SPEAKER_02: 0:16

Welcome back to Market It Without Mo, where we share the tips, tools, and strategies to help your business be successful. I'm excited to introduce today business owner Nellie Sermonello. She owns Nightflower Boudoir here in DFW. Welcome, Nellie.

SPEAKER_00: 0:32

Thank you so much, Terry. I'm so excited to be here with you.

SPEAKER_02: 0:34

I'm excited to have you here. Now, you've had this business for around seven years, is that right? Yes, that's correct. Congratulations on being the five-year hump. Thank you. You're very welcome. So tell me a little bit more about your your business you started and the story behind it. What encouraged you to start it? And is there a story behind the name?

SPEAKER_00: 0:53

Yes, absolutely. I'd love to tell you all of that. Um, so Nightflower Boudoir was born um as I was changing careers. I used to be a teacher. And so I, you know, I was looking for something that, you know, where I could be a little bit more creative and also uh a different job that would get me to interact with more adults.

SPEAKER_02: 1:16

Um yeah, kids after a while can be they can wear on you, especially if they're not yours, right?

SPEAKER_00: 1:22

Right, right. I mean, I do love kids and I I enjoy that teaching moment and them getting that aha, like I got it. Yeah. Um, but I just wanted, I needed more adults in my life. So I was just like, you know, trying to trying to change lanes. Um I decided to go into photography because I have a background in the arts as well. Okay. Um so I was just like, okay, well, probably not painting, probably not drawing, photography. Yes, that sounds fantastic. So it was it was kind of an easy move in that regard. And then the name Nightflower Woodard, it's actually very meaningful to me because um it's a bit of a long story, actually. Um, it's okay, we can shorten it just a little. Yeah, I definitely will. I definitely will. Um, when I was in college and I was doing one of my um drawing classes, one of the exercises was drawing the night. And, you know, our professor was kind enough to make it cryptic and like, you know, ambiguous, you know, for us. Like draw the night. So I ended up drawing what the night was for me. Okay. And I ended up drawing this beautiful night flower, which I ended up, you know, Googling and just trying to, you know, doing that research for myself. Yeah. And he told me, okay, this is great. It ended up being like, you know, the best um piece of work from like that semester. I felt like so honored and everything. And then he told me, you know what? I actually have this plant. Would you like a cutting? And I was like, can I please? Oh, cool. Um, a night flower is a cactus flower. Interesting. It's very interesting, and it's very, very beautiful. The thorns are about like, yay, big too. I mean, it it packs a bunch. Wow. And it's a night blooming uh plant. Wow, that's beautiful. It sounds beautiful. It is so beautiful. So it's born out of a bulb, like you know, you have your cactus, and then one day boom, you know, you have like a bulb and it's closed like this. And then one night it opens in about a space of an hour, and it's like about the size of your hand, and it's a white flower, just gorgeous. That sounds beautiful. And then in the morning it closes up again.

SPEAKER_02: 3:36

Oh, so it's it's it's like a a shooting star almost. Yes, it's like a shooting star.

SPEAKER_00: 3:41

You have to be there, and so um, the reason why I named my business Night Far Boudoir is because I used to be a very, very shy person. I would have never done this like in a previous life, you understand? Yeah, absolutely. And so for me, it was a representation of like opening up to your own life. You know, we live like this, you know, like so tight, so shy, so kind of scared of being seen. Absolutely. You know, so scared of kind of like being everything you can be or everything you want to be. I agree. Um, but if you're courage, you're you're courageous enough for a short moment, yeah, you know, it can open exactly boom, like open to the possibilities. Wow, you know, step into that light and be the main character of your life.

SPEAKER_02: 4:30

So you only get one, you really do, and it's hard to realize that. So what you're doing, I feel is so it truly from the heart. Uh allowing males, females, you you to photograph both, correct? Yes, that's correct. So I think everybody goes through that moment in their life where it's like, you know what, I don't want to do this anymore. Let's shift and do what I love. But some women don't or and men don't know how to do that. Different seasons require different things. And so, what encouraged you to use this specifically? Were you wanting to help other people come out of their show like you had?

SPEAKER_00: 5:08

Mm-hmm. Oh wow. So the end the way that I ended up coming into boudoir directly from from teaching was I found online this program uh regarding boudoir business, and I come from the deep south of Texas, okay, Brownsville, like all the way down there, and I was like, this doesn't exist here. What is this?

SPEAKER_02: 5:27

Let me So it's a little risque in that area.

SPEAKER_00: 5:30

Yeah, it's very risque in that area. I actually was a person who originally brought it into the area. This did not exist there.

SPEAKER_02: 5:35

Wow, congratulations.

SPEAKER_00: 5:37

Thank you. I feel really good about that.

SPEAKER_02: 5:38

Spiced it up.

SPEAKER_00: 5:39

I know I did. I was like, here you go, guys. Um, but I I followed that program for maybe about a year and a half because I wanted to know a little bit more about what what is this? Yeah, what is it?

SPEAKER_02: 5:50

So tell us, what is it that you do and how do you differ from other boudoir photographers?

SPEAKER_00: 5:56

Yeah. So boudoir is, I mean, it can be different things to different people. Okay. What boudoir is to me is a way of encouraging people to, you know, grow in self-confidence, grow in that self-love. You know, own who you are today. No, you're not perfect. Your body is not perfect, but there is nothing wrong with it. Like, perfection is not part of the human experience. You're not supposed to be a Barbie doll. You're supposed to be yourself and to like enjoy your life. Who you are now.

SPEAKER_02: 6:31

I mean, who's to say what perfect is, right? I feel like it's different to everyone.

SPEAKER_00: 6:35

Yeah, and so you know, you you know, love the life that you have. You only have one. Like, are you really gonna spend the rest of your life looking in the mirror, like, I'm like this? Right.

SPEAKER_02: 6:46

Like you have to enjoy yourself first, right? Exactly. I tell my kids all the time, I have to take care of me before I take care of you.

SPEAKER_00: 6:53

Yeah, yeah. And then in all of that, you know, you grow in self-confidence, you grow in, you know, more as a person, the person you want to be, you feel more powerful, you also feel more sexy, you feel all kinds of good things. And it changes, it has the ability to change your life.

SPEAKER_02: 7:08

Does it so can you tell me one of your uh maybe success stories, or somebody you really remember that it really helped them by experiencing that with you? Yes, definitely. Please.

SPEAKER_00: 7:17

Uh, one of my earlier clients, um, she became a good friend of mine actually after this session. She came in and, you know, when I first spoke to her, she told me, Nellie, I really want to do this. Uh, my husband is encouraging me to do this mostly for myself. You know, I have a wonderful husband, and he tells me that he loves me so much and I believe him, but he tells me that I'm beautiful and I don't believe him. You know, I feel like he's just telling me because he's my husband and because, oh, you're such a nice person, you know. Oh, thank you for telling me. Like, thank you for the compliment, even though I'm not sure.

SPEAKER_02: 7:56

I think a lot of us have that thought, right? Maybe not admit it, but a lot of us do have those thoughts.

SPEAKER_00: 8:01

Yeah, it was like, oh, you're so beautiful, oh you're so nice. Like to make that up or to you know, just kind of like be polite about it. Yeah, like some politeness. That's the way that she was feeling about herself. She was like, I don't really see myself as beautiful. And I was like, girl, help, let me help me show you, let me show you. Um, she was very shy. Uh, she came from a very conservative background, and that's never an issue, by the way. And you know, I work with people with all kinds of backgrounds. Wonderful. Um, and so I was just like, Yeah, girl, you know, let's do something that makes you feel good about yourself, that shows you, you know, the way that you want to see yourself. And so we we did her session. It was wonderful. We had so much fun. She was just laughing the entire time. It was just like great. It was beautiful. When I showed her the pictures, I mean, you know, she was just like, oh my god, like I can't believe that this is me. And that's something that it's actually very normal for people to tell me they're like, This is not me. And I'm like, girl, it's not me. It's you.

SPEAKER_02: 9:04

That's the reaction you are, right? You saw the beauty in them when they couldn't.

SPEAKER_00: 9:09

Um, one of the pictures, and it was the her favorite picture, she's, you know, wearing this, you know, beautiful piece of lingerie, and she's mostly, you know, covered up. Like it's nothing like super, super risque. It's just like a little, a little mysterious. And she's, you know, lying down and she's kind of like looking straight at the camera, and she's got this confident look, and her hair is beautiful, and she looks beautiful. And when she saw that picture, she just like had to take a moment.

SPEAKER_02: 9:41

Oh, you captured that spark in her.

SPEAKER_00: 9:44

I did, and it it was actually something so emotionful emotional for her that it made her cry. She was like, Thank you. Like, I had never I didn't know that I could be this, you know. Like I wanted to see myself as beautiful, and I didn't believe that I could be, and I not even just looking at myself here as beautiful, I am, but I also look powerful and strong and confident and just like full of you know and we kept up in touch, uh, and this was a couple of years back, and we're still we're still in touch. But when um you know, she got her pictures and she got her album and all the things, she was so excited to show her husband, of course, right? And she had to text me, she was like, Oh my god, my husband told me this is and I don't want to say her name. Right, but it was like this is her, you know, the the invincible her.

SPEAKER_02: 10:44

And you know, I bet your your significant other sees it every day, but for you to be able to see it, I'm sure is just a whole different type of feeling. So you're really changing people's lives. Yeah. And one of the things that because we talked before the podcast that I really really resonated with me when you told me kind of your customer journey and how you approach the customer and take them through the process, which I'd love for you to walk us through, is that you mentioned you you've had pregnancy photos, so that they still feel sexy. And um a lot of people I don't think understand how important that is. Yeah. Because sometimes people really feel I mean, you're completely out of your norm, right? And the pictures you're providing and the accommodations you're providing, because you're mobile, right? You have a studio and you go on site.

SPEAKER_00: 11:33

Yeah, so I I have a studio in Irving, but then depending on the type of the shoot we're doing, you know, I'm able to come into their home or travel. Um, I mean, you know that I do, you know, mainly boudoir, but I also do portraits and maternity, like you mentioned. And so I recently had a couple reach out and they told me that they wanted me to do their boudoir session for them in their ranch. And I was like, Yeah, I'll go to your ranch. How sweet. I had another client from the Rio Grande Valley tell me that you know her favorite place was Vegas. So we actually a couple years ago went to Vegas and did her session up there, and we had it in the Paris Hotel. It was so much fun. It was so much fun.

SPEAKER_02: 12:16

That's wonderful that you're so variable and accommodating. So can you tell us? You've been in business for quite a long time. Yeah, what is your customer journey look like and how do you keep um staying in front of them? What is your process and what do you think is your best marketing tool?

SPEAKER_00: 12:32

Okay, so the let me start with the process. Absolutely. Um, so the way that it looks like when somebody wants to work with me, I mean, usually they'll shoot me a message or we'll meet and they'll express some sort of interest. We'll have a phone call. And so that is like, you know, our our place to start is a phone call. And a lot of people prefer to text, and I'm like, look, you're gonna have so many questions. It's just better to be able to talk about it this way. Um I'll ask them about, you know, how do you want to see yourself? Like, number one, like, why do you want to do this now? Like, I'm curious. I want to know about you, you know. I'm not just asking you questions. I'm like, you know, how long have you been wanting to do this? Just to get an idea. It's very personal. Yeah, it is. It's like, let me understand where you're coming from first. You know, why why do you want to do this? So that I know where you need to go because everybody's, you know, boudoir journey is gonna be different. So I want to like make sure to be there by yours. Um everybody wants something different in general. Some people want to be, you know, more spicy and more like, you know what? I just want to look super sexy and just you know have a gift for my significant other. Some people are, you know what, I want it, I've always wanted to do this, but I'm very shy.

SPEAKER_02: 13:48

Or, you know, wants an elegance, maybe.

SPEAKER_00: 13:51

Yeah, some elegance. And sometimes it's also like, you know what? I'm doing this for me and I've been working out hard, and you know, this is something I want to do, etc. Or or this is my body and I I'm owning it. Um, so depending on what they want to do, it's like, okay, you know, great. We'll we'll select a date for them if they decide to to book it, and we'll also book a secondary date where I'm gonna go to their home and do a styling consultation with them.

SPEAKER_02: 14:20

Okay, and what is what what does that consist of? Oh, it's so much fun.

SPEAKER_00: 14:23

It is so much fun. I absolutely love it. So we'll spend about an hour together, and I'm gonna help them select the outfits that they're you know going to wear. Because one of the biggest anxieties when coming into the studio is, oh my god, am I gonna look okay? Like, is this gonna photograph well? You know, sometimes they have like 20 pieces, you know, and I'm like, oh, this is so much fun. This can go with this, and this can go with this. And they usually tell me, oh my god, this is so good. I wouldn't have never put this together and like I'm here for you. Like, we're gonna do this styling together. I also have a wardrobe for them in the studio, and I'll bring pieces in their size. And I'm like, you know what? I think that based on the things you told me that you're interested in for your session, this and this and this might be a good idea, you know, to incorporate. Um, and sometimes they'll say, Oh, yes, you know, I love this, or you know, that, or no, I want just the pieces that I have here. So I'm like, okay, great. So the styling is mostly so that they will have peace of mind the day of their shoot. You know, they don't have to come in like a ball of nerves.

SPEAKER_02: 15:30

It's also so that they can see me and get familiar with you, which I think is a great, it's it's a great tactic, especially in what you do. Therapists, I feel like you should have like some pre-qualification meetings before. And it's almost the same thing. You're you're dealing with very personal sensitive issues, right?

SPEAKER_00: 15:47

Yes, I am. And so, you know, I want them to know who I am. You know, there's there's a vibe check, you know, like we're you know, we're good. Like I can work with this person, I feel comfortable with this person. Uh, they're not gonna judge me, they're gonna, you know, take care of me, and I will. I'm like, come here. You feel it.

SPEAKER_02: 16:07

That's when we first met, I was like, she's uh just amazing aura. So it's it's very, very um almost um soothing, right? To the whole you make the boudoir scene not feel so risque and more confident, right?

SPEAKER_00: 16:24

And the thing is, the way that I see myself in like I'm not just like your photographer, I'm here to be your bestie who's gonna hype the heck out of you, and I'm here for you for everything.

SPEAKER_02: 16:39

That's wonderful.

SPEAKER_00: 16:40

So, you know, we're able to do all the things that you want to do. We can make it sexy or we can make it more demure and we can make it more classy, we can make it all of these different things, but I'm always here for you.

SPEAKER_02: 16:52

And that and another way you do that you mentioned earlier is you actually have somebody doing hair and makeup. That is right. For me, that would be wonderful because I have no idea how to do it. It just this is who I am, guys.

SPEAKER_01: 17:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 17:04

Um, but that is that's amazing. That's very comforting in itself because I'll I'll completely cancel a whole appointment if the hair isn't working right.

SPEAKER_00: 17:13

Right.

SPEAKER_02: 17:14

So you really take away all the stress.

SPEAKER_00: 17:16

Right, exactly. And so the the day of the selling appointment, I'll also ask them, okay, like how do you usually want to do your hair makeup? We'll make a plan of everything there. Uh we'll go over and create a mood board of sorts as well so that I know, like, what do you like? You know, because I went exactly, exactly. Um, but some people are like, you know, I like more darker images or like brighter images, or you know, I like these poses, and then I know, ah, okay, this is how they want to see themselves, and I'm able to take some inspiration from that for them. Wow. Because there's a lot of things that I know how to do, and I can take it in any direction because they're just photography skills, and I have them. So I'm just like, okay, but what is attractive to you? I want to know that because I want to give you what you want. Absolutely like I want you to come and be like, boom, this is exactly what I wanted.

SPEAKER_02: 18:08

And maybe they didn't know that's what they wanted. Exactly. Right, right. That's amazing. So would you say you've stayed in this field in this industry for so long due to the people you have around you? Do you think mentors are important in what you do or any industry?

SPEAKER_00: 18:24

Yes, mentors are definitely very important. Um, I feel that I have stayed for my ladies primarily, but mentors are definitely somebody that uh you need to have yours.

SPEAKER_02: 18:35

Yeah, because uh uh being in business at least seven years, I mean, uh I would assume you would need some guidance on those things, especially shifting from teaching to such a a different industry and career. It's admirable. But um, how have your mentors helped you grow, if if at all?

SPEAKER_00: 18:55

Yeah, of course. Um, so I have actually gone through a couple of different mentorships throughout my life, um, mostly regarding to, you know, boudoir or boudoir business and you know, all of that. Uh, one of the, you know, I I guess I'll call them like public persons, not necessarily like a mentor that I follow a lot, also is Grant Cardone, just for like mindset and like, you know, absolutely, just stay on your your right mindset and coursey right. Right, right, right. Because I I think that he's got a really professional approach. So I'm just like, okay, you know, I like this guy. Uh, somebody else who has been a mentor in my life has been Richard Manello, my husband. Um, I've learned everything from photography to mindset to business from him. So he's definitely somebody who has been like a strong person there for me, you know. Do you like hey, you know, go this way type of thing. Absolutely. That has helped. Um, and many other photographers and photography educators as well. Yeah, which he is also one that I should say.

SPEAKER_02: 19:54

Oh, that's nice that you guys were able to learn from each other maybe s more than others would in the jumping into that scene just cold, right?

SPEAKER_00: 20:03

Yeah, well, I mean, he was the the educator in Ah, okay.

SPEAKER_02: 20:07

I'm sure he learned a few things from you though.

SPEAKER_00: 20:09

Oh, okay, thank you.

SPEAKER_02: 20:10

As we go on top of that. So, what would you say is the biggest challenge for you in this uh being a business owner in this field of work? What's your biggest challenge?

SPEAKER_00: 20:18

I think that the biggest challenge is a lot of times helping my my potential clients to be able to say yes to themselves. Because it is something, it is, you know, something that they're investing in themselves. A lot of people feel like I want it, but I'm not ready. Like my body is not perfect.

SPEAKER_02: 20:42

Right. You're not ready to see what everyone else sees.

SPEAKER_00: 20:45

Right, right. Well, maybe like I don't think that they're thinking in those terms. They're just thinking in the terms of I have the eternal five pounds to lose.

SPEAKER_02: 20:55

Oh, that you never lose or you gain, or yes.

SPEAKER_00: 20:59

Or they want to do it, but they have a a fear of sorts of actually getting it done, even though they've been wanting to do this for the last five to ten to fifteen years, you know?

SPEAKER_02: 21:10

How would you say you overcome that?

SPEAKER_00: 21:13

Well, I mean, it's a lot of you know talking to them and helping them understand that you know what, you don't have to be perfect to do this. You don't have to, you know, be a size zero to be good for boudoir. If you're a size zero, you can do it. If you're a size 22, you can do it. Like, you know, it's it's it's for you if you want it. Your body does not have requirements of how it needs to look, you know, so it's helping them understand that. Um because you know, a lot of people have that feeling of like, oh no. And a lot of people have actually like when we're on the phone, they kind of tell me apologetically, is that I'm a big girl. And I'm like, girl, I love working with big girls. I work with so many big girls. Like, that is not a problem. Like, oh, is that I have stretch marks, girl? We all have stretch marks like across the board.

SPEAKER_02: 22:12

It's part of the beauty, right?

SPEAKER_00: 22:14

It's part of being a woman, you know.

SPEAKER_02: 22:17

Like and even men, I know that my husband's gone from big to small, and he has stretch marks that he doesn't like or appreciate or didn't.

SPEAKER_00: 22:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 22:25

And and when you internalize and and have those negative thoughts, what you do kind of brings out the positive in it all. Yeah. Which is amazing to me. So at what stage of business do you feel like you're in right now?

SPEAKER_00: 22:38

I feel that my business is in a growth stage. Um even though my business is as old as it is, I'm only going on my third year here in DFW. So it's still a different demographic, right? Yes, it is a different demographic. Um, also, you know, my my people are still like barely kind of like, oh, she's here, you know.

SPEAKER_02: 23:01

So really move. I mean, when you move somewhere in Texas from south to north or vice versa, east to west, yeah, it's like moving different states if for anyone listening, especially within Texas, girl, because we can put a few states in here. Yeah, as my my my mother said, I could drive from Mississippi to Alabama in in like less than a couple hours. And it's like you can't even get to Midland in that amount of time. Sorry, guys. So do you find that um your techniques and your skills really set you apart from other boudoir photographers and and how?

SPEAKER_00: 23:34

I think so. Um in my industry, I mean in photography in general, um I'm gonna say something that is not popular to say. There are no requirements to be a photographer. There are no, I want you to internalize this, I want you to know this because this is the truth. There are no requirements to be a photographer. There are there is education out there. Right. But not everybody does it. And so for me, something that was very important was number one, I want to be proficient in my skills because I am a creative person. I want to create something beautiful, I want to create something that looks amazing and that my people are going to love because they deserve to be served that way. Absolutely. So I am definitely in you know, pursuit of not just being an okay photographer or girl with camera. You know.

SPEAKER_02: 24:28

If you're gonna do it, do it 100%, right?

SPEAKER_00: 24:31

Dang it, we're gonna do it away. Yes, it's gonna be fantastic. Absolutely. Um, so that is something that sets me apart, my skills, my you know, continuous growth in the photography space and you know, wanting to become more creative and more like develop that skill.

SPEAKER_02: 24:50

Absolutely. And you can only do that by being around people that have different ideas and thoughts. We actually met at a networking event.

SPEAKER_00: 24:55

Exactly, exactly.

SPEAKER_02: 24:56

And um, I looked back and it looked like you had attended a couple others. I'm like, how did this not happen? But I see you out there really trying to uh feel people and be a part of the community. Would you say that that's the biggest marketing tool that's helped you in business is referrals and and networking?

SPEAKER_00: 25:12

Um yes, a lot of referrals, a lot of networking, because word of mouth, girl, I mean, that is the way to go.

SPEAKER_02: 25:19

Especially in your field.

SPEAKER_00: 25:20

It's in my field, yes.

SPEAKER_02: 25:21

I mean, I'm gonna trust the referral. Yes. Yes.

SPEAKER_00: 25:24

You met me and you're like, oh yeah, girl. You know, like we connected. I feel that once people know me, they're like, oh, okay. She's not some weirdo person on the internet.

SPEAKER_02: 25:32

Right, because you always wonder and think, right? Yeah. Which is why I love that you have a studio and the ability to go into someone's home. Because it's hard to walk out the front door that day to come to see you sometimes.

SPEAKER_00: 25:44

Some people have actually told me, girl, I was about to do your turn, but I already met you and I knew that was gonna be okay. And I was like, Yes, I got you. Like, you don't have to worry.

SPEAKER_02: 25:52

You've really perfected that customer journey, which is hard to do.

SPEAKER_00: 25:56

Imagine this. You know that you're gonna do a session, and you know that you're not gonna be wearing your regular clothes, you know, you're gonna be wearing less than that, and a lot of people have a fear of being in front of the camera, you know. Uh you're coming into a space that is new to you. I wanna make sure that you know that number one, you are safe, that your privacy is protected, that you're gonna be taken care of, that it's a clean, beautiful space for you, that you know, everything is ready and taken care of for you, you know, that that hair and makeup is gonna look so beautiful and that you're going to love it the way that you see yourself. Like, have that pampering experience because the worst thing in the world would be for you to come in and be terrified the entire time. Like, I don't want that type of experience for my clients. I want them to be like, oh my God, like this was a day for me. That was and now I can walk out like I'm beyonce, you know, like and feel yourself truly.

SPEAKER_02: 26:56

That is amazing. It's wonderful to hear that somebody, you're out there really trying to help people. And I think that that's what makes a lot of business owners successful. And I think that's what makes a lot of business owners fail is the fact that if you're not passionate about what you do, if you don't believe in you, your clients can feel that, right? You're you're the people that are buying from you can feel whether or not you care. Yeah. And within AI care in an AI world, having that personal touch is so important, I feel right now.

SPEAKER_00: 27:26

It really is. Um, I have nothing against AI, but I personally don't use it in my business because I am after authenticity. You know, I I hear a lot about AI headshots and to each their own, but I feel like you know what? You need to show up for yourself because that is not a photograph. You did not show up for yourself. And people can that way.

SPEAKER_02: 27:49

You can see, I can tell when I see an AI image and like just so y'all know out there, business owners, parents, kids can tell off this two seconds of looking at it. So y'all aren't fake fooling anybody out there.

SPEAKER_00: 28:03

I I don't know that they're trying to fool it. Um, I know that it's a it's a trend.

SPEAKER_02: 28:08

Um, but to your point, take some pride in yourself. Re really show who you are, right? Not who somebody else is. So um I always ask each guest this what is one thing you would tell your younger self when you first started this business that you'd wish you'd known?

SPEAKER_00: 28:26

What is one thing that I would have told my younger self?

SPEAKER_02: 28:31

As a business owner, when you decided to start this business and go into this industry, what's something you wish you knew that you know now? What's that one thing you wish you knew back then?

SPEAKER_00: 28:42

Don't be afraid. Being in business was exciting for me, but also there were many things that I didn't, you know, invest into right away because I was afraid of technology. Like I didn't have a website for forever. Um I have a website now, but now I'm reworking it. So now I'm like, you know, having those those things like taken care of. But when I started, I was just like, I'm so scared, I gotta know what I'm doing. It's almost like a fear of success. There is fear of success. Real, it really is.

SPEAKER_02: 29:17

And so when you wish that you would have just kind of stepped out a little bit more, a little bit faster.

SPEAKER_00: 29:23

I trusted yourself. Yes, I do wish that I would have stepped more, like you say, like step into it like a little bit faster. And I think that I also wish I would have known there are women, because this is mostly for women, I'm not like saying they're in a mind, but there this is like mainly something that I work with women and I would have said to myself, there are women who need this. Like it's not just like because sometimes as a business owner, I'm like, yes, you know, this is good for you. And then I don't work with people for like a a certain amount of time or I have like Different things in my life, and then I'm like, I wonder if people want this. And like, no, there are women who are looking for this and who need it, and that this is something that isn't just like a oh well that was nice. No, this is something that is almost like changing them, right? Yes. I have seen people like have a total glow up after this, like have their lives changed, and it's it's great. There was this particular lady that I work with twice, um, also in the south of Texas, and after doing this, she told me, you know what? After the second shoot, I realized that I was really not taking care of my body. Girl, she joined like a Warrior Queen workout program or something, and like now she's doing uh like all of these workouts, and she posts them on her stories on Instagram, and she became a brand ambassador for I don't even know what the brand is.

SPEAKER_02: 30:58

All because of the confidence she gave for these photos.

SPEAKER_00: 31:02

Yes, it is like she always like cheerleaders me, like to her people because she's like, No, y'all don't know. Like this really kind of helped her like turn her things around, like her her mindset about herself. She, you know, she's a wonderful person, she's a mom of two beautiful kids, she's a wife, and she was just like, I mean, uh now I know that I'm beautiful, and now that I feel, you know, confident, I'm ready to do something more.

SPEAKER_02: 31:27

I'm ready to, you know, you can look at your improvements in a safe space when you present them with the photos, it seems like they they don't feel judged.

SPEAKER_00: 31:36

No, they don't feel judged. I mean, whenever I mean, if I take a picture of someone, I also want to make sure that they look their absolute best. So, you know, I'm lighting them in a beautiful way, I'm posing them in a beautiful way, and making sure that it's a beautiful experience and a beautiful environment. And then they see the picture and they're like, oh my god.

SPEAKER_02: 31:52

Like, you know. All that awkwardness I just felt was a beautiful, beautiful masterpiece.

SPEAKER_00: 31:57

Yeah, and you know what? I'll tell you this the awkwardness is just like walking into the door. That is the hardest thing to do, is show up. Just show up because that is the hardest thing. Everything else, I take care of for you. It's almost relieving to hear. It is relieving. You should feel relieved because you're not gonna need to like figure out what to do or what to look. I'm literally gonna have everything lined up from like what outfit you're going to next to where are we going into the studio next, to like the poses. Like, I'm not expecting you to know how to pose yourself. I'm literally gonna like tell you, okay, you're gonna do it like this. If I'm not communicating it well enough, I will show you and demo the post for you, and then I'll like tweak like the little things, I'll move the lights.

SPEAKER_02: 32:41

So there's never any room for guessing what's going to happen next. And that's amazing.

SPEAKER_00: 32:46

Now, some people they they take more of a lead, they're like, Okay, now I want to pose myself. Fantastic girl, go for it, have fun. But you know, I'm I'm always going to be like, okay, you know, now move it this way or that way. Like, I want to make sure that they're feeling good and that they're looking good because I want to show them like from the back of the camera, I'll show you without it and be like, Look, look at this. Oh, yeah, look at this.

SPEAKER_02: 33:09

We're on a good route, right?

SPEAKER_00: 33:10

Yeah, and I'll tell them, I'll be like, You look so good. They're like, Oh, thank you. Like, no, no, no.

SPEAKER_02: 33:15

You need to hear that. No, no, no. Like, yeah. So for our business owner, for our ladies and gentlemen um that are listening, if they wanted to say, um, give this an option for a session with you to a friend for Christmas or a family member to really help them level up as well. How can they reach out to you about that?

SPEAKER_00: 33:34

Um, the best way to reach me is always by phone, or they can reach me through social media. I am findable on Instagram and Facebook. Um, and my phone number, of course, like that is literally all over the social media. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02: 33:47

I'll put it at the uh the bottom of this as well. But what's your name on your Instagram right now?

SPEAKER_00: 33:52

On Instagram, uh, my personal page is Nellie Sermonello, but my professional page is Nightflower Boudoir. Awesome.

SPEAKER_02: 33:59

And I'll I'll tag it down in here. But thank you so much for for allowing us to really get some depth into what really is going on in the boudoir scene. It's not all risque, it's really about confidence.

SPEAKER_00: 34:12

Yes, and self-love and feeling good.

SPEAKER_02: 34:15

Absolutely. Well, thank you so much for joining us, and I can't wait to talk to you in a year after maybe we get ours done around here, right? To all of our listeners out there, if you want to really help yourself or help friend or family member get a confidence boost, feel better about themselves, please contact Nellie and or you can contact me directly here at Market It With Mama. We'll see you next time.