and using white in order to bounce back onto somebody, but I did it incorrectly. So you know how the, the, the all white garage is supposed to be in front of your client and you'll, you'll see the reflection to create light on them. But I put her on the all white garage. So I photographed her that way, but even that, the light came out so soft.
00:10:50
Speaker
And it just really softened all of her features. And you saw, she's always been a very strong person since she was young, but you saw this softness in her, not only on her skin, not only on the light that just surrounded her, and her eye was so in focus. No makeup. Her hair wasn't done. It was in a top bun. She was wearing some clothes, some sweats, and I think a tank top. But it looked like
00:11:19
Speaker
your quintessential, not to say that at that point I was good, but it looked like a beauty shot. And at that moment I was like, women are beautiful, why don't we love ourselves? I want to do this to show people who they are kind of thing. So it was an amazing experience. And to have that kind of reaction from him, let me know.
00:11:44
Speaker
this could be something. And then on top of that, just family kept on encouraging me and looking at those photos and taking more. And it just became something very passionate within me and
Natural and Relaxed Studio Approach
00:11:58
Speaker
personal, personal really, because sometimes I even used to look at myself like not being beautiful enough or not being worthy enough to like be on the other end of a camera. And although I sit on this end,
00:12:11
Speaker
like I want to be able to show somebody that they are. So yeah, I was gonna I was gonna ask that same question. Like, let's let's dive deeper into what you just said about like, not feeling beautiful enough or like woman not feeling beautiful enough. Like, why? Why are we so mean to ourselves? I was I was just telling a couple of friends this the other day, the thing
00:12:36
Speaker
As women in this selfie culture age, we've gotten so used to only knowing our angles from the point of how we hold the camera, right? So you can't see my hand, but like, this is the selfie, right? Or that's how you know yourself. And how can you walk into a room and show your light to people
00:13:02
Speaker
when you don't really know what they're seeing. Like you have to walk in that confidence that somebody else is seeing. And the way you can get that is by allowing yourself to be photographed by somebody else rather than just yourself. Sometimes it's very hard when we photograph just ourselves to really know what somebody else sees. And it is important that we should know who we are, but it's also important that we should walk in the light of who we are. And when we walk into a room, be like,
00:13:32
Speaker
I know who I am beyond this selfie. I know what you're seeing and it's confidence and I see it too.
00:13:40
Speaker
I, I've been trying to tell my husband this like for a long, like a long time, because he doesn't want my daughter and dance or he was just like, it's kind of ridiculous, like, oh, she should do like, self defense or piano. And I'm like, no, like, if you know your body and like, the way you look, and you know, where to place like your arms or like your neck or like you stand with confidence, it's just like, you present yourself to the world like in a more
00:14:08
Speaker
confident matter. But no, that's very true. Also, I was gonna say like, I do like taking photos of myself better when and when someone's taking them me like I get like, I'm always like slouched over. And I don't know, I just, it is a little awkward. So I'm always like, okay, I know, like, the window light selfie, but like, like,
00:14:31
Speaker
from that time, that picture, you took your sister, what was like, how did it snowball into like this photography studio or like the in-between of that? I know it's a long-winded question, but like how did you get there? So how did I get from there to here? Yeah, A to Z.
00:14:54
Speaker
from A to Z, honey, let me tell you much prayer. That's what it took. Oh, let me ask you one question before that. Describe like your studio now and who you photograph and your style and then we'll kind of like walk through the pieces like in between.
00:15:10
Speaker
Pardon this short interruption, but guess what? I have a new program. It's for all wedding professionals. It's called The Triple Threat. We redo your brand messaging, the homepage of your website. Part two is we do all your marketing.
00:15:26
Speaker
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00:15:50
Speaker
and DM me the word DEMO. I will send it right over. It's how to get 10 to 15 quality leads in your inbox per month. Enjoy, guys. Krista Wu is a LA-based wedding photographer who's actually turning business coach. She helped me grow and change, and I'm so proud to call you coach.
00:16:12
Speaker
Tell us how you're feeling. I want to just know a little bit more about your thoughts. It's beautiful and you're awesome. It's beautiful. I'm speechless. I just like the fact that it feels like myself. I feel myself when I see this. Oh, man. Well, you got me pumped and excited for this. Carissa, thank you. Right. So now my style is very effortless. Well, I won't say effortless because it takes a lot of work.
00:16:42
Speaker
But I want to make sure that when somebody comes into my studio, they don't feel like it's a constant. Do this, pose this way, pose that way. Now let me move your hand. Let's get the best shot, but rather you sit.
00:16:57
Speaker
I observe you because I am so observant. Even when people think I'm not watching, I'm reading in between lines. And I think that's a trait that I've always had that works great as a photographer. And you would know that as well because you're constantly seeing a lot of things. But at this stage in my studio, I want you to sit. I want you to feel relaxed.
00:17:21
Speaker
I want you to be who you are. And there are moments where, I might give away some secrets right now, where you don't think I'm paying attention or it may be a lighting test. And that's the best time that I can get some of the best photos from you because you're more relaxed in an environment, just being able to, you know, if I say, don't worry, you know, like I'm just,
00:17:45
Speaker
Do an X, Y, and Z. And so you're fine. And you're just sitting there, and you're preparing yourself and your mind. And you can see the determination, and you can see the poise, and you can see the calmness. And that's when I start snapping. So it seems effortless, but it takes a lot of work on my part. So make sure I'm watching next level. When did you start realizing that? Was it when you started putting your camera down? You're like, oh, shit. They look good.
00:18:12
Speaker
That's exactly what happened. So there would be times when women would be laughing at a joke that I'm saying, and I wouldn't even have my camera ready.
00:18:25
Speaker
And I'm like, Ooh, that was a good shot. I missed it. And that would happen so often that I was like, okay, we need to work this into how you sit in front of somebody else. Like, come on, like, you can tell your jokes, but have your camera ready. And those are some of the best images that, you know, clients look at and they're like,
00:18:45
Speaker
I remember that moment you took that shot and I'm like, yeah. Oh my god. I know I wish we could have like a I guess GoPro, but like, and I'm like a DSLR like on our chest or something. And also it helps with an assistant doing BTS videos like my like my makeup artist is also my assistant on certain shoots and for her to get that
00:19:06
Speaker
Um, it's, it's less work on me. Okay. So describe like your brand, like what you bring to the table as far as like woman empowerment and like, yeah, making them feel beautiful.
Creating a Comfortable Studio Environment
00:19:19
Speaker
But like, what does this studio like mean to you? And like, I dunno, just describe it a little bit more. Yeah. My studio is, it's a, ooh.
00:19:29
Speaker
I'm taking a deep breath because I'm just so grateful for it. But it is a place where not only I relax, like it's a second home for me. I can come in, I can just feel the space, be barefoot, walk through it and just feel at home. But a part of my brand is I want you to also feel the same way.
00:19:52
Speaker
So before my studio, there's a lot of travels to downtown LA studios. And the one thing that irritated me about that is having my clients have to find parking. And that stresses people out. It stresses people out. And I don't want, you know, pregnant women to be stressed out or walking down like very large hills.
00:20:16
Speaker
um you know from parking structures and all of that so the studio space that i have i want to make sure that not only am i comfortable but you're comfortable that you can walk into it that you can feel like it's home for you that you can feel like oh my gosh i feel the peace in here i can relax
00:20:33
Speaker
Like there's dedicated spaces for, you know, changing for, you know, backdrops. Like you could just move through it and not feel rushed because we're on a two hour limit and we have a schedule, you know, we are on a two hour limit and we do have a schedule, but you don't have to feel rushed through it. Um, there's parking, you know, it's, it's just a very secure and comforted space. And in my brand, I want you to feel that I call it milk and honey.
00:21:03
Speaker
like something that's warm and just flows and feels good.
00:21:09
Speaker
So that when you're walking in, you don't have to feel anxious or full of anxiety. Yeah, it's it's interesting, not interesting, but it's bringing back all these stressful memories because when I was pretty deep into my photography career, like everyone wanted like FV studios. And, you know, you get there and we're from South Bay, so we got to breathe, but we go to downtown LA, we're like, drenched in sweat. One time the elevator was broken. And yeah, my pregnant client, we had to walk up seven, eight flights of stairs.
00:21:39
Speaker
with the baby with my camera bag. You know, and then yeah, the parking so actually like, what do I try not to run up run over people? And I'm claustrophobic. So those downtown LA elevators are well, I mean, I say I'm claustrophobic anymore because I did conquer
00:21:58
Speaker
something recently but still so in my claustrophobia in the past like those tiny downtown LA elevators if y'all have ever been in them they're the worst feeling ever like my makeup artist is usually taking the elevator with all of our belongings and I'm walking up those seven or eight flights of stairs so I'm not gonna do it oh yeah so I'm literally drenched just like you're saying yeah I'm literally drenched
00:22:24
Speaker
Yeah. So I feel you on this. Okay. A couple more questions before we get into Hot Topic, which is posing. But I guess making your your client feel comfortable. Your Instagram is lit. But what is like your best heck yes technique or anything heck yes related? Anything heck yes related.
00:22:52
Speaker
It brings me down to what I like to make sure people feel in the studio or even just getting photographed by me.
00:23:04
Speaker
Like I said, I'm really observant, so I'm a great listener. And I think that goes a long way with people who may not feel comfortable in front of the camera. So being able to listen to them, one, gets them in a position to really trust me. Because it's a really vulnerable and emotional moment just to pick up a camera and watch the expressions and the emotions in people's face as they're nervous, right? So that usually gets people
00:23:34
Speaker
a little bit more relaxed and trusting me. But another heck yes, if I can say moment is my, my ability to storytell, I think so. And when people are really nervous, just telling them about other past experiences and how people sat in their power in front of me and like owned it, you know, and, and we're confident when people hear those stories, they're kind of like, I can do this. I can do that. And then when they, when they get the final image back, they're like, that was me.
00:24:03
Speaker
Like, yes, and you may not have realized, but through the questioning that I'm asking you while I'm photographing you, being able to come into the frame with you and show you what's necessary and allow you to react, relax. I think that goes a long way in just the end product. Well,
00:24:25
Speaker
Not the end. The photograph is not the end product. But there's more beyond that photograph. But in receiving that photograph in your hand, because I'm a firm believer in printing it, it's an emotional experience to know that you sat through that and you produced that.
00:24:42
Speaker
you as the client, not me as the photographer. So yeah, I love that. Heck yes mom. Yeah, that's super heck yes. There's this one time, it was a long time ago, but I did like a bourgeois style shoot. And I just didn't have that. Those listening skills down yet. And I it was yeah, early in my career. And
00:25:03
Speaker
literally just told this girl to like get naked or something like this out of the blue because we had we had the time limit, right? And she was, yeah, it was a model. So I thought she would do it. Oh my god, the look that she gave me, she like staring, she was gonna leave because I made her feel uncomfortable. And it was my assistant that didn't have any experience of photography, but was like more tactful, I guess. She's the one that calmed her down and talked to her through it.
00:25:29
Speaker
At that moment, I was like, wow, I can't really expect anything from people to do what I want. You have to really ease them into things and like talk them through. So pep talks are very important. Communication is very important. 100% pep talks are very important. I
00:25:49
Speaker
And this is not to bash any woman that has sat in front of me and done this, but I have had multiple sessions where clients have cried on the other end of the camera and being able to work with them and work with makeup and getting them to at
00:26:07
Speaker
after crying you know like after their tears go away feeling more confident like this this is good like this is a good thing and sometimes i feel like even in those moments i'm like i have a lot to learn from them as well because there are times when i cry and i'm like it's over it's over like you know just in life you know but be able to come out of that moment
00:26:31
Speaker
and feel like you've been empowered by somebody is important. It's a very delicate stage. And so a lot of clients teach me that. It's funny how we learn when we feel like we're doing the teaching, we're actually the ones doing the learning. I love that. Okay, so I mean, we've been talking about the past.
00:26:54
Speaker
30 minutes already, but our hot topic, guys, is posing. Posing. Sorry, guys, I talked too much. I thought I wasn't going to, but sorry. Yeah, it's just flowing. We're flowing. So I guess, hot topic, tell us why it's so near and dear to your heart and start us off with some tips and tricks. Tips and tricks let the person land into the pose that they feel most comfortable in. And from there, move them into where
00:27:24
Speaker
You think it's best given the image So yeah, most of the time if I feel comfortable slouching, that's not the best, right? But I tend to watch what happens to the rest of the body So if somebody's sitting and you can't see me but if somebody's sitting with their feet both planted on the ground and I say just get comfortable and automatically one leg goes up they cross their legs and they slouch and
00:27:49
Speaker
then I'm going to leave them with their legs crossed, with their arms crossed, however it is, but I'm going to ask you to sit straight up. And from there, then it's going to be like, okay, lean forward, right? So now you're still comfortable, but now you're in this like boss woman move where you're just like leaning forward and you're looking at me and you're like,
00:28:09
Speaker
I'm not the best at demonstrating like on camera, but I could do it over in person. So yeah, tips and tricks, let the person fall into whatever position that they are naturally comfortable in and then move parts of their body into the right position that you feel is best for photographing.
Posing with Client Comfort in Mind
00:28:29
Speaker
And I learned that from Sue Bryce.
00:28:33
Speaker
of Sue Brice photography. She is amazing when it comes to posing. Shout out Sue Brice. I did not get paid for this, but she is amazing when it comes to posing. Sue Brice is a legend. Legend. I would take some of her workshops just for even posing couples, but the whole like cigarette like thing with the hands. Yes, yes. Understanding how the limbs should fall and hang on people. But the most important thing
00:28:59
Speaker
that I learned is I can't make you look like what you're not. So if you don't do this naturally, if that's not comfortable to you, I'm not going to ask you to do it. We're going to find what is comfortable for you and then move you into the right position. Yeah, that's interesting. I think I knew that, but I never knew how to articulate it sometimes.
00:29:22
Speaker
when the couple I just said, Oh, help her with her necklace, or like, you know, like give her like a little massage or something. And then like, they're kind of like in their natural state. And then they all like bring it in a little bit more, you know, talk to each other. And instead of just going right into it, because they're just like, awkward. Right, right. I kind of, so for my like engagement couples, when it comes to posing them as well, I let
00:29:50
Speaker
again, another secret, another tips and tricks. Is that it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I watch how they interact with each other without them knowing. And there's, I do a second scout of the location if it's not in studio while they're there. Not because
00:30:13
Speaker
I'm actually looking for anything because I've already been there like twice, like once beforehand, then earlier before the shoot. But I want to watch how they interact in their outfits, in their wardrobe. You know, like you feel sexy in your outfit, like you're with your man if it's engagement. I'm going to just start walking around, but at the same time, watch how you're interacting with your partner. And by the time I come back, I like have a little bit of knowledge.
00:30:42
Speaker
It helps if I know you as well. But if I don't, I have a little bit of knowledge of how you guys communicate physically. And then we go from there. Like, do you guys like to touch each other? So if it is like, OK, let's do a hug. Let's, you know, or let's do an arm on a shoulder or just whatever they feel comfortable with. But I kind of watch. So I have an idea of the questions that I can ask and I don't feel like I'm prying them. But yeah. OK, let's talk about
00:31:10
Speaker
kind of people that come in and we talk about like people crying, but like the insecurity, insecurities about their body or insecurities about themselves. Do you show them like the back of your camera? Do you like what else? I don't know, just just walking through some tips and tricks of like, just working with some people with a lot of insecurity.
00:31:36
Speaker
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00:32:35
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00:33:02
Speaker
Please hear the growth that always hasn't been like this. But there were times when I was so insecure that I would not show the back of the camera. Even if the image was good, I could not because I didn't want the other person, I didn't want the client to see what they thought was wrong, even though I thought I liked it.
00:33:29
Speaker
right? Yeah. So like, if I really liked it, I was like, but they're gonna like be like, Oh, they don't like it. And they're in the shoot is over with. And now I'm dejected. And I'm sitting there trying to take more photos. And I'm like, they didn't like that photo. I used to be so insecure with that until I realized literally through my makeup artists, actually, like, she helped me realize that sometimes people just need to see it. And it's the delivery that I give it in. So if
00:33:58
Speaker
If I'm really excited and confident about that image in the back, I'm going to turn it around and I'm going to be like, look girl, you're killing it. This is what it looks like. And that automatically boosts their morale. I can't tell how many times I've started a session.
00:34:15
Speaker
you know, the client on the other end, if it's maternity client or just regular portraits, they don't feel comfortable. And I turn that camera around, they're like, Oh, I get it. Okay, let me like you get it now.
00:34:31
Speaker
Totally. No, I was I was the same way like I would be intimidated by some people and like not want to show the back of my camera. But I think it's important because I I hired my friend Lisa Marie to do my bourgeois photos. And thank God that she showed me the back of my camera. Because it's like one thing on my my hair was like off, you know, like, yeah, like the whole like little hair loop is like could be kind of weird. So like, if I should show me that
00:34:56
Speaker
that camera or the back of the camera, like in the beginning, I wouldn't have like, like any of the photos, something like that. So I would say, oh, like, even look at your makeup or like, your hair, do you like it? And they're like, yeah, I like it. Or like, oh shoot, like, let me fix my like one little eyelash or something. Eyelash, right. It's always the one eyelash. Or the necklace for me, like, there are many times where like the necklace is like right here.
00:35:21
Speaker
And I'm like, oh, crap. That was such a good photo. We have to do it again. The necklace here. But when people see that, when you turn the camera around, like I've had some clients, they're like, it's great. But my necklace. And I'm like, you're right. Your necklace. Let's do that again. Yeah. It comes with growth, right? It does. It does. More confident in yourself gives the client confidence. Exactly. Let's talk about something you said in the question here. But the hands. What do we do with our hands?
00:35:53
Speaker
That's the number one question, right? Like what do we do with our hands? How do you handle those objections?
00:36:02
Speaker
What do I do with my hands? That's the first thing. I think it might be a way to ease their fear of asking questions once the session starts. And I'm like, all right, I'll have you get seated in this chair here, and I'll have you face me this way. And the first thing everybody asks me is, they're either saying, what do I do with my hands? Or you're going to have to tell me what I got to do with my hands, because I don't know. And I just look at them, and I'm like, I got your entire being covered. We're good.
00:36:30
Speaker
So when it comes to hands, I just always tell people relax. You don't have to be tense. Your hands don't have to be like this or anything, but just relax them and let them fall just into position wherever they are. And I always ask people if I can touch them. Literally, I always do.
00:36:47
Speaker
And I will move hands. I will move body position. I'll fix hair. Or my makeup artist will do the same thing. Ask them if she can touch them, fix their hair. And sometimes if I can't get the words out, she'll be like, she needs you to relax from the joint of your elbow. And I'm like, OK. That's hilarious. So she's really good. We work really, really well together.
00:37:16
Speaker
Shout out to Silver's Broken Brushes. Sorry, just need to say it. But hands, it's the most important thing that people obviously sit down and they want to talk about. I don't know. You're going to have to show me what I do. And I'm like, I got you covered. It's OK. We want to see every limb.
00:37:35
Speaker
So there will not be a picture where one hand is behind your back and the other hand is here and it looks like you only have one hand. Exactly. Nor will that be the same for feet. I was just in my own photo shoot on Monday for myself. And it was also a video shoot. And at one point I sat on my foot just in a very casual way. And the geographer was like, she came through on the side and she said, let me just get your foot to show because it looks like you only have one leg.
00:38:03
Speaker
What do we do with our hands? We got you covered. We're never going to make you look like you were one handed.
Career Milestone with a Major Sale
00:38:09
Speaker
So yeah. I know. I'm just thinking about the wedding I shot on Saturday, but like there's always like a mom or like someone in the family picture and they're like, their arm just like pops up.
00:38:18
Speaker
I don't know. You think it's an AI photo, right? It's like an extra arm play. I'm like, relax your arm, put it down. Those AI photos, they give you like extra fingers and extra arms. It's like, where does this come from? Like, yeah. Oh my God, it's so funny. Okay, Udo, what is your biggest accomplishments? Ooh, in photography, my biggest accomplishments. I would say, so I have a
00:38:44
Speaker
I have a client who's like a repeat client, right? But her very first session with me, she bought my highest package. And I was terrified.
00:38:58
Speaker
Because in my eyes, I'm my worst critic. And I was like, oh my gosh, I don't think she's going to like the photos. It's not going to be too great. Like she went through my reveal session. And I do a reveal session where I create a video of your images with behind the scenes as well as the stills of that particular shot.
00:39:19
Speaker
But at this time I didn't have behind the scenes video. So it was just a video of all of the images very, very early on in my career. And she bought the highest package and I cried. Like she was crying from the photos because she wanted a very becoming photo session. Like this is me in my body and in me now.
00:39:46
Speaker
I don't know how old she might've been then. It was probably, she was probably like either 29 or 30. And so just having her have that reaction to her images and being the highest package that she purchased. And that was very new for me. I was like forever indebted to her forever. Like, and she's repeat, she's been back multiple times for her photo sessions, for her engagement session. Like she listened.
00:40:16
Speaker
She's amazing.
00:40:18
Speaker
I love that. I really think like, I don't know if people talk shit behind my back, but I'm like, I like to take pictures of myself, like professional photographers. And it is so empowering. One time I was feeling like really postpartum. And I was telling my sister, I was like, I just want to I'm gonna like book a photo shoot with me and my girls and just get my makeup done. And she's like, really, you do that? And like, no, it really gets you out of the funk. Like, just feeling good. And
00:40:47
Speaker
I don't know. It's just something about photos. I love taking photos. I love getting my picture taken. I love hiring other photographers in these shoes. You're amazing. You're amazing. You're a person, right? Well, let me say, I love taking photos of people. I am not the best on the other end of the camera. But I have learned from my clients.
00:41:14
Speaker
how to be the best on the other end of the camera. But it's still nerve wracking for me. So I 100% know what they're going through. Because it's nerve wracking for me to just be on the opposite end and being photographed. But more power to you, honey.
00:41:30
Speaker
I'm not, I'm just getting into the film myself. Like, I'm like, this is the best I'm gonna look ever from 40 to 50. You age a lot. So I'm like, I gotta take as many pictures as possible. You know, I've been thinking that way too. So that's why recently I've been like, okay, photo of myself, photo of myself. Like, but really though, hiring a photographer I did in 2021 to do some updated like marketing images and branding images for myself.
00:42:00
Speaker
It was the best thing that I could have ever done. And she was a great photographer. She made me feel real comfortable, really relaxed. And the images that came from that. Yeah. And that's the experience that I want to continue to give to women. Walk away like the same way I walked away. So.
00:42:19
Speaker
Oh, I guess any last words to maybe someone struggling to take pictures of themselves and see themselves in a beautiful way, maybe someone newly divorced, a new mom and postpartum, someone that's gained, you know, COVID 20, COVID 40. But talk to them like deep into their hearts and like,
00:42:47
Speaker
why to book a shoot with you and how it could make them feel better about themselves.
The Legacy of Photography
00:42:55
Speaker
Yeah, I would say don't wait. You may not feel like you're at your best self now, but the, this is a very strong statement, but the cost of waiting could be very high. Tomorrow's not promised for us and
00:43:15
Speaker
I think it's important that you do take photos of yourself or that you do get professional photos of yourself, but don't wait. There is a certain thing you can see in somebody's eyes if they're in a place in their life where they're not comfortable, right? So I will say mentally be prepared to do the photo shoot, but don't wait. No matter if you're COVID 40,
00:43:46
Speaker
or if you're whatever the opposite is or you just don't feel comfortable in yourself, there's always a time to photograph who you are in this very moment. Totally. And to be able to hold on to that, it is a form of a legacy. You know what I mean? You don't wanna just photograph yourself at your best either. You wanna make sure there's photographs of you throughout life
00:44:16
Speaker
if I can even think about to back before DSLRs, right? Or most of us had the point and shoot like the little, remember the orange yellowish ones? Yes. Film cameras, right? Kodak. Kodak, yes. We didn't know what was really on the other end of that. We didn't know, oh my gosh, look at my chin, or oh my gosh, I don't want to take this photo. We just smiled for the camera. And if we can get back to just smiling for the camera,
00:44:45
Speaker
Then I guess a lot of us, including myself, wouldn't have so much of a conniption about trying to post the best picture of ourselves on social media. Totally. Just getting back to, oh, it's an event. It's an amazing day. Here's the camera. Take the picture. Just take it. Don't wait. Take the picture, guys. Don't wait. Take the picture. I love that. Yes. I love that. OK, rapid fire questions.
00:45:10
Speaker
What is your favorite restaurant in the South Bay? Favorite restaurant in the South Bay. Hands down, little sister.
00:45:20
Speaker
Oh, okay, so we're gonna go there next week. Yay! Okay, good. I'll go with a legend. Yeah. I love the little commitment we have to reach at the point. Kind of forgot about that. Yes, that one and then also the one in Redondo. Redondo, yeah, that's right. Okay, okay, yeah, Rivera. Okay, I can't help you. Thank you for bringing that back. Let's see. I guess your woo factor?
00:45:49
Speaker
Udo factor. Listen, you're going to get a good time. You're going to get a good time in a session. Part of me, you're going to get all of me. You're going to get the hilariousness, you're going to get the seriousness, you're going to get the business woman, and you're going to come out walking away like she is crazy, but I love her.
00:46:09
Speaker
Yes, I look out with you, you were singing on stage, your beautiful voice, you were dancing, you were a comedian, we had a great time, so I think I got a lot of voodoo that night. And then I went home. And then I went home, right? I'll be lying for the door and be like, I got it. I don't remember that part.
00:46:35
Speaker
That was a good night. I guess last question, I guess talk to not just, maybe talk to brides right now of like putting themselves at ease for their either portrait bridal session or their wedding and how they could get more confidence. Yeah. Well, my first question that I thought of as you were saying that is, is this what you want?
00:47:04
Speaker
Like, you know, is this wedding? Is this marriage? Is this moment? Is this what you want? Is this what you've been praying for? Is this what you've been asking for? And if it is, stand in that. Stand tall. And at the same time, be vulnerable in the moment to just photograph yourself with your emotions. Like, if this is what you want and you're emotional about it, then be emotional in the image.
00:47:31
Speaker
Oh, that was good. Because it's kind of like, it really takes you like your emotions even out of it. Because it's like, it's like giving you like this umbrella. Like, if this is what you want, this is what you get. This is this you're living it. Yeah, you're living you're living all of you. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's the advice. Yeah, you're living it. That's a great way of saying it. You're living it. Do it. You're living it. Yeah, go with it.
00:48:03
Speaker
I am. Okay, so you have a very generous offer for our heck yes listeners. So tell us that and then where to find you and how to follow you. You know what I, Carissa, you don't laugh at me. I can't remember what the generous offer was remind me. I have my calendly right up here. Yeah, and it says show notes.
00:48:27
Speaker
I'll stand by it. It says, I'll give number one, blessed listeners a zero session fee valued at $500 for maternity session, modern woman session or full branding session.
Special Offer for Listeners
00:48:46
Speaker
And if you're pregnant, I'll photograph you between 27 to 32 weeks into your pregnancy.
00:48:53
Speaker
Yes. So the way it works is, just as she said, and I will stand by it, the session fee will be covered by me. That covers hair, that covers makeup, that covers wardrobe, because we do have wardrobe for maternity clients as well. And all it will be is if you like any pictures, you pay for the photos that you like. Yay! And then where to find you on the Gram.
00:49:19
Speaker
On the gram, I am Udo A photography. That's U-D-O-A for my last name, photography. So Facebook is the same. It might be Udo Asamuwa Studios now, because I did a rebrand. And so yeah, you can find me. Just type in my name, Udo Asamuwa, A-S-O-M-U-G-H-A, and you will find me.
00:49:44
Speaker
Yay. I can't wait for my session. Thank you. Yay. Me too. Thank you, Carissa. This was amazing. Thanks for joining me this week on Get a Heck Yes with Carissa Wu. Make sure to follow, subscribe, leave a review, or tell a friend about the show. Take a screenshot and post to IG. Tag me. Also, don't forget to download my free guide on how to become a lead generating machine. See you next time, wedding pros.