For Photographers

Education and Mentoring for Aspiring and Professional Photographers

Educational content for Portrait photographers

Read free photography education blog posts, get a peek behind the scenes of a professional photography business, and step it up with one-on-one business mentoring/coaching.

grow your business

Create a photography business that suits your lifestyle and provides a good income by learning from years worth of professional insight and experience.

Build a solid foundation

Every business requires a good foundation to run smoothly and sustainably over a long period, even a passion-focused one like photography.

Only what matters

Focus in on the areas where you’re struggling and develop strategies to solve the issues with one-on-one coaching and mentoring.

About Nataliya Lalor, CPP

Nataliya Lalor is a professional photographer specializing in headshots and branding in Connecticut. With over a decade of experience, she is a PPA Certified Professional Photographer and a Portrait Masters Associate Level accredited photographer, recognized for her expertise in lighting, posing, and expression coaching.

Beyond her work behind the camera, Nataliya is dedicated to education and community within the photography industry. She is a workshop instructor for Professional Photographers of America (PPA), where she helps photographers refine their craft and build successful businesses. As a local chapter leader for The Rising Tide Society, she fosters collaboration among creative entrepreneurs. When she’s not behind the camera, she shares insights on photography and business as a featured writer on Medium.

Her work has been featured in both local and national publications, and she continues to push the boundaries of professional portrait photography.

Nataliya lives in Westport, CT, with her husband, their two boys, and a house full of pets.

In-Person Workshop Coming up!

The Complete Portrait Workflow: From Concept to Final Edit

Sunday May 18, 2024 at 9:00am - 4:30pm

In this immersive, hands-on workshop, attendees will experience the full process of Studio portrait photography, from lighting to final editing. The day begins with an introduction to essential studio lighting techniques, where you'll learn how to set up lighting and tether your camera to a computer for real-time feedback. You’ll also gain insights into client preparation, including how to create a comfortable environment and build rapport for a successful session. A live portrait photography demonstration will illustrate best practices in posing, directing, and capturing compelling images. After observing these techniques, you'll have the opportunity to put your new skills into practice during the hands-on shooting portion of the workshop. Each participant will get time to work with a live model and refine their approach to portraiture.

The learning continues with a comprehensive workflow demonstration, covering image culling and retouching using CaptureOne/Lightroom. You’ll see how to integrate AI tools to enhance efficiency while maintaining a high level of quality in your edits. Finally, the workshop concludes with an open Q&A session where you can ask questions and deepen your understanding of the complete portrait process. By the end of this workshop, you will have a thorough grasp of the portrait photography workflow and the confidence to apply these techniques to your own work. From setting up the studio to delivering polished final images, this course ensures you’re ready to create stunning portraits every step of the way.

Behind the Scenes

Featured of The Portrait System Podcast

How Nataliya Lalor Built a Six-Figure Family Photography Business in Two Years with SBE

Do you want to build a photography business you love and develop your own style? Then, you'll want to listen to this interview! Today's guest is portrait photographer Nataliya Lalor from Greenwich, Connecticut. Nataliya started out as a graphic designer before getting into portrait photography. Within two years of starting her own studio, Nataliya turned her enterprise into a six figures business by using the Sue Bryce Education business model. However, unlike other SBE members, Nataliya did not follow the SBE style of photography, but instead developed her own style. Her story is proof that you can get incredibly valuable education from SBE, and create a business that looks and feel like you and remain truthful to your own style. If you're looking for inspiration to start your own venture, then this episode is for you!

Blog Post Articles for Photographers

Free educational and behind the scenes content on the Blog

Photography Business Mentoring


 This is right for you if:

✅ You're just starting out and are confused about all the things you have to do.

✅ You've had a side photography business for several years and are willing/eager to learn how to take things to the next level.

✅ You are working lots of hours without the income to match.

✅ You're interested in photographing portraits/headshots.

✅ You find yourself feeling unsure about your abilities and feel uncomfortable charging more for your work.

✅ You know something has to change in order for your business to be sustainable.

This is NOT right for you if:

❌ You want to know how to sell multiple thousands of dollars worth of artwork to a single client (there are plenty of other photographers who are better at teaching this).

❌ You want to run a busy commercial Studio (my focus is on a one-person business with a good work/life balance).

❌ How to use Instagram and social media to gain thousands of followers (my business doesn’t rely on a social media following).

❌ You're already making 6-figures in your business (you probably already have a solid foundation).

Inquire about mentoring/coaching

I believe that having some simple guidance is all you need in order to avoid wasting years making mistakes in your photography business. No strategy or method is ever going to work for everyone, which is why most courses and classes are often a waste of time and money. One-on-one coaching is the best way to laser focus on the issues you’re having and figure out the most optimal way to solve them.