Everyone's journey as a photographer is different, and learning to trust the ride can be really difficult... especially in this age of social media, where comparisonitis runs rampant.Today's guest is my long time friend Jessica Arden (I even shot her wedding!), who lovingly describes herself as a "hot mess success." Jessica's journey as a photographer has taken several turns, from weddings to families to newborns and now boudoir photography.In this conversation, we talk about the importance o...

I recently read a quote by Seth Godin where he distinguished between long work and hard work, describing long work as routine, consistent effort without risk that most everyone makes, and hard work as the innovative, risky, and potentially transformative efforts that some people are willing to make. Both have their place, but there is a point at which just putting in the hours without taking the leap might be holding us back. This got me thinking about the evolution of a photography...

Almost every photographer I know has a love/hate relationship with Instagram. On one hand, it provides a free and relatively easy way for us to showcase our work and reach new clients. On the other hand, the amount of time it takes to create enough content to stay on top of trends and the algorithm can be enough to send you over the deep end. But what if there was a way to hack the system? Today, in a special episode, my partner from The Consistency Club, Dayna Schaaf, is interviewing An...

I wish I could wave a wand and help every photographer see their superpower - that one thing they do better than anyone else - so that they could use it to own their place in the market.Since I'm (sadly) not a fairy godmother, I'm doing the next best thing by bringing on Casey Fatchett of The Nerdy Photographer. Casey and I geek out on marketing, SWOTs, and other tools you can use to take stock of your business, but I particularly loved his marketing superhero analogy... and I think you will ...

Remember that feeling of first love? That intoxicating, overwhelming feeling of being completely obsessed with that person, to the point where they were all you could think about day and night? Finding photography can be a lot like falling in love (and starting a business is like that first big commitment)... but after that initial spark fades, where do we land? Today I'm talking about the 4 phases of your relationship with your photography business; from the initial spark, to the realit...

In the realm of marketing tools, your website reigns supreme, but navigating the sea of advice on its design can be daunting, to say the least.That's why I'm thrilled to welcome Kelsey Christine, a web designer who focuses on serving photographers. Today, Kelsey will guide us through the dos, don'ts, and latest trends in website design for photographers. She'll offer practical insights for those looking to refresh their sites and introduce the concept of an "Experience Page," a strategic blen...

It's no secret that I've automated and outsourced everything but the absolute necessities in my photography business, but it wasn't always that way. For the first 7 years of my business I did it ALL myself... and it nearly killed me.When necessity forced me to change my approach, I hoped it wouldn't destroy the personal, high-touch brand I'd worked so hard to cultivate. Imagine my surprise when it not only improved my client's experience, but had a profoundly positive effect on my bottom line...

I have long believed that the intersection of your (multiple) talents is where the magic for your business lies. So many of us have skills that we could bring to the table, but often don't because we think they have nothing to do with photography - or that they will somehow water down our photography business. Amanda Dudzik turns that notion on its head.  In our chat today, Amanda shares how combining her talents in hair/makeup and photography has unlocked new success for her in both areas....

Every photographer has had the experience of dealing with an unhappy client (and if you haven't yet, you will at some point!). There's no two ways about it: that situation sucks, and will probably have you second-guessing yourself and your business.  Today I am talking with Rachel Utain-Evans about how to handle difficult conversations with unhappy clients while protecting your business and maintaining excellent customer service... all at the same time. Rachel shares invaluable insights...

Today I'm sharing a story I find pretty mortifying. As a professional photographer, I have dedicated countless hours to not only organizing my clients' photos, but also preaching the importance of good backups and organization... ...and yet the shameful truth is that my own family's photos are mostly a jumbled, unedited mess. Suffice it to say when I sat down to put together a slideshow for my son's 18th birthday, I was scrambling. But my story has a happy ending, and it's all thanks to...

When I find a way to work smarter, up-level my client experience, and stand out from the crowd - especially when the strategy is so easy to implement - the first place I want to share it is right here on the show! Dayna's joining me to nerd out about not one but two new pieces of affordable tech that we've been using and loving, and that we think have the ability to uplevel your photography business in a big way: Convert Box and Manychat.  Not only will we share specific ideas for how to...

It's often hard for clients to have a clear vision about how they can or should display their photographs in their homes, so getting them to purchase products and larger print collections can be challenging. Family photographer Sharisse Rohan is using customized digital wall mockups to overcome that hurdle with her clients and it's working brilliantly!  In this episode, Sharisse shares her exact process for building this into the Simple Sales framework, including how it has increased her...

Right about now, a lot of portrait photographers are crawling out of their slow-season dens and gearing up for the inquiries, sessions, editing, etc. that come with the change in weather.  Most of us spent the slower months optimizing our businesses behind the scenes - which is great! - but the transition from learning and planning to actually implementing can be a rough one. If you're not equipped with a plan, it's all too easy to slip right back to old habits you were trying to get past...

One of the main things that can set you apart from your competition is the customer experience you provide. This isn't limited to how you handle issues when they arise, but includes the way your clients feel when they work with you - from the moment they reach out to inquire with you until the moment they write a review and each step in between.  Customer service will always be a cornerstone of your business, but the way you go about providing it will - and should! - evolve over the years as...

An estimated 1 in 5 people fall on the neurodivergent spectrum, which means that you have probably worked with a client who is on that spectrum… even if you didn't know it at the time. As we all strive to give our clients an elevated experience, taking stock of how we can better accommodate all of our clients’ needs should be at the forefront of that conversation.  So this week, I'm talking with photographer Stacey Feasel who has years of experience working to improve the photography...

Most portrait photographers are accidental entrepreneurs - they're talented artists who wake up one day and think, "hey... maybe I could actually make some money doing this thing I love!" Fast forward a few years and the vast majority of those artists have closed up shop, not because they didn't have the talent, but because running a business - no matter how small - can be super-challenging. If any of this resonates, you probably already know you are in the right place. I started this...

For a long time in my career, I shied away from the idea of affiliate marketing… and that's a decision I kick myself for now! Most of us make recommendations every day without even thinking about it (read this book, check out this show, I love this shampoo, etc). Combine that with the fact that in creative businesses, we face inevitable ebbs and flows in revenue, and diversifying your income with affiliate marketing becomes a no-brainer! Today, Dayna and I are diving into affiliate...

A photography business comes with a lot of flexibility; we can choose the hours or days we want to work, who we want to work with, and when or where we shoot. But one thing that we don't always have control over is change... and when a massive change occurs, it's basically like starting all over again.  Like it or not, many photographers face some at least one major change in their careers, whether due to change in circumstances, a major shift in the type of work they're doing, or a...

Raise your hand if you’re the kind of person who agonizes over decisions. If you write long pro/con lists or take months to decide on the next move, I’m looking at you! While that kind of thoughtful, contemplative approach is to be commended in many areas of life, in others, there's potential for getting stuck in analysis paralysis… and that can be deadly when it comes to business. Instead, as scary as it sometimes is, I try to live by the philosophy that there are truly no "mistakes" in...

As wrap up the first month of the new year, it's the perfect time to dream big about our goals and aspirations. But how do we actually achieve those dreams? Today I'm talking with Kristin Sweeting about her proven process for life and business design that has helped so many creatives go from dreaming to achieving.  If you've ever found yourself saying "must be nice" about someone else's life (or business), then this episode is just for you; Kristin's perspective is going to turn that feeling...

If you've ever felt intimidated by (or even mistrustful of) using flash during a portrait session, then this episode is for you. My guest this week is Kim Hildebrand, a family photographer from Seattle who swears by using flash in her in-home shoots. We dive into the differences between flash and strobes, how to get started with flash on a budget, and how to make your flash photos look natural instead of overly-lit or "flashy". Kim shares great tips on gear, positioning, and practice. If...

It's the time of year when we all have stars in our eyes and big visions for the year ahead, but how to we take those visions and make them a reality?  Today I'm sharing my favorite method for actually achieving goals - first by identifying what you need to do to make daily progress and then by committing to taking small action every day. I know you've probably heard this advice before, but it bears repeating, because small daily habits can make a huge difference over 12 months. Let's all...

The people you choose to surround yourself with have a profound impact on you - how you think, how you act, and ultimately, the results you get. The same is true in our businesses. Success in business requires not just strength of craft but strength of mind, and if we want to achieve that success, one of the best things we can do is surround ourselves with growth- and abundance-minded people. As we flip the page into a new year, I want to spend some time talking about mindset... specifically...

Confession time: Do you avoid looking at your business's financial numbers until it's tax season and your accountant MAKES you do it? If you struggle with understanding the financial side of your photography business, you aren't alone. Budgeting and forecasting can be daunting tasks (especially to us creative types)!  Today I'm bringing you an incredible interview with Fractional CFO Danielle Hendon. Danielle walks us through her 6-part framework for understanding your business numbers. From...

As the year winds down, you might be looking over your expenses from the year... and I'd be willing to bet there are some pieces of software or tech that you're considering getting rid of. Now I'm all for keeping an eye on expenses, But before you unsubscribe or cancel that software, I want you to listen to today's episode. The fact of the matter is that good technology - the kind that make tasks faster, easier, or totally automatic - is one of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to grow your...