In this episode of The Portrait System Podcast, guest host Kristina Wikle interviews regular host Nikki Closser about the evolution of her business, why she loves photographing outdoors, and her brand new course available now in The Portrait Masters Store: Outdoor and On-Location Photography: How to Create Better Portraits and Make More Money.

Closser has been a portrait photographer for over ten years, opening her first studio in Seattle before opening her current studio in Michigan. But before she had a studio and zeroed in on her specialty of personal branding photography, Closser shot weddings and other types of on-location photography. While she favors studio work for the main part of her business because it allows her to be in control of her setting and be most efficient, Closser still loves to shoot outdoors because it lights up her creativity. Recently, she’s been developing the land she lives on for outdoor shooting, including planting wildflower fields, because she loves to include outdoor shooting along with her studio shooting.  

[Read: 6 Ways to Make Outdoor Family Portraits Shine]

Closser says, “Having that variety is so key, and you can have this variety for personal branding, for families. If you have a studio, I highly recommend considering adding in some outdoor stuff if you want to up your game and attract more clients.”

Closser’s new course is perfect for beginners who don’t yet have a studio as well as more experienced photographers looking to add more variety to their portfolios. In it, she shoots ten different clients in a various locations and scenarios. Additionally, she shows you how to be flexible and troubleshoot some of the many challenges that come up when you are shooting outdoors and on-location, such as how to replicate golden hour on an overcast day. The settings she works in include: a Peerspace rental, numerous locations around Detroit city and Ann Arbor, and DIY setups in her home, garage, driveway, and yard. In creating the course, Closser aimed to fill a gap in education for outdoor and on-location photography by providing teachings in as many different scenarios as she could.

You can learn more about Nikki Closser’s photography and educational offerings on her website. Her two courses in The Portrait Masters Store are on sale now through the end of this month. You can find them here: Outdoor and On-Location Photography: How to Create Better Portraits and Make More Money and Personal Branding: The Contemporary Headshot System.

The Portrait System Podcast helps portrait photographers navigate the world of photography, business, money, and much more. Hosted by Nikki Closser, the podcast is powered by The Portrait System, a comprehensive, online educational platform that teaches all aspects of running a successful portrait photography studio.