Studio Profile

Studio of the Month: Michelle Kane Photography

Scrap metals, dirty barrels and old car parts haphazardly lying throughout the grounds of the old Sheridan, Wyoming Iron Works can cause anyone to second guess the location of their upcoming photo shoot. But photographer Michelle Kane thrives on such an unusual environment by manipulating the rustic and urban settings into a more eclectic and stylized end result for her modern subjects. It's these vibrant, moody, artistic and unexpected photographs that have caused her business to skyrocket in a "more traditional" type of town.

In October of 2008, Michelle Kane Photography was established. “I’ve always had a creative, artistic bent, so photography was the perfect outlet for me.” According to Michelle, in the last six months, her business has skyrocketed. “Honestly, I haven’t done any marketing. When my clients get their images, they direct people to my website.”

She believes the success is due to her shooting style: using 100% natural light and making it work in unconventional ways. “I like to manipulate what I’ve got: old barns, iron works and brick buildings. There’s texture, character. I like the challenge of turning nothing into something with deep, rich and vivid color.”

Pertinent to her success is her ability to sell products to her clients that she believes in. “I learned from I Love Photography (a photography forum) and online blogs from established photographers that Simply Canvas is the leader in the industry. I decided to go with the leader.” Admitting that it wasn’t until recently that she began selling canvases, they now have become all she tells her clients about. “I love them. I’m over the moon.”

Michelle brings a 24x36 gallery-wrap with her to every consultation. “When they see them, the canvases speak for themselves. They have to have them.” Pocket-savvy customers? “This past year, they asked me what’s more cost effective, a framed paper print or canvas? I explain that they don’t have to think about the extra expenses of a framed print with a gallery-wrap. But essentially, it’s a lasting art piece that’s lightweight, easy to care for and comes ready to hang.”

She also shared her thoughts on Simply Canvas’ Customize Your Own Sale Promotion we launched over the summer that ran through the end of October.

“It was definitely great to pass on the savings to my customers and it gave them definite dates, which helps. When you show them an image, they enter the honeymoon stage with these great ambitions of purchasing. But then reality sets in when you discuss the investment. Give them a start and end date of a sale and they buy. It was great for planning my workflow.”

Mixing her urban and eclectic photography style with her business smarts, has allowed Michelle to create a brand for herself in an “old school, predictable and more traditional” type of town. It’s no surprise people have started to respond to the bright, vivid, deep rich color taken in rustic, moody settings. “It’s because the images are real,” she said. Now, she’s taking everything by the seat of her pants, capitalizing on defying the norm by creating the unexpected.