Ready to plan your 2026 brand shoot? In today’s episode, I’m chatting with my business bestie Tara Dunn and diving into every detail of her upcoming shoot. Consider this a behind-the-scenes strategy session, with our best tips for intentionally creating content and more!

On Quianna Marie Weekly, we’re chatting about business growing pains, finding genuine connections, and celebrating wins of all sizes through the lens of a photographer at heart. Sprinkled throughout stories and interviews with past clients, photographers and other business owners this podcast is designed to help you step into your purpose and to truly create a life you’re proud of, a life worth photographing and sharing.

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Today’s episode is brought to you by The Green House, my resource garden for photographers! Let me help you AMPLIFY your heart online and in real life to turn bridesmaids into future brides through templates, workshops, and freebies!

Review The Show Notes:

Tara’s Business Vision For 2026 (4:00)

What Tara Dreams Of Capturing In Her Content (9:52)

Documenting The Client Experience (13:11)

Choosing Your Brand Shoot Locations (16:43)

Using Your Shoot To Promote Upcoming Offers And Events (22:54)

Getting Started With Picking Your Outfit (27:17)

Working Off A Checklist During Your Shoot (34:43)

Your Brand Shoot Is Priceless (36:52)

Key Tip From Tara (42:22)

Mentioned In This Episode:

Book Your VIP Day: quiannamarie.com/vip

Book Your Intuitive Content Coaching Call: quiannamarie.com/contact

The Green House Resource Garden: quiannamarie.com/shop

Connect with Tara:

Tara Dunn on Instagram: instagram.com/taradunnconnects

Connect Belong on Instagram: instagram.com/connect.belong.az

Connect Belong Website: connectbelong.co

Connect with Quianna:

Website: quiannamarie.com

Instagram: instagram.com/quiannamarie

Review the Transcript:

Quianna: Hey, beautiful. Welcome back to another episode of Quianna Marie Weekly. Today is extra special because I get to bring on one of my favorite humans on the planet, my business bestie mentor and community cheerleader, Tara Dunn. If you know Tara, you already know her heart. She leads with intention. She pours into her community, and she’s the kind of woman who inspires you simply by being in the room with her.

And if you don’t know Tara yet, this conversation is gonna make you want to be your friend. Work with her and connect. In today’s episode, we’re taking you behind the scenes on planning her 2026 brand day experience, celebrating the new year with fresh photos, new content, and all of the B roll clips.

We’ll be capturing to drip throughout the year. And the best part, this conversation isn’t just for Tara. As we walk through her strategy, the photos, the vibes, everything that she wants to capture, the offers she’s expanding, and the energy she’s stepping into, it becomes a blueprint for you too. Think of this conversation as a mental checklist for you and your brand and your future photo shoots.

Whether you’re a photographer, small business owner, coach, healer, or someone in a new season of growth, you’re going to walk away with so many ideas for planning your own brand session, clarifying your content strategy, and creating visuals that actually match your magic. I mean, I’m kind of going off the cuff here, but there is nothing more annoying than meeting someone in person, someone that caught my eye, someone that I connected with, related to, or maybe I just really wanted to learn from.

I love their energy in person. And then we go to look at their social media or kind of do some stalking on their website, and it just doesn’t match. The energy doesn’t connect. We’re not doing that here. So for today’s episode, I’m gonna be asking Tara a ton of questions to go deeper and make her next brand session feel more intentional, not just capturing the business she’s maintaining now, but also forecasting and dreaming up what’s ahead.

Oh my gosh, babe, I am so freaking excited for this conversation. This is the time to get cozy, get inspired. Go grab your notebook and let’s dive into a behind the scenes conversation of what it really looks like to refresh your brand with intention, heart, and a whole lot of personality already. A let’s get this party started.

Welcome to Quianna Marie Weekly, a podcast for creatives who love to celebrate wins, big or small by dancing in the kitchen. Photographers who are excited to just. Serve their clients and friends who are ready to chase really, really big dreams. You can find all of the resources mentioned in this episode at QuiannaMarie.com/podcast

Join me as I share weekly motivation, chat about growing pains, finding genuine connections, and celebrating your wins. Through the lens of a photographer at heart, come join me for a dance party. Ready? Let’s go.

All right. All right. Welcome to the podcast again, Tara. How are you today? It is so good to see you.

Tara: Oh, so wonderful to see you. Thank you so much for having me again. I’m so happy to be here and I just love that we are. Just now knowing each other for almost five years. Where last time I was on, I think it was like two years ago, so I’m super excited.

Yes. Well, I was on with Meg. Yeah, you were. Yeah, I was just gonna say, that was last year. Okay. So, yes, thank you for having me for the third time!

Quianna: Of course. This is your first official solo episode. Chat with me and I’m so excited. Thank you for joining. I wanna dive right in. I wanna start planning this new year, this fun, vibrant 2026, and I wanna chat about planning your next branding session.

Now, if you’re tuning in and you’re thinking, oh shoot, we’re already in 2026, or This isn’t the fresh new year. Any time. Any time is a good time to invest in branding, photos, new energy, new vibes. So before we can even actually make a plan for location and what to wear and types of photos. I wanna ask you, Tara, what is lighting you up for 2026?

What are the new offers? What are the new ways that your business has been evolving for this next season?

Tara: So in this next season of my life and my business, I am leaning into more coaching and I am working with high achieving founders and just really giving them the opportunity. To dive into their businesses and have somebody to walk alongside them to find that clarity and dig deep inside of them and bring out the confidence that they already have where I’m just helping them amplify their voices.

And up until now, a lot of my branding photo shoots have incorporated my camera and different things. I do still photograph my clients that I’m working with because it’s just. So fun to be able to offer coaching as well as that branding experience at times. But right now I’m really leaning into finding ways to promote myself as the thought leader and the coach and the visionary that I have been and that I’ve been poured into by my coaches and mentors and conversations with you and all the things.

So I just really am looking forward to showing up in a. Stronger, more confident way than I ever have before.

Quianna: Yes. I love this so much. So this is, as many would probably define this as a big pivot, but I just look at it as expansion, right? Like it literally is you evolving and taking this next step into a different.

Way of offering your services. So I, I wanna get into the nitty gritty here. What does that look like? Are you doing one-on-one coaching? Are you doing group programs? I know you have your connect belong community that I love to join every month if I can. So what does that look like? I wanna like really get into this case study here.

Tara: So I have a few different offers and I would say that. With the community that I run, which is called Connect Belong, I have an in-person complimentary meetup each month. With that, you have the opportunity to join our online membership that includes two Zoom calls as well as different features. We have a YouTube channel that I’ve been interviewing different members on, and then we also have a school platform, the S-K-O-O-L.

School and we share wins there, share offers, and just really dive deep into other conversation and journal prompts. And from there, if you’d like to dive even deeper, we have the Abundance Mastermind, and that is a 12 person mastermind where that is more of a group coaching setting as well as pouring into one another where it’s not just me.

Standing here saying, you have to do this my way, or this framework, and this strategy will work a hundred percent of the time. It’s more that we are collaborating and working together, and I’m there to guide you and be an open book. I wanna share everything and anything that I’ve learned over these last 12 years of being a business owner, and especially over the last five, really investing in coaching myself and having the ways to work through different issues or different challenges that we face.

And I always say, if I can’t figure it out, I know someone who can. So we can figure it out together. And then my final offer is one-on-one coaching, and that is something where I literally walk right alongside you at any point in your business and we dive into exactly what you are. Needing at the moment, and maybe it’s where you are right now, you need to bridge that gap to where you wanna be.

So we dive into personality and strengths and all these different things to find what is more aligned for you, and give yourself the opportunity to step into that and to be in your zone of genius rather than wearing a million hats on top of your head and really have that opportunity to feel that you are.

Doing what you need to be doing and it lights you up. I don’t want you to be feeling like everything is muddy or you’re trudging through, or you’re just putting out fires all day. We really get into that and it’s just so much faster. When you have someone next to you, you can figure it out probably and.

Eight to 10 years, or we can figure it out in three to six months. So let’s do that together. So

Quianna: yes, I love this so much and I’m so happy that we are really laying this out, especially as things are growing and evolving and as you and I both know, being in this industry for so long, there’s no right way to do this.

You mentioned that when you are explaining, working with your clients. I think sometimes we can be so easily overwhelmed with so many options, right? There’s community building, there’s one-on-one clients, there are group coaching programs. All of these things as we are continuing to expand and grow and offer some new online offers can be very overwhelming, fast, right?

So this is why I love getting to the nitty gritty before we even start planning the shoot. So I love that you are so crystal clear on. Who you’re serving, who you are, and why you’re qualified. I wanna just put a little pin in our conversation to share that you value investing, right? You value investing in coaching yourself so you are prepared, you know, the value of why we should be doing that for our own businesses and our own growth.

So this is where we have to start, right? Like I feel like it’s so fun picking colors, picking locations, but we have to really have a grasp on. Who we’re speaking to and then also proving, and I’ve said this before, proving can feel kind of triggering because I think we are all inherently worthy of business and success.

But really, let’s get into sharing. So I would love to know, Tara, as we are really kind of going through this checklist of planning your next 2026 big brand session I wanna talk about. What it is that you wish you could document to actually share this value? Like if you could have me as your B-roll bestie, or really just have someone kind of looking in on your business, what are some things that you wish you could record or capture to share with future clients?

Tara: I really value testimonials and the connection between myself and clients. And I know sometimes that there will be clients that any of us have in any industry that may not want to be on camera, and that’s okay too, but could be a conversation or some, a similar setup as this, or maybe it’s. Interacting with one another.

I know that I have had you on a shoot before where I am interacting with a teammate or a client, and it just, that comes across to show the love and care and concern and just the value that I’m trying to provide to others. So I really think that collaboration and just having. The real time clients, or even if it is a friend, acting as if they are a client.

Just having that interaction just really helps me just a, feel more comfortable and make it more real and make that an authentic space where you can capture. The expressions on my face or the way that I am giving someone a hug after our session or whatever it may be. I do think that is something that’s really important.

Quianna: Yes. No, this is so smart, and this is why I love kind of setting the stage for what that could look like, and especially in this online industry of coaching, right? I mean, oftentimes we’re, we look like this, right? Like you’re, you’re on a zoom with someone, especially if they’re not local to you. And as a photographer, as I’m trying to capture that magic.

We wanna evoke that feeling that you’re there, like you’re in person, you’re there to help. And so we can absolutely capture laptop photos, right? Some inner inner exchanges. Um, I even love bringing out your cell phone, so it looks like you’re actually speaking to a human on the other side of the phone.

But there is so much to say about that coaching exchange or that energy and knowledge exchange by actually having someone physically in the room with you. Because people can easily see that, right? Like that is something that we recognize quickly subconsciously, right? That, that you are the coach and you are the mentor and the leader.

And sometimes we have to take that beyond the physical laptop, zoom chat,

Tara: even though. I do want to also show that you brought up a good point that I do have quite a few clients over Zoom that aren’t local to me, so I want to really encompass that. It’s okay if you are not in person. Yes. I host here monthly and I do have in-person coaching clients and we have the opportunity to do this, especially the mastermind because that is over Zoom as well, so that’s really special.

Quianna: Yes. I love this. So speaking of. Kind of showcasing and documenting your client experience. I really wanna get into this client experience conversation, and this goes across the board for any online coach, healer, business owner, entrepreneurs, especially photographers, right? I wanna kind of tap into this client experience like these checkpoints that you would love to have documented for your brand session.

Tara: Thinking about this, I what first comes to mind would be that I am really diving into your business and who you are prior to even working with you, similar to what you’re doing here with me for our photo session. I want to do that with you. Prior to getting into all the different things that maybe you need to work on in your business.

We really have the opportunity to get to know. What you’re thinking and just the mindset that you’re in. So I have a few questionnaires that I use. I have an assessment that I use. So all of those would be really fun to have, whether I’m printing out materials or, again, we’re using certain things on the laptop and you’re over my shoulder and things like that, to where we can really show that I am pouring in.

Not only this time that we are together face-to-face over zoom or in person, but really prior to what is working. And then even down to the point of like having little gifts for my clients when we are at a certain milestone. Because honestly, most of them continue on and we keep working together. So even if there’s no end in sight, there’s still little gifts along the way.

Quianna: Yes. I love this process, and I think sometimes, especially as business owners, we can be so close to what we’re doing. Even the fact that you shared printing out materials and in sharing those PDFs, right? Like you’re sending those, they’re in our emails, and oftentimes your clients may be printing them out in their own homes or just picking them up at, right at, uh, FedEx Coffee please or something, whatever.

But like, so that that stuff is happening and I think sometimes we can be so close that we forget, like there’s actually, like we’re creating distance or not creating any content at all that shows exactly what that experience looks like. And I just think there’s so much value in pulling apart all of the pieces, all of the check marks, all of the little timeline pieces of your client experience.

So then we can capture it. And I feel like as a photographer and someone I’ve, I’ve been in business for over 15, 20 years now, like I see it, but when it comes to the nuances and the actual pieces of your business that make you different, we have to pull that out. We have to find those little glimmers and those little moments that make you as a business owner.

Differentiate from anybody else. So those little moments we’re looking for.

Tara: No, you are so good about that. And even asking the right questions because great leaders ask the right questions. So you, as the thought leader in what you’re doing and the way you’re planning these brand sessions, whether it is for a service based business like myself or a products or whatever it may be like asking those questions to help us dive deep.

’cause we are so close to it. I don’t think about these things sometimes like I just do them out of. Habit or ritual or whatever it may be, and then it’s like, oh wait, this is actually something different. And then I could share and let people know more about. The way that I’m pouring into them.

Quianna: Yes. Oh my gosh, I love this.

Well, I feel like we have a really good, kind of like foundation here, right? For sharing who you are. Who you’re serving, and little pieces of the business that make you, you and the fun things that you’re calling in for these communities, right? So I wanna get to. I say the fun part, I think this is all fun for me, but I wanna get to the fun part where we can really start making a game plan for locations and outfits and props and all that fun stuff that we get to look forward to.

I first wanna start with locations and I would love to select two different locations for you. This is something that I offer with the brand a right? Um, I typically love to, I don’t know why it ends up this way, it just does. I love to kind of pinpoint an indoor and an outdoor session, something that you are working as a part of your daily life, a part of your client experience, uh, maybe your home office, and then potentially somewhere out and about.

So let’s kind of break that down for what that would look like for you particularly, like what does that look like for your business, Tara?

Tara: For me, I do think starting in my home office would be best because this is. This is where I am every day, and I do appreciate that I have a space that I am proud of and that I’ve worked hard to create.

So I would love to capture some of the photos here in B-roll and little video clips. And then I really enjoy going to coffee shops or meeting people for coffee, whether we are meeting for coffee first and then we have our coaching session, or that’s. The place that we meet initially. So I would love to maybe think about which ones would be the best lighting wise.

And then here in Arizona, we have decent weather majority of the year. Thankfully, we’re away from the summer months right now, so we can kind of go wherever. Do you have suggestions on places that you really enjoy or places that you have utilized that you know will be great for this?

Quianna: Yeah, absolutely. So I, first and foremost will always be an advocate for photographing in your space.

Right. Now here’s, here’s the caveat though, okay. Because we are in, we are coming into 2026, okay? This is new energy. This is new vibes. We are, you know, this is the beauty of a branding session, is we get to document exactly where you are now, and we get to forecast, we get to dream. And I believe as a photographer, sometimes those locations, whether it is a home office or your home, may not reflect where you’re going.

So I first wanna share this with so much love and just so like, so much grace that I do wanna document your office, right? I do wanna document no matter where you are in your business, and literally if you can see a snapshot now I am literally in our guest bedroom. There is. Clothes and laundry all over the bed right in front of me.

Faith is down below my feet. Right? I’m only sharing this because I know Tara, your office space is absolutely stunning. Like it looks like a model home, and I know you’ve worked so hard to build this. It’s been so fun to see it come to life and with all your natural light, obviously you are a photographer, so you know exactly right how to make it look best.

So I do wanna share that little caveat first about documenting where you are and being able to project, like being able to call in what’s next. So maybe it’s not your home office, right? And like I say, I’m saying this with so much. With love. Right? And so, um, and yeah, so I’m speaking particularly for, I would say, someone who may not feel confident in the office that they are currently working in.

And even for me working from my kitchen table, like that is where the magic happens, right? Like that’s where I spend most of my time. So I would highly suggest, yes, starting at home, starting in your home office. And then potentially booking a studio, booking somewhere that has that beautiful natural light.

Something that as a photographer I can bank on, knowing that it has the clean, crisp walls, we can bring in desks and furniture and pieces that really help you visualize what’s next. What’s coming, right? And then I also, I kind of just had this idea right now, Tara, this is how the ideas start flowing, but I actually love the idea of you potentially going into another office, like someone else’s home or home office, because I know you are working with six, seven, even eight figure business owners, which is just so incredible and it’s just just so amazing.

We need to like celebrate that, that you are leading and guiding and mentoring. These just. Incredible business owners and I would love to see you in their space. Right? Yeah. So that’s something to consider for your shoot as well, whether it is an actual client that welcomes you into your home or sorry, welcomes you into their home to photograph, or maybe that’s where the studio piece comes in.

So that was a long-winded answer on an office space.

Tara: I love that. And I love when they have, because there are a few studios that you have used that I have used that have it indoor outdoor. Space as well. ’cause I love being outside and that’s kind of why I thought of a coffee shop, like being outside. In that area, but that’s a good idea.

Quianna: Yeah, I love that. So for those like office buys, like I said, work with what you got, we’re gonna try to find the best natural light or potentially investing in an office space. And then for you, I would love to get you in the community. So just like you mentioned, popping into coffee shops. Of course we have to ask for permission.

We have a handful of favorites like Queen Creek, Mesa, Gilbert area Phoenix too, that we love. But I want you to consider, if you’re listening, what type of coffee shops or what type of vibes. Feel like you, right? Because there are so many fun, trendy coffee shops, um, that we can pick from. So getting you out into real life I think would be awesome.

And then I also wanna open up the conversation to events because this is something that you are thriving in and creating these just incredible experiences, whether it is the monthly meetups in your own home. Whether it is meeting clients out at coffee shops or you just recently hosted your very first retreat, which was just such an honor to be there, goals beyond goals to be in that cabin, by the way.

Tara: So amazing. And I’m so happy you were there to experience that. See, I didn’t even think of that. So thank you for bringing that back up.

Quianna: Be exactly. This is why I love to just bounce these ideas, like when we do a walk and talk is what I like to call them, or we have a strategy call, this is where the ideas come up.

I would love to basically make a styled shoot for that type of experience that you are creating. Whether I get to join and be your photographer, your content creator for that event, or if you are trying to promote something that hasn’t happened yet, right? So maybe you’re your retreat that’s coming up this spring.

Let’s go, like, let’s plan a girls trip and just go and document that experience, get that energy right. Um, invite in a couple girlfriends to just come up. That is where I see this going, right, is like, what are you launching next? What are you hosting next? And how can we document that energy? That’s what, like when I talk about locations, it’s where we’re going.

Right.

Tara: No, I love that you bring that up because it’s something that I appreciate you. So very much for, and the priceless fact that you are able to see so far out and remove me as the business owner from my every day. It’s like, okay, yes, this is all fantastic and three months, six months, wonderful, but where are you going?

Like, where are you heading into? And even just thinking about the retreats, like I’m hosting two retreats in 2026, if not more. To be determined. But, um, we’ll see. And that is something that I really wanna lean into. But when I think about my offers. Like that doesn’t really come up because it is something that is set apart and something that I’m leaning into.

So I appreciate you bringing that up. And I would love to maybe just scratch everything I already said and then just focus on that, like focus on the community and focus on being around a lot of people. So I’m gonna have to rally some clients and friends, and I think that would be so fun to just be together and to.

Not necessarily have me as the focus, but just have those interactions and the, again, the connection, because I always say, I’m not above you. I’m not pushing you, I’m not pulling you. I’m like walking right alongside you with linked arms. And that goes for anyone that I work with or that I’m friends with.

So

Quianna: yes, that’s beautiful. And as a. Content generator as a visualization coach or if you wanna call me that, I don’t think anybody’s googling that. Right. But that’s really what it is and I love to do that. And even if it, like, I literally just got a little B roll clip of you walking, whether it’s like down this path in the Redwoods, right up in Northern Arizona.

Or even just down the street in your neighborhood, having a couple of girlfriends, literally linking arms. That is such a, I love that. That is a powerful visual, right? Like that is something that we carry as leaders and thought leaders and mentors being able to facilitate these experiences, but then as a viewer, getting just a snippet of that.

Oh my gosh, I wanna see more. I wanna go to the next coffee shop with you. Right. I want to, you know, go on that next hot girl walk and be included. Right? Like, how are we bringing these visuals and this energy to life to actually be captured? Like something juicy you can actually bite your teeth into, like how do we make it real?

And that’s what I love to do.

Tara: No, I love that. And that like got me excited. See at, not that I wasn’t excited before, but now I’m really excited because that’s exactly. What I want to portray, and I want you to know that you belong and you’re not alone, and you are invited. I’m extending the invitation to be here in this space, uh, with me, with the other people here.

And whether we work one-on-one or not, that’s okay too because there are people here for you to connect with so that we’re doing that. Walking in the middle. Even at, in my neighborhood in the street. Yeah. Done. That’s on the list.

Quianna: We’re gonna make it happen. I love it. Well, let’s roll right into some more fun things to look forward to, and I wanna chat about outfits.

Outfits and styling and props, because I do believe there is this fear that a branding session is gonna cost thousands and thousands of dollars because you’re investing in the photographer, you’re investing in hair and makeup, you’re investing in a whole new wardrobe, right? Like, we just feel like we have to pull out all of the stops and, and there is space for that there.

There are incredible experiences that can offer that. But I’m also a huge believer that we already have everything we need, right? We have everything we need in our closet. We have our tools, our gear, all the things that we’re using anyway in our daily lives for our business. So let’s start with some outfits and some ideas for you.

And I also wanna mention before you and I are planning these next big brand sessions, we had the opportunity to get our colors analyzed by our friend Michelle. So I’m gonna just do a little drop right there. A little shout out to our friend Michelle and um, so we can get into colors as well. But let’s really break down.

What it looks like for you to open up your closet right now and think, what the heck do I wear? Where do I get started with what I want to wear?

Tara: Something that I like to do is just really pull out the things that I wear. Most often, and I don’t do this to wear them in my photo shoot, I actually do it. So I don’t wear the exact same things that I always wear.

I may wear the jeans that are my favorite, that fit really well, but I try to remove those so I’m not just staring at the same things because I don’t know about you. But I probably wear the same five outfits all the time. And then I have this whole closet full of stuff that I’m not touching. And since doing.

Colors and having the opportunity to understand that I’m a winter, I know you are too. So having these bold colors has not always been my go-to. So now I do have a little bit more of a colorful wardrobe to choose from, and I love to be able to have the jeans and a white or black top and then have a blazer with a color or have a sweater that has the color in it, but I can always take that off or tie it around my waist or remove it or whatever it may be.

So still keeping who I am. What I’m most comfortable in, and not trying to be something else, but just elevating that a little bit to not wear the exact same thing that I’m wearing all the time. Because let’s be real, it would be leggings and a sweatshirt, but, and maybe we do put that on for a few. It just depends on the setting.

But um, I really try to give myself the opportunity to. Shop in my closet first, and then if there’s something that I have my eye on, I will purchase that and try it on probably 10 to 12 times prior to the photo session to make sure I like the way it looks, even, which you have taught me. And other photographers too have mentioned it so much where it’s like, look in the mirror, look at yourself.

Standing up, sitting down, make sure the angles are okay, that you appreciate the way that you look, and just be yourself. So that’s something that I’ve really. Tried to lean into, because many, many years ago, outfits were the biggest stressor. So I was like, fine, I’m not doing any photos. Nevermind not doing it.

Quianna: No, I love this and I love that you had mentioned, Hey, this is my, every day I’m going to elevate this a little bit. Right? So we don’t have to like pull out the red carpet. We don’t have to look like we’re going to a gala. Right. But I, I love that you had mentioned, Hey, I’m gonna pull out my everyday looks, I’m gonna wear my favorite jeans and maybe create some variety with that.

And I think that’s genius. One of my favorite tips to share with businesses, creatives, anyone that is interested in booking a brand session. I love to look at your week. Okay? And I typically will go maybe if your weeks are pretty mundane and you feel like you’re doing the same thing over and over again.

Or like for me, I have the same one load of laundry that just gets washed over and over and over again, right? If that’s the case, then I would project out looking at your calendar, maybe a month out, maybe a month, even six months out. My trick with this is to look at your calendar, let’s say a whole month out, and ask yourself, Hey, what are the different characters that I play in my business?

Right? So whether that is your everyday mom vibe, whether that is showing up to a coffee shop for a client. It may be client facing, but not too fancy, right? And then, um, I love looking at your calendar, looking at any upcoming events. If you have any speaking events, whether you’re on stage or you’re attending a conference, maybe you are, you know, maybe grabbing brunch with the girlfriends, right?

Like your business besties or your longtime forever friends. What does that look like? Right? And I love to pull those out of your closet just to give yourself a handful of different characters that you’re playing in your life and business. And I think once you start resonating with those and actually start thinking about who you are in your everyday life, who you are, when you’re feeling a little bit elevated, and maybe you are dressing up to receive an award or attend a wedding, or attend an industry event, right?

Maybe that does feel a little fancy. Um, but I love pulling those out. And then all of a sudden you have a handful of outfits to choose from. And it, right, it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. It doesn’t have to feel like you need to invest in a stylist, which I, I highly recommend if you are really leveling up.

We have a couple incredible stylists to refer, but, um, I’d start there. Right? So with that in mind, Tara. Where would you see yourself going with this new year? Right. So like for example, I’m already pulling on ideas for you for when you’re hosting one of your Connect Belong events, right? Maybe that is jeans in the top, and I love because it is in your home that you’ll rock your slippers.

Tara: I was gonna say, I promise to wear shoes instead of slippers, but I love it. I usually run out of time to put shoes on, so here we are.

Quianna: I love it. Yeah. So like, so let’s pull out, I wanna like pull out your closet. So like looking at something that you would wear to a Connect belong meetup. Um, you are coaching, right?

So what is something that you would wear to a coffee shop with one of these 6, 7, 8 figure earners? What would you wear? I’m curious.

Tara: Um, so I have a few like button down shirts, like collared, like whether they’re kind of silky or just like that different. Dressier fabric so it feels a little bit more, and a belt maybe.

And then I have some flats or boots that I wear again with jeans typically. Um, I do have a, a few pairs of like dressier pants or the wide leg trouser look that I like to wear with like a body suit or what? Wider black. Again, I just am very classic and simple when it comes to that. Typically don’t wear much jewelry either, but I try to, for my, um, branding sessions just to add a little something.

Again, I just like to be a little bit more. Um, I guess I could say done up or I know elevated, this word is overused, but it really is, it’s just a little bit more elevated or an enhanced look. So I typically do get my makeup done because that’s something that I prefer. And I know you and I have talked about this, you prefer to not have your makeup done.

You do it yourself and it looks so beautiful. And then for me. Creating something other than my everyday look is super hard for me. So I do invest in having someone do my makeup and that just makes me feel ready to go and I can wear anything. So that’s kind of what I’m thinking as I’m thinking about like the way that I interact with other people or what I’m wearing when I’m meeting in person with others.

Quianna: Yes, this is perfect and I love it. You’re right. It’s your everyday vibe with a touch of elegance, just a little bit. And it could just be a fabric, right? Like sometimes we just totally have that fabric where it just feels a little more fancy and just a little more elevated. I love that. Yes, that chat, CPT has a really burnt out elevated.

Tara: I know, I know. But that’s like the only word I was like, that’s appropriate right now. So,

Quianna: no, I love this. So it’s kind of a zoom forward here to the shoot day, right? You have your outfits. You have your client experience moments together. Both of us have really generated a solid shot list so we know exactly what we’re doing throughout the day.

I love a good timeline. I actually like to refer to my timelines as checklist or more just like checkpoints, really throughout the day, so that way we’re all on the same page. We know exactly what to do. We don’t just show up. Looking fabulous with a bag full of stuff and then just stare at each other because we don’t know what to do.

Right.

Tara: I love that you are so organized and methodical in that way because again, as the business owner and coming to you as the expert in this industry and field, I love to know that I’m in good hands and that things are taken care of. We do a lot of planning prior, obviously, but you are. So organized to have it ready to go.

So then we are not scrambling or like, okay, now what? It’s just very cohesive and it moves and we get so much done. And that’s what leaves us with a plethora of options and content that lasts. So long, so I appreciate that.

Quianna: Yes, of course. It’s literally my biggest joy to organize these shoots. It really does feel like a wedding day for your brand.

Like it. It really is. And it’s just so fun, especially when you have moving parts of clients. And when I say clients, that could just be besties and sisters and cousins and friends that you are posing as clients, right? Like really capturing what that client experience actually looks like. So juggling them and their schedules and their outfits and when to arrive and do we need snacks, right?

Like all the things are taken care of and I feel like this is just honestly the, one of the best gifts you can give your own business Absolutely is. Ah, yes, it is. Just having this content bank that you can pull and drag and drop. You’ve taught me too. I’ve been so inspired by you, Tara, for investing in team, right?

So you have an incredible team of leaders and support that you can just feed them this content, right? Whether it’s these professional photos, these B-roll clips, all of this, and then they could run with it. So I would love to chat with you as we start to wrap up this episode, ’cause we can just plan this forever.

But I would love to chat with you more about what’s next, right? So like now that you have, let’s pretend that you have gotten this gallery. How do you maximize this? And how are you really prioritizing this energy exchange so it matches who you are in real life and with what you’re posting.

Tara: Before I get into that, because that is where my team comes in, I want to say that investing in you and myself is not just about the financial exchange, the energy, it’s literally the time and efforts that goes into planning and having this so.

Something that is such a gift to be able to work with someone like you and the way that you utilize your specialty and the way that I know you’re gonna come up with 25 other ideas while we’re together that you’re just going to weave in, which will give my team even more ample opportunity to share.

But that’s where the. It’s priceless. The investment is priceless, although it encompasses so many different things. Time, energy, effort, money, all of it. It is just something that really gives the business owner myself an opportunity to be sharing more about what I do through your lens and your eyes as well as mine and the way that I’m serving my clients.

Because like you said, when we’re so close to it, it’s hard for us to. Really dive in and describe that. Sometimes, let alone set up our tripod every single day and capture all the photos and videos that we need and all of that. That is an afterthought. Sometimes I write to you at 9:00 PM I’m like, oh, I should have coulda, woulda all day long and we did none.

So, um, when I have. The photos, the videos, the B-roll, everything. I am so grateful to be able to pass that off to my social media strategist and just my, I call her my marketing partner because she, no, she is incredible. And it’s not about just posting or anything. It’s. The strategy and the way that my business goals are lining up with where I’m headed.

And she is so fabulous that she not only has the social media plan done, she then shares it with the rest of my team. So my blog and Pinterest. And LinkedIn and um, anything else that I’m posting on and using will all be cohesive and work together with the images that she’s given. So whether I share with her the shot list and the plan, and honestly she’s somebody who’s been super helpful in, if she needs something specific, I know I can come to you and ask you for that as well.

It’s just so nice to have that partnership and. Really handed off because for me to be in my expertise and where my sweet spot and zone of genius is, it’s with the people I want to be with you. I wanna be doing things like this. I wanna be connecting and nurturing those relationships and coaching and doing all of the other things, and me wearing all of those hats.

Was taking me away from this. So having the opportunity to bring team members on to help me execute after the photo session and after all of that hard work, I can do that part. So it is a little exhausting, but it’s beautiful all at the same time. And being able to utilize the gift of having ample amounts of content and different things with your brand day experience is just.

It’s priceless. That’s the way that I can describe it. But I’m just super excited and I can’t wait for all of this to come to life.

Quianna: Yes. Oh my goodness. Well, I appreciate you so much for sharing all of that. And, and I do, I almost wanna kind of debunk this thought that investing in branding photography is investing in pretty photos, and it is so much more than that, right?

Like, just like you mentioned, it’s, it’s truly like, like there’s like a line in the sand. A line in the sand before we work together and align after so very clearly, because it really is a gift for your business to just pause and refine your offers. Share exactly what you’re doing now, what’s working, what’s not working, where you want to be, where you’re going.

Like all of this whirlwind of this. Literally like a timeline jump is what it feels like. And, and it’s just so fun to be able to co-create with my clients, with incredible business owners like you. I literally feel like I’m co-creating with God at at some point. Like it’s just, it’s so powerful and it’s.

It’s just such a blessing to work with business owners like you, Tara. So thank you.

Tara: Thank you. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to have our kind of strategy session slash plan live like this on your podcast, and just to be able to share more about you. If anyone is hesitating by any means to hire you, there is no need for that because the second they start talking to you, the idea is.

Flow. You could come up with ideas for a septic company. You could come up with ideas for any type of company. It’s. It doesn’t matter. You have a gift my friend. You have a gift.

Quianna: I love you so much. I’m literally laughing because I need to start calling myself like chat key instead of chat. GPT. Like I need a little thing for that.

I need to just make a little chat for that.

Tara: That is so cute. That’s one idea I will approve of. You go girl. You do it. You do it.

Quianna: So as we, as we wrap up, I have one more question for you. I feel like you’ve kind of already said so many of these mic drop moments. But I would love to ask you, Tara, what is your key tip?

What is something that you wish small business owners and entrepreneurs need to know as we roll into 2026?

Tara: I, my number one be all, end all honestly, is that you don’t have to do this alone. And I know I’ve said it’s. So many times, and even throughout our conversation right now, conversations with you privately with coaching clients, friends, it’s finding someone that you can lean on, whether that is someone you hire as a business coach or mentor, or if that’s somebody that you are able to confide in or just find somebody in your industry that you can relate to.

You do not have to be alone, and we go through similar struggles. Even being business owners at in different seasons of life, different seasons of our business, and finding that community is so special and any woman owned business here that does not have one, and that anyone that is listening, there is a space for you.

I would love to welcome them into Connect, belong, and. Honestly, my husband is an entrepreneur too, and I’ve been trying to convince him to have a male version of Connect belong. Not all hugs and rainbows and sunshine, but he can figure something out. So if you’re a man listening to this, I also have a resource for you.

So, um, I’m just, I want that to be the point. That is something that I always talk about is just the connection and belonging that you have. With other people makes all the difference. And if you’re nervous to reach out, please send me a message on Instagram. Send Kiana a message like we are here for you.

So, um, and I never take for granted, I want to say this too, that Kiana, you have been beyond a cheerleader and best friend and all of the things, and I’ll cry if I keep going. So I just. I’m so thankful that I know that I am not alone and pouring into others. I’m able to do that because of people like you pouring into me.

So thank you.

Quianna: Thank you so much. Oh my gosh. You’re making me terrible over here. Thank you. I appreciate you and. Everyone needs a Tara. Everyone needs a Tara in their life. So how can we connect with you? How can we be BFFs with you and, um, connect with Connect Belong?

Tara: Yes. Well, on Instagram at Tara Dun Connects is my personal Instagram that, um, I do have people helping me with a lot of things, but I am in the dms.

So if you DM me, that is me writing back to you. And from there you’ll see that my Connect, belong, um, group is. On there as well. So it’s at Connect belong az and we are starting to, um, reach out and start new chapters. So there may be one in your area soon, or if you’re interested in starting one, let me know.

And then I also do interior photography and branding photography as part of that. And that’s on there as well.

Quianna: Oh my gosh. Well, I am so excited. We have some mad notes to go through and make a game plan for your next branding session. I’m so excited too. Take you behind the scenes and share this experience, all the things.

And if you are interested, please let me know. I would love to brainstorm and have a conversation just like this with you as well. So thank you so much for joining us, Tara, and I’m so happy I get to get in the car right now and head to you to be a client in one of your photo shoots. So I’m just excited for that.

So thank you. I get to see you really soon.

Tara: Yes. Thank you so much, Quianna. I appreciate you!

Quianna: Oh my gosh. It wasn’t that so refreshing?? I swear every time Tara and I sit down to talk business content ideas and just life in general, the ideas never stop flowing. I hope this episode gave you permission to dream bigger for your brand in 2026 to slow down and actually plan your visuals and to treat your next photo shoot as a portal into the next version of you because it really is.

There’s clearly a timeline jump between where you are right this second and what your life and business can look like after we work together. No matter what time of year you’re tuning in or what season of business you’re growing. If listening to us map out this plan, if this refresh lit, something up inside of you.

If you’re ready for new photos that feel like you, if you want content that inspires your dream clients to have you be the only option. And if you want B-roll that works for you on repeat, I would love to plan your brand session, whether you’re in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Gilbert, or you wanna fly me out to your hometown.

My calendar is. Open and I am booking 2026 brand shoots right now. Legit, hurry up before they start to sell out, because I am not even kidding. I’m hitting the ground running with these. They’re just, they’re so fun. You deserve photos that feel alive. You deserve content that converts, and you deserve a photographer who sees your vision, your heart, and the business you are building.

No idea is too small or too stupid around me, babe. Let’s go big and then I’m gonna light it on fire and make it go bigger, right? We’re not planning these shoots just to look pretty. We’re documenting your legacy, capturing your history in the making. You can head to the show notes or visit keana marie.com to inquire about your brand session.

Learn more about my process, or hop on a content coaching call to map out your strategy. So even if we decide that we’re not a good fit together or. Just geographically, we live too far. I would love to literally have this conversation with you, map out all of this content for you so you feel prepared to potentially take photos yourself or investing in a photographer locally to you.

Let’s make a game plan. Okay, and back to Tara. Make sure you follow along with her both on her personal page at Tara Dunn Connect, as well as connect.belong.az. Hopefully we all get to meet up in person for her next monthly meetup and join her community online as well. Anyone in Tara’s Circle is just amazing.

All of her community members have literally changed my life in so many ways. They are just full of love and passion and creativity. Tara’s community is a direct reflection of her and you can feel it. So I really hope that that’s you and we get to connect again in the future. Thank you so much for listening.

Thank you for celebrating four years of Mondays with me. And thank you for being a part of this community.

Affirmations For The Week

This Quianna Marie weekly community is literally my favorite. I love yapping with you, chatting with you, dreaming big before you go, and life gets crazy. I wanna leave you with these three affirmations for the week.

Affirmation #1:

I am worthy of the next version of myself. I’m becoming every decision I make, every photo I create, and every piece of content I share is guiding me closer to my aligned abundant season.

Affirmation #2:

My presence is powerful when I allow myself to be seen fully, authentically, and unapologetically the right clients, opportunities and collaborations find me. I’m a magnet for abundance.

Affirmation #3:

I give myself permission to grow, evolve, and shine brighter than ever. I trust my gifts. I trust my voice, and I trust that my work matters more than I’ll ever know. Ooh, I love these so much. Oh, I love closing out these episodes with affirmations. I just. I want us to give you the biggest, biggest hug and encouragement for the week.

I love you and I’ll see you next week. Keep on dancing, baby. That’s a wrap on another episode of Quianna Marie Weekly. Thank you so much for your listenership and support. You can find the resources and show notes for this episode and more at Kiana Marie dot. Slash podcast, I’d be honored if you’d show your support by leaving a review and rating on your favorite podcast app.

Until next time, keep on on dancing.

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